My New Home at the Orphanage

I actually managed to wake myself up in the morning at 5:30 to make it to yoga on time… it was a very difficult task though I must say.  I sat in the warmth of the dark meditation hall with everyone else and practiced yoga and breathing.  When all was done I sat there and meditated until I had said my mantra 108 times and then left for the comforts of my room to finish packing and shower.  When all was good and done I went for my last breakfast at the ashram… I am sad to be leaving even though I wasn’t here for that long.

Eventually the time came when BC arrived and we left the ashram and headed to my new home in Haridwar at the orphanage.  Before we got there we stopped in the city so I could see all the different markets and see all the people bathing in the river… I could see my breath and still men were stripping down to underwear and jumping in; some people are very devoted.  I saw so many things at the different stalls and couldn’t wait to come back here with someone… because I have been told I am not allowed to come alone no matter what.  Finally we walked past all the starring strangers, some who even shook my hand, and back to the car to my new home.

When I arrived there a thick fog covered everything making it very cold.  People that worked there and use to be orphans here as well met me.  We waited in the office for I don’t know what and then after tea we got my things and headed to my room.  I said goodbye to BC and unpacked and made myself at home in my new home.  There is no heating in the room but the blankets are nice and warm… shower only has cold water too.  They don’t have toilet paper either and will have to get it in the next few days.  I collapsed to my bed and snuggled in under the blankets and watched Pokémon until 5… then I received a knock on my door.  Outside they were serving potato pancake things with spices and sauces, I couldn’t wait to eat something warm!  This is where I saw lots of the children, Deepak was the first to introduce himself to me; he is thirteen and extremely smart for his age.  He talked about how he wants to travel to Germany to start his own car company or at least work for one.  I have never spoken to a more educated thirteen year old in all my life… I didn’t even have it all planned out when I was his age.  He walked me around the grounds of the orphanage while he told me this and that about everything here.  The orphans here range from 2-25 and they are all brother and sisters, they all look out for each other and are one big family.  When I asked if anyone ever falls in love here he said NEVER, even though none are related they all act like brothers and sisters, they could never fall in love with each other.  The girls and boys aren’t allowed onto each other sides when it comes to prayers, eating time and they have separate buildings for sleeping.  I couldn’t wait to be apart of this big family and know it wont take long… all the kids ask me questions all the time about everything!  Soon Sonja (19) took me to prayer with all the others; there was lots of singing and drum playing.  It was so much fun and a little girl named Sita kept leaning up against me while we sat.  Prayer took and hour or so and then the bell rang for dinner.  I grabbed my plate and sat down on the ground with my tray like everyone else, the chefs came along and put food on our plates.  Everyone eats on the floor (no tables) and they get food everywhere!  When I was done I had to watch where I stepped or it might have been in lentils and rice.  I figured the kids would be more behaved than I would and they are in ways but I forgot that they are kids and kids don’t act mature a lot of the time.  It must be an Indian thing but everyone hits each other over the head, across the face, and on the back; never in a violent way or to make another cry but I have no idea why they do it… everyone here does it.

When dinner was over with I said goodnight and headed to my room where it was freezing.  I managed to have a shower underneath the warm faucet, sitting on the tiles while I did.  It got nice and warm in the bathroom quickly and I was so happy to be clean… I though I was going to go without a shower for the first night.  I got myself all clean and hopped into bed and warmed up as best I could… when I exhale and can see my breath, I could only laugh.  I was happy to have warm sheets that night and hoped for sun in the morning.