Journey to India Continues

Jetlag effect face... I may regret posting this one a little later... :)

Jetlag lingers still--- Knowledge of jetlag  doesn’t really prepare you for actually going through it. Oye! But we are pushing through!
TROOPERS, THAT WE ARE!!

All dolled up, We went to a restaurant called
The Jungle, it was like we were in a jungle, minus the danger =P



Coconut monkey napkin holder, TOO CUTE!
I want one... :)





Stinky Laundry Solution We sent to have a load of laundry washed and when it was finished it  was returned wrapped up in paper, then Bala, the bell boy said, “30 dollar, 30 dollar”, (I was giggling because I knew he was joking), and what does Emily do? Says, “Oh…” and grabs her wallet. THIRTY DOLLARS FOR ONE LOAD OF LAUNDRY? ARE YOU INSANE? Ha. Needless to say, Bala is a joker, it was free. :)

Confession time
Emily and I… well… Um, are WATERholics. (Relieved face) FFEEWW, Glad I got that out! We drink 3 liters of water practically each meal, and we just can’t stop, drinking between meals… The folks here, I think, are concerned for us. =0)  I’ve seen entire Indian families consume only ONE LITER, just to paint you a picture of measurement. J

Sleeping Time (Angelic singing AHHH)
On Tuesday 9/18/12 at 630 AM (approximately Monday 9/17/12 at 8 AM your time) Emily and I woke up from the best intermitted nights sleep since we arrived a week ago. (VICTORY DANCE, a little bit of the cabbage patch, and finally raising the roof).  This is exciting news because all nights prior we would lay in bed in silence, hoping we weren’t really awake, meanwhile checking our phones to confirm another sleepless hour. BREAK THROUGH. TAKE THAT JETLAG! (Karate kick)

Cultural comforts
I can eat with my hands...(my normal) and it’s normal!
Well, it's only OK to eat with your right hand.

Chicken… rice… eggs… hot tea with milk and sugar…
all familiar to me, ba-dah-buh-buh-buuhhh, I’m lovin’ it.

Making new friends, funny conversations; Girl talk is International <3 IT! Speaking of comforts, do you remember me talking about the unwanted roommate in our room? Well, I have found comfort in this gecko’s character and demeanor; it has been consistent, constant, peaceful, protective, and helpful.  Consistently in our room, constantly crawling around our walls, minding its manners by staying out Emily and I’s luggage, and taking care of the insect problem, protecting us from even having to know there is one.  I’m going to say this gecko is a guy.  Here in India, woman do not travel anywhere without one.  So, though he probably prefers to walk the walls of our room, I am glad we have a good man around to keep us good company. J

Ready to meet some of the children?

 

Just released from taking exams, full of energy!



Snack time!





The Youngins' of the school 4 YEAR OLDS!



A Complete Shock...to meI was told that I LOOK INDIAN! Can you believe that?! I was told by the admistration and many of the teachers that I look like I am from New Delhi, (they are lighter skinned there.)  That if we walked the town, no one would know I wasn't Indian.
Here is my proof, in my outfit. =0)

TALK ABOUT INTERNATIONAL FAVOR! ;)






Jesus Time
I have had a few opportunities to talk about Jesus, and countless opportunities to show his character :) I have befriended a few Christians, but there is a language barrier, so, keeping it simple and short has successful results. :)
I am glad that Jesus lives in my heart, without Him I would not have survived here.  There are so many gods that are honored, and served that it is a bit overwhelming.

Thank you for all your continued prayers. I am learning more and more about the Indian culture, customs, and comonalities each day. Learning and giving wipes out one's energy REAL FAST, so being covered in prayer is a MUST! Thank you!

Namaste
Is a greeting such as,  "good day," or "to be well". As opposed to shaking hands, kissing or embracing each other in other cultures, Namaste is a non-contact form of respectful greeting (Thank you WIKI)

Arriving in Kerala, India

After starting our journey at 4 AM on the morning of the 11^th, Emily and I have finally arrived in Kerala India on the 13^th of September! Jet lag is no joke.  I am not sure if I can explain jet lag, but I will try. This confusion starts in your brain, and then your body soon follows. How strange not to see a sunset, but be chasing a sunrise for over 24 hours.  Airlines are tricky, they get you to think it is night time; meanwhile it is bright as the noon day sun beyond the window shade.   After 4 plane changes, 3 dinners and  (for me) several cups of hot tea with cream and sugar, (for Emily, water, water, water was her plea), I found myself restless, tired, antsy, and ready to be in my new bed, in my new temporary home, in Kerala.  Emily and I were relieved to arrive in Hong Kong at 10 PM, ahh, stars, street lights, shade... =P Within a few hours we would be on our way to Chennai, India to board our last domestic flight to Turvandrum.

Once we arrived to Truvandrum, we went straight to the beach… but we didn’t swim.  We were too sticky, stinky, hungry and tried to do much more that express a few Ooo’s and Ahh’s, then proceed to our living quarters.  Funny enough, we decided after we cleaned up we would take a 10 minute nap and then have breakfast. Welp, that didn’t happen.  We slept like hibernating bears.  6 hours later… We determined that sleeping was much needed and clearly what our bodies wanted. 

Now this is what I call a room key! =P

 

 

 

 

 

We decided that it was probably a good idea to eat since we hadn’t since about 3 the previous morning, so we went to a local restaurant and this conversation happened:
(Giggling) (if you can, imagine his accent)

Indian man: Oh,  hello, very nice, very lovely, nice American girls. Can I have a second of your time?
(Then he turns to his buddies behind him and giggled, then turned back to us.)
Us: (Blank stare)
Indian man:  I am a film producer, you know, from Bollywood, I want to offer you film time to star in a new Bollywood film.
Me: (smirk) No, thank you. //Emily: (laughing) with a facial expression that says: “REALLY?!”
Indian man: (starts laughing and points at Emily) Ha, ha, you laughing.
(Then he proceeded to try and convince us for a short while, and then left us to enjoy our first Indian snack.)

That was quiet the entertainment, until later that evening when a gecko crawled into our room… Scream, don’t scream… scream don’t scream?  I talked myself out of thinking irrationally, and decided to make a joke, to myself, then tried to capture it on camera… too quick, too quick.  =0)
(mimicking the accent of the gecko from Geico) Please leave my room; I don’t need your insurance.
Though it was fairly small, the combination of a new room, new bugs, and a new country with not much sleep led me to be paranoid that all crawly and biting things have established a personal vendetta against me. Ha. Completely rational, no, but I know these mosquitos are bound determined to have my blood; I have the red bumps to prove it. :)

In other news, orientation at the school begins tomorrow (Friday, September 14^th).  I know that we are both nervous and excited about stepping into this new role as teachers.

We are 10.5 hours ahead of those of you in the CST zone.  For example, I am writing this at 12 AM, On Friday, September 14th, and right now it is 1:30 PM on Thursday, Sept 13th. If any of you would like to connect with us, I will be supplying you with our contact information below.  We potentially will be getting a burn phone, but that is TBA, but the best way to reach us is via email, SKYPE, FB, or snail mail.
If you would like to send us something via snail mail, please personally ask Emily or myself, and we will gladly share our address. (I would not be bothered at all by receiving snail mailJ )

Contact info for me (Maris)
SKYPE: mcking33
EMAIL: marisking2@gmail.com
BLOGGER: marIScarina

Contact info for Emily
SKYPE: uphighi
EMAIL: emilykrueger@live.com


Prayer requests:
>That we adjust smoothly
>Easily befriend other believers to grow with
>Favor and compatibility with locals and our students
>Schooling (for me, Maris). I am taking several online classes, all the while stepping into a teaching position. 
Yes, this was my choice, so I ask for grace; hmwk/tasks would be completed like clockwork/ good time management, and the ability to honor these commitments that I have made.

Please, if you would like to share a word of wisdom, scripture, encouragement, and even your own prayer requests, they will be well received.

Thank you for keeping us in mind and prayer, we greatly appreciate it.