that time my day instantly turned around

As many of you know by now, this blog started because of a trip to India. For years, I read my friend, Sam's blog, wishing I had the courage to write like she did. When I decided to move to India for five months after college graduation, a blog proved to be the perfect excuse to start writing for all to read.

Living in a country so different than the United States was the most challenging thing I've ever done. I was alone, hungry, beyond hot, uncomfortable and nervous a lot of the time. But having the chance to live among a society of people with such faith and hope that everything in life will be all right taught me so much.

I learned to manage my stress because no matter what I'm experiencing here, it's never going to be as stressful as trying to feed a family every night when funds are non-existent.

I learned how to write with ease about a country and cause I'm desperately passionate about, even though in the beginning, I was terrified to write anything at all.

I learned that, as much as I say time and time again, I don't care for kids, that's just not true. Those 100 plus kids took my heart and ran for miles. One in particular.

Santhosh | 2011

But most of all, I learned how to embrace and love life no matter what. And I learned that from children; children growing up in a tiny village in the middle of no where in Southern India; children who laugh and dance and sing despite not even having shoes to do so in; and children who still ask about 'Miss Allie.'

And that's how my day instantly turned around. I woke up with a killer stomach ache. I felt tired and cranky for no real reason but after a brief phone call from the non-profit who took me to India, with a stellar report that my kids are not only growing into amazing young people but still, almost two years later, remember me, my day took a turn for the better.

How could it not?