Once again the days have seemed to fly by. I can hardly believe that our lives will turn upside down and splash us into an entirely different way of life in mere weeks. Legs, Grandma Mir Mir, and I are all reading different books about India and people's travels through India. It's almost comical how one story will frighten me into thinking we've made a huge mistake in our choice to bid India so high, and the next will make me feel so passionately about exploring this new and exotic place.
Ultimately, I am ready for this adventure. I am excited to once again board a plane not knowing what to expect when I step back outside. To this day, I vividly remember stepping off the plane in Kuwait around 4 or 5 in the morning, and seeing the sun peek over the horizon as a blast of humid and musty 90 degree air welcomed me. The smells, the sounds, the feel of the air on my skin; everything about it felt different from anything I'd ever experienced, but beneath it all was a moment of exhilaration. I couldn't wait to see what else was different. What lay to the north? What kind of animals live here? What are the people like? What will the language really sound like, when it's not spoken by an American? Perhaps every story I'd heard about the Middle East just wouldn't do it justice; like someone describing the Mona Lisa. When you see it in person you realize that all of your expectations were completely and utterly wrong. I felt like an explorer with a deep yearning to see things for no other reason than I had never seen them before. I am feeding that same desire by traveling to India, and embracing the culture of the people there. For two years we will do as they do, and see what we learn about ourselves in the process.
We have been working extensively to arrange our trip to India, mostly working on Bambi's trip, and frequently contacting the handful of people whom we already know serving at the consulate. We were very pleased to find out that we've already met our soon-to-be neighbors. In fact, we were neighbors here in DC. They have a little girl who is close in age to Thumper, and we were fortunate enough to have play-date while they were still in the US. Her and Thumper got along swimmingly! They are wonderful people and we are very glad we will be living near them.
Christmas is getting close and boy does Thumper have a LOT of presents under the tree! There are a couple for Legs, Grandma Mir Mir, and I, but Thumper won the 'most presents' contest hands down. We are so happy to have Grandma Mir Mir here for Christmas and New Years, and to see the bond between her and Thumper grow by the day. She truly enjoys caring for children, especially Thumper, and it shows in everything she does. This has been a wonderful holiday season, and we've been very lucky to have so many visitors come to spend a little time with us before we leave for India.
Happy Travels!
Pancho
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