Tash+Sushi=Unhappy African

I have a funny story that I never posted! The other day Tashobya and I went to the Grand to eat Sushi! I was really excited, and he was really nervous! Well I ordered him spicy tuna roll and I got a sake roll.. It was seriously the funniest thing I have ever seen.. The food got there and he just looked at it. I started to eat and I wondered why he was not indulging. Ha.. I asked him, Tash why are you not eating your sushi and he said, That is mine I thought it was your appetizer I laughed! He was soo funny He ate a few pieces until I told him that it is raw fish.. He was a bit freaked out by that and ate no more. I Ordered seaweed and god knows he would not try that! It was a five star restaurant so the portions are small, and Tash is African! He kept ordering and ordering so much food. He ran the tab up to almost $2000rs. I thought it was really funny! Haha.. It is crazy how conservative these Africans are with their food.. I guess not all Africans, because the Philberts like sushi! Okay Ugandans!! Haha.. I love them so much though. I am sad that I will we going home in a week. That really makes me want to cry! I wont see Ishta for God knows how long. Tears tear.. Mixed emotions

Hurmmm.. Birthdays.. Sour milk.. church.. and the green monster

Kuchis 11th birthday party! We went to Food and fun village for the day! It was really fun! I got to be a big kid for the day. I was in the wave pool with all of these kids! I was soo happy to be in the water. They nicknamed me Aqua Audra, because I was in the water all day. It was mainly Ish, Paula, Philibert, and me swimming. Tashobya got in later. There were a lot of really fun water slides and rollercosters! We had so much fun. I got really burnt. Like more burnt than I have been in a really long time. We came home and went to TGIF. I felt like I was at home. It was crazy, because there were soo many white people. It was cool besides the fact that this Nigerian guy spilt beer on me. Later on I was talking to Justin, and complaining MOB (Ugandan slang rubbing off) and he told me to pour milk over my body. Ahh.. I hate the smell of milk, and on top of that buffalo milk. That junk is rank! I had to let it dry on my body and then wash it off. It was the most horrifying experience I have ever faced.. I have smelt like milk all day! I preached today at church. It was my first time to preach, and I got totally distracted when Ester started crying.. I lost track! It is okay though! I rested in the afternoon. Tonight Fatuma (the ambassador daughter from Senegal) came over with her friend from Paris. It was a good time! Now I have to end this wonderful blog, because I am going to go to watch Pirates of the Caribbean
Ciao.
P.s. I was so mad at justin because he went to Racal Flatts and went backstage and all of that Jazz.. I was really wanting to be in San Diego at that moment!

Reality Check

Today was the most eye opening day that I have had since I have been here. I went to Prayas and after I was finished teaching the director asked me if I wanted to see the living conditions of the children at the school. I said sure, and was I in for a shock. It was the most depressing sobering experience that I have ever had. As I walked through the small streets of this slum, which is built on a dump, flys were swarming all over me to the extent of me not being able to see, because they were so clustered around my face. The smell was unbearable, there were babies running around naked, people bathing in the street, the smell of marijuana was suffocating. It was absolutely horrible.I have a few favorites in the class. Like that little girl that I have a picture with on my photos (everyone thinks she is a boy). I was walking with the director and she started calling me "dee dee, come", because she wanted to show me her home. I went into this shack, which is no larger that a walk in closet with ceilings no higher than 6ft...If that. Inside was one twin size bed, so much dirt and grime, a small cooking fire in the middle of the floor, and a few house hold things. The director told me that she shared this house with her 9 yes 9 siblings and her parents. Her mother is Muslim and does not believe in contraceptives. Is not that the worst thing you have ever heard. The most devastating thing about the whole matter was the fact that she was so proud of her home and desperately wanted me to come and see it. It made me think of how disgusting and frivolous we.. I can be. To think that someone could be happy with nothing.. absolutely nothing proves the fact that happiness does not come by materialism, but by unity and worship. She does not even know the love of Jesus, imagine how God could transform a person that humble. I was so convicted! It was the same from house to house. I saw the most dyer situations of these poor innocent children. I cried on my auto ride home, because it was so horrible. I will never be able to get that out of my mind. The thing that kills me is even if I had millions of dollars I could not get these people out of their situations.. I cannot save the world...After I went to Prayas I took an auto to Pryia. I met Tashobya and Nick at Yo China. It is the Panda express of India.. but totally authentic and nothing like panda! We did some shopping, and I got a mani/pedi for the Gala. Okay it was probably more for me, and I was justifying my splendor. I met a woman from Hilton Head Island! I was really excited to talk to an american about a place that I totally love! It has been raining like crazy..Monsoon ..n..nOn the way home my auto guy got pulled over twice. I think it was his first day, and usually that would have really tickled my belly, but I was soo stressed because it was 5:30 and the Rwandese Independence Day Gala started at 7.. I had not straightened my hair..Ahyaiyai..n..nThe Gala was a Red carpet affair! It was so much fun! The girls and I wore our sarees, as you have probably seen in the pictures. It was very nice, besides all of the olddiplomats hitting on me like I was fresh bait. It was really cool to see all of the people dressed up eating and drinking like lavishing goats.. haha not really! Okay maybe I was a bit cynical because of my day at Prayas, but I guess I was indulging on the wonderful foods too. There were a lot of VIP..'s there. I cannot remember the guest of honor.. I think a defencesecretary of India.. I cannot remember! A few did traditional dances.. Philbert and Jeff were dancing! It was really cute! I want to learn the dance, because it was so graceful! I really enjoyed myself. ..n..nPecos (Ishta..'s daddy) got in from Uganda today and is going to be here for a while! ..n..n..n",0]
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After I went to Prayas I took an auto to Pryia. I met Tashobya and Nick at Yo China. It is the Panda express of India.. but totally authentic and nothing like panda! We did some shopping, and I got a mani/pedi for the Gala. Okay it was probably more for me, and I was justifying my splendor. I met a woman from Hilton Head Island! I was really excited to talk to an american about a place that I totally love! It has been raining like crazy..Monsoon
On the way home my auto guy got pulled over twice. I think it was his first day, and usually that would have really tickled my belly, but I was soo stressed because it was 5:30 and the Rwandese Independence Day Gala started at 7.. I had not straightened my hair..Ahyaiyai
The Gala was a Red carpet affair! It was so much fun! The girls and I wore our sarees, as you have probably seen in the pictures. It was very nice, besides all of the old diplomats hitting on me like I was fresh bait. It was really cool to see all of the people dressed up eating and drinking like lavishing goats.. haha not really! Okay maybe I was a bit cynical because of my day at Prayas, but I guess I was indulging on the wonderful foods too. There were a lot of VIP's there. I cannot remember the guest of honor.. I think a defence secretary of India.. I cannot remember! A few did traditional dances.. Philbert and Jeff were dancing! It was really cute! I want to learn the dance, because it was so graceful! I really enjoyed myself.
Pecos (Ishta's daddy) got in from Uganda today and is going to be here for a while!

The India Times

Howdy
The last couple of days have been fun! Tashobya's friends from Bangalore are down for the week. Oh my word, there is a guy named Nick, and seriously he is the funniest guy that I have ever met. Even looking at him I start to laugh. He has an afro with a red stripe down the middle, and he has Madonna teeth. His laugh is hilerious, as soon as he starts to laugh you can not help but to join him! We have had a fun time with those guys! Friday night we did nothing, and I was too hyper for my own good. I do not know what possessed me, but I was bouncing off of the ceiling for hours. I settled down for a Simpsons episode, and then made I got really hungry. At 2am I decided to make french frys. I didn't know how to make them, and Tashobya got stuck with the job. My energy extended into the next day. I woke up Saturday morning psycho again! I ended up going to Priya and eating at Chokola! I seriously have a passion for that place. It is a God sent.That night we hung out with everyone and watched movies. I am reading an Anne Rice book presently, and Queen pf the Damned came on, so I was entertained! Philibert came over and we made plans to go to the National Museum. Sunday morning Philbert and I went to the museum. It was really nice....Except for the fact that I was at the India gate and there was a bomb threat at the gate. They found no bomb. I went to church. It was a very nice service, because God moved as always! Ishta did an excellent job preaching, and I did the scripture reading. I went to sleep early.. Today I woke up and went to Prayas. It was a nice day, but I really did not spend a lot of time with the kids. I taught my guitar lesson and then helped in the office with some legal papers. I left and walked to Priya! It was such an adventure. I was safe, and one of my students even walked with me! I got a bit lost, but it was a refreshing walk. When I got to Priya I went to the grocery market. I cooked tonight so I had to get ingredient. My meal was really good! I made sole fish on a half cup of rice. When I bought the fish they gave it to me in whole, as in with the eyes, fins, and gills, but I must have showed my fright in my expression, and the deli guy fillet it for me. I also cooked mashed potatoes, stir-fried okra, french bread, and chocolate sundays with kiwi and pineapple! It was wonderful!! So that is my weekend! Oh by the way my last blog was not accurate with the death count on the bombings in Mumbi. It was like 260 dead and 700 injured.. So keep the families in your prayers, and never keep not only your country, but all of the worlds government and trials. India really needs prayer, but so does every other country. God Bless

Monsoon has Arrived

Namaste friends,
These last couple of days have been so fantastic! I have been at Prayas everyday, and totally loving it. These kids make me feel so badly. They are so precious and they have nothing. The camp that they live in is built on a dump. Most of them are either homeless or were rescued from trafficking or child labour. It really kills me every time they look at me with their eyes full of hope, but their hope downed by pain and fear. You can tell that many of them have been through hell, and yet they are so strong. It really disintegrated my pride to see a little girl that has scars all over her body just rubbing my arms in total amazement. They all have skin problems. It turns my stomach to see a lot of their faces, because they have nasty bumps, or open wombs, and some even have huge bruises. I think this experience has been the most eye opening because these kids are so joyful even though materialistically they have nothing. Kids in the US can be soo bratty. I am not saying these kids are perfect, but they are soldiers. Some of them are 6 years old and have already worked in a factory. Or the 10 year old that has already been a prostitute. It should really make us take a step back and reflect.. Also what is really mesmerizing is that these kids pray so much and are totally serious about it. Religion is such a huge part of life here, and I just hope that I can match their dedication. WE are so fortunate....
What else has happened?! I have been taking pictures like crazy, but this computer has issues and will not allow me to publish them to a website. I have not been able to sleep and that has been kind of stressful, but melatonin will help me there! My week has been relatively boring! I went to church Sunday, and I wore my saree, and it was too hot. Oh my word, I was praise singing and I nearly passed out. Monday I went to Prayas, and slept the rest of the day, because I was stupid and started a mystery a few hours before a normal bed hour, and I had to finish it. Tuesday was a day at Prayas, then I took an auto to Pryia, and ate at Pizza Hut! That was a great time. Then later that night I Went to Bible study. It was a great study. Every Tuesday night bible study is at Dpekah's house. She is such a sweet heart! She got us McDonalds last week, because it was her birthday. She is soo wonderful. God needs to send her a man! Today I went to Prayas, and went straight home, because the girls at the beauty class got a hold of me, and they asked me if they could put lip stick on me, and I said sure.. That was the wrong thing to say! The whole class saw opportunity, and surrounded me with pencils and brushes.. I know I may be a bit gaunt and my hair may be a little frizzy from Monsoon, but dang they really wanted to make me look better! I came out of the room looking like a clown.. YIKES! They were saying "You are looking verdy verdy smart!" ha.. it was a funny time. So.. I have to get dressed because I am going to this girls house that I met at Philberts house. Her pops is an ambassador to Congo I think?! I am excited.. She has friends from Brussels visiting her. I met this guy in a coffee shop the other day ( he is from Mumbi, I hope he is okay with all of the bombings today) he is a model.. and dang he was the most attractive guy I have seen in awhile, and he told me that I was "looking verdy cutes.. " haha...well good thing that is not my focus at all! How can I go from anti-trafficking to models in one blog. It's me so I guess anything is possible. Not too predictable! I have to teach Bible study tomorrow. I wish I would have brought over material from school. That would have been really smart! Next visit...Always next time! Saturday we have a party to attend after prayer. It is going to be for this guy named Lee that is the Tanzanian ambassadors son. We met at the south African high commission memorial thing. So that will be fun to be formal for the night! I am going to raid the kitchen and try to find something to munch on.. I am starved! I wish I could post pictures. I will probably end up posting them on blogger or hello.. So all of you get hello from google. I feel like I am missing something...Oh yeah last night there were seven bombings in Mumbi, which is the same distance of Houston from Austin. That is a bit close for comfort. 100 or more people were killed and 200 at least were injured. So please pray for the families of the deceased, the safety of the people of India..including myself, and wisdom for the authorities so that they can find, and put whoever it is to justice. Alrighty Ciao for now..>

The Grand.

Today I was feeling...hot (because there has been a blackout over Delhi all week), Grumpy (because I have not been alone once since I have been here), and deprived (because I have wanted other food besides INDIAN cuisine.. which I have not been able to put in my mouth since my glimpse of death sickness last week), and mostly homesick (because I live with a family that is very much a family, and as much as they try to make me family...I am not). So, I took myself out to the Grand hotel. It was safe, because I can see it from my flat. I went there with the intention to swim at the spa, but when I got there I went to this uber posh sushi restaurant. It was so nice! I had my sushi and read the news paper, and then had this wonderful desert, Five spice chocolate pudding and caramel gelatto! YUMM! It was nice the to be totally alone, and the only thing I had to worry about was.. well nothing! Then I went to the spa, and I was going to swim, but instead I went to the Cafe. I was placed in front of this HUGE window, which viewed the court yard with all of its fountains and landscape Majesty! I ordered coffee, and after reading my book for about an hour I decided I wanted a croissant. I asked for one, and they brought me this basket full of all types of pastries, muffins, and croissants. I was like, "Oh my word this is going to break me, no more eating while in Delhi!" The manager came up to me and said, "You are looking (nod of the head) verdy verdy familiar. You are Drew Berrymore are you not?!" ha.. "no I am not!" Please someone tell me I do not look like her. That is twice that someone has actually thought that I was her. Not just looking like her, but actually wanting my autograph. So I continued reading and eating as a glutenous hog. I sat there for a few hours, and then finally asked for my tab. The manager came to me and informed me that He, a waiter, and a man at the bar split my tab! Wow.. I love being a woman! haha.. He said it was because I was so kind to them! So.. actually it is just my Godly personality peaking through, and maybe a little bit of men being men...I am sick of this blackout.. It is way to hot for this..It is insanity! I am going to Prayas to work tomorrow, and I pray that the fans will be working... Pray church pray! Tomorrow I am going to the Rwandan ambassador's to swim, after work. SO... this means I will get a converter. His driver took my camera chord two weeks ago, and said he was going to get me a converter.. I have not been back over, which explains the lack there of pictures! Tomorrow is a new day and new meaning will come to my life in the form of a digital screen... You will see so many pictures you will be sick! I can not believe that I did not observe my American Independence day.. I am a lousy citizen. I forgot to even say "God bless America", because I forgot it was the day! I am going to celebrate the Rwandan Independence day on the 19h.. There is going to be a gala. As for the church progress... We had the largest crowd that I have ever seen the other day. There were about 25 people at home bible study, and I was speaking that day. I am really enjoying teaching Bible Studies, it is edifying both in spirit and responsibility. Sherry went to Uganda for the rest of the summer, so i have the room all to myself! And anyone who knows me knows that I am loving the alone time. I have realized that my family is very reserved. Well compared to this African culture that I have entered into. Like I can be at him and read in my room for hours, and no one will enter, or think it is selfish of me to want to be alone. I thrive on my alone times. It is weird my perfect day is either being totally alone praying,reading, eating, drawing, meditating, or doing yoga. To some that is so weird and selfish.. Do not get me wrong I love being with people, but I have realized that my closest friends are the ones that I can go to a coffee shop with and we do not have to say a single word to one another, and we feel completely comfortable.. not an awkward silence in sight! I guess I am just a social... I am not going to say "dud" because I can be a butterfly if I feel like it.. I do not know.. I guess I am just content with making myself happy, only with Gods help! Well That is all for now..
Tkea*