I've just finished reading the Sharing BVS newsletter, which our European Coordinator so diligently compiles from emails, reports and blogs of the European volunteers. I have to admit, reading it always makes me a bit giddy, remembering what it is that I am really a part of in BVS. It also leaves me in awe of the other volunteers and the amazing work they are doing. If you'd like to read it/share it with anyone you know, I'd love to send it your way. Remembering is good for me, especially tonight, when I'n desperately trying to reign in my boomeranging emotions.

Afterschools was mad today. We were "understaffed" (i.e. we had a normal number of staff and volunteers, rather than our typical 1:2.5 ratio) so it felt like the two hours lasted 8. And looking forward, we have marathon Halloween events coming up this Friday and next (7 hours of Afterschools on both nights), so if I haven't posted in awhile, you may want to check up on me...

And then tonight, we took our multicultural group to the Indian Community Center here in Belfast. It was a really great night they had planned for us: a chat about India, the location, religion, culture, information about their gods and goddesses (they have 330 million!) while sitting in their temple, sari demonstrations, Indian snacks and henna. The boys were totally into it, sat really respectfully through the talk in the temple and asked great questions. The girls drove me mad at their lack of respect and completly rude behavior. Seriously, they're 15-18 years old...

To dwell on the interesting bits (and bobs, as the NI say): the temple resembled a party store explosion. The colors were fabulously bright, the columns were wrapped in rope lights, there were glittering banners, garlands and streamers. Someone asked why it was festive, our host consulted the temple priest and said that it was to invoke joy, happiness. It's easier to feel happy when the environment is bright. He also pointed out that India is a very warm place, tropical in a sense, and how do people in places like that dress? In Hawaii, you wear bright colors, flowers and prints that you'd never wear in Belfast. The colors and glitter bring India to this cool northern city.

The food was great- don't know what it was or what it's called, but it was good. And the woman who dressed us in saris was wonderfully sweet (and gracious even when our girls got pushy). There was an Indian drum demonstration, and it turns out the drummer goes (went?) to school with some of our yp. After the talk in the temple, one of the boys asked if he could put a donation in the box at the alter. He's one of the toughest in terms of ethnic slurs and assumptions; those are the moments that make it seem like something is actually sinking in. That makes it worthwhile.