Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Kodaikanal

Hello from India!! So apparently there are more than a few Mallory's traveling in India! Every variation of mallory-in-india was already being used as a blog web address! I would like to know where these Mallory's are and how the heck we can join up! I'll bring the chai. So I gave up on the practical web address idea. I got creative and halfway copied the title of a recent movie. It made sense at the time. Haha

My travel here was fine...apart from me tripping a crew of German teens in the Frankfurt airport in a desperate and ultimately successful sprint to my gate. Oh and the certain lagoon creature that works for Luftansa Airlines who made me check my backpack, which missed my flight to India. But it arrived a day later!!
After two hot days in Chennai, I took a night bus to Kodaikanal...on which I ripped my pants and drooled on an old unsuspecting Indian woman. Whoops. The bus ride here was gorgeous. I was pretty much wide awake for the entire ride. Jetlag. At around 3:30 in the morning, I saw hundreds of people walking alongside the road, apparently going to the hindu temples for morning prayer and then to work. Dang. We drove through tea fields....with palm trees and misty mountains in the background. Beautiful. Driving up into the mountains was a real sight. We turned a corner and there was a huge monkey chillin on the curb. I felt like I was driving through the junglebook!! Just call me mogley cause this is serious jungle!

I was getting extremely anxious as we were driving into Kodaikanal. There were moments on the plane and in Chennai where I just wanted to be on the next flight home. On paper I believe that the things that shake you are the things that are most worthwhile. It's not just a theory now. Good thing.I have found that I am not above culture shock and homesickness. Walking through Chennai was ...gutwrenching. You see pictures of poverty, but walking in it.... I almost wanted to shut down.

When I walked into the convent I immediately felt releaved. Two Sisters put a room together for me and brought me tea. I will put up some photo's of this place when I can. Its amazing to me. I start teaching next week, as the girls are out of school for the Pongol holiday. (Harvest festival) As I was walking from my room to the school office to use the internet, an entourage of monkeys descended on the convents tin roofs and then all just sat to watch me walk by! These things are not curious george cute monkeys....they are little monkey beasts. They get into the convent and reak havok!! The sisters chase them around and beat them with sticks! I haven't seen it yet, but am sure looking forward to it.

The past two days I have been roaming around, exploring... and getting to know the Sisters. I have been going through some serious busyness withdrawls. Its like my mind is unexhaustable. I guess I have been convinced that the power and transformation lies in what i accomplish here. What I DO. I watched the sun rise this morning in my little sunroom and I cracked open the bible to this verse...

"Adding one thing to another to discover the scheme of things, while I was still searching but not finding-This only have I found: God has made mankind upright, but men have gone in search of many schemes." ecclesiastes 7:28

I feel like busyness almost runs in my veins. It keeps me "searching, but not finding." This morning I thought...God, who am I without busyness? The American lifestyle even? Scheming to make progress...headway. What is my faith without it? I know now that God wants me to slow down. Get it out of my system and be quiet for awhile.

Thats it for now....Sister Jothi wants me to come to tea...and comb my hair. Haha...point taken.

Much love!!!

5 comments:

  1. Mal,
    So glad you are going to be keeping us posted while you are in India.
    I can't wait to see some of the pictures. The Sisters sound great! Stay away from those monkeys.

    Love, Toni

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  2. Mal this is so awesome! You are such a crack-up!! I am so glad I get to be a part of your trip with you even if it is just vicariously through the internet. I will keep you in my prayers. Love and miss you!!
    - Tal

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  3. Well I guess the whole Latcham family is stalking you. Mallory Moran: Our favorite entertainment. :-) xoxoxo p.s. can i come visit??

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  4. You say you're not a blogger, but you sure are good at it! Looking forward to following and learning from you and your experiences there. Thanks! Jim Peterson

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  5. Hi Mallory it's Rhyan from The Art Institute. I talked with your Mom yesterday and she e-mailed me your blog:) I cant wait to see pics!! I love ultimate frisbee that is so cool that you are playing there. Sounds like you are having an amazing time. I am so envious! Just wanted to say hi. I'll keep checking for pictures:)Take care,
    Rhyan

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