ITS COME TO AN END... Heather...so sorry I haven't commemted before, but I have been checking in from time to time. Life has taken over once again and time has slipped on by. It sounds and looks like you have been having such an amazing time. A little more interesting than Swaziland, huh! I'm so happy for you. And can't wait to hear from you when you get back. Same #. Much Luv...Rachel
Life changing experiences Thanks for writing down and sharing as much as you did - you can read a lot about the world and different places but nothing is the same as seeing through the eyes of a friend. Can't wait to see you again and hear some of your stories in person. Safe travels - love to both you and Kripa - take care!!! Heather A (p.s. go BIRDS)
phenomenal, inspiring, amazing hey, heather and kripa,
thank you for sharing your journey of geography, spirit, soul, and human kindness - while i didn't get onto the blog as much as i would have liked, each time i did and read back thru all the interim entries, well, it is hard to put into words.
your experiences together and as individuals are ones in which very few have the opportunity, and yet, in which most in the world should. the essense of soul, humanity, human resilience and spirt, adventure, and so much more that will lend to such an appreciation for life, love, and the bond that we should all share -- be it with human or animal (like that cute little puppy) -- heather, you'd make an amazing teacher. then again, as you know, i've always felt you would make an amazing "anything you chose to do."... i have some friends who did teach for america and got their teaching certificates by working in some really "need the spirit of a person like heather" places, where no doubt you'd inspire children to realize they can be more than where they are right now.... Proverbs says, "The path of the righteous gets brighter and brighter and brighter."... i have no doubt that, wherever you and kripa go, the path behind and the path ahead will be a lot brighter for all those who travel with and behind you.
please keep in touch and let me know where you land.. I heard some really good rumors for the philadelphia area, but we could only be so lucky! be well,
Amy
where are you now? Hi Heather,
Sounds like a magnificent place to vsit............Hampi.!! Wish I could be there with you.
Where are you now? What are your travel plans for returning to the states??!! Is Sept. 7th still the date?
Love to you both?
MOM
must visit hampi So i see now what you meant when you said "these boulders are huge" the picture where a temple seems snuggled within the boulders is beautiful - it accentuates the largeness of these. WOW! Relativity gives perspective. Lovely, indeed!
And more impressive is the terrific job with spelling the oh! so complex! names of temples.
You make me proud! ;)
warning! kripa gets mushy. India's beauty is raw. It is so simple it can be stunning. The lack of basic necessities drives life here for the majority. This being the case a victim of utter poverty siezes any opportunity to make more of anything - money, food, or attention. But we are able to also see the flip side. The simplicity, the "this is what is" attitude. The peace. The acceptance. No expectations from acts of kindness, other than the act itself.
At times I cringe at the constant want and greed and aspiring touts. But for a majority, I feel proud of humanity as it still chugs along, with whatever littte or nothing it has - softly, lightly, making the loudest sounds in our minds and leaving a pressing impact on our soul.
Keep watching!
And, I love you.
kripa.
Knowledge is Power Heather and Kripa,
I just sat down to update myself on your blog. What amazing experiences you are having and what amazing pictures. I have enjoyed following your adventures. Keep up the great work! Miss You Both!
"Teacher" Hi Heather and Kripa - although i am not good at keeping in touch I think of you both nearly everyday and I hold you both so close in my heart. Your journal and photos have touched me profoundly...what an amazing journey you are on. It is a struggle for me (and I am sure many others) to really and truly be present in the moment and live simply and with wonder while serving a greater purpose...I know you likely have your challenges too but your lives and actions are inspiring and truly fill me with awe. You are both "teachers" in many senses of the word...and I wanted you to know the positive impact your story has had on my own soul. Much love to you both (and miss you lots), Heather (heatheratk@yahoo)
Happy Birthday ... a little belated I haven't looked at the blog in awhile, and I just emailed you yesterday; but I just wanted to make sure you got my big, fat birthday message. Happy Birthday!!! Hope it was good. :)
Good for you! Heather - what a fantastic experience. I am so glad that you are so happy where you are - it sounds like an awesome opportunity for you, and for your class members - everyone is learning something! Keep us updated - so proud of you, and hello to Kirpa. xoxo, kcd
Knowledge IS power! Heather and Kripa,
We are inspired by your commitments to teaching and to learning. There is a Quaker slogan "let your lives speak" and you are certainly demonstrating it!
Paul and I will be traveling to China in August. While ours is a cultural tour, we are looking forward to getting an experience of Asia.
Love,
Aunt Janet
You and Kripa teach me with every entry. I hope I can pass along some of this to Wynter. I truly look forward to my next lesson from each of you. Thanks to both of you. Peace.
speaking for Wynter and Timmy This is the most incredible blog. You are both amazing writers and wonderful women. I tell Wynter about his Aunt's off far away places working to benefit all living beings. You are great role models for him. We miss you.
Teaching........................ Heather, who would have thought??!! I never knew you really had an interest in teaching. It is, without a doubt, one of the "noblest" professions. I see you've experienced the great feeling of having imparted some small bit of knowledge to another person, and the joy it gives you, as the teacher. The power of teaching is unbelievable. It's a high all its' own.
Good luck. It sounds as if you are definitely in the "right place at the right time."
with much love and great pride..............
MOM
very cool Hi Kripa and Heather,
Thanks so much for sharing all of this - it is so waaayyyyy cool. All your stories/photos/descriptions are touching and inspiring. I love it!!! What a gift of an experience. Drink it up. Savor it. I know both of you are touching people's lives and theirs are blessing yours with their amazing grace and humanity. I am living vicariously through your travels when I visit this blog. I feel the wonder. Debbie
Kripa, I'm so happy and proud of you for the work you're doing now. Your heart of gold has lead you to this. I'm glad you're doing this - though you're depressed about what life is giving to others, I can see they're blessed by have someone like you there to help them.
Please keep posting online so we can keep up with your life and feel connected to the people you're working with.
Outrageous, forget it!! You write so well Kripa, it is a pleasure to read your prose. I can understand what it must have felt to have a man violate your personal space. I think there are just about two ways ways of dealing with these idiots: tell them off right there and then and I understand you chose to be polite and the other is to just use your presence of mind to get them off your trail which you did. Just don't let them dampen your mood, they do not deserve all that thought time. But yes, we can definitely talk about how patriarchy makes men feel that they own the world!! What a big myth!! Take care.
To S & K, two beautiful women.... Hi Kripa! Amrita here. I have been meaning to spend quality time on your blog and today I have a world of time, lucky for me. I can understand that the "helplessness" you see around you can get really depressing. I have dealt with it too and decided that there got to be more meaning to all this "suffering" than what we understand. I have come to the new understanding that the crux is to be able to first accept things the way they are. Because when we accept, we stop feeling depressed, empathise more and put our entire energies into realising what we as human beings can do. I think your friend S and many like her are Godsend angles who are "put" on our paths and in letting us help them, they in fact help us to ascend a higher level in our consciousness. Just don't let her break your heart, may you walk with her and many like her and become a much better person than you already are. With lots of love, Amrita
angels without a doubt Kripa and Heather, I can't thank you enough for including us all on this incredible journey of 2 amazing spirits and the wondrous resiliency of other great souls.. i completely agree with the friend who commented that you are angels and heroines... I so will look forward to reading on about this life journey; there are so many who could learn a little perspective on life from all you see and do -- thank you for assuring me that there is still so much good going on in the world, amidst all the bad things our "news" brings to the forefront.... more stories about you guys and other kindred amazing souls are doing should be more in the public eye.. be safe and stay healthy, and please keep the journals going... thank you!
Hey from the BK Just saying hi. Seems like things are going well. Your new place looks quite cozy and peaceful. No big comments from me, yet: Just a shout out! :)
MEN.................. OHhhhhhhh Kripa, Haven't you figured them out yet??!! MEN are MEN..............Anytme, anywhere. THEY ARE STILL MEN.!!!! Nothing stops them or changes their course of thought.
Sorry to be so cynical.....
As Dad's doctor said to me yesterday, "we can't help ourselves, we're only MEN.!!"
Pride and Sadness Abound My eyes fill with tears, and my heart swells with pride as I read your wonderful blog, and look at those great pictures. Continue on....... Bless both of you................
The voices of happiness we hear within us, expands to surround us, painting a new picture that refuses to be washed away by tempest and disquiet. It is a wonder then, that so often we do not allow the voices within to flourish, prefering instead for the voices without to define what we become.
Lal Bahadur is your voice.
http://www.littlemag.com/jul-aug01/newfic09.html
We are living in Dharamshala (Himachal Pradesh), India. We are each doing volunteer work which includes teaching English to exiled Tibetans and working with the homeless in the region.... full info
Rachel
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ITS COME TO AN END...
Heather...so sorry I haven't commemted before, but I have been checking in from time to time. Life has taken over once again and time has slipped on by. It sounds and looks like you have been having such an amazing time. A little more interesting than Swaziland, huh! I'm so happy for you. And can't wait to hear from you when you get back. Same #. Much Luv...Rachel