Jo's Travels

My cold is worse; I decided to leave India. I'm so bummed; had just planned some really cool trips, thinking this cold was minor. It's not, and I'm not up for the struggle with it, so heading home. What a strange trip this has been! India is such a fascinating place, I was really looking forward to exploring it. It will have to be another time. For now, just focused on getting home and recuperating. These bones of mine are feeling really old. Ugh.

After a dark night of the soul, I decided to leave the school. I was going to explain it all, but too wore out. So I'm at a hotel, recuperating, or so I hoped. But my cold is getting worse. It reminds me of the bad one I got last winter in December and ran over into Maui. It's feeling the same and concerns me. So now I'm debating with myself whether I call it a day and go home or wait it out. Hanging out in a hotel here for a month doesn't sound good; and that last one was longer than a month. Ugh. What a strange, strange trip this has been. Yowza! Stay healthy!

 Well, I've taught a few classes, yikes.  It's pretty bad. I keep telling myself to be hopeful and see how it goes.  And remind myself of all the issues these kids have dealt with, are dealing with, etc.  It's still hard.  And I believe we need to expect more from them behavior wise.  I'm still in a bit of shock I think.  We only have wifi in the teachers lounge, so I think I will start typing in my dorm room and then just publish when I get in the teachers room with the wifi.  I've been decompressing by reading in my room, which helps a lot.  And good to have peace and quiet.  The kids are lively for sure!  I'm behind in my posting, and will catch up later.  The monsoon season has started; the rain was wonderful, and only part of the day.  It really helps cool things off, so like that! Gotta run....

 I'm here.  It's wild! And I love it.  Just finished the tour of campus with Thenmozhi, the student in the documentary.  She's 20 years old now, staring college, and delightful!  So fun to meet her in person and hear her story.  Will write more later, probably tomorrow after my computer is set up.  Borrowing the wifi now.  This campus is beautiful, I just love it!  Weird bars on our windows, felt really locked in, was literally for some time yesterday after arriving. A strange situation with the locks, ahem.... But this morning laying in bed, looking thru the bars on my window, and saw the palm trees.  The palm fronds were blowing gently in the breeze; it calmed me right down.  I don't know what it is about palm trees, but they have always done it for me.  It makes everything right in my world.  Ahhhh.

 9 a.m., just walked by 3 guys having a beer together! After getting thru Frankfurt airport, almost thought of joining them! Think I'll get some coffee instead.  Had a wild ride on 2 different buses across the tarmac after many stairs and hallways, very strange.  Could be the lack of sleep too! On to India.

Oh my gosh, it's actually happening! Getting ready to board for my 9 1/2 hour flight to Frankfurt, a nice layover, and then a 9 hr. flight to Bangalore, India. This last week I watched the documentary again; it was so different this time. Seeing the school, Shanti Bhavan, and realizing I would be walking around that campus in less than a week, was pretty exciting! As some of you know, I had originally planned on doing this last October. 2 weeks before I was supposed to leave, I fell off one of those electric scooters in Canada and broke a rib. Wow, I had no idea a broken rib hurt so much and took so long to heal. So I am feeling very happy to be healthy and able to do this now. The electricity might be a challenge and some concerns with the solar system, and its monsoon season. So this could be a really short blog!! Ok, off to my adventure!