I made an autorickshaw driver laugh today when I said "stop, mari (sp?)" after he passed my house. I didn't think he was expecting that. But it made me smile to make him laugh. :)

I will miss this place. I really hope I get to come back often on business as well as personal trips of course!

Leaving too early?

Of course with all goodbye's come a period of regret. Am I leaving too soon? Did I not experience all that I wanted? What more can I do? If I can do it all over again what would I change? I did just start to feel really at home when I came back just this past January. Now I'm feeling sad that I'm leaving in less than 2 weeks.

A sad hello is to be expressed in the future
Am I going to have regrets?
I expected a much happier reunion
But looks like I am a failure at this
As my heart has been feeling pain
Expressionless and emotionless I shall become
What mess have I brought upon myself now?
Should I stay here longer?
Will it mend things between us?
Uncertain of how to approach this rift
There’s no excitement of coming near
Only angst and fear
How I long to see that familiar smile
Only in it’s truest sincerity.

Leaving India Soon

My time in India is coming to an end. I've spent the last month traveling around this vast country and it never ceases to amaze me. India is a country that you grow to both love AND hate. I love both the surface and depthness. It's so hard to describe India in words, each place is so different from the other. In Bangalore, you can experience the growing culture of the middle class through the IT industry and a Kerala backwater village you can experience the lives of people who make a little over $200/yr through their rope making, canoe building, fish catching businesses. I met an old woman who made Rs. 30 for 8 hours of rope making working 7 days/week. In dollars, that's $0.70 per 8 hours of labor. In one month she earns $20, and one year $235. I had heard about people making this much but never thought I would actually meet someone. I am still in shock.

In one month, I'll be returning to Portland, OR. I accepted a position with Intel US. I look forward to returning home to start a life with Brandon and Kylie together. This has been an amazing last year, filled with every type of emotion possible. I've experienced all the ups and downs with moving to a developing country and if I could do it again, I would!!! I will miss all the amazing people I've met here from local Indians, to British, Irish, Israelis, Germans, Australians, French, Swiss, Danish, Americans, they are all here in India. It definitely takes a unique person to experience India as India itself is truly complex.

Well, I'm now busy preparing for my repatriation. That too, is not simple. Nothing is ever simple here.