We've started the countdown! As the days go by, we get more and more excited for our trip to Asia! We've been planning big time with our friends Brian and Callie, trying to figure out where we're going, how we're getting there, and what we'll be doing. It'll be such an amazing experience.
Our tickets are bought, we're just taking care of our passports and visas now! We leave May 12th and we'll be traveling for fun around Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand for about 3 weeks. Then we're off to India! We'll be visiting the north part of Indea, by Dehli and seeing the Taj Mahal. We're hoping the Tiger Parks won't be closed for the monsoon season when we're there, we have to see some real wild tigers!!
I have a better idea now of what exactly we'll be doing in India and what Ben and his group are involved in with the non-profit group Rising Star Outreach, an organization that originally started by giving microcredit loans to leprosy colonies in India. Ya I know, leprosy does still exist! In India lepers are shunned from society and sent to live in remote villages. There is a cure, but most are still sent to these villages.
Thanks to Rising Star, these colonies are becoming much more stable. They bought some land (17 acres) and built a boarding school in which the children are able to attend. This is where Ben and his team come in--they are creating a business plan for a hotel, which will be built on the same land as the school. The children and spouses will be trained in hotel management and the revenue will go towards the school and its expansion, so it can become self-sustaining. The Marriots have already pledged a lot of money for the hotel. If Ben's group wins the social venture competition at BYU this week, they will also win money to contribute to the project.
So the week or two that we are in Chennai, we will be trying to promote businesses to come to the hotel and do company retreats. We might also be helping out at the school. We can't wait, we are seriously blessed to have this opportunity!!
Our trip was so awesome. So successful. So needed. First of all, a HUGE accomplishment was that we were able to get 3 of our visas for our trip, for China, Thailand, and India...which actually was a HUGE pain...but they're done! Dealing with government always has its surprises and obsticles. We stayed with my sweet aunt and uncle which was so fun. This is where Ben is going to work! It's so nice, the BART comes RIGHT up to its doors. It's the Federal Reserve Building, and he'll be upstairs! Talk about HIGH security! 
They have such a nice house and the CUTEST dog!! He was our little buddy--he'd sleep with us, lick Ben's hand for hours, and follow us everywhere:) 
We got a great idea of where we want to live! After seeing 2 houses and their prices, we quickly decided we're NOT going to be buying right now (to give you an idea, a ONE bedroom CONDO is only $400,000!!!) So we found a lot of "communities" or apartment complexes that we loved. We have it down to two places that we loves, and can afford, and now we'll just have to see if they have availability in a few months!
