Indian Idol...

So I'm sure most of you are familiar with the popular TV show in the States called American Idol, which got it's start from Britain's Pop Idol...well, now there's an Indian Idol believe it or not! For those of you not familiar with the show, there are 3 judges who travel the country holding auditions that thousands turn out for, narrowing it down to 50 or so that travel to a certain destination and then whittle it down even further to 16 or so that compete live over the course of an extremely prolonged/drawn out period of time, til one is named the next American Idol. The judges do have some say, but the general public has the final vote, casting via telephone for their favorite contestants week to week, each one having their own number. I first became aware of this craze sweeping India when I saw signs plastered all over Darjeeling to vote for a particular contestant--Prashant Tamang--who's hometown is...you guessed it--Darjeeling! I have also been able to view this show/extravaganza, with the girls living at the hostel who are attending local Loreto College. I was unable to stay up til 11:00 with them when the show ended and only saw the first 1/2 hour or so of the 2-hour show, and keep in mind they're still in the preliminary stages, with a dozen or so guys and just as many girls. I did however surmise that Prashant did well based on the squealing I heard coming from the girls still upstairs, and by the fireworks and cheering I heard outside my window coming from all over the hillside!! Needless to say, Indian Idol has taken Darjeeling by storm!

And for the most exciting news of the week: I received a package!! For those of you who contributed to the 40-pound box of goodies, thank you, thank you, thank you!! Just seeing the box sitting at the hostel, I was ecstatic, but then opening it up and pulling out everything, I was completely overwhelmed by your generosity. I have been taking a few things in every day, and the kids are absolutely thrilled with the stuff they get to make and do with all of it! I promise to have pictures by next week, as their faces tell it all much more clearly than I could put into words! So a tremendous thank you goes out to all who contributed! Hard to believe next week is my last, but as they say, time flies when you're having fun...who knew how great it is to spend 4 weeks playing and making crafts with kids that are thrilled beyond belief with a new bottle of glue or a new pack of crayons!?