Today was one of the most incredible days in India. Although it started out rather poorly due to being ripped off by a motor rickshaw driver, it very quickly turned around. Today was the day that we met the peeps from Prayasam, my service learning site. Whoever knows me, know that I have an immense heart for children. Sometimes I feel that children/ young adults are truly the only ones that understand my odd personality. Sometimes children/ young adults get me better than anyone else. We went to Prayasam and met the founder and creator, Amlan. He was the most humble and hilarious man I've met in India. He was extremely passionate about Prayasam, and every time he talked about the children/young adults, his eyes were sparkling. He couldn't keep from smiling. He told us that Rita and I will switch on and off from library cataloging to painting. He said, and I am not exaggerating in the slightest, "Anywhere you see white. Paint. And invite the kids to paint with you." Sir, you bet I will do that! I think the whole philosophy of Prayasam is breathtaking. Prayasam means, "Try". That's all they want the youth to do. Just try. As they say at Prayasam, "Everyone is family here." It is so incredibly true. I couldn't help but feel that they were hugging us countless times, metaphorically, of course. It really is such an empowering atmosphere, and everyone who is a part of Prayasam is AMAZING.
Mekla, who works for Prayasam and LOVES to talk and read, and whom I adore, took us to the first village and field, RAC, that Prayasam ever worked at. We met some of the leaders of the team of Prayasam. A few of the names that I remember are (and please know the spelling is probably wrong) : Salim, Probir, Sikha, Prianca, Shumit, Apurna, two Pria's, and others that I can't remember or definitely can't spell. When we got there, they were creating a map of their entire colony or district so that it can be put on Google maps so that people know about them. UNICEF has already done an entire story on their work. It's literally a huge sheet of paper, and they're mapping out where everything is. I was certainly not doing this between the ages of 13-18. At first, they were shy and afraid to speak English to us, but after a while, and once we showed them a few Bangla terms that we murdered, they laughed and were able to talk to us a little bit more in English. Seriously, these kids are hipsters, and what's even better is that they don't even know they're hipsters. I LOVE THEM. I don't even know them, and I'm sure they're frightened of me, but I absolutely love them. This is exactly where I thrive. AHHHHHH!!! Words cannot explain how joyful I am that the Lord has blessed me with Prayasam. I'm going to make some best friends at Prayasam, whether they want it or not. Better yet, I'm going to make some didi's and dada's or sisters and brothers at Prayasam.
Mekla, who works for Prayasam and LOVES to talk and read, and whom I adore, took us to the first village and field, RAC, that Prayasam ever worked at. We met some of the leaders of the team of Prayasam. A few of the names that I remember are (and please know the spelling is probably wrong) : Salim, Probir, Sikha, Prianca, Shumit, Apurna, two Pria's, and others that I can't remember or definitely can't spell. When we got there, they were creating a map of their entire colony or district so that it can be put on Google maps so that people know about them. UNICEF has already done an entire story on their work. It's literally a huge sheet of paper, and they're mapping out where everything is. I was certainly not doing this between the ages of 13-18. At first, they were shy and afraid to speak English to us, but after a while, and once we showed them a few Bangla terms that we murdered, they laughed and were able to talk to us a little bit more in English. Seriously, these kids are hipsters, and what's even better is that they don't even know they're hipsters. I LOVE THEM. I don't even know them, and I'm sure they're frightened of me, but I absolutely love them. This is exactly where I thrive. AHHHHHH!!! Words cannot explain how joyful I am that the Lord has blessed me with Prayasam. I'm going to make some best friends at Prayasam, whether they want it or not. Better yet, I'm going to make some didi's and dada's or sisters and brothers at Prayasam.
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