My dear friends, warm greetings and buon giorno. Two months have passed since leaving Namma Bhoomi yet every day amongst friends or coleagues some reference is made to my experience there.The time since my return to life here in italy has been very busy.

   Often I think how lucky you all are, there, in your safe and orderly world. It is natural to compare one culture to another and much harder to look and experience without judging, thus allowing the experience to unfold more fully. When I succeed in looking without judging, what I see is really a perfect democratic world which you have created there in the middle of fields that seem empty unles one slows the car enough to notice the people and the houses.

   You have created an industry of life that is strong and we, here in the west would do well to take example from your striving toward democracy. It is impressive to see how much is achieved with the few resourses available, and it is a testament to will power, the most important of all resources. Thinking back to the first time I heard the names 'The Concerned for Working Children' and 'Namma Bhoomi', it was in a conversation with my friend Navroze Contractor who encouraged me to speak to his dear friend Nandana Reddy about giving a beauty course.

    I thought, how perfect to give my skills to young adults in a place where modern hairstyling for women is still a relatively new profession. Thus began the road to Namma Bhoomi. Upon my arrival I was given a warm welcome, the children were eager and well organized. Our class began the following morning and I was incredibly gratified immediately to watch these bright young people learning. The first week we learned facials, manicures, pedicures, and a day focused on the theory of the 'Art of Beauty. I was spirited upward by the acceptance and overall agreement when explaining my own personal philosophy concerning beauty. Challenging moments came in the second week when we put scissors and combs to the material. As with all things, putting theory to practice produces first chaos then comprehension.

   My task during this time was to keep everyone focused and learning. I am proud of how well the children stayed with the challenge. Much was accomplished in the two weeks together including a visit to a hair salon for women in Udupi and a barbershop in Kundapur. During this field trip the children experienced first hand the realities of the workplace. I have great confidence that the children will continue practicing the art of beauty, developing and incorporating their own ideas into what they learned in those two weeks. The gifts I received from my time at Namma Bhoomi are numerous and continue to grow as time ripens the fruit of that experience.

   I was deeply touched on the last day by all the preparations and the closing ceremony which was attended by various friends and merchants. The presents that the children gave on my departure are wonderful and I marvel that they decovered in two weeks time my favorite colors. When I plug in my Taj Mahal replica, I see all of your lovely smiles. I left Namma Bhoomi filled with respect for our future generation, appreciation for the opportunity that I was given and hope that one day I may return to Namma Bhoomi for another round of songs, smiles, stories and maybe even an appointment for a facial and haircut.

Thanks for everything,

Much love

Maryanne