Here in America....

Bonjour everybody and thanks for following my blog....I'll add in some journal entries from my trip in an attempt to answer more of your questions of what went on day to day.

I've sent out my photo album to everyone and it was a BIG job to put them all into sequential order... so enjoy:)

It's been a bit difficult to form complete thoughts in the past week of how I feel since I've been back.

It's pretty isolating, to be honest. And it's opened my eyes....surprising to see how some people I thought were close to me haven't even bothered to call or ask how my experience was. Puts things in perspective in that respect. I'm not sure what that's about but I have my own thoughts on that.Those who are sincerely interested, I love to talk about it on one hand, but on the other it feels that words fail to express the actual experience. So, I've sent pictures, in an attempt to fill in the gaps.

What I do know is this:
I'm extremely passionate about what I've witnessed, what we've done. We impacted Bawana and our families there in a very positive way. We made a difference. And for those naysayers (and yep there have been a few---I see it as a personal test) who groan that the problem is too big, that helping a few isn't enough when there's so many in need: True that there are so many in need, but in fact one creates change by starting with one at a time. Sitting back in your air conditioned home complaining about it and, even worse, becoming apathetic because "it's just too much to wrap my head around" disgusts me. There is lots to be done. So we do the best we can by taking action.

One of the best comments I've heard from a friend after looking at my photos was "you look so much like you're in your element." It's true--that's really how I felt- in my element.

I feel eager to help locally and have been in touch with my local Habitat office....and also rolling around the ideas of where I'll head next summer.Leaning towards India again (Bangalore) or Thailand. Would love to have a couple from my team to go as well:)

Feeling very unmotivated otherwise, which is so unlike me. I had one audition on Friday and barely worked on it, went in just to have fun, and did just that. I just want to immerse myself for a while longer in India....so I look at all of our teams photos that get sent around daily, email some on the team, and just finished watching Born in to Brothels, a fantastic documentary about children in the red light district of Calcutta. I teared up a bit missing the children. I'm really looking for more ideas of working with the kids in Bawana.

Change all around....one of my closest girl friends, Erin is moving away to Singapore this week for a year. I'm pretty damn sad about this...but am excited for all that she'll get to experience there. It's been rare to find such honest, good, funny,real girlfriends in LA, so she's been a goldmine.
Erin, hurry back:)

Namaste,
JB