I had the most incredible day.
It was just an ordinary day.
But so extraordinary...
I have fallen in love with India.
I leave in 2 days...I'm not ready to go. My adventure has only begun.
I woke up this morning a little distraught...honestly, I was at the point where I just wanted to go home, be home, get out of this place.
But I made myself get out of adorable little flat in Som Vihar to explore more of beautiful Delhi!
I love Delhi!
Yes, for India, some say it's just ordinary, but still so extraordinary. I love it.
Katie, Erica, and I made our way to Northern Delhi...to Old Delhi. This place is incredible! Remember when I visited Chandni Chowk (one of the most emotional days...) and Old Delhi back in August - that was 4 MONTHS ago?!?! Anyway, it was a fun adventure!
In short, my ordinary, extraordinary, incredible day consisted of a stroll around Delhi's Red Fort, Friday prayers at India's largest mosque at Jama Masjid (which actually means friday mosque...); a swarm of Muslim men walking through the streets of Old Delhi - a fantastic sight; a yummy lunch at the very famous Karim's in the back streets of Chandni Chowk with yummy Sikh Kebabs, Mutton Korma (curry), Butter Naan, and Kheer (rice pudding - my fav dessert); a moment of silence (as we warded off dozens of obnoxious school boys who wanted photos) at Rajgat - Gandhi's cremation site; and many other brilliant moments. After Old Delhi, I went to the post office and then I split from Katie and Erica to go to the local Sector 12 market. It was about a 15-20 minute walk and it was a very nice day (unlike Utah it's about 70 degrees here during the day!) so I opted for the walk.
Well, on my way home, a cute guy on a bike pulled over on the side of the road and offered me a ride...how could I say no?! Okay...I knew him. It was Mintu-ji from the office! I love that cute guy. He gave me a ride to the market...it was the best bike ride ever. I then made a few purchases and decided to spontaneously call my dear Indian momma, Laxmi-ji, to see if I could stop by to see little baby Ritika (they just named her :)). She says "come! come! come! my house!" I can just hear her voice now. She requested me to bring 15 samosas for her family and we would party and take picture! hehe so I show up and there was a room full of aunties, brothers, sisters, and lots of children! We took pictures, smiled, played, and just had fun. It was the best time!
After I got home, we headed to our LDS Branch Christmas Party! It was the best! We had the YM/YW Christmas Skit of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" which we helped to prepare them for and we sang "Joy to the World" with a couple other families. Then we had the funniest, most random, most perfect 20+ minute missionary skit about a jungle mission with the monkeys (I think that's what they were...) and a visit from Santa. Oh, and you can't forget the Jimmi Hendrix version of The First Noel and Joy to the World with a cute Tibetan guy on the guitar and our cute Indian friend on the piano - toooooo cool! Only in India :) We have the best little Branch here. I just love them all! They are my family. We ate the best dinner and visited with friends for hours....I also chatted away withElder Travis Randall, a friend that I graduated high school with (yeah, we met up again here in India a couple years later...who would have guessed?). I love chatting with missionaries and good friends...it was the best night.
Tonight, my heart is full of gratitude. I am overwhelmed with excruciating joy and pain....it's so bittersweet. Do I really leave in just 2 days? I'm just getting started...Today, I remembered the million and one reasons that I just love India. And today, I left my heart in the hands of those that have become my other family...
To all of my "family" that I have met here in India, I love you. You have changed my life.
Here are just a few of the people that I have come to so freely love and appreciate in my time here: My momma Laxmi-ji, Anita-ji, Himanchu, Geeta, Ravi & Rajni Gupta, Shyam and his adorable family, Margaret George, The Cleggs and their beautiful family, Elder Dev (even though he's been home a couple months, I still think of him as Elder), Sister Asha and all the other young women, the Masseys, Riya, Vic Shaw, the Singhs,
I could never list everyone.
I love you all.
Because of you, India has stolen my heart.
I'll post some more pictures later! My computer is going crazy...running out of memory. I have a bunch of blog updates coming sooooooon (they're almost ready :)). Love you all! Thank you for all of your support and love over the years...I wouldn't be here in India without you.
It was just an ordinary day.
But so extraordinary...
I have fallen in love with India.
I leave in 2 days...I'm not ready to go. My adventure has only begun.
I woke up this morning a little distraught...honestly, I was at the point where I just wanted to go home, be home, get out of this place.
But I made myself get out of adorable little flat in Som Vihar to explore more of beautiful Delhi!
I love Delhi!
Yes, for India, some say it's just ordinary, but still so extraordinary. I love it.
Katie, Erica, and I made our way to Northern Delhi...to Old Delhi. This place is incredible! Remember when I visited Chandni Chowk (one of the most emotional days...) and Old Delhi back in August - that was 4 MONTHS ago?!?! Anyway, it was a fun adventure!
In short, my ordinary, extraordinary, incredible day consisted of a stroll around Delhi's Red Fort, Friday prayers at India's largest mosque at Jama Masjid (which actually means friday mosque...); a swarm of Muslim men walking through the streets of Old Delhi - a fantastic sight; a yummy lunch at the very famous Karim's in the back streets of Chandni Chowk with yummy Sikh Kebabs, Mutton Korma (curry), Butter Naan, and Kheer (rice pudding - my fav dessert); a moment of silence (as we warded off dozens of obnoxious school boys who wanted photos) at Rajgat - Gandhi's cremation site; and many other brilliant moments. After Old Delhi, I went to the post office and then I split from Katie and Erica to go to the local Sector 12 market. It was about a 15-20 minute walk and it was a very nice day (unlike Utah it's about 70 degrees here during the day!) so I opted for the walk.
Well, on my way home, a cute guy on a bike pulled over on the side of the road and offered me a ride...how could I say no?! Okay...I knew him. It was Mintu-ji from the office! I love that cute guy. He gave me a ride to the market...it was the best bike ride ever. I then made a few purchases and decided to spontaneously call my dear Indian momma, Laxmi-ji, to see if I could stop by to see little baby Ritika (they just named her :)). She says "come! come! come! my house!" I can just hear her voice now. She requested me to bring 15 samosas for her family and we would party and take picture! hehe so I show up and there was a room full of aunties, brothers, sisters, and lots of children! We took pictures, smiled, played, and just had fun. It was the best time!
After I got home, we headed to our LDS Branch Christmas Party! It was the best! We had the YM/YW Christmas Skit of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" which we helped to prepare them for and we sang "Joy to the World" with a couple other families. Then we had the funniest, most random, most perfect 20+ minute missionary skit about a jungle mission with the monkeys (I think that's what they were...) and a visit from Santa. Oh, and you can't forget the Jimmi Hendrix version of The First Noel and Joy to the World with a cute Tibetan guy on the guitar and our cute Indian friend on the piano - toooooo cool! Only in India :) We have the best little Branch here. I just love them all! They are my family. We ate the best dinner and visited with friends for hours....I also chatted away withElder Travis Randall, a friend that I graduated high school with (yeah, we met up again here in India a couple years later...who would have guessed?). I love chatting with missionaries and good friends...it was the best night.
Tonight, my heart is full of gratitude. I am overwhelmed with excruciating joy and pain....it's so bittersweet. Do I really leave in just 2 days? I'm just getting started...Today, I remembered the million and one reasons that I just love India. And today, I left my heart in the hands of those that have become my other family...
To all of my "family" that I have met here in India, I love you. You have changed my life.
Here are just a few of the people that I have come to so freely love and appreciate in my time here: My momma Laxmi-ji, Anita-ji, Himanchu, Geeta, Ravi & Rajni Gupta, Shyam and his adorable family, Margaret George, The Cleggs and their beautiful family, Elder Dev (even though he's been home a couple months, I still think of him as Elder), Sister Asha and all the other young women, the Masseys, Riya, Vic Shaw, the Singhs,
I could never list everyone.
I love you all.
Because of you, India has stolen my heart.
I'll post some more pictures later! My computer is going crazy...running out of memory. I have a bunch of blog updates coming sooooooon (they're almost ready :)). Love you all! Thank you for all of your support and love over the years...I wouldn't be here in India without you.
No comments:
Post a Comment