Well this should be my last post from India (MAJOR DOWNER!). The last 36 hours have been a whirlwind of emotions and crazy out of this world experiences. I don't want to get into the details but the ride back from Varanasi was a disaster thanks to some unforeseen and unwanted delays which shouldn't have happened. That said though we are back and no worries...nothing bad happened just some major frustrations.

Volunteers from the Body Shop describe their experience visiting MadeBySurvivors partner shelters

 Will the amazing experiences ever end? Today was CRAZY to say the least. It actually started last night at the Kolkata train station. We boarded a train to Varanasi at 9pm.

I don't have alot of time to post but I wanted to relay the experience I had yesterday at the Muslim Festival for Maharram. Salma and Shayma took me to the burial place of prince Alil where the main ceremony was being held. We started to go inside they prevented Salma and Shayma from entering because they were female. That left me., so I decided to dive into it head first and all I have to say is WOW! 

I just got back from attending a lecture given my Catherine Mackinnon at the American Center in Kolkata. It was one of the most passionate and heartfelt lectures I have ever heard. For those of you unfamiliar with Catherine Mackinnon (and if you work for TBS you should be ashamed if you dont know her - lol)...allow me to school you....

 As I write this it's Wednesday at 4:27pm. We had a jam packed day yesterday and I ha vent had a chance to go over it yet and then there is today, so this may be long one. 

Yesterday was a very interesting day for me. I attended an IGP (income generation project) meeting with Sarah, the founder of TEN and Becky , the kick ass "guide" we have here from the states. We visited one of their suppliers named Rumesh and he was one of the most pleasant and welcoming people I have ever met. We had a meeting to determine future orders and I was able to give my feedback on styles, colors, and what's hot.

I thought I would post some random thoughts about India for you so here you go...in honor of TBS I'll do it in Greens and Reds (LOL).

I spent the day working with survivors. Young, lost, sold, alone.
After a day of puppets, sticky with glue and soaked with giggles, I got this note...

Been another great day and we are so happy. Today was our day off and it was a weird day but fun all the same. What did we do today? We spent the day at the...mall! LOL...you're probably like, what the hell are they doing in a mall in India but when we found out that there was a Body Shop in the mall we of course had to check it out! The name of the mall was South City Mall and it looked and felt like any mall in the US. VERY strange sight to see considering everything we've already seen but it was a good thing we went. First we had coffee at the a great coffee shop and had the best conversation.

Is it a dream? If it is, I never want to awake from it's slumber. Even though we have only been here for 2 days I can tell you that I am a changed person. Since arriving in India an unexplainable calm, peace and serenity has blanketed me like the fog that hovers over kolkata seemingly endless. I truly feel that the English language just doesn't have the words to truly express what we are experiencing. I have seen things that I will never forget in my entire life and some that I hope I forget by tomorrow but I know will continue to haunt me for the rest of my days. India is everything I thought it would be but on a more heightened level.