3 weeks in the Rainy City

8 years ago I moved to Seattle for the first time, to take a sabbatical from my attempt as a college freshman student, and experience a big (ger than Phoenix) city - the difference between a desert and a lush wetland. I instantly fell in love. The smell of the air, the cloudy skys * even the so-called gloomy days warmed my heart* I knew I had found the place that I would be for a long time.

With, of course, the thoughts of my family back home always on my mind, and the in-state tuition perk of returning to school at ASU, I made my descent back to the hot, dry wasteland where I spent the last 7 years. After a surprisingly different degree change from my 1999 entrance as a Journalism major and Photography minor student (photojournalism just didn’t cut it for me at the time) to a studies in Child and Family Development, paired with three certificates in Nonprofit Management, Early Childhood Intervention, and Yoga Teacher training, I am an Arizona State University 2006 graduate!

The events over those years that occupied my time and mind included the involvement of numerous newfound relationships that taught me some of the greatest lessons of life, of which I have carried with me throughout my years. Special friends have come and gone, though they are always within me.

2 years of travel after my graduation gave me the freedom and exploration my soul needed and to gain even more that would impact the understanding I have of others for the future. I was so fortunate to visit France and Italy, Argentina, Ecuador and Brazil, and most recently, India. The people I met, oh how they have changed my life. I have experienced much, and I am continually inspired by our contact in the past. I hope that I can continue to maintain the friendship and companionship I developed with so many of my beautiful brothers and sisters of the world.

Now that my feet have walked, stumbled and I brought myself back up again, I am on the path that is new at every moment, ever present and developing the roots needed to grow more fully into the person that I am here to be. I have come full circle, lucky 7 I guess. 27 that is. No longer a girl of 20, I am a woman of 27, ready for what lies ahead, balanced and full of strength. Back in the city that I adored and continue to adore. Seattle, Yeah Rainy City! I am here and ready to stay!

what - it's only been 3 months since I've been back

I feel like I'm still traveling, bags packed and going from here to there. Forever a life traveler. I'm in good old happy valley again, back in my home town. Loving the fresh air and mountains to explore.

Life is a constant challenge, but I'm enjoying it in every moment. Oh, yes, and I'm writing a book! Haha! Think you would read it?

New pic's soon to come. And in the works with my website/ yoga biz - www.yogawithashley.com
check it out!

Hope all is well in your life and adventures!

Last week at KSV!

April 4 is the date that the children leave the school for Holiday - how is this possible? For two weeks now, I've been so sad thinking about the thought of leaving the children, and now it is the time. I have grown so attached as anyone would. Their instant unconditional love is the reason why I have stayed here, and why I know God has brought me here.

Every night I look into the sky and pray to understand what it is that I need to do, how I can best do my work here and in the future where ever I am, and of course the answer is always a peace of mind that I am here right now, and that is all I need to understand. I came here to this school with such ambitions and excitement for the organization and the opportunity to experience a new interaction with children then I have ever had before.

It was my original interest to volunteer with numerous organizations, to obtain the philosophies and morals of the teachings to come home and incorporate into my work. I realize that what I had thought this organization would be, was in fact so different than the idea I had in my mind, and unfortunately, I am very disappointed in the organization as a whole.
................But of course not the children.

So again, what I had intended for was much different than could have been imagined, but I have learned so much every day because of the struggles I have endured. Being here I am faced with the true purpose of my being, which is to work with children, and advocate for their rights and needs.

I am still working on some efforts to help the organization, which will directly impact the children's needs, even though at times I want to throw the towel in because of how difficult it is working with this organization, I know that I am here, as my name means in Kannard - Asha = light, Lee = raining - to rain light on this place.

I leave from the school in one week, and thereafter will continue to have correspondence with the school to offer help to the children, but I need your help as well. I have some projects that I am still working on for funding to directly help these children, so if you are at all interested in offering to help support me to support them, please send me an email and we can try to work together in effort to maintain integrity, appreciate cultural differences, but hold tight to the ideal harmonic belief that all people deserve respect and love, and to stand united with others to first educate and then make changes where these ideals are not held.

I want you all to know that I truly appreciate all the love and support you have shared with me before my travels to India- however many years I have dreamed about this day that I would be here - my head up in the stars. And for this travel, the incredible support I received by you helping me to arrive here and volunteer with the school is how it was made possible for me to come to India in the first place. But most important, your support of my efforts to help others, is the greatest support, because I cannot do this alone, I have come to understand.

As Margaret Mead says, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

I'm excited to come home, I feel that I can do so much more work here, and although there is something special about being alone to ponder and become clear, I am excited to do my work with the amazing passionnate ones who

Children are GOD, I am with GOD. I am blessed.

May you feel my love and all the smiling faces of Kalkeri Sangeet Vidyalaya.

Namaste!
Ashley

ps. check out my picassa for more pics!

2 more weeks already - what??!!

Ok, so I've been here for 3 months, and only written a blog 3 times, pretty pathetic right?! I'm sure I could give so many excuses, but truly, I'm India, that's a big enough excuse. I think I have finally found a place which is on the same time as Ashley time. Even here I am on time though! When people say they will come for meetings on Monday, they happen on Wednesday, maybe Friday, and they are on time. Even those who don't speak English can say "In a minute" = meaning Indian minute of waiting till someone wants to pay attention to you after about 20 other people cut in line to talk to the clerk, it still is a minute for you to wait. Somehow, whenever a bus is coming at a specific time, and I am just one minute late for the bus, it has quickly gone on its way, but if I'm waiting for the bus to come, it will be late an hour after, so the Indian time is truly special here.
But really, I'm still at the school Kalkeri Sangeet Vidayalaya - in Karnartaka, India. The time here seems to stand still, that every day is on a schedule of the same timetable, but then again, it has gone so quickly, I cannot believe that it is already mid March! The children go on holiday in less than 2 weeks - and already I am that close to being done here!
(this may sound familiar to Lou - you got the first draft though, I was a little out of time for blogging ;) )
In it's own way, it has been just a little taste of India, being in a small village outside the busy big city of Dharward, goba huts and squat toilets, showering from a water tank and all, and most recently getting my first taste of India belly, the experience is more than my personal growth and enlightenment that I thought might happen from being in India. Once again, I am here for the children, of course that is the most important reason why I am here. Again, not to be a surprise, I have fallen in love with the children here. Their eyes and smiles are the most beautiful thing I have seen, I don't even need to go traveling to see the beautiful temples, or the mountains, or the waterfalls, I just look into their eyes and I am instantly with God, as one of the women said here, children are God, I totally believe this.

It has been surprisingly more difficult than I expected here-mostly because I have been really homesick -which I am usually not - so I'm excited to get my travel on for a few weeks, then return back to good old AZ, which there too I was sure I would leave to grander places. If I have learned anything here, it is mostly that I truly appreciate the people that I care about and the ones that are close to me, I want to keep them close. I can travel the world, but I'm not happy unless I'm with those I love. I think my next travels I'm going to have to take about 30 people with me.

I'll be traveling after April 4th, after the children leave, and I hope I'll have more of a plan, since I don't right now! I'll keep you updated a bit to let you know!

So much love and I hope your adventures are keeping you busy back home!
Lots of love,
ash

So i'm alive and well, just spent the last 3 days beachside in Goa, not really wanting to get back to the dry Karnartaka, but excited to keep teaching. It was quite an adventure riding on motorcycle taxis along the twisting and turning Indian back roads of Goa to check out the many beaches, but it was well worth it to find my favorite new hippie town Arambol. It is here that i am finially okay with my nappy hair, whereas every other place in Kalkeri, the girls ask me if I am going to brush them out and put coconut oil, and give me strange looks like i'm wearing snakes in my hair. "No good coming" they say! They really love long silky hair here, again, not my nappy curly hair as well, so i'm kinda out regardless! But other than the superficial, things are great!

I'm excited to be doing some fundraising with the founders as my next project here, in addition to the English and yoga classes daily. Soon more to come on this one.

As for all the typical travel stuff, i'm doing well, haven't cracked open my head yet, knock on wood, but i'll keep you posted on any potentially fatal experience.

So much love to you all, I hope you are healthy and happy!

Namaste!
ashley

Alive and well! SOOOOO busy, can't write too much right now, but will in a bit! Hope all is well to my friends and family!
big hugs!