Tuesday, August 8, 2017

7 / 18

After breakfast we headed to our Anganwadi assignments. While we were there Danielle taught some of the kids how to make cootie-catchers, which are the silly little paper things that are folded and written on with numbers or colors in order to predict things about a kid's future. Well Anish, an adorable 8 year old boy, was making one and I heard him ask Antonios how to spell my name. He later came up and asked me to pick a number that he had written on top of his cootie-catcher. I picked one and he began to move his fingers in a pattern, he didn't quite get it right and I was about to teach him the correct way to play when I saw him opening one of the end cards and I realized it didn't matter if he knew how to play or not, he was on a mission. He unfolded the flap and pointed it at me. It read "Chelsea I likes you." and he ran off as my heart filled with joy. He was very sweet and it made my heart so happy that we were making an impact on him and his friends. Anish yelled my name and waved to me from his home that was very close to the Anganwadi as we left for the day.

We headed of to a Hindi temple after lunch. We were able to hear about their beliefs and the basis of their religion as well as had the honor to be blessed by the temple leader. Priyanka showed us what the paintings and sculptures meant and we were allowed to explore the temple and document what we liked, including the nearby waterfall.

We then left for a Tibetan institute that also held a temple inside it gates. There they teach weed carving, metal working, extremely intricate canvas painting and more. Many people learn these skills and use them to create works for temples or to sell. After taking a tour of the institute we were allowed to move more freely around the campus and document our experiences there as well as experience the amazing view from the rooftop of the temple, which also stands as the Dalai Lama's winter home.

When were arrived back at home base Priyanka led us in creating our own Tibetan Prayer Flags similar to what we witnessed at the temple as well as around the city. These flags are covered in prayers and hung to wave in the wind as every breeze that moves them takes their prayers with it.We used multiple colors and artistic designs in ours which we felt contrasted the very simple and beautiful writings of the Tibetans, but Priyanka and Kaitlyn told us that they see them as all equal, it is just a different language and way that we express ourselves. That makes a lot of sense to me and I just love that there are so many different cultures and groups of people around the world that all are expressed differently.

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