Wow my followers list is looking pretty weak haha. If people ask about my trip et them know i do have a blog they can check in on.
I am really bad with keeping this blog because I dont have my own computer so i have to borrow it from one of the girls staying here. I will do my best with keeping up with all the neat stories i have of my stay so far.

The other day i blew my nose the first time i have been here and it came out black... I am noticing the pollution more and more and how it is affecting my body. I did not think i would have to do much with my skin while i was here because i am not wearing make up but when i wash my face at night there is a layer of dust that comes off...
Bathing is quite the task here... We heat up the biggest pot they have on the stove and pour it into a big bucket. The bathroom is cold and has a window that is constantly open so i frantically pour cup-fulls of hot water over my head while trying to rub soap on my body, shampoo and condition my hair and stay warm all at the same time.. You guys may think i am being a wimp thinking, "how could india be THAT cold?" believe me,the only way of getting warm is than drinking tea constantly and curling up in my sleeping bag. Some days when the fog is not too heavy we can see the sun and it warms up outside, those are the best days. :)

My name around the house is Marni Dee Dee. Dee Dee Means big sister. They have a hard time saying Marni so is always comes out sounding more like Mori or mardi... They decided that Tara DeeDee should be my name instead, meaning Star. But whenever they called me Tara, i would not listen. I think we have decided whatever they can pronounce from Marni they can call me.
When i was using a bicycle Rickshaw the other day with Deesa(the organizer here at New Hope) we went down a pretty rough part of town.. all the little shacks had different coloured houses. Deesa told me that we were in the "untouchable" area with people who suffered from Leprosy. The ones who had Leprocy had Pink coloured homes so people know not to go there.. They lived right next to a cremation grounds. Just an open area where i could see freely into and see the smoke coming up from each cremation. People live right next to it, breathing peoples ashes.. Individuals who have leprosy are mostly the ones who work here.

I have found out why there are so many cows who just wander the streets like people!! They walk around constantly high off of Car exhaust! there is so much gas emmisions that they are constantly stoned! Its kind of funny but pretty sad at the same time. I mean these cows are walking around high and are just pure skin and bones.. They are suffering and look like they will drop dead at any second. I am no Cow lover or anything but atleast put them out of their misery!! The Hindi religion focuses on reincarnation so people allow these cows to walk around town like they are humans because it coul dbe their aunt or uncle. Its just odd that if the cow is sacred, why are they starving and treated like dirt? hmm...

Yesterday I went to the girls school. I was warned i would get some stares but i didnt think much of it because everywhere i go people are gawking at me. But at the school it was absolutely hilarious! I waled around from one girls room to the other and everywhere i went a mob of kids followed behind. I felt subconscious but also like a movie star. They were asking to shake my hand and touch me. The entire school was following me. It was quite the experience, I will put the video i have of it on facebook.

I really am enjoying these girls. I was helping organizing the office yesterday while the girls where at school and i was sorting out each other the girls files. I read their stories about why they have come to New Hope and it just breaks my heart. I cant believe these cute, happy girls had to endure such awful things in their life. The youngest girl here has got in trouble countless times for eating from the garbage's. She is not hungry, because they are constantly being fed more than i thought their stomachs could handle, but just doing it out of habit. When she lived in the slums she would eat from the gutters and garbage because they had no food.
Now to see her everyday with the brightest smile and most outgoing personality i would never have guessed she came from somewhere so dark and ugly.
It is so humbling being here with these amazing girls.

This weekend the volunteers and I are going to Jaipur for a couple day excursion. I am really looking forward to it! We are all wanting to stay somewhere cheap but our only request is somewhere with a REAL SHOWER!!

Love you all!