The road of life can only reveal itself as it is traveled; each turn in the road reveals a surprise. -Unknown
Shuman peers over her mother's sholder, gracing the camera with an ever-so-slight smirk that leaves us with the impression that she knows something that we don't know. Slightly sly, but definitely amused, since you're just not in on the joke. I loved the kids in India. Every place I've traveled has taught me something different. India taught me many things, but for sure it revolutionized the way I relate to kids. An orphanage is a unique place where you fall in love with children. But before I make those of us who were there sound so good, rest assured it was the kids who loved us first. A very no-strings-attached group. Then there was my little brother. They all called him that. I even called him that, though I tried hard not to be partial and love all the children the same, but when he took my hand and called me his big sister...well. And so half my heart will always be in India with Shankhui, my little brother, and all the others that gave so much and expected so little in return.
This year the country on the horizon has changed a bit though I'm sure there will be many similarities to the past. Much of the success that I hope and pray for I will attribute to my experiences in India and the many lessons I learned, the many small advances made. I know the battle is more than half won when I cease to be a foreigner and instead become a friend or even part of the family.
I invite you to join me in my journey. Promise not to hold it too hard against me when I make stupid mistakes. Promise to learn lessons from my stories, and I won't feel I've wasted my time. There is a saying, "Laugh and the world laughs with you, cry and you cry alone." In that way this blog is for me too. This way I know that when I laugh you will laugh with me and when I cry I won't have to cry alone.
melissa
Life is a series of surprises, and would not be worth taking or keeping if it were not.-Ralph Waldo Emerson
