Super Smash Bros Tournament, Wally's Fundraiser and THE Underwear Mile all in the name of raising money for Uconn Empower's trip to the Amar Jyoti School in Rishikesh, Northern India. Oh man was I nervous to go on this trip.  This is the first country I've gone to abraod that wasn't Haiti.  What was the culture going to be like? How do they respond to black people? Oh and did I mention I was co-trip leader...would they respect my position of power even though I am a woman???  Trip leader- A challenging, intimidating position that required me to work with a small team for 5 months prior to the trip, organize a trip to a school in India (that no one had ever been to or seen before), for a group of motivated, overachieving, (majority) Honors Uconn students! AHHH! 

 

Well other than the fact that one of our trip members got stung by a scorpion while gardening... the trip went swimiingly! My trip team even had two Hindi speakers! For two weeks we stayed at the school with the man who runs it. He has kids of his own and still manages to run a successful FREE school for underpriveledged children in India! Thank goodnes because those children are bright! Obviously, he's able to do so much because he has a great support system.  His mother cooked breakfast, lunch, and dinner for our entire trip team everyday.  His father helped take care of their adorbale new German Shepard Jackie, and helps cultivate their garden.  Last but not least, his beautiful wife Manisha, was basically wonderwoman.  She took care of her two children, made sure the house was always clean, took care and fed their 4 cows, helped with teaching, helped with cooking and even did Mehndi (Henna) on all the girls arms!

-A picture of the Mehndi design she did for me is the "Human Rights" picture on my home page and she is the woman in Pink in the pictures above.

 

I could go on and on about this trip but you should check out their new website! My picture made the cover and I was grinning from ear to ear.  Well honestly, in India, all you have to do is turn you're camera on and the picture is gaurenteed to be beautiful and especially vibrant with color. Still grinning though ;)