everyone dropped out!

Well I spoke to the program director of my trip because she had to do a last minute check in with me before I leave and I was (semi)shocked to find out that there are only three people coming on the trip with me. There is supposed to be about ten but everyone dropped out because of the recent "terrorist" attacks.

ARE YOU SERIOUS.

haha

I mean come on... now it's just me and two other girls (love how I'm sure all the males dropped out as soon as the news hit). I have a feeling we will all get along and want to travel together.

I found out that one of the girls is working in the placement I am so that eases any insecurities I had about that.

It is really hard to explain how I am feeling right now. SO EXCITED. SO NERVOUS.

I'm not nervous because I think I might get caught in some sort of anti-western attack, I am nervous because I am going off into the unknown! I am glad I worked in my internship with people from around the same area (Nepalese) because it eases my worries about being offensive or saying the wrong thing. I know people are very relaxed and want to learn from me as much as I want to learn from them.

So excited, I feel bad for everyone that is not going to be honest!

haha that's all.

I have to get all my things together and I've made a list of things I shouldn't forget. The next post will probably be minutes before I leave. Alright goodluck me.

I just got my placement.

I just got an e-mail today saying that I am placed with an organization called Mobile Creches. They are an organization that "enables young children of marginalized and mobile populations to develop into competent and confident individuals."

So basically I will be working with children from the ages of 4-7, which I am at a loss as to what I should be doing! They gave me a list of things to do, this includes:

· Organize activities, including games, songs

and arts & crafts.

· Assist the staff with daily routines

· Teaching Nursery Rhymes, Alphabets, colors,

animal names, fruit names, Vegetables names

· Provide individual attention to the children.

· Pre school activities like learning to share etc

· Be a role model. Encourage and praise the

children while also enforcing rules of good behavior.

I have little experience with children so I will be doing a lot of research in the next couple of weeks and I hope to bring things from America over. The agency has a strong policy about ensuring that volunteers do not leave "gifts" because they believe it creates a dependence on outsiders.
I'm going to have to ask Michele for some ideas.

Other than that I am very excited to go! 16 more days.

Less than a month.

Times keeps ticking by.
In 22 days I'll be getting on my plane to India.
I have to say I'm much more nervous because of the recent anti-western events there. If you look on the map, New Delhi (where I'm staying) is very close to Pakistan. (Not to say that I necessarily believe the attacks can be associated with Pakistan). I'm hoping that things will be completely settled by the time I get there. I mean, anything can happen... ANYWHERE, while I'm gone, something could happen in America.
I haven't told many people about my trip but I'm going to be staying in a flat in New Delhi in a middle class neighborhood and working in the community in an NGO (Non-Governmental Organization).

I found a picture of what a market place looks like there (see above). I will definitely be taking a lot of pictures while I'm there so I'll have actual pictures of what I'm seeing then.

For now, I can say that I don't have much support from family about going to India because they are afraid I will fall victim to some sort of terrorist attack. Most people have tried to talk me out of going and I know I should be in more of a selfpreservation mode but I am definitely going to go. The organization I am going with has not contacting me saying things are too dangerous to go so I am not worried.
Other than that, I think I am going to buy most of my clothes to wear when I get there so it is culturally and socially appropriate.

Well I'm leaving work soon so I'll end this entry.