A recap...

So although I sadly did not make it to Hampi after all, last weekend turned out to be one of the best I’ve had in India!

The train situation was impossible, and it turned out we were on the waiting list, which prevented us from travelling.  I know they say it’s all about the experience, but I am slightly ashamed to admit that I was somewhat relieved that I was not going to board the train when I saw it pass.  Uma is a teacher in standard three and it was her and her son that I had planned to go with.  Her son, Druv (sp?) was sadder than both of us combined and cried the entire ride back home. I think the auto guy was about to throw him out the large opening.  The rest of the night was spent relaxing, but Uma and I decide we would do a spa day to make up for our failed attempt at Hampi.  I spent most of the night playing with her adorable son and niece, Shreias (sp?).  It seemed they were quite fascinated by me and I was thrilled to play with them and listen to them giggle. The next morning we headed to the cricket stadium where the spa is located.  Apparently the cricket stadium is not just a stadium but also something closely related to a country club.  There was a pool, restaurant, salon, and a couple of other components.  Membership is needed to access all of these venues, but Uma’s father-in-law (who by the way is also her uncle, yes she married her first cousin...) is the chief commissioner of the stadium so we were granted access! After our wonderful treatments, which were slightly more invasive then I have previously witnessed, we ate lunch in her father-in-law’s office and spent some time there. During lunch I learned all about the game of cricket and was invited to a game on that Tuesday night!!

As we left the stadium after a wonderful afternoon I could not help but think that everything really does happen for a reason.  If we had gone to Hampi, I would have never made it to see a cricket match and although it would have been nice to see Hampi, I think in the end I enjoy the 50 yard line seats at the cricket match a little bit more.  A long day of relaxation it was indeed, which was followed by a roof top party to send off a friend of Shilpa’s friend.  Shilpa, who I believed I mentioned earlier, is a friend who I have really come to enjoy spending time with.  She is about 16 years older than I am, but as my mom pointed out, her life is no more settled than mine as she has been going from country to country for her job. Just now she is settling in Bangalore.  Anyway, Shilpa’s friend, Namita, is 32 years old and hated her job so she quit and is going to Zanzibar to help her friend start up a number of villas.  She kept insisting that I was brave for coming to India, but all I could think about how cool and brave it was going to Zanzibar and quitting her job! It’s meeting people like her that makes me appreciate those that refuse to be unhappy and are willing to take risks in their lives.  Everyone else at the gathering was so nice and included: a girl who is Indian, but grew up in America and actually attended Wisconsin, a married couple who lived in New Jersey for a few years but has settled back in India with their family, a French/Israeli Jew who travels back and forth from France to operate his technology business with his brother, and a few others I have met before.  Being there made me feel like such a baby in some respects, but very adult like and mature in others.

On Sunday, I met up with two of the teachers from school, Jhumki and Mohua.  Jhumki is one of my favourite people here at school and she is the other standard three teachers. Mohua is an art teacher and one of the sweetest, most cultured people I have ever met.  Both have incredibly interesting life stories and live in the same apartment complex.  During my time with them, they took me first to a crafts exhibition of some kind which basically had all of the goods found all over India in one location.  It is an understatement to say that my senses were over stimulated by everything there.  From there we went to pick up lunch during which time I learned about Mohua’s relationship with her son, which I admire greatly.  It seems that she is a truly selfless mother (as I know most if not all are) and misses her son a great deal who lives in France with his father.  When we drove back to their apartment to eat lunch, Mohua gave me all sorts of gifts. The first was the most beautiful Sari I have ever seen, which was originally gifted to her by her mother but since she has never worn it in the three years it has been sitting in her closet, she decided to gift it to me- I could not have been happier! Then, she pulled out a silver bracelet with a very modern design, which I happily wear every day now J.  Following came a very pretty scarf, which reminded her of a friend she has who is a silk distributor so after lunch we went to her house to see all of her goods.  This was an awesome experience! As we walked into a room that was probably meant to be a bedroom, silk was to be found everywhere! It was so much fun going through everything and of course buying a ton! After coffee and paying, we left to freshen up before heading to a Odici dance recital that was to be performed by a couple of the students from Aditi.  The recital was nice, but we were all somewhat done after a few numbers.  The little girls were very cute and excited about being on stage.  A wonderful weekend has come to a end with a lovely Indian dinner at a local place.

Last week was filled the awesome cricket match, of which I could not take pictures because you cannot take a camera into the stadium, the last night of Chanukah at the Israeli family’s house down the street, and an Indo- Brazilian music concert.  The cricket match was a blast and I enjoyed my time with Uma and her father-in-law.  The last night of Chanukah with the Bloch’s was lovely and I am so lucky to have made that connection while I’ve been here.  Going to the Indo- Brazilian concert sounds a lot cooler than it was, but hey- it’s all about the experience.  Then, Friday morning I took a VERY early bus to Coorg, one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited! More on Coorg to come...