Hope this won't be the last post by kt

I have been unable to blog until now. The words simply aren't coming to me. There are things that I want to mention in the interest of full disclosure, but I also must respect all those involved and exercise professional courtesy, even if certain individuals do not deserve that.

Instead of writing of negative experiences, which thankfully were few and far in between, I would like to give props to those who deserve it.

In no particular order:

The Indian delegates. Anu, Anil, Bharath, Krishna, Vikas, Roopa, Fathima, and Anand. I know that we all had doubts about the effectiveness of our work, if any, but you all quickly dispelled any doubts that we had. Even if it was different than what we all originally imagined, it was clear from your skit at the closing ceremony that we did have an impact. More importantly, it was clear that you guys learned from this experience and our hope is that you will take it all to heart and continue the work that we started together.

Anantadev Das. For your honesty and your patience. This program would not have been a success without you and I know that we all hope to be able to work with you again.

Chandra Mouli. I think we all fell in love with your giggle! What I am most impressed with is your positive attitude at all times. We know it is not easy, as you always say. Yet, you manage to pull it off and it is clear that you have the best interests of the Indian Deaf at heart.

Smitha's family.

Patti, who is Smitha's grandmother. For she graciously welcomed us into her home on several occasions and gave us food, a place to sleep, shower, and rest.

Rathna and JS also deserve huge thank yous from us. Not only are they allowing us to stay with them right now, but they also let the four of us stay here when we first arrived in Bangalore. I know we all fell in love with their coffee and more importantly, both of them as well.

JS for showing us what a real banana leaf meal was like. Rathna for force feeding us and making us as comfortable as possible.

Ambe. Smitha's cousin who gave up his time for us on numerous occasions to fetch autos for us. As well as the time that he took to help lead autos to designations, or all the times he went to grab food for us. He even gave up a couple days to go to Mysore with us. There aren't many 18 year olds you meet that willingly do that for a group of strangers without complaint like he did.

Mega, Ambe's sister, for giving up her one day off to do henna tattoos for us. They came out beautifully and we will post pictures once we return to the states.

Anju, another cousin of Smitha's, also gave up a lot of time for us. She often helped us out with checking out information for us, researching travel arrangements, accompanying us to places. I also never once saw her complain despite the fact that she holds down a full time job herself.

Smitha's Mysore aunt, Shashi, for allowing us to stay at her place several nights and for making us feel so welcome!

Tamer, for his patience with 7 pretty strong personalities. 8 if you include his own personality as well! Also for always keeping us in the loop as much as possible and for refusing to budge when necessary.

Smitha, my words cannot express the huge debt of gratitude that we all owe you. I truly believe you are largely responsible for this trip going as smoothly as it did. Thank you for showing us a whole new world that most of us never knew about before. It is clear where your heart belongs and I'm excited to see what you accomplish here in the years to come.

It is surreal to think that this experience has mostly come to an end. There are so many little things that I wanted to blog about but could never fit it in my long entries. The near-misses that we all had with various vehicles. Our different shower experiences, our encounters with a ghost at the lodge, all of our interactions with the Indian delegates, the way the Indian drivers drive, our experiences with the various modes of transportation, all the different foods that we have tasted, and just the various intrinciate details of Indian life.

I noticed the other day that I no longer smelled anything. When I first came to India, my senses were all assaulted from the various sights, sounds, tastes, and smells. Especially, the various smells! Good conmingled with bad. I wondered aloud to Wyatte if America would be a different sensory overload.

Lizzie said this in an email that she sent some of us:

"I Am currently reading "cultural smart! India" and it says in the intro (which I never noticed before till now): "it is impossible to be unmoved by india. 'Visit india, and you will never be the same again,' say the tourist brochures. It is true. The very name stirs the imagination, and a visit is an adventure. India will change you."

So true.
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