Five months, three weeks and one day. That is the time I've spent in India as of the date I board the plane for our vacation to Thailand. It flew by so quickly on the one hand, and on the other, I miss my family (my cat) so much that those 175 sleeps, as my friend Sarah expresses the days she's away from her beloved, seem like 5175. I am so happy to go home to my family, my friends, my Monday catch-up calls, my work, my real life. I am also a bit sad to be closing this chapter. I feel like I didn't finish at work. Don't get me wrong. I'm proud of what I've accomplished here. I'm more proud of what the team has accomplished in the short time we've been up and running. I could list a thousand things I feel I could've or should've done, but I have no regrets.
There was a time that I thought Bangalore, even India, and I would never find common ground, never be friends. She beat me down time and time again. But what I eventually learned from these beat downs is that it wasn't Bangalore or India delivering the beating. It was me. As usual, I am my own worst enemy, critic and antagonist. I have grown to love this place, the people here, the noise, the chaos. There is peace here. It's not in a yoga class, not in a church, not in a book and not in a glass. Peace found me weaving in and out of the traffic as I crossed the street, navigating unknown territory on my own, meeting people and making friends, working in difficult situations with difficult people (not total peace here, but more than I'd known before - work in progress), teaching Sunday school at BICF. Peace showed itself as strength, as courage, as kindness, as patience (a little), as friendship.
The packing crew comes tomorrow to load all of my belongings into crates to ship home. I have one last day in the office. I've picked up my clothes from the tailor, I've itemized and inventoried my things. I've packed my bag for Thailand, and I'm finishing up the last load of laundry. Japen boards a Qatar flight to begin the long trip to Bangalore to join me. I'm excited and a bit sad. I'm exhausted - physically and emotionally. I need that week on a Thai beach with cocktails and massages and steam rooms and sun. I can't wait to reconnect with my man - my love - my best friend.
I have learned many lessons in my short time here.
I'm stronger of will and spirit than I ever thought I could be
People are generally good and kind and real - I'd lost sight of that
I need to work on how I deal with conflict - at work, which I'm not used to (because everyone usually loves me, right?), and in life
I can't save, change or fix everything or everyone - I'll probably keep trying though
I can get used to and adapt to just about anything - except Hasan's schedule changes, this I cannot accept
I need more good, positive, uplifting women in my life
I never want to stop exploring places, cultures, people, lives
Most importantly, I am grateful for the love, support, friendship, acceptance and patience that Japen generously gives every day so that I am free, happy, satisfied and always dreaming
My assignment here is coming to an end, but my journey is in its infancy. I have been watched over, and I am blessed beyond comprehension. Thank you to every single friend and colleage that made me feel welcome and safe and accepted from the beginning. You have been my guardian angels and my protectors.Thank you to those that challenged me. You have made me stronger, better and more mature.
I will be forever grateful for the peace and the spirit that India has provided. I will miss the friends I've made, but I know they will be life-long friends. Those of you that know me well, know that, to me, friends are family. To my new friends, know that you are part of my family, in my heart, always. My last few days in Bangalore will be spent with these dear people and the love of my life, Japen. There will be music, laughter, fun and, hopefully, beer. I can't imagine a better way to begin the next leg of this life-long journey.
The GS team - Thanks for lunch!
My dearest Hasan.
Syed - My favorite guy on Commerical Street
This city is beautiful, its people are beautiful. Just look.
