Sweat and Sarees

Today, like every other day, we woke up to an early morning yoga session. It was wonderfuly strenuous, and a great way to start off the day. Then we had a great Indian breakfast and headed off to work on the Women's Empowerment Center. Little children came bright and early to ask where Annie and Dana were (their new best friends).

While some students plastered the last two interior walls, others went to the neighborhood cricket field, which the children had invited them to. Students sifted, pulled weeds, plastered, and played cricket for three hours in the early morning. Currently, the inside of the Women's Empowerment Center is all finished, and all that is left to do is the exterior walls, and the floor. Sifting dirt for the cement may sound easy, but each person was sweating buckets after just ten minutes. However, we were all able to catch a break since the neighborhood kids were eager to help and take our jobs.

During the cricket game Kaytee and Quinn made some great hits, and Annie found her new calling. She is very good at catching the ball as it comes flying towards her face.

We went inside for our cold showers of the day, and had a light lunch. Quinn stayed outside longer and introduced the kids to agame of Vietnamese hacky sack (kah). Inside, the girls were having fun getting dressed in their sarees. First, they put on a fitted belly shirt that is the bottom of the saree. Then, they put on a cotton drawstring skirt that goes under the silk saree skirt part. The six meters of beautiful fabric is strategically draped around your waist and shoulder for a perfect finish that takes about 30 minutes. For the finishing touch, the women placed strings of jasmine in our hair. This was done by Mrs. Lolly and another woman who sewed many of the sarees.

The boys dressing affair was much simpler than the process of putting on sarees. First, they tied their lungees (man skirt) which took about 30 seconds. Then they put on thier simple man tunics. To top off the simple chic look, they put on thier necklaces, which were Hindi prayer beads.

Then we all walked down to the center, where the children of Hope Charities had prepared a show for us. There was singing, dancing, story telling, and even a version of Indian "Backstreet Boys." Sam, Hunter, and Quinn were eager to join the boys in dancing wildly and teaching them great American dance moves. Annie, Ellie and Sam rapped the theme song of "Fresh Prince of Bel Air," which left them all in awe. Also there were singing performances by Dana, Natalie, Shannon, Ellie, Amber, Kaytee and Sam. Mr. Palma showed off his harmonica and saxophone skills.

At the very end the performers of Hope Clinic were awarded surprise presents for their wonderful entertainment. All 13 of the travelers were awarded necklaces of jasmine from the children. All 11 students quickly ran back to the house to prepare Mr. Palma's surprise birthday cake. We all sang and celebrated. That is all for this eventful day. Wish us luck in finishing the finishing touches of the Women's Empowerment Center.

Thank you for all of your comments, keep them coming, we look forward to them every night.

Xoxo, Annie and Larissa.