Stuart Little Never Hurt Anyone…
Cheers from Rourkela!
So, I have moved from my humble abode in Sooch (Ranchi) to BRMP - or, if you are brave, Birmitrapur. Yesterday, Pummi and I came by car to BRMP to do some work in Rourkela. Pummi was explaining that most the volunteer’s prefer going by train but if I wanted to go we were going by car. Always up for a “challenge” I said I’d go- especially since I needed to get some videos of the children’s home.
The drive was spectacular! Ask most anyone that knows me well… I typically go into a huge car coma and am dazed into a neck breaking nap well before we hit the highway. However, 5 hours of driving from Sooch to BRMP and I couldn’t take in enough. We drove through many towns and villages to get here- most filled with smoke from cooking and loud Indian music. Children ran around like crazy and the markets were extremely lively. I was stunned by the amount of hills and lush fields on the drive. Call me dumb, but I thought India was so crowded with people, there would be no space for dense forests. I was wrong. It was beautiful. It really did remind me of the Texas hill country. Lots of rock mountains and trees – pictures to come.
We finally made it to BRMP and came to the children’s home here. While it is very different from Sooch, it definitely has a personality of it’s own. It is basically one large building for 112 children. You go through a big red gate and I immediately noticed the Christmas lights hanging from the roof – to me, it marked the personality of the entire home. The children run around a little more free than Sooch, but are filled with joy. They jump in your arms like you are Santa and have smiles for days.
There are four girls that form a pack and to me, run the place. They have sassy little dresses with ruffles and want to play with my hair, share chewing gum and spy on me to make sure I’m are still around. Smiles NEVER leaving their faces. When I pulled out my camera – game over. Pictures to come.
After spending a little time at the home we decided to drive to Manjeet’s and Pummi new vacation home about 3 miles away. When Manjeet was visiting Big Ben, he saw a house he loved and took pictures. He is replicating the same house here in BRMP. The structure of the house is up and it is beautiful! It is a four bedroom four bath with a beautiful kitchen and yard. – They even want a workout room and pool for guests. Count me in!
We came back and had dinner – then sat around the porch of the front of the orphanage – that is where I have spent majority of my time. While we were sitting they were explaining the lack of space when visitors come. I was expecting Pummi and I to share the bed here and be on with it. As we were all talking I saw a few “friends” ie – rats, running around the tops of the roof. Having known these visitors where prevalent at this home, I just smiled and pretended like I never saw them. As I saw one on the floor of where I was to sleep, I started to panic a little….but hey – who said Stuart Little was ever a bad thing.
I lucked out- Pummi explained that since there were too many of us- we were going to stay at a hotel. As we were driving we ended up at Manjeet’s sisters new home. L-U-C-K-Y. It was beautiful. There was no furniture since it had just been built, but there were three perfectly good foam “mattresses” that we lied on the floor and used. Throw on a couple of blankets and I had a great night sleep- sans Stuart Little.
Today has been the day of the video camera. I have made 15 videos of the children here at Rourkela to send back to sponsors. While 3-4 are a little hard to understand (the children decided to tone up the volume during the movie shoot) the rest are pretty cute. It is a bit difficult to film a movie about a child I’ve only known for a few moments, but I try to ask as many questions (that they understand) to get to know the child before the movie is made. Mostly the “very sweet, happy, thank you for all you do” spiel. Most the children were a bit camera shy, two or three LOVED the camera and one definitely hated it.
So, back on the porch I sit and am realizing how excited I am to go back to Sooch tomorrow. I love the personalities at Rourkela but I love the peace at Sooch. I also really like the drive- so I’m excited to do it again.
More posts when I get back to Sooch but wanted to send a quick update. Apparently this blog has spread like a wildfire so thanks for reading! Like I’ve said before- I’m no Hemmingway so please excuse the grammar….I type fast to send out quickly.
Hope all is well in America. Email if you can – Katelyn.meyers@gmail.com
MUCH LOVE from India,
Katelyn
