Amanda Thornton

Oh my goodness!! What a whirlwind this week has been! In fact, It’s already Tuesday night as I am writing this post, which was meant to be published on Sunday. Of course, since I am the only one who cares when I put them out, I guess it really isn’t that deep. So… India! I’m here, and throughout all the chaos and struggles, I really do think I am happy. The jetlag at the beginning was intense, and I had to sleep it off for like three days, but now I’m well adjusted, or at least my sleep schedule is. The people here are incredible, not just in the projects but the volunteer apartment as well! Everybody is so welcoming and kind, and learning about their perspectives and travels has been truly wonderful. The coordinators are amazing, and so helpful with whatever the volunteers need, so I have been well taken care of. The food is amazing, we get tiffin lunch boxes prepared by a cook (who specifically learned how to not make it too spicy for the foreigners) and dinners delivered to the apartment each night, and it has all been lovely. The project I arrived into wasn’t quite what I expected, so i’ve had to switch gears a bit in terms of my actual volunteering plans, but everybody has been really helpful and accommodating, giving me time to visit and explore different projects to see what plays to my strengths and where I can help the most. Right now, I am working with the local NGO that coordinates the volunteers, to help them with content creation and social media, a bag making project that helps women from local slums earn a living for their families by selling traditional Rajasthani purses and bags, and (hopefully soon), working with dogs in the only animal shelter in all of Jaipur, specifically grooming, feeding, and playing with the elderly or disabled dogs who can’t be released back because they wouldn’t be able to survive on their own. It seems like a lot, but with being out here and wanting to help as much as I can, keeping busy is good for me, and I am being careful not to spread myself too thin. The other volunteers have really been so much fun to be around, and even those (Remy and Susana!!) who I only knew for that one week, you have made such an impact on my life with your vibrant personalities and beautiful hearts.

Onto the exciting things I have done since arriving! Pictured above in the first photo was our henna workshop, where a henna artist came to the apartment to treat each of us to some beautiful art!! The workshops have been some of my favorite things to do so far, as I get to see the volunteers who don’t live in the apartment, and we all do fun activities and chat and laugh. Workshops are Tuesdays and Thursdays so we had henna and then lassi drinking and cup painting, which was also very very fun! Sunday was one of the volunteers (Jacob!!) birthdays so we all went out and had a special dinner and celebration after our long day! Sunday was a race for charity organized by the nonprofit which all the volunteers attended and helped out at! It was very fun, but we had to wake up so early so it ended up being an exhausting day. Friday was also the farewell party for Susana and Remy, and we had a bit of cake and all went out on the town for dinner and some dancing!! In my down time I have been reading a lot (Thanks again for the kindle T+G, It has been so nice to have!!), talking to people, and trying not to melt in the Jaipur heat. It’s so humid here and every day its over 90 degrees (which of course the other volunteers don’t understand because they think Fahrenheit is silly and only refer to temperatures in celsius, which confuses me greatly) but grabbing an ice cream with new friends and eating it while sitting directly under the fan helps a little. This is absolutely an experience unlike anything I have ever done, but I think I am and will be better for it. Anyways, for now I will keep documenting my time and hopefully report back again soon!