It's Been Two Weeks Since Your Last Update: Happy Birthday Edition

This past week I was able to celebrate my birthday overseas. It was probably the first time that I was actually working on that day. It also had a very unique feel. Normally I'm surrounded by close friends and family but I spend it with my team. It was really laid back and I really enjoyed getting to know them and to spend time with people who actually understand being in another culture. It was so great getting to break bread and just being a host. The best parts about birthdays here is that it last a lot longer. I'm still getting birthday wishes and it's a week past!

As much fun as I had that day, I had so much fun the next day getting to go to the slums were I stay. They have a program for slum children in which they pay for tuition for school, provide tutoring and give them a meal. For most of these children this is the only meal that they get a day. They're so happy to learn and to see people invest in them. Whenever I come the children greet me and are so eager to work with me. They even fight over who is going to read first. I wish I had the problem when I was tutoring in the states. I just ask everyone to remember these children as they learn and prepare for there future. Before they really had no hope but today they can see one.

Finally, towards the end of the week, I had to start compiling footage for a project about South Asia. This meant that I had to film varies cultural practices. Some where pretty out in the open and others were more sacred. For the more sacred practices, I had to meet with leaders to see if they were going to allow filming. It pretty rare for them to allow a westerner to film, but with help from above, I was welcomed with open arms. It just so cool that I can show a realistic representation of South Asia. I have so much work to do, but I'm excited about the potential of the project.

It's about that time. Hopefully I won't wait two weeks to give you another update. Catch you next time.

Until the Nets are Full,

Bassey