The work in Shalai is complete!

At approximately 9:30 Tuesday morning the YMAD team left Shalai as quietly as they had arrived. No fan fare or press just a group of teens and some adults that have touched the lives of some children in a remote part of the world. All are in good health and in good spirits! Hopefully the memories of the past week will overshadow the long rough road home.

Making a difference is not about recognition, its about taking an idea that has the potential to impacts others and then being in action until the idea becomes reality! The ability to make a difference is inherent in everyones nature, but only a rare few transform that ability into reality. My challenge for you is to work at it until the world is transformed around you! Be the difference!

The Stars are Bright in Shalai Tonight! by Chad Thorell

Imagine a perfect day! For us, it was just that today! We had our divers pick up all of 40 kids from Khandi, our schools and bring them to town to go shopping. The kids arrived all bathed knowing that today was going to be special. We took the boys and girls into the market each of my team holding a students hand. It was so fun to have each child put on and sport their new uniforms with shoes and socks. They all looked so beautiful and were so happy! The entire time we were in the market the children were so orderly and behaved, it was unbelievable. When we were finished we brought he kids to the Guest house, were we are staying for some lunch.

We were greeted by the entire village upon our return to the school! The kids looked amazing! The parents were so proud of their kids. We seated everyone and I had the privilege of speaking to the children and teachers. I told them what and an amazing experience this had been for us to be guests in their village and to be able to work with these wonderful children. I spoke to the kids and told them to take there schooling seriously and to honor and obey their teachers. I choked up a bit as I mentioned we would be leaving tomorrow and how they would be in our hearts for ever.

After I was through we handed out all of our supplies for the school. The teachers were so excited to have paper and pencils and all kinds of supplies that are not generally available in the government schools. Cheers went out when we pulled out the new soccer ball and cricket set for the kids. After the schools supplies were delivered, we handed out personal items for the kids. We had bubbles, glow bracelets, parachute men, bouncy balls and a whole raft of other items my kids and wife had sent with me. We gave out the balance of the supplies we had to the women and mothers that had been watching our the past week.

When we were though, we all hugged and held each other. Tears were freely streaming from our team members, the kids the teacher and our translator. Hearts have truly been knit together. I wish I could better describe the experience!

The matriarch of the village, an elderly woman came up and asked our translator to let her speak. She had quietly been observing our program for the week. She told us how much this experience had meant to their village. I was touched when she said she would be praying for us every day for the rest of her life.

After the gifts, the tears and the speeches the children and the village followed us up the trail 20 minutes to get to the cars. I know I am leaving a part of my heart in this little village and I will never forget what they have given to me!

Tonight the power went out! India is full of surprises! The sky is crystal clear and the stars are lighting up in a way I have never seen it before. In my heart there is a feeling I have never felt before as well!

Megan Christensen

Tomorrow is our last day in Shilai and we are all depressed to be leaving! There will be things I will miss, and there will be things I wont be sad to leave.

First and foremost we will miss the children, they have stolen all our hearts. I will miss their greeting every morning “good morning madam.” I will miss our drivers. I will miss my roommates, we have made memories with prime late night chats; you become close fast when you have five to a bed. I will NOT the miss the toilet. Everyone has the runs and our toilet doesn’t flush. The food-cury cury cury… familiar food is what everyone is craving! Living out of a duffle bag is the last thing I won’t miss, I can’t ever find anything.

India Life-Scott Bringhurst

Well I never wrote a BLOG or even read one. It has been so crazy here! I never thought I would be here, and now I am standing on top of the Himalayas! I love it here; the people here are so kind and loving, even though they have never met you.
The mountains are huge and it so beautiful to look from the top, in the mornings to watch the sunrise, it is unreal.

The first day was when it really hit me that I love India and its people. That day was the happiest I have ever been in my whole life. Everyday blows by, I don’t know what time it is or what day it is. Time doesn’t exist here for me. All I know is that I am living in the present and that I have no worries. My AUM BOY Raj, who I met at the airport and has been with us ever since, is my best friends and I am going to live with him this summer! I don’t want to come home; India is the best decision I have made in my life.

Tanner Higgins

All I can say is now I know for sure I AM from India. First I love the food, the spices are so great. Second, shopping for me is much easier because shopping is the same size. In fact, it is quite a self-esteem booster because I wear a size large! It is also a lot of fun to have the white kids be the minority and defiantly makes for some goo jokes.

India has been so far, it really makes you appreciate the simple things like; beef, warm water, milk, new change of cloths, a bed, but I think most of all, beef. India is simply amazing; the views of the Himalayas are unreal and just blow me away. Overall I have fallen in love with the people and the culture of India. This is an amazing experienced that cannot be fully described, but the feelings I have felt will last a lifetime.

You come from so far! by Sanjeev Thakur

This is my second experience with YMAD. I was a translator in Chamba last spring and now I am here in Shalai. I was recently married and am so grateful to be having this experience! I am becoming such a better person because of it. There is such a strong bond of love that surrounds YMAD. It is amazing I live in a country that should be taking care of its own and yet you find a way to come from half way around the world and are able to impact the children here in a way we can not! I have had such an incredible experience working with the leaders and youth from America. Thank you YMAD!

An Indians Perspective by Nisha Thakur

I have worked with YMAD for over a year, first in their ashram in Manali and then as a translator on an expedition to Chamba last spring! Now I am here translating in Shalai and my heart is so full of emotion as I think about what we have been able to accomplish and all of my new friends. We just finished a special meeting where we were all able to express our feelings about each other, our experience. There are lots of tears going around the group! It is hard to think that it will be over soon! I love Jodee and all of the other leaders and teens. I look forward to having this experience again!

Time! by Chad Thorell

I live in a world where time is everything. I look at my watch anticipating what is next, scarcely finishing one event to be off to another. In Shalai there is no time and I am so grateful! To live in the moment and enjoy each child's smile or really be with the YMAD teens brings so much joy! Something magic occurs when we can get out of our heads and into the moment! I feel a great sense of gratitude for all of those that made it possible for me to come to India! I will never look at things the same!

Phone Calls Home

I know many of you are anxious to hear from your kids! I just wanted to let you know that when JoDee asked the kids who wanted to call home, many of the teens said they did not want to...so I don't want you to be surprised or mad (at me mostly) if your teen doesn't call. If your teen does call-yay!

I should be getting some more blogs soon! I can't believe they are half way done!

Cultures Come Together! by Greg Davis

We started out the day at the local high school attended by 1200 kids from around Shalai! When we arrive the students were sitting in an orderly fashion having their morning prayers. We did our songs and dances for the school and then the local students started their performance. Some of their teachers started picking our kids out of the audience and got them dancing on stage with the local students. By the end every one was dancing and having the time of their life! The energy was amazing! YMAD had a great time meeting the local students. This is the first time they had ever seen a foreign student let alone an American. The administrators and teachers were vary gracious the entire time.

After the cultural event the real fun started! We were able to get all 50 kids from the Daya School and bring them to town to get fitted for new schools uniforms. Each of our YMAD team took the hand of two kids and helped them out. It was crazy fun and the kids were so excited to get new clothes. We were able to find all of the pants, shirts & sweaters for the boys at the government shop. We had to have dresses made for all of the girls. We paid the local seamstresses some extra money so we could have them all by Monday. When I saw the boys get out of the vehicle sporting their new clothes, putting their chests out with pride, all I could do was smile. We are making a difference! Some of the shoes that we got the girls didn't fit and they had tears. That was remedied real quick! Shopping in Shalai is interesting. The market is about two blocks long, really not much there. My wife is a hoot! She keeps trying to get Tanner Higgins to stand behind the counters in the shops and pretend he is a local! We have two more schools that will get the same treatment on Monday! Its going to be awesome!

By the end of the day everyone was exhausted. We have been going so hard from early morning to late at night there has been little time relax or think of much else. Tonight we are going to sort all of the bags for the final distribution of supplies on Monday. Sunday we are going to relax a bit. We are planing to do our Thanksgiving activities and then let the kids call home!

We did have some technical problems tonight! The water was shut off to Shalai. It happens all the time, I have heard. We have a tanker truck standing by and just got a pump to fill the storage tanks. With a stroke of luck we might get showers!

No Walmart's over here! By Greg Davis

It was another stunning day in Shalai. Our team is all over teaching english! We decided as a team to get new school uniforms, pants, shirts, shoes and socks. In one of the schools we are going to put some benches so the kids don't have to sit in the dirt and snow. The village is small and just right out side of our compound. There is not a lot of selection in the market so we are going to have to get to Pontasahib. No Walmart over here! I dread the drive! It has been interesting to figure out the sizes of all of the clothing and shoes for the the kids but I think we have it! Some of the things we will get locally and I sent a driver to down the road to Pontasahib for some Rupees, way better than making the drive myself! Things are pretty inexpensive over here. Shoes are about two dollars. We can probably get the entire uniforms for five dollars. We think we can get the benches at a government supply store.

It is so interesting that the things we have control over are amazing like the cars, the food, the lodging, the schools, the work shops, the translators and our team. The challenge is to be able to deal with the surprises that come up! It is a good thing we have had Raj to help us out! WE have hit a good stride but the time is going by so fast!

All of our team are in good health and doing great! Tomorrow is the cultural event at the high school. It should be fun!

Rebecca Pace

ITS OFFICIALLY CHRISTMAS! Since today is the day after Thanksgiving I can now listen to my Christmas music with out everyone getting mad at me.

However, today was like Christmas for another reason. This morning we taught our English workshops at Daya and at the end of the day we passed out the school supplies to all of the kids! Everything we gave them they went crazy over. They could not believe we had so much to give them, and they were so careful with every little thing. They were excited when we sharpened their pencils and showed them how to glue feathers on their notebooks.

Giving the the kids at Daya gifts is one of my favorite things about India. The littlest things make them so happy, and they go insane over the stuff I take for granted. I am going to be super sad when we leave them because I love them so much and I know they love me too. It has been Christmas for all of us!

Kira Rogers

O. My. Gosh! This the most amazing experience of my life! I love iNdia!! IF i could just have a toilet that flushed and a real shower I would stay here for ever, oh an occasional burger. We wake up at seven in the morning, get ready and leave for our schools. I LOVE working with the kids at the schools! They are so beautiful and smart! Words can't express how much I love them and I have only been with them for four days. It so fun to teach them, and it is so rewarding watching them get it, there faces just light up and they are so proud of themselves. I love how excited they get over the littlest things, like high fives and taking pictures.

The other day made masks, and they all wanted me to take their pictures! It was adorable! A few days ago pop rocks and it was hilarious! They pretty much dumped half a pack in their mouths and then ran to spit it out once they heard the popping. I also love how much the kids have warmed up to us. I feel like I have known them forever and I feel like I know each of their personalities. Today we were practicing english on the white boards, and one little girl named Krishna (love her!) got a white board and started writing letters and numbers for me to say. It was so cute and every time I got it right she would give me a high five and got so excited. I love how happy we are making these kids and how happy they make us.

I feel so lucky to be part of this amazing experience and to be able to learn from these kids and people who have so much more perspective on life then I could ever have. They truly are amazing and are so greateful for everything. I love them and I love being here!!!!

JoDee's brush with fame!

It was another miraculous day in the Himalaya's! Last night we challenged the kids to put their game on and help the kids in the schools with their english! So much of the translation has to come from our interpreters and speaking english is what will make the most longterm difference in the kids children's lives we are working with. Our team is committed to helping the children over come the barriers that prevent the desire to speak english.

While our team was in the schools I took a three hour drive on the road from hell to teach some more newborn infant care works shops. Fourteen women crowded into a small room about six by ten feet. During the training I pulled out my lap top to show them a birthing video. They were amazed! My grand daughters image is on the desk top of my lap top and they wanted to hear all about her. I remembered I had a video of her birth on the computer and so I showed it to the women. They loved it!

After we were finished the whole village led me to the birth place of the great Kalai, a six foot famous India WWF wrestler in the US. I'll have to google him when I get home. The story is it that as a boy he was so big that one day his motor bike broke down so he put it on his shoulder and walked home. He was the size of Warren Porter.

We have all been so busy getting ready every day that we have had no down time. Tonight we are going to let the kids just relax. We have the big cultural exchange tomorrow morning at the high school. It should be fun!

Cragun's Real Blog

Dear Cragun's Family: Apparently Cragun started his blog, got up and left the computer to grab something and his adult leader thought he was done. He does actually know how to BLOG, and wanted you to know it was not his fault his last one was lame. Here is the real one:


Well since Jodee prematurely shared my blog post…

Oh Wow…Oh Wow…what an experience this has been. I am pretty sure 90% of my journal entries consist of the words; blown away, amazing, and holy cow…fitting for India. This, by far, surpasses anything I have experienced. I never imagined India to be in the condition that it is; the poverty astounds me and it has only worsened by the vast number of people living in such desolate conditions. It makes it so much more worth while being here. Despite their lack of amenities the people are full of happiness. I love it. It is amazing here in Shilai, every morning we wake up there is a perfect view of the expansive Himalayas. The kids at the school are wild, but so much fun. The school is situated at the bottom of a mountain village. We teach on a patio that is open on three sides with a perfect view of a river valley, the sky, and a multitude of terreces and roads lining the mountain. It blows me away. I couldn’t think of being in any better/cooler place right now.

Ode to India

by, Spencer Cook

Our time in India is not a waste,
But still it is better if we make haste,
To make a difference is what we seek
But we are left with one more week

The kids and their faces melt my poor heart,
Big brown eyes and smiles, don’t let me start.
When I sit on the roof and look in the sun,
Just think how fun.

I learned to work off my rear just for a smile,
But I finish and feel I have run many miles.
The joy of my soul breathes loudly tonight,
To leave these poor kids will be a hard fight.

I love these great mountains and the fauna that flows,
But I am gunna buy a shotgun to kill those freaking crows.
I plan on returning with out regrets,
I will come back for the better against all bets.

Steal candy from Warren, draw on Will’s face,
Push Jake into strangers, pee on Scotts Pillow Case.
This crazy adventure is nothing but fun
I wish I could spend it with every one.

Dear Parents!

Due to the fact that the kids were exhausted and wanted to sleep they will not be calling today! However they wish you a VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING and wanted you to know that they are probably having a better Thanksgiving then you! They will call Saturday or Sunday (If they want to) when things slow down a bit.

Top Five Things You Didn't Know About India

by Maggie La Stayo

1. The drivng here is insane. They even cut off poilice men.
2. The bathrooms are holes in the ground…we call them squaters
3. The women in small villages can be married to multiple men.
4. Everything here is colorful-even the places with extream poverty are painted every color imaginable
5. Even though the people here have never seen people like us before, they are the most loving people I have ever encountered.

It may be cheesy to say, but this trip has literally been the best trip of my life. I never knew the impact that only two days with the children would have on me. I wish I could wake up every day and spend the rest of my life with them. They re the most joyous, beautiful, welcoming children you will ever meet. I will forever remember the look in their eyes and the light they have shown me. They are an inspiration to all of us, and prove that no matter what you have in life you can be happy as long as you try! Nameste!

10 Things I am Grateful for on Thanksgiving

by Matt Lewis

1. Beef
2. Soap & Toothpaste
3. Toilets that flush
4. Shoes
5. Classrooms with lights and desks
6. Beef
7. My Bed
8. Being able to be in the Himalayas
9. And the awesome kids who live in them!
10. Beef

The NEVERS of India by Katie Thacker

1. I never want to ride on airplane again. Too bad I have to do it next week. (I did find out that Tylenol PM is a life-saver on planes as well as a comfy shoulder).
2. I NEVER want to be the one who does not sit by the window when you drive through India-it is so amazing here.
3. Please NEVER make me eat airplane food again. While on the subject you should just ease your way into India food. You will get clogged up to your throat.
4. Please NEVER make me pack so much…(MOM!)
5. I have NEVER cried so much.
6. I NEVER stop smiling.
7. The Himalayas NEVER cease to amaze me.
8. A good bucket bath NEVER goes out of style.
9. Translators are NEVER not handy.
10. I NEVER want to say “good bye.”

Life Half Way Around the World

by, Kaitlyn Van Hoff

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM INDIA

Everything here has been amazingly awesome. I can’t even handle it. Days have been flying by even thought they are fun filled. I love them all-the kids are so unbelievably cute I can’t even stand it. I love them all and don’t want to leave. Here are something’s to know about India.

1. Freezing cold showers feel like you are living in an igloo (if you even shower)
2. Curry, Curry and more Curry
3. Late night laughs
4. Flushable toilets??? I think not!!
5. Journal entries that are 6 pages long
6. Close bonds
7. Kids are quite adorable
8. DAYA!
9. Himalayas are BEAUTIFUL
10. Shilia-we made history!

The kids are the cutest things ever. I want to take them home with me. They are so grateful and eager to learn. They always have smiles on their faces and they are jumping on us to play and dance. The three days of traveling and loosing our bags was worth it! I couldn’t ask for anything more…I can never stop smiling. Thank you to everyone who made this possible for me! I LOVE YOU FAM.

New Place-New Adventure

By, David Cobabe

Well I don’t know what to say to make people happy… but this has been the most life changing experience of my life. The kids here started out really shy, but now that we have been there a few days the kids are warming up to us. They hold our hands, and run up to us when they see us. Man it is so great! And the best thing is that because of these kids, the plane, the bus, and the SUV rides were worth it - even though they were the worst!

Oh -and Mom-that dry shampoo did NOT work in my hair, it makes my hair stand up like a mow hawk; so that was a great idea… Also packing the extra cloths in my backpack was useful, because I was missing my bag for a few days.

Well I hope this makes everyone happy because really; not to be mean; I don’t care about the BLOG. I am having the best time of my life!!

P.S. Michael thanks a million for letting me go instead of you, because it has meant a lot!

The BEST Birthday in the World

by Becky Perry

I had the most incredible birthday of my entire life. I am pretty convinced that nothing will be able to top this day. There are 18 things that I loved about it.

1. I got to spend my 18th birthday in India-how many Americans can say that…quite a small number!
2. I woke up to a gorgeous Himalayan sunrise!
3. People to sang happy birthday to me at breakfast, lunch, and dinner in multiple languages…thank you Warren.
4. I got to hike in the Himalayas -these mountains put Utah to shame. It reminds me of Emperor’s New Groove… these mountains really do sing.
5. I almost fell off a cliff.
6. I made history. I was one of the first white people these people have ever seen. Pretty dang freaking cool.
7. I got to meet the most AMAZING Indian children.
8. I am pretty convinced that I ran a marathon while playing “Duck Duck Goose.” I got chosen every time. What can I say…I was in high demand!
9. I spoke Hindi fluently. Not really, but I did speak my first Hindi words.
10. I got to experience the frustration and love teachers have for their students.
11. Every single one of my 39 kids sang Happy Birthday to me. They yelled HAPPY BIRTHDAY BECKY over and over. It was hysterical. I cried.
12. While the kids were walking home from school they were still singing “Happy Birthday to Becky.”
13. I got to hike Himalayas with the kids to get home after school. All the lazy Americans had to take breathers because we were not nearly as in good of shape as our students.
14. The cooks made me a Birthday feast!
15. I saw Warren Porter with his shirt off…Warren and Scott Pole Danced for me and in the process almost took sown the food tent.
16. We had the coolest Hindi celebration: I stood in the middle of a circle of all my YMAD friends and every one went around the circle and said things they liked about me. This is the best YMAD group ever, they are soooooooo nice.
17. Everyone gave me a beautiful set and bangles and an amazing traditional Indian shirt…thanks Kayla.
18. I already said this, but … I WAS IN INDIA FOR MY BIRTHDAY. No big deal.