My Mom, the Swap Making Queen

My Mom is a swaps pro! She has created all of the swaps I have shared with other Girl Scouts for at least the past 10 years.  For all of you non-Girl Scout readers, swaps are small handmade items that Girl Scouts share with one another. Frequently these are patches or similar mementos that represent your home state or home country. 

Thanks to my Mom, I am armed with my swaps for India. She made beautiful beaded pins for me to share.

After my Christmas vacation in Indiana, where a blizzard disrupted my travel plans, I think these swaps are an appropriate gift from my home country. Thank you, Mom! 

For more on swaps, click here.

Checking Off the List

The last few days have been productive!

-Send Visa Application= DONE
-Pay Sangam Fees= DONE
-Purchase Plane Ticket= DONE
-Officially Apply for Time Away from Work= DONE

Cheers & Thanks Roaring 20s

I am from a small town in Indiana. My parents have lived in C. for nearly 40 years. In that time, my Mom has developed some very special relationships with some incredible women. These women from her home-ec club, The Roaring 20s, are the most dynamic and I would say sometimes crazy in that pie-making-flower-arranging kinda way one would ever meet. They have been the best kind of friends to my Mom during some of the toughest times in her life. For that alone, I will forever love every single one of them.

Why would I mention these ladies here? Well, they recently surprised me with some unexpected funding for my trip. In the words of my Mom, the club raises money to give back to the community and they wanted to invest in the community this way.  

In all honesty, I was a bit overcome by their generosity. I haven't been a part of my hometown for nearly 20-years. Well, maybe Bon Jovi and Sugarland were correct when they sang "...there's only one place they call me one of their own."

Cheers & Thanks Roaring 20s! 

Ill stay true to your pay it forward tradition. 

Sangam Survival Kit

On Sunday I celebrated my birthday with some of my greatest Girl Scout gal pals! One of my friends, J gave me a much needed Sangam Survival Kit. She made certain that I will not go hungry or go without toilet paper. For those of you who know me, toilet paper is a necessity!

When I travelled to Kenya a few years ago with J and another friend S, I was so panicked about not having toilet paper, that I squirreled it away every chance I got. By the end of the trip, I had rolls and rolls of it stuffed in my bag, just in case of an emergency.

Just Received My Nonprofit Match

    The much anticipated email arrived in my in-box today! I have been matched with a nonprofit for my four weeks in Pune. I will be volunteering with the Green Tara Foundation!!! The Green Tara Foundation works with teen girls on life skills, self defense and reproductive health. My passion!!!  I am so excited and a bit relieved that I wont be tasked with teaching toddlers American camp songs. For more on the Green Tara Foundation click here.

Community Programme Paperwork Submitted

Today I returned my community programme placement sheet via email to the Sangam! I am so excited to find out with which organization I will be volunteering! More to come!!!

I am going to India!!

I am going to India! About a month ago I received my official acceptance into the four week community "tare" program at the Sangam World Centre! I can not wait to learn more about this adventure.
A HUGE shout out goes to my sister, L, for mentoring me though the application process. Scientists rock!

My super smart scientist sister & me!

Click here to read more about the community program at the Sangam.