Thank you, with all our hearts.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Saturday, August 11, 2012
WE'RE HOME!
Wow. It's over.
Elaina and I got back to the States at 4:50am on August 10th, parted ways in Newark, and now are safely in our respective homes - Boise, ID and Ypsilanti, MI.
What an incredible journey.
If you've been following our blog, you know a little bit about what we experienced and who we met, but there's so much more than what we were able to put on this little blog. Firstly, we filmed a lot more than what we made movies out of. I've actually got one more end-of-the-summer movie up my sleeve that I'll be posting once I have some time to finish it. I've also got countless movies I could make out of our footage, but it's a time consuming process so I might end up posting clips instead of putting together whole short films.
Regardless, there's more to come.
Also, Eli and I need your address. We'll be sending out cards to our supporters by the end of August, but we only have the addresses of a small percentage of the people who have helped us along the way.
So please - if you donated money, prayed for us, or supported us some other way AT ANY POINT, send me an email with your address to: heide.loves.veritas@gmail.com
Eli and I want to thank you as personally as possible. I mean, this summer has changed our lives, and, while no amount of thanks will ever be able to repay the gift we were given, we want to try.
Elaina and I got back to the States at 4:50am on August 10th, parted ways in Newark, and now are safely in our respective homes - Boise, ID and Ypsilanti, MI.
What an incredible journey.
If you've been following our blog, you know a little bit about what we experienced and who we met, but there's so much more than what we were able to put on this little blog. Firstly, we filmed a lot more than what we made movies out of. I've actually got one more end-of-the-summer movie up my sleeve that I'll be posting once I have some time to finish it. I've also got countless movies I could make out of our footage, but it's a time consuming process so I might end up posting clips instead of putting together whole short films.
Regardless, there's more to come.
Also, Eli and I need your address. We'll be sending out cards to our supporters by the end of August, but we only have the addresses of a small percentage of the people who have helped us along the way.
So please - if you donated money, prayed for us, or supported us some other way AT ANY POINT, send me an email with your address to: heide.loves.veritas@gmail.com
Eli and I want to thank you as personally as possible. I mean, this summer has changed our lives, and, while no amount of thanks will ever be able to repay the gift we were given, we want to try.
 |
| Taken at "Daily Bread" on the day before we left India |
Sunday, August 5, 2012
My Brothers
Despite our constant complaining about being treated differently in India, we can't deny that we have met some pretty amazing people on this journey. When we arrived in Kolkata, we were scared and alone. We wouldn't have adapted to this culture or survived the summer if it weren't for the help of countless local Indians here and there - who were more than gracious enough to show us the ropes. Four boys in particular (five including their boss), have touched our hearts this summer and it will be more than difficult to say goodbye to our Indian brothers. Their names are Ranjit, Sokamar, Roni, Sona, and Uncle Tony.
These boys work at the restaurant, Daily Bread, located inside Seva Kendra. When we first met them, I had no idea that the seven of us would become so close. None of the boys wanted to talk to us because they don't speak hardly any English, and they all made Uncle Tony take our order whenever we came to eat. Fortunately for me, Heide is incapable of meeting someone without at least trying to get to know them. We would ask Tony how to say things in Bengali so that we could talk to them, we played our fair share of charades in order to communicate, and somehow over the course of ten weeks we became their "didis" or "sisters" in Bengali. With every passing day, we all became more comfortable with each other. I didn't know you could have so much fun and so many inside jokes with people who don't speak the same language.
Uncle Tony speaks English so he is our "go to guy" for information on India. How much should we pay for mangoes? Where is the best place to shop for clothing? What's the best way to get here and there? etc. He also has his fair share of "Indian advice" like "don't eat cucumbers before bed!!" or "you can drink the local water just fine, it's all in your head..." (He is very smart but don't worry, we didn't listen to that last piece of wisdom!) Ranjit is the leader of the Daily Bread gang and definitely the joker. Yesterday he about gave me a heart attack pretending to cut his finger off while slicing vegetables. Roni is the young gun, about 16 years old, and so eager to help despite his "chronic clumsiness." He makes me wish that I had a little brother to look after back home! Sokamar is definitely the Boy Next Door and I can tell he will make a great husband and father some day. (He told us he wants a love marriage, not an arranged one!) He is very sweet and I can tell he would do anything for us, his didis. Sona is hard to read, so I'm going to call him the mysterious one. He seems so nice and professional at work, but I have a feeling he becomes the party animal as soon as he clocks out.
Over the past week, each one of them has made it apparent that they are dreading our upcoming departure. Ranjit came up to me and asked, "9 of August?" I replied yes and he proceeded to motion a tear rolling down his cheek. Sona and Sokamar asked similar questions more than once, while Rani asked me to take him to America with us. I know he was joking but I sure wish we could take all of our brothers back with us! They have gone out of their way to treat us nicely this summer - buying us mangoes at the market, celebrating Indian holidays with us, teaching me how to make Indian bread in the kitchen, and so many other things. I am excited to head back home, but I really wish that I didn't have to leave my family behind to do so.
So much love!
Elaina
 |
| Ranjit, Rani, and Sokamar (It was Sona's day off!) |
These boys work at the restaurant, Daily Bread, located inside Seva Kendra. When we first met them, I had no idea that the seven of us would become so close. None of the boys wanted to talk to us because they don't speak hardly any English, and they all made Uncle Tony take our order whenever we came to eat. Fortunately for me, Heide is incapable of meeting someone without at least trying to get to know them. We would ask Tony how to say things in Bengali so that we could talk to them, we played our fair share of charades in order to communicate, and somehow over the course of ten weeks we became their "didis" or "sisters" in Bengali. With every passing day, we all became more comfortable with each other. I didn't know you could have so much fun and so many inside jokes with people who don't speak the same language.
 |
| Heide and Uncle! |
Uncle Tony speaks English so he is our "go to guy" for information on India. How much should we pay for mangoes? Where is the best place to shop for clothing? What's the best way to get here and there? etc. He also has his fair share of "Indian advice" like "don't eat cucumbers before bed!!" or "you can drink the local water just fine, it's all in your head..." (He is very smart but don't worry, we didn't listen to that last piece of wisdom!) Ranjit is the leader of the Daily Bread gang and definitely the joker. Yesterday he about gave me a heart attack pretending to cut his finger off while slicing vegetables. Roni is the young gun, about 16 years old, and so eager to help despite his "chronic clumsiness." He makes me wish that I had a little brother to look after back home! Sokamar is definitely the Boy Next Door and I can tell he will make a great husband and father some day. (He told us he wants a love marriage, not an arranged one!) He is very sweet and I can tell he would do anything for us, his didis. Sona is hard to read, so I'm going to call him the mysterious one. He seems so nice and professional at work, but I have a feeling he becomes the party animal as soon as he clocks out.
 |
| Making Indian bread with my brothers! |
So much love!
Elaina
 |
| They bought us chocolate for Rokhi Day! (Indian festival for brothers and sisters) |
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