Hi, everyone!
It has been a long while since I have updated here. I just wanted to thank EVERYONE for their amazing support last year!
I sincerely regret and apologize for not being able to follow up accordingly after my life changing experience last year. I had a difficult time digesting everything I saw, learned and felt while on the cycle jatha, but today I stand and realize how amazing and powerful the women and children of Odanadi are and what they have done for a volunteer like me!
With that said, I am returning to do more volunteer work at Odanadi with a friend this year!
Please refer to www.willandsharongotoindia.blogspot.com for more information on Odanadi, Odanadi US - an arm of Odanadi, and on volunteer work in India.
<3, Sharon
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Thursday, June 11, 2009
It's Getting HOT IN HURR
India is hot. Yes.
We are FINALLY having a rest day, which means NO CYCLING! YIPPEE!
Cycling has been fun but also really challenging. I have ultra man legs and a tan of a crazy person. BUT, I am still loving India.
We are staying at a guesthouse in some forest of some village that sounds like "Gerekere." Of course, I could be completely wrong, but that's what I hear when they say the village name. HE HE HE.
The guesthouse is super nice and has lots of shade. We did laundry in the shade today. And YES, I have learned the Indian way of doing laundry.
Squat. Sweat. Slap. Smile.
The position is squatting (as is the same for going to the toilet). You sweat while you pour water on your choice of dirty clothing and scrub your butt off with a brush. Then, you proceed to slap that piece of clothing onto whatever slab of rock you are working on. Finally, you smile a smile of relief and satisfaction (and pride -- for the foreigners only).
This experience (not the laundry..actually the laundry too..but I mean INDIA!) has been freaking amazing. Even if I wanted to write about every day of my trip here, no words can explain the relationships that have been made and the emotions that I feel every day. We travel to so many places, see so many different things and meet so many different people that it is super hard for me to keep track of everything.
Although I don't know the stories of all the Odanadi girls, they are amazing women. Whatever struggles they have had in the past has not stopped them from just being girls. Hopefully this "cycle jatha" - cycle rally - will help them to build their confidence as women living in a country where they are considered significantly less than men.
We have been cycling to villages and schools where the girls will sing songs to bring people out. They then split up and pass out pamphlets explaining what Odanadi Seva Samsthe (Odanadi Seva Trust) does. There is also a phone number for a hotline people are able to call if they are or know someone who is being abused/has been trafficked/etc.
Because the subject of human trafficking is very taboo in India, Stanly and Parashu (the founders of Odanadi) have turned to the theme of "Our Earth, Our People" in order to help spread awareness of environmental issues as well as trafficking issues. I think it's genius but I also think we need to be pushing harder to talk more openly about trafficking issues.
Okay! This entry has been all over the place, I apologize! There are just too many things going on and so many things I want to talk about that I had to write out whatever I could! (:
I hope everyone at home and abroad is doing well!
See everyone in 14 days!
<3, Sharon
We are FINALLY having a rest day, which means NO CYCLING! YIPPEE!
Cycling has been fun but also really challenging. I have ultra man legs and a tan of a crazy person. BUT, I am still loving India.
We are staying at a guesthouse in some forest of some village that sounds like "Gerekere." Of course, I could be completely wrong, but that's what I hear when they say the village name. HE HE HE.
The guesthouse is super nice and has lots of shade. We did laundry in the shade today. And YES, I have learned the Indian way of doing laundry.
Squat. Sweat. Slap. Smile.
The position is squatting (as is the same for going to the toilet). You sweat while you pour water on your choice of dirty clothing and scrub your butt off with a brush. Then, you proceed to slap that piece of clothing onto whatever slab of rock you are working on. Finally, you smile a smile of relief and satisfaction (and pride -- for the foreigners only).
This experience (not the laundry..actually the laundry too..but I mean INDIA!) has been freaking amazing. Even if I wanted to write about every day of my trip here, no words can explain the relationships that have been made and the emotions that I feel every day. We travel to so many places, see so many different things and meet so many different people that it is super hard for me to keep track of everything.
Although I don't know the stories of all the Odanadi girls, they are amazing women. Whatever struggles they have had in the past has not stopped them from just being girls. Hopefully this "cycle jatha" - cycle rally - will help them to build their confidence as women living in a country where they are considered significantly less than men.
We have been cycling to villages and schools where the girls will sing songs to bring people out. They then split up and pass out pamphlets explaining what Odanadi Seva Samsthe (Odanadi Seva Trust) does. There is also a phone number for a hotline people are able to call if they are or know someone who is being abused/has been trafficked/etc.
Because the subject of human trafficking is very taboo in India, Stanly and Parashu (the founders of Odanadi) have turned to the theme of "Our Earth, Our People" in order to help spread awareness of environmental issues as well as trafficking issues. I think it's genius but I also think we need to be pushing harder to talk more openly about trafficking issues.
Okay! This entry has been all over the place, I apologize! There are just too many things going on and so many things I want to talk about that I had to write out whatever I could! (:
I hope everyone at home and abroad is doing well!
See everyone in 14 days!
<3, Sharon
Friday, June 5, 2009
THIS. IS. INDIA.
"T.I.I."
- Christina Lagdameo
So we are in Arkulgud or something right now. We are sleeping in a wedding hall tonight and I snuck out with the volunteers to get some Internet time before we have to eat dinner and meet some guy.
Anyways, I've learned that in India, we have no control over anything. Whatever happens, happens. At first it was really frustrating because I never knew what was going on (actually it still is frustrating), but now I think it's gotten a little better. (:
Okay, I have to run. I have no idea what's goin on tomorrow.
All I know is that I have a super duper farmer's tan, bad hair, bad skin...
BUT I know how to eat with my right hand. (:
<3, Sharon
- Christina Lagdameo
So we are in Arkulgud or something right now. We are sleeping in a wedding hall tonight and I snuck out with the volunteers to get some Internet time before we have to eat dinner and meet some guy.
Anyways, I've learned that in India, we have no control over anything. Whatever happens, happens. At first it was really frustrating because I never knew what was going on (actually it still is frustrating), but now I think it's gotten a little better. (:
Okay, I have to run. I have no idea what's goin on tomorrow.
All I know is that I have a super duper farmer's tan, bad hair, bad skin...
BUT I know how to eat with my right hand. (:
<3, Sharon
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Seven Years in Tibet...
Okay, not really. I wish.
But I've been at a Tibetan colony for the past two days. It is AMAZING here. We visited the Golden Temple with the girls yesterday and had a chance to visit a monastary. And right before we arrived at the Tibetan colony....we were trekking through a jungle with elephants, peacocks, deer and....LEECHES. IT was awesome because we got to stay at this tribal village, which can be compared to a Native American tribe in the United States. The people at this village are very poor and are living on land specifically allotted for them.
I feel so privileged because there is very limited access into the tribal village (which, by the way, took a 25 minute jeep drive into the jungle!) and foreign internationals are NOT allowed to stay over night in the Tibetan colony.
Crazy!!!
Okay, I don't have much time because we have to cycle to another village in 15 minutes so I must end it here!
All I can say is that I am falling more and more in love with the girls and India as well.
Thank you everyone for your support! I will try to update again soon.
<3, Sharon
P.S. CHAI AND BISCUITS = NEW OBSESSION
But I've been at a Tibetan colony for the past two days. It is AMAZING here. We visited the Golden Temple with the girls yesterday and had a chance to visit a monastary. And right before we arrived at the Tibetan colony....we were trekking through a jungle with elephants, peacocks, deer and....LEECHES. IT was awesome because we got to stay at this tribal village, which can be compared to a Native American tribe in the United States. The people at this village are very poor and are living on land specifically allotted for them.
I feel so privileged because there is very limited access into the tribal village (which, by the way, took a 25 minute jeep drive into the jungle!) and foreign internationals are NOT allowed to stay over night in the Tibetan colony.
Crazy!!!
Okay, I don't have much time because we have to cycle to another village in 15 minutes so I must end it here!
All I can say is that I am falling more and more in love with the girls and India as well.
Thank you everyone for your support! I will try to update again soon.
<3, Sharon
P.S. CHAI AND BISCUITS = NEW OBSESSION
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Blessed.
I am so blessed to be where I am, with the people that I am with.
I'm getting to know the volunteers and they are pretty cool, but I definitely think the Odanadi girls are much, much cooler. (:
I've learned SO much since I've been here..and it's only been like three days!
The spirit of everyone at Odanadi (which means "soulmate" in Kannada - language used here in Karnataka) is AMAZING. The girls here are so special. Seeing them laugh, take care of one another and love each other is so beautiful.
The girls living at Odanadi range anywhere from ages four to 20. Most of them are victims of trafficking (all kinds, but mostly sex), while others have mothers who are involved with pimps and can't get out because of money. Others have either been rescued off the streets and many are also orphans.
I didn't know a lot of these things before coming to Odanadi. And not knowing this and meeting these girls has made me realize the power of this healing place. No one would ever guess what these girls have been through because they seem like a regular bunch of just girls!
Putting aside what they've been through, they simply are that: JUST GIRLS! (: They are beautiful inside and out and every time I hear a: "Sister Sharon! Sister Sharon!" I can't help but smile and really feel like I am a part of the Odanadi family.
So much has been learned from the past few days that I don't have time to write about everything here, but I hope this entry has given you all just a glimpse of what I am experiencing here so far...ALL BEFORE the actual cycle!
The cycle itself begins tomorrow. We are being dropped of at an inauguration, where we are being "sent off." After the bikes are dropped off at the site, we will ride back to Odanadi, eat lunch and then tackle our first village!
Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers!
<3, Sharon
I'm getting to know the volunteers and they are pretty cool, but I definitely think the Odanadi girls are much, much cooler. (:
I've learned SO much since I've been here..and it's only been like three days!
The spirit of everyone at Odanadi (which means "soulmate" in Kannada - language used here in Karnataka) is AMAZING. The girls here are so special. Seeing them laugh, take care of one another and love each other is so beautiful.
The girls living at Odanadi range anywhere from ages four to 20. Most of them are victims of trafficking (all kinds, but mostly sex), while others have mothers who are involved with pimps and can't get out because of money. Others have either been rescued off the streets and many are also orphans.
I didn't know a lot of these things before coming to Odanadi. And not knowing this and meeting these girls has made me realize the power of this healing place. No one would ever guess what these girls have been through because they seem like a regular bunch of just girls!
Putting aside what they've been through, they simply are that: JUST GIRLS! (: They are beautiful inside and out and every time I hear a: "Sister Sharon! Sister Sharon!" I can't help but smile and really feel like I am a part of the Odanadi family.
So much has been learned from the past few days that I don't have time to write about everything here, but I hope this entry has given you all just a glimpse of what I am experiencing here so far...ALL BEFORE the actual cycle!
The cycle itself begins tomorrow. We are being dropped of at an inauguration, where we are being "sent off." After the bikes are dropped off at the site, we will ride back to Odanadi, eat lunch and then tackle our first village!
Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers!
<3, Sharon
Friday, May 22, 2009
HELLO FROM INDIA!
Hi, everyone!
I made it alive! I'm in India! (: (at an Internet cafe)
I am VERY jet lagged and still in super disbelief that I am in India right now.
The food is amazing, the people I met are amazing and the cycle...even though it hasn't begun yet...WILL BE AMAZING.
Today, we are just relaxing and getting ourselves organized. Tomorrow and Sunday will be orientation days. Monday, the cycle begins!
I was really pumped about updating the blog often, but it looks like I will not be bringing my lap top along with me on the cycle. Because Internet connection is not guaranteed everywhere we go, I will be taking notes by hand and updating the blog every time I get the chance to go to an Internet cafe!
Everyone that knows me...knows that I am crazy about kids! I am so ready to bring home some Indian babies! They are adorable! OKay...kidding about bringing them home....but they are so, SO SOOOOOOOOo cute!
Anyways, I will update the next chance I get!
Wish me luck, everyone!
<3, Sharon
I made it alive! I'm in India! (: (at an Internet cafe)
I am VERY jet lagged and still in super disbelief that I am in India right now.
The food is amazing, the people I met are amazing and the cycle...even though it hasn't begun yet...WILL BE AMAZING.
Today, we are just relaxing and getting ourselves organized. Tomorrow and Sunday will be orientation days. Monday, the cycle begins!
I was really pumped about updating the blog often, but it looks like I will not be bringing my lap top along with me on the cycle. Because Internet connection is not guaranteed everywhere we go, I will be taking notes by hand and updating the blog every time I get the chance to go to an Internet cafe!
Everyone that knows me...knows that I am crazy about kids! I am so ready to bring home some Indian babies! They are adorable! OKay...kidding about bringing them home....but they are so, SO SOOOOOOOOo cute!
Anyways, I will update the next chance I get!
Wish me luck, everyone!
<3, Sharon
Thursday, May 21, 2009
London!
I just experienced the most hilarious flight from Baltimore ever.
Getting ready to find my way to India! (:
Although I do have my lap top now, I may not be able to cycle with it!
So my blog posts will be minimal! ):
Stay tuned!
<3, Sharon
Getting ready to find my way to India! (:
Although I do have my lap top now, I may not be able to cycle with it!
So my blog posts will be minimal! ):
Stay tuned!
<3, Sharon
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