Easter Break!

I'm getting good at killing spiders, moths and silverfish. Bugs are the most difficult thing for me to get accustomed to here, and they are the things that make me the most homesick. My high school core group girls know how much I hate spiders (I had sort of a melt-down at a sleepover once). So, finding at least 4 bugs a day in my room is difficult to get used to! They're big and startling! I don't like to spend much time in my dorm room, so I spend a lot of time outside....There are less bugs out there.

The girls here are so friendly and AWESOME! The ones around my age have invited me to travel and shop with them during this Easter Break. We went to church on Sunday, and lunch with at the pastor's. Following, Amy and I went swimming and read books by the pool on the beautiful sunny day. It feels a bit like Lake Arrowhead here, with the nice weather and lush, gorgeous trees.

On Monday, we braved the 3+ hour trek to Coimbatore. I went with Louise, Wendy and Amy. I love cultural differences between us, and the fact that we all connect so well. These godly women are an Irish math teacher, an Australian music teacher, and an English art teacher.

On Tuesday, I went swimming with Amy, then to dinner at a good Chinese restaurant. I had my first garlic naan! Yumm!

Since then, Amy and I traveled to the Ooty Library, Ooty museum, and a great French restaurant. I'm enjoying my break, even though I feel homesick :-)

My emotional rollercoaster: The bads and the goods

With this mixture of my 4th day of being sick to my stomach, and still being new here, I've had a mix of emotions. Having to forego meals and be confined to my bed makes me feel very alone.

Fear
Anger
Tears
Illness
Pain
Loneliness
Homesickness
Weakness
Laughter
Mercy (Recipient)
Stomach Ache
Faint-Spells
Low Energy
Joyful
Happiness
Humor
Boredom
Exhaustion
Interested in conversation
Nervous
Blessed
Connected
Joyful
Thankful
Content

God graciously gave me some joyful surprises throughout the day, like a laugh with Aaron, a talk with Ruthie, a good movie, and dinner with Amy, Chris and Fiona. Thank you Lord!

My little prayer warriors

Today was my day of illness and nostalgia. I ate something that made me get sick to my stomach. For the last 48 hours, I've been either in bed, in the bathroom, or in the campus hospital. I haven't eaten anything but broth and toast. Tonight I was diagnosed with dehydration and low blood pressure, so I stayed in the hospital bed for the evening. Being tired, sick and bored made me miss my family so much. There is something about a mother and father's care, and a sister's kiss on the cheek when I'm feeling under the weather. I get to talk with them here on video chat, and I'm so thankful for that, but it's just not the same.

I've been resting and reading a lot. I watched The Time Traveler's Wife, and it just made me miss Aaron more. Sometimes, I go out to the garden just to get some fresh air and sit on the bench. Seeing the kids walk by make me smile. They laugh, play and climb trees. Most of them know I'm sick because this is such a small school. One 4-year-old, Ashley, said in her cute British accent, "I hope you feel better soon, Miss Winter!" One 9-year-old girl, Anna, said to me tonight, "The elementary school prayed for you today. We hope you're feeling better," as I was walking to the campus hospital. What a blessing these beautiful children are. I can't help but smile and thank them. I thank God for the ways he is bringing people as substitutes for my family and Aaron while I'm missing them. Pray for my healing!

Weekend #1

Good weekend. Really, really good weekend.

On Saturday, I woke up to the sound of the little boys in my dorm complex playing and having fun. I'm honestly thankful I'm in the 3rd-5th grade boy dorm because they are so cute! They always have so much fun and they are crazy! I want one....sometime :-)

Soon after waking, I spoke with my parents and grandparents on video chat. I love them! They are so encouraging and affirming. After, I went to have some time with God in the large botanical gardens a few minute's walk away, where hundreds of tourists occupy. It was beautiful, and I got to meet lots of locals and tourists. I forgot how unusual and white I look compared to the locals here. I then headed up to Andrew and Joy's flat to have a homemade British lunch with their family. Joy made toasted ham and cheese sandwiches, and for dessert-chocolate and cream profiteroles! Look at my facebook album for pics.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=68603825&aid=2087949&s=0&hash=2059cd115aa42c1bf519194c6e046694

That night, the school's student council put on a 60's event called "Purple Haze," complete with costumes, performances and tons of food. I bought a bunch of things to support their fundraising. A couple of the songs really reminded me of home- "Need You Know" by Lady Antebellum and "Beer on the Table" by Josh Thompson. The kids' fake American accent is really funny, especially when they're attempting the country twang.

On Sunday, I went to church with Stef and Amy at Tamil Baptist, a church who preaches in the local language, Tamil, and has it translated into English. It was a beautiful Easter service and I was really glad we sang "Christ the Lord is Risen Today." The pastor and his wife had us over for a delicious Indian lunch. It was so nice and I was blessed to get to know them!

The parents of the boarding school kids are in town for the biannual parents week where the kids get to show their parents around their school, and temporary "home." Tonight, it's 6:30 pm and I'm heading out to the Chapel for a service at which a bunch of missionary parents are sharing their testimonies and their ministries. I'm so excited to hear from the missionaries!

Me, Stefanie, Amy and Elly

These girls are so great :-)

God's gift of friends

I got my luggage! It's been quite an experience of which I'm grateful to be forced to go out with my luggage for these 6 days. I've been loaned 4 salwars from my new friend, Katie, and 3 of them from Dr. Revanthi. Stefanie, a teacher from Oregon, went shopping with me to get toiletries, a power surge protector, sandals and a salwar. God has shown His faithfulness and provision as I've been with out my familiar things packed in my 2 checked suitcases. Getting them late last night was a surprising blessing!

It's been a relaxing Friday. At 6 a.m., I woke up and decided to watch Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs in bed. At 9, I went to the school's Good Friday service, then video chatted with my Dad, Grandad, Grandma and Aaron online. Seeing my loved ones, from across the world, every once in a while is a really neat thing. Mom, I want to video chat with you again soon!

I watched 17 Dresses this afternoon to unwind and relax. You'll notice in the photo I've cut my own bangs...I got a bit bored and wanted a little change of appearance. Later, I went to visit Amy's flat; she's pictured the 3rd girl, between Stafanie and Elly (far right). She made us some tea and we chatted about love lives. It turns out a lot of the single women here have attachments overseas as I do. She met me in the places where I miss Aaron. It's alright, though. I believe this distance is a good thing for both of us to go through. Later, a bunch of the staff went out to eat at an Indian hotel. I had a strawberry milkshake, cheese dolsa (like a crepe), and finger chips (french fries)!

Hinduism and Hugs

I've been coughing and sneezing so much lately. I thought I had caught a cold yesterday, but today I realize, I'm allergic to the dust on most of the books and walls here. I found out that I'm also allergic to my sheets, so I took them off before I slept. It's much better now. I slept much better last night. 8 hours!

Sleep comes easier than I thought it would. Since I'm a light sleeper, you'd think I'd be up all night with the noises outside my walls. The 4-6th grade boys who live in my dorm complex shout, laugh and pound about like elephants. Wild dogs bark, growl and fight outside noisily from dark until about 3 a.m. A Hindu call to worship, an Indain singing voice on a loud speaker, wakes me up every morning at about 5 a.m. It sounds so eery and demonic, it disturbs me and I can't get back to sleep. I'm so thankful that our God is more powerful than any false one, and much more powerful than the evil one himself. I put my ipod in my ears to drown out the Hindu singing and pray for a few more hours of sleep until I have to get up at 7:30. I haven't been able to sleep past 6 yet, but it's ok. Birds start chirping and keep me company at about 6:30, and I enjoy getting dressed early and going out to the gardens outside.

I haven't been hugged by anyone since my parents and boyfriend hugged me goodbye. Aaron was the last person I hugged, really, the last person I touched, minus the cordial hand-shakes I've politely received. I'm very concerned about being culturally appropriate, so I know that it's not permissible to touch a man. But even with women, I'm not sure yet, is it alright to hug the women I've become friends with? Is it acceptable to ask a girl for a hug goodnight? Is it alright to hug a student goodbye after we've had a conversation in her dorm at night? I've never gone a couple of days with out a hug, and I'm learning that even though physical touch isn't one of my main love languages, I do need it. It's one of the ways I feel love.