India. Chaos and calm. Grit and charm.

As I fold my jumpy jet-lagged limbs into the backseat of the Cross-Cultural Solutions (CCS) jeep and tuck a strand of limp hair behind my ears, I brace for the chaos beyond the hush of the concrete parking structure. I know it will take the full 40-minute ride from the airport to loosen my grip on the door handle and sink into the rhythmic and oddly calming crush of motorcycles, graffiti covered transport trucks, rusted out taxis, and green and yellow rickshaws.

Even with the windows closed, the clouds of swirling dust immediately erase my memories of Vancouver’s crisp air and deposit a layer of grime on my already ripe and wrinkled travel clothes.

When we arrive at the CCS flats near Hauz Khas village, I am reunited with the staff and Delhi’s intensity fades into a feeling of returning home. Chai is offered and I nod with vigour. From the moment the cup touches my lips, I am firmly in India. It coats my teeth with little sugar sweaters and yet, I still nod and say yes every time a refill is offered. Then, lunch begins and I take comfort in knowing that for two weeks, I will never be hungry. Pawan’s Palak Paneer, Tandori chicken, and Bharta crowd my dreams when I’m away and fill my senses when I return.

Oh India. Even with her dust and chaos, I love her. From the smell of incense as it trails through the local temple to the open-mouthed giggle of a child racing his brother along a crowded street with his oversized and out-dated backpack bumping against his threadbare sweater. India never disappoints and I love watching our participants fall headlong into her contradictory beauty.

Today, I don’t want to share “my” India with you. Instead, I want to share the reason our programs exist and then give you a slice of India through the eyes of FCAF Participants Meaghan and Niki.

For many years, people have asked me why I do this work. In this piece by New York writer, new friend, and FCAF participant – Suleika – you can see why for so many of us, the journey back to wellness does not come with a paint-by-numbers solution.

Lost in Transition

It took me a long time to be able to say I was a cancer patient. Then, for a long time, I was only that: A cancer patient. Now that I’m done with my treatment, I’m struggling to figure out who I am. On paper, I am better: I no longer have cancer, and with every passing day I’m getting stronger. The constant flood of doctor’s appointments, blood tests and phone calls from concerned family and friends have trickled to a slow drip. But off paper, I feel far from being a healthy 26-year-old woman.

My disease has left countless invisible imprints in its wake: infertility, premature menopause, a thyroid condition, chronic fatigue and a weakened immune system that sends me to the emergency room on a regular basis. And that’s just the short list. Then there are the demons of depression and the fears of relapse that sneak into my head just when I think I’ve gotten a grip. The rattle of a cough in my chest. A strange bruise on the back of my leg. A missed call from my oncologist. Each of these triggers rips me out of my fragile, new reality leaving me to wonder: What happens if the cancer comes back? Will I ever feel normal again? And most daunting of all, how do I move forward with my life?” Click here to read the whole article.

Embracing India

Want to join us in India? In the words of the beautiful and expressive Meaghan…

“Life. Death.

Me. Cherie, Renee, Valerie, Erin, Sarah, and Lisa Bonchek Adams (http://lisabadams.com/blog/).

Expectations on myself, to figure it all out, to be present, to open my heart wider, to love and be loved. Burning those expectations in a fire that grew so hot it shattered glass and crashed to the ground.

Pure white, spring, rebirth, new year. Every color of the rainbow on my body, on my friends, and in the air on Hindu Holi.

The infinite space of my mind. The choked alleyways, thick with smells of chai and trash and onion, sounds of praying and honking and pots clanging, saris billowing behind in a parade of patterns.

A billion individuals, all moving, weaving in and out of traffic obstacles on foot, camels, elephants, horses and carriages, auto rickshaws, bicycles, motorcycles, buses, juggling every imaginable object—gas tanks, carpets, children, goats, chairs. Together, working in unison, in a symbiosis, forming a living and pulsing organism.”

Click here to read the whole post and be transported to India through Meaghan’s eyes.

Niki Getting Our Colour Back & My Why

We are lucky to have people like Niki in our community. Here, she showcases the faces of our tribe and how India has helped us get the colour back:

“In the greatest bit of luck, the festival of Holi, the changing of winter into spring, fell during our time in India. From 10:30 AM on, people fill the streets and toss colored powder and tag each other with color-filled water guns. As one of my fellow tribe members said, it’s like India is giving us back the color we had all lost. And we are one rainbow radiating tribe.” To see all of Niki’s photos, click here:  Colors of Holi. 

To read more about Niki’s volunteer placement and how India helped her discover her “why”, check out this moving post: My Why. 

Join Us

For the next 10 days on Facebook, we’ll share the inspiring stories and faces of our latest tribe. Join us here: A Fresh Chapter on Facebook.

If you or someone you know is interested in joining us on a future adventure, make sure you’re signed up here for updates. We can’t wait to share details of the upcoming Cape Town 2015 and Delhi 2016 programs with you.