Alone In India

I couldn't believe it was really over. Sitting in the back seat of the taxi, I waved "good bye" to the group, as we drove away from the airport. They were on their way home - to America for debrief and graduation... and snow. But I was off on my own adventure - alone in India.

The taxi driver glanced over his shoulder at me. I wondered if he saw the suborn independent woman who fought with him over 100 rupees...and won. Or did he see the scared little girl, who was very sad to see her friends leave and was still in shock over the alone-ness of being left behind? Carrie said I was brave...but I wondered if I was really just crazy.

Anxiety welled up inside, and I reminded myself that I drove 12 hours alone from Idaho to Montana, through un-familiar mountain roads, in a stick-shift car, while dying from the leaky exhaust system. Surely I could get myself on and off a train...especially since it would be my 6th train ride in just 10 weeks.

I was tired after the long day. My hope had been to have the team see me off at the train station. But they flew out late Friday night, and life in India had forced me to procrastinate on buying my ticket till that morning when our team went to the Pahara Gang to shop for gifts to take home with them. Tiffany went with me to the train station, and I got a ticket for Saturday afternoon.

We met the team for lunch at the Ajay (our favorite guest-house). While we waited for the food to come, I looked into prices of rooms at the various guest-houses near-by. I settled on a semi-ghetto room on the 4th floor for only 300 rupees ($7). I also put more minuets on the cell phone. I was proud of the day's accomplishments.

Back at the retreat center, we finished packing and ate our last dinner together as a group. We had Pizza Hut delivered. Then we loaded into the taxis. After dropping the team off at the air-port, I arrived back at the ghetto guest house, and fell into bed just after midnight. It was a restless night, due to the hard bed, scratchy wool blanket, my bed-bug paranoia, and the fact that I was too lazy to un-pack my therma-rest and sheets to sleep in comfort.

Valentine's day was rather lame - brunch by myself, internet, and a 13 hour train ride. I read "teach yourself Hindi." I am farther in the book than what I actually comprehend, since I only know maybe half of the 16 vowels and 36 consonants which look like this अ गा छ खा . But I read some words correctly!!! I can sound out simple words, as long as they have only the few letters that I know. It's so exciting! 


Sometimes I'd guess at the sounds of the letters, and I could hear my mom's voice saying, "no Becky, what sound does that letter make." I hated learning how to read...now I feel like I'm in 1st grade all over again...my hand-writing looks so bad too...

Anyway, I arrived safely in Vnsi at 3am, went to my friend's flat, and went back to sleep in cozy bed. I am so glad that I started my adventure alone by returning to a familiar place!

Sunday I was home alone...in a house! I haven't been this alone in luxurious fashion since before I joined moved to Idaho! It was amazing! I did nothing all morning. Being lazy never felt so good. The neighbors invited me for lunch and took me to the English church service, which was nice...now it is time for more sleep...