2 months in India!

I remember when I was planning this trip and the initial reason for spending so much time in India; how elated I was and then as plans changed, but the time in India stayed the same, the fear that I felt about being in such a radically different country for such a long time. I wondered if I would be able to pull it off, I even had a back up plan of running off to Nepal or somewhere until it was time to catch my flight from Chennai to Sri Lanka.

Now I look back and realize I've been in India for two months. What was once a fascinating and intimidating country has become a second home to me. There are things that I don't give a second glance any longer because it's just India, and that's how things are done here. Spending so much time here has definitely put a new spin on how I approach life.

I went from a person that had to have every aspect of everything planned when I left the US, to a person who realizes that life contains many twists and turns and I'll get to my destination eventually, one way or another. Germs and dirt make you stronger. I was never a germaphobe... never one of those people who felt a constant urge to use hand sanitizer. But I liked things to be relatively clean.... by western standards. Yeah, that's gone out the window!! A little dirt, some germs and bacteria aren't going to do anything to you except maybe strengthen your immune system some. Nothing in India is clean by western standards... it's clean by Indian standards, which is a COMPLETELY different set of standards. But it works... I haven't gotten to horribly sick, I've survived, I've lived to tell the tale.... so it must not be all THAT dirty. Oh and clean cold drinking water. I have a new found appreciation for this simple basic part of life that we take for granted at home. I even took it for granted in Calcutta because the place I stayed had a water purifier that also cooled the water. Here in Jaipur where it's supposed to be 109* today they just have a purifier...... you have to fill your bottle and put it in the freezer. Unfortunately, there are several people from Australia staying here and the freezer is a little over worked at the moment and cold water to drink is a thing of the past. :(

After my time in India, I will NEVER be the same. I will try my best to maintain the appreciation I've gained for American luxuries. I will fight to keep the attitude of gratitude and maintain the relaxed outlook on life.