After almost a year, our dear dance guru, Bama Aunty, came back to Orlando for a short two week visit. Although she didn't stay with us during her trip here, we made it a point to meet up and catch up on some old memories. Over Pav Baaji and Bollywood songs, we talked life back in India, the correct way to hold a hookah pen (fake, of course) and when she plans to come back to Orlando for a longer stay. The evening was filled with laughter, recollection, and love. ~~ When I started learning dance from Bama Aunty, she was strictly a teacher for me. Once a week I would come in for lessons, I would sweat, I would get yelled at, and ultimately I would go home -- sore. Nothing much more of an interaction than that. But during the time of an arangetram, all dancers inevitably get much closer to their teachers. With Bama aunty, there eventually came a point when taal and raaga were replaced with the best way to make brownies and how some people are, what aunty calls "sweat fountains" (ehm Niyati ;) Though the yelling didn't stop, we didn't get as terrified and saw it merely as a motherly action -- to be taken seriously, but nothing to be scared of. Now that her students have grown and matured, we are realizing just how much she knows. All her experiences, all her travels have accounted for a lot. Bama aunty never stops teaching, and for her I am ever grateful.
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Even though I had signed up to volunteer at Give Kids the World back in 7th grade, due to the distance, I never used to go quite as often as I have been going now. And the more I go, the more I fall in love with the people, the guests, the personal interactions we can have. All the guests are so genuinely happy to be there, regardless of age, gender, or race. That place transports them to a new world, in which they can forget about problems they may be having at home and focus on the now. But I would have to say, for me the best part isn't what you may think. In my opinion, the best part of the entire village is John. John is a retired volunteer who has been working with GTKW since the 90's, and if you so much as step into Amberville, you will be able to see his stunning contribution. John and another volunteer put in more than 200 hours to create an entire interactive miniature town, complete with moving trains, changing lights and tv's hooked up to cameras so you are the star :) John's passion for the project is indescribable. Although I have been stationed at Amberville for multiple of his weekly visits, he always asks me if I want to go to the small control room below the display to see what makes the whole town run. Whether it's from the pure love of what he does, or just the result of mild memory loss, the childlike excitement he has in his voice when talking about how he made it is simply delightful. To have just 10% of the passion John shows toward his creation would be immense to anyone else. Also, visit my vsco account at http://vsco.co/anushri27!
First Pooja done at the new house 1/10/16 Upon request from a lovely girl at school, Niyati and I were asked to perform at a function where the Guyanese youth group was attempting to raise money for the construction of a new temple. This was one of our first performances that we were called for such a cause, so it was crucial that we did a good job. After two evenings of editing music, getting sore legs and trying to squeeze into a dress that was unbelievably tight, we stepped onto the floor and gave it our best shot. Another successful dance with my partner in crime : Check. Here is the full dance: 2/28/16 |
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