There's a gate on one of the back walks I take that reminds me of my friends lake house back out in Seguin, Texas & all the fun & trouble we got into. I remember heading out one weekend in college before finals for studying, writing & fishing & ending up at a crawfish boil in South Louisiana before it was all said & done. I've been very fortunate in my life-- God gave me a super guardian angel that is good at working overtime. I don't know if I've ever felt so content in my life as I do now. It's hard to explain-- leaving everything & everyone I love to try to answer God's call has been the hardest thing I've ever done in my life, but also the most fruitful. In one of the priests homily this advent he focused on the poverty of Mary. Think about it-- the angel appears to her, gives her the news, she accepts it with blind faith & then-- THEN-- the angel Gabriel leaves her. Like-- can you imagine?? She had to just deal with it & keep on keeping on. What a woman.
I've been trying to do one (at least) new thing each day while I am here. Today one of the Indian girls living with the Sisters taught me how to put on my Christmas Sari. I didn't have a mirror, but I'm totally stoked & I think I rocked it :) I'm totally wearing that sucker somewhere back in the states. One of the girls doesn't have one to wear (you can get a silk one for $20 USD) & I'm thinking of getting it for her as a Christmas gift, but I'm caught whether she doesn't want it because of the money or if she just doesn't want it. I don't want to make her feel uncomfortable & still not sure what to do.
Another new thing-- went to a beauty shop here owned by a lady who goes to mass here at the Ashram. Indian people-- at least the ones from the South are really rough! In spanish we would say "tosca". They're always grabbin & tryna fix your hair or stick a dot on your forehead, but I'd been telling her I'd go for a month now so.. I went. She did that eyebrow plucking thing where they use a string instead of wax- not bad. My eyebrows did need it.. & she insisted that I didn't pay. Before I left she (and her two other customers) took pictures of me with their camera phones.
Yesterday I went into town with the lady who runs this place & it was great! I don't know how she does it, but she was Christmas shopping for each child & took the time to get me my sari, too. It was really nice being with someone who knew where they were going. I didn't get anyone gifts for Christmas, so I hope they didn't get me anything. Hope you all are having a happy advent :)
I've been trying to do one (at least) new thing each day while I am here. Today one of the Indian girls living with the Sisters taught me how to put on my Christmas Sari. I didn't have a mirror, but I'm totally stoked & I think I rocked it :) I'm totally wearing that sucker somewhere back in the states. One of the girls doesn't have one to wear (you can get a silk one for $20 USD) & I'm thinking of getting it for her as a Christmas gift, but I'm caught whether she doesn't want it because of the money or if she just doesn't want it. I don't want to make her feel uncomfortable & still not sure what to do.
Another new thing-- went to a beauty shop here owned by a lady who goes to mass here at the Ashram. Indian people-- at least the ones from the South are really rough! In spanish we would say "tosca". They're always grabbin & tryna fix your hair or stick a dot on your forehead, but I'd been telling her I'd go for a month now so.. I went. She did that eyebrow plucking thing where they use a string instead of wax- not bad. My eyebrows did need it.. & she insisted that I didn't pay. Before I left she (and her two other customers) took pictures of me with their camera phones.
Yesterday I went into town with the lady who runs this place & it was great! I don't know how she does it, but she was Christmas shopping for each child & took the time to get me my sari, too. It was really nice being with someone who knew where they were going. I didn't get anyone gifts for Christmas, so I hope they didn't get me anything. Hope you all are having a happy advent :)
