At Home

I've been in Scotland for quite some time now and in that time I've turned 18, got a job, applied to go work in America and I've started to think about my next trip to Pune. I've just finished reading the new volunteers' posts and I'm green with envy and choked up with homesickness. Hearing them talk about the smiley hyper-active creche and balwadi kids of Ramtekadi and Bibwewadi reminds me of my favourites (I know I wasn't meant to have favourites but I couldn't help it). Little Sono with his 11 toes and cheeky grin, Preity with her big smile, Allaan with his endless hugs, Vishal with that constant trail of snot down his top, cheeky mouthy Rajashree, lovely Anita, loud Deeshan, bright Nikita and adorable Deepali (so I had more than a few favourites). I'm missing my band of Indian Mothers greatly and my Indian brother, Arun. Coming home I've realised that these friendships mean so much more to me than some of the friends I have here in Scotland. I feel awful that I havent sent a letter out yet but it's on my to-do list for tomorrow and it'll be a long and, probably, unintelligible one.

I think I've finally got my sugar levels back to normal after a month without chai (woes) but I'm still not used to this cold weather thing. We've had snow can you believe it!

But the one thing I'm missing every day is waking up knowing that I'm part of a bigger thing. Working at Deep Griha, no matter what your job is whether you're working with Disha, teaching English to the staff, keeping the kids from throttling each other you're contasntly aware that you're a part of something so much bigger than yourself. But you're proud and happy to be a part of it, knowing how big a hole there would be without Deep Griha and knowing that Deep Griha would be nothing without the people who give up their time, money and love to help and support.

Hopefully I'll be posting again next year while in Pune!

-Catriona