There Sits a House

There Sits a House, illuminated by a flash. Bathed in artificial light. The roof is metal, worn, in visible disrepair. This house sits on an uneven dirt road. Flowering shrubs sprawl across the front creating a beautiful barrier, separate from passers by but not private, just distant. A few exhausted lines run from the rafters […]

The Yard

The sky is blue. Outrageously blue today. It is the kind of day that makes you forget clouds exist. A breeze kicks up and cools my sweaty brow. I feel good today, no stress. I can hear the rumbling of bike gangs in the near distance, out of sight, but within earshot. I’m in our […]

Hiding at Home

I was scared, terrified. It was probably midnight and we had just walked off the plane. Off the plane and out into the cool night air. I was with my older sister, but was still scared. I thought being here was going to calm me down, make me feel comfortable and “normal”. I thought being […]

The Orphanage Part II: Meeting the Kids

This is the second part of a two-part series. If you haven’t read the first part check it out: The Orphanage Part I: Catholic? We had just decided it was time to head down from the office and see the children. As we descended Sister Karla began telling us about their new building. She explained […]

The Orphanage Part I: Catholic?

Lawrence, the faithful, charming and ever-so-kind driver, pulls our sleek silver SUV into the gates of the orphanage. “It looks like a church,” I thought to myself as I peered through the windshield. A statue of the Virgin Mary welcomed us from the middle of the entrance. I was surprised. I had totally forgotten that […]

A Trip Back….Home?

“We arrived in Bangalore at 1:00 in the morning. After going through customs and then getting our baggage we met Gayan. He is the guy who is our escort while we are in India. We took a taxi back to the hotel. On the way we saw a lot of stray dogs and some men […]

Frustrated, Why Can’t I Answer Your Questions?

It’s a cool fall evening and I just got off the phone with Sean, a good friend of mine. He just finished dinner with his family and invited me over. His family lives in town. We live outside of town down a half-mile gravel lane, we affectionately call The Vale Lane. The Vale is the […]

7

The number 7 represents a lot of things. As with most numbers they carry little individual significance on their own. Significance is gained by association. The number 7 has gained many associations over time. There are 7 days in a week. There are 7 swans a swimming. There are 7 players on an ultimate frisbee […]

What Kind Of Indian Are You?

“Do you like (insert hard to understand Indian food dish)?” She hurriedly shot at me as she started to strain the boiling water out of a black pot she had just taken of the stove. She asked me expecting I would know, since I’m Indian. I couldn’t make out the name of the dish she […]

Letter To My Father

I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I feel it is so unfair to have lost my father. If he were still around He would, very predictably, tell me that life isn’t fair. I know he is right, but I still feel that way. This is my first attempt at a letter to my […]