I'm a Science Project!

India, Day 42,000:

Scene: MJ Learning Center
Time: Circle Time

Me: (Slowly spacing out b/c some things are being discussed in Kannada, and I can't follow. I suddenly feel a soft poke on my arm. I turn in time to see the little girl next to me reach out and poke me again.) "?"

Girl: "White. Your skin is real?"

Me: "Ummm...yes." (Wave hand around as I respond)

Girl: "Ohhh!!" (Grabs my hand and points at vein. Gestures eagerly at her friend and begins excited conversation in Kannada--the upshot: they can't believe that my veins are 1. Blue and 2. Visible through my skin!)

Me: "See--both hands!"

Girls: "Ohhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

After the skin excitement I took the kids out to play "Red Light/Green Light" in my best effort to reach back to my own childhood. Following some serious Red Light, the kids gathered around to continue the discussion on how white I am, which lead to a debate on what color I turn when I exercise/blush etc: pink or red. Vigorous discussion sparked with expansive hand gestures all around. Suddenly, one of the boys launched himself at me and pinched both of my cheeks REALLY hard. A chorus of "oohhhhs" resulted with a clean settlement: I turn pink. The boy, with an articulate "See, I was right" gesture walked off--point proven.

I cracked up.

My time in Bangalore is almost over and it has been great, wonderful, amazing and powerful. Is that enough adjectives? It's late and I can't tell anymore. So much has happened that I can't even try and capture it, but I feel an overwhelming need to share. High points included Sridhar creating a "spice scale" to rate the spice level in all the food (I was allowed 2 and under, and after a malaria pill incident left me feeling "slightly off" I was reduced to a 0, with Chitra bending over backwards to make me my own dishes with less spice), learning how to cut a mango and tell if it is ripe by smell (there will be a picture of this soon), mango mania involving over 100 types of mango, surviving at least 5 "Dashes of Death" (crossing the street, usually with Sarita prepping me, holding my hand and shouting "Run!" at the appropriate time), swimming under the stars, having the kids tell me that "I will miss you Auntie" (term of respect) on my last day, being everyone's favorite pictionary partner, doing great session designs and Appreciative Inquiry work, and just being in India. India = awesome. Special thanks to Sridhar, Chitra and Sarita for hosting me, keeping me healthy, and showing me a beautiful culture and an amazing time. Also, for wearing the do-rags (there will be pics on this too!) and connecting with their inner Harley Davidson.

It's late at night and I need to be at the airport by 4:30 am so I will close this post here, though I feel like there is so much more to say. Anyway, hopefully the pictures (when I can get my computer on the net) will speak for themselves. Next post will probably be from either Bristol or London UK. Crazy plans are in the works!!

***One day I promise to write a post when I'm not jet lagged/tired/confused/hopped up on sugar