Good-Bye India

Well, the last day is over.

I went to placement and spent the day with the remaining seven kids (since 20 have moved on to different work sites with their families). We blew bubbles and then I gave the teachers a thank you note and showed them pictures of my family and Seattle. They gave me a note of thanks and some hand-made paper flowers. There were tears and so many feelings. The hardest is knowing I will most likely never see these children again or know what has become of them. I know that what I gained from teaching them these past four weeks has been priceless.

I can't say enough about Mobile Creches - it is so India, so organized, and so necessary to give these kids just the smallest chance in this big busy country.

Three of us then journeyed on our "mission" into Connaught Place and Main Market. It was a quick trip (three hours)but it was all India - the big, the small, the rich, the poor - all the colors, horns, and of course, the people I have come to know in a very special way.

I leave today for Hong Kong and then Japan (arriving Sunday afternoon). I have gotten to have time with some of the folks from Dharamshala (Donna and Tom) to catch up and rebond - very nice. I am all packed. While I write this, it is quite cold out and foggy - hope flights are not delayed too much - though I have a 10 hour layover in Hong Kong - nice planning!

So now, to a last walk in the park - through market, and then a note to the staff thanking them.

I am totally without words to describe these last 12 weeks. I miss Cliff and DP friends and others, but at the same time, this has been so eye-opening, mind blowing, and perspective shattering, that it will take me some time to "process" it all.

More pictures and thanks will be coming this way. I will do my best to blog from Tokyo- but as a tourist...different eyes again. I have a lot planned for my five full days and a bit more. Compared to 12 weeks it seems like almost a flyover.

Good-bye India - thank you for showing yourself to me in all your colors, chaos and beauty. I will never forget - I will spread the word.