India, July 2013

Ok, so I wrote all this....but somehow I deleted everything. Because I am skilled like that. So now I am re-writing everything. Just thought you all should know.

During this summer I had the PRIVILAGE of going to India. This has been a dream of mine since I was a tiny child, so it was really exciting for me. so, on the 24th of July to the 30th I was in the wonderful, beautiful,crowded,smelly,dirty,colorful country of India. It was a cool trip, because I got to see and experience the not-so-touristy side of India (I definitely felt wierd being white, lol)  
I flew down with Joseph, my little brother, and met up wiht my dad (who was there for work/not work). We arrived on Kolkatta, then early the next morning went took the train ( got to see the country side!!) up north to Dhanbad. My Dad ws checking out a University there, so me and my brother tagged along. it was cool, because it was in a more rural area. We got to stay in a nice guest house, then spent a couple days getting tours of hte university. I actually found it really interesting seeing how it was different compared to Canada and Malaysia!
We did alot of driving, and I learnt one very important thing: Cows are the King of the Road. They are everywhere!--and they stand EXACTLY in the middle of the road just because they know they can. I swear they hold up traffic, just becasue they know they can! And eat notices off important boards, just because they can.
The weather was really nice, it was rainy season so it was cool--not too hot!  This was a nice break :) While we were in Dhanbad we also got the oppertunity to go 990ft into the earth! IT WAS CRAZY COOL!! We went into a coal mine. I felt like hte Gopher from Winnie-the-Pooh; we got cool helmets with lamps on them. So ya! We walked around and got a tour of the coal mine, and also got to see hte open-pit mining. You know you are with engineers when they look at a mine, and discribe it as a "beautiful scene".  :)
We took the train back down to Kolkatta to visit a local missionary/pastor and his family that we know. They are such a cool, inspiring, wonderful, beautiful family. I love them! They were so welcoming, even though it was my first time meeting them.  We got to see their various ministries, and participate. Everywhere we went the people we met were warm and friendly. We went to a couple house churches, a children's center (where they teach the children english, provide a meal, teach them Bible stories, and sing with them), and a church in a slum.

Even though it was a pretty short trip,over all the trip was really good. Very eye-opening and challanging. It is kinda hard to find a response to all the poverty I saw in India.  But I am going to go back. I don't know when, or how, but I want to go back!
The food in India was sooooo sooooo sooo good! So much flavour! And color! And the people are a very hospitable, lovely, generous, friendly, welcoming, warm, devoted people. (lots of adjectives there!).

On the plane home we had to make an emergency landing, so we landed in Yangon, Burma. So, even though we didn't get off the plane, I can say I was in Burma!!! (woot woot!!) It doesn't really 'count', but it kinda does  =P

So yep! India was great.

:)

Summer in Malaysia

**note: I was too lazy to edit this. So i apologise if it doesnt make sense in places **

Hi Ya'll! IT's been a while :)
So i spent this past summer in malaysia staing with some close family friends. I am soooo greatful that they let me live with them, seeing as i was going to be a homeless hobo in Asia for 3 months.   I had a wonderful time there--very restful, which was nice after an insane 6 months. And I am sure the break will be nice for the intense 9 months coming up!
During my time in Malaysia I spent most of my time helping out/doing an Internship at USCI Child Development Center. Pretty much it is a Nursrey/daycare/kindergarten. I was an assistant teacher, so helped the kids wihth their work, took them to the washroom, cleaned up after them(yes, that includes poop,pee, and vomit), kept them quiet, helped teachers prepare for classes, making display board, etc... During that time i became pretty pro at making giant cardboard trains, making pom-poms, coloring, painting chinese characters, and using a paper cutter.  I really really enjoyed hte work, and the kids--although it was really tiring. I was working full days, but then because of transportationa nd what not, I would be out 12hrs everyday....

Besides work, it was really fun catching-up with old friends and hanging out.
Highlights from Malaysia (and meorable moments):
Titi ORganic Farm - If you are ever in KL visit this place!!! It is a bit of a bus ride, however it is totally worht it. The farm (also a resort place) is int he highlands, and the view is beautiful. We got a tour of hte farm (all organic!!....obviously) and got to have a delicious lunch. It was all organic, and healthy, and fresh, and just made me so happy. I loved getting out of hte city!! They also had really cute cats and puppies  :)

My Fair Lady -- we all watched this movie together. And it was definitly a highlight!! It was just fun to be all together, enjoying hte same movie. Lots of laughs (and confusion because of the accents!!).  "I'm a gud gurrl I am!"  ;)

Lingi during Hari Raya-  Farm, family, laughter, talking, durian.

Walks --I was living in a pretty safe neighbourhood, so I got to go on lots of walks and runs! It felt amazing to be running again!  I loved waking up early, grabbing some tea and my Bible, going for a walk, then stopping at a playground to have a quiet time. Because it was early, it would be nice and cool and the birds would be singing, and only nice old people would be out walking too. :)  It was a nice time to be alone with tea, my Bible, and God.

Morning Devotions -- twice a week a bunch of people from UCSI University get together int he morning for devotions. I enjoyed these :) Lunches-- me and a co-worker would go out exploring during our lunches. We found cheap fruit (!!!), a place that sold cheap clothes (got me some pants!), and i also tried some delicious malaysian cuisine (malaysia has the best food!.....EVER!!). Favourite dieshes : Chicken Rice, Nasi Lemak, Pan Mee, Fish Head Noodles, and some yummy wine soup that i don't know the name of.

Adventures: When i first arrived, i decided to go on an adventure! So i got a ride to USCI, took the bus to Taman Tasik Slatan station, then took trains to KLCC (the Twin Towers). I then just walked around, walked in the massiv park, read, etc...  it was fun! Me and Natasha also went on an adventure to Central Market together. That was lots of fun!! Althigh, i don't think i actually boust anything besides food. Lol

Dancing: my room was big enough to dance in. Score!

My brother-- i got to spend lots of time with my brother, becuse he was also there for the summer (1.5months). He is wonderful, and i enjoyed hangout with them. When we would have meals, it was hilarious because he eats like an old man (super slow), and i eat really fast. So it was alwys kinda awkward, but funny, because i would just sit there and watch him--teasing him the whole time.  haha. Sorry Jo.  =P

INDIA:  Oh my goodness! I finally went to India!!!! Success! I will write a seperate blog for that later. :)

FAmily Dinners: Anytime everyone was together was a highlight. Dinners were definitly entertaining!
--> I got bitten by a Stiped-Evil-little-furry-creatute-of-a-dog. It happened so fast, but pretty much i was running and a little thing ran out of the bushes, circled around me, and bit me.
--> I also tried to watch a scary movie (i don't know why....sometimes i don't understand myself..) but it failed. I spent the whole time with my head in the pillow...so i had no clue what was happening. So we turned it off. Lol. The music was scary enough for me!

Crafts: I did lots of craft-type things, and got to press lots of flowers and leaves. It made me happy :)

So ya!
I think that pretty much sums up Malaysia. We ate lots of food, visited lots of people, got stuck in lots of traffic jams, and walked alot!