Goodbye Dharamsala

This was our last day at placement and so we leave tomorrow to fly back to Delhi. We savored our day and enjoyed the last treasures this wonderful place had in store for us. Every day that has passed has brought more comfort, more ease and further understanding of the people and culture here. Our mornings have become as routine as a day at home, passing the same shops, people and animals along the way like clockwork. As Lily and I rambled through our day, we said bittersweet goodbyes to Mala, Rama and the children at the daycare. I was not expecting to be sad to leave them, but their hugs squeezed the tears right out of me. We said goodbye to Tony The Pony, Frimpy The Chicken and Rob The Rooster as we took one last walk up to Kotwali Bazaar. We said goodbye to the tailor, the fabric shop owner, the cobbler, the soda man and the chocolate man. We took tea with the tailor while we waited for his workers to finish a piece and enjoyed lovely conversation. Children and townspeople recognized us as we walked home...such a nice feeling...all asking when we would return. Someday I hope.

Much of the afternoon was spent getting henna tattooed...and henna tattooing other people..as we all chatted about how fun our time was here. Rakesh made a special late day snack of spicy potato samosas and my brain reminded that I can get my hands on something similar at the Dorset Farmer's Market this Sunday! YAY! Thoughts turned to home and how I look forward to making the long journey safely. We fly to Delhi tomorrow (Thursday) and spend an overnight there wrapping up our volunteer work with the home base. Friday we will take a car to Agra and check into a fancy hotel for one night...hopefully have a real bath and some room service...(woohoo!) before waking at sunrise to visit the Taj Mahal on Saturday. Our flight to JFK is at midnight on Saturday/Sunday. I am not sure what my wifi access will be..so this may be my last India based blog post. If I get wifi, I will write more...stay tuned.

As I reflect on my time here, I am filled with gratitude...it's kind of been my unofficial theme I guess. It's the feeling I keep getting when I think of this place. Aside from utililizing our stores of Pepto Bismol, Immodium, one round of antibiotics, countless power bars and energy chews, we have come out relatively unscathed. We have eaten more rice...and dal...than I have in my entire life. MOST importantly, I have learned humility and patience. I have witnessed grace, optimism and the power of the human spirit a thousand times over. I have risen with the sun every day listening to prayers and drumming before yoga. I have laughed and played with children and strangers. I have seen my daughter rise to each challenge placed before her when I know it hasn't always been easy. I have felt the power of all of your thoughts and prayers and cannot put in to words how full I feel. Thank you for your comments and notes... we would read them and instantly feel comfort. Lily and I truly felt accompanied by you all on this journey. Please pray for safe travel for us in the next few days. Until then...XO