If it weren't for my angelic sister-in-law I might have perished in that house by myself. She brought a supply of Gatorade, Immodium, and yogurt to get me going on the road to recovery. She also brought my niece and nephew who kept a self-imposed safe distance and I honestly believe if the opportunity presented itself, they would have picked up a stick and poked me with it.
I had come to the US to attend a wedding, and I was determined to get there. So one day later than I intended, I donned some sweats and hit the road to Portsmouth, VA for the weekend.
I arrived just in time to join the other bridesmaids at the nail salon. As I walked in, Rebecca introduced me as her friend who flew in from India. After brief hellos, the conversation quickly turned to, "How are you feeling?" And this is how I would be known for the rest of the weekend, the friend from India with diarrhea. Good thing I have a decent amount of confidence and can make a good potty joke.
But honestly, being the one who flew in from India is pretty exciting. I know most folks don't get the chance to travel as much as I do and people are generally very flattering with all their attention and questions. I am not going to lie, it is fun to be in the spotlight and play the exotic traveler. Well, that is until Rebecca's cousin arrived. Her name is Stephanie and she is a real India traveler. She is Tibetan settlements and India-based Women Entrepreneurs conferences. I am toilet bowl cleaner and potatoes. She is thinking of starting a school in India. I am trying to get my kids to school on time. I asked her where she has been and she begins rattling off a dozen names of cities in the north that I am certain sound familiar, but my geographically challenged brain can't place. She asks where I have been and I sound feeble when I say, "We went to the north a couple of times, but really we just stay close to home with the kids." Note to self- travel more, read more signs at important places and try to retain that knowledge, don't skip the hard articles in the newspaper, study Kannada and attempt to do something fantastic in the next 2 months. It is one thing to think you are exciting, but it is quite another to actually excite other people.
And the wedding... the wedding was perfect. Rebecca and Rodney were smiling from ear to ear, when they weren't crying tears of joy. Depsite all the belly troubles and hours of flying, I was so glad and so proud to be there by her side. My speech went well. I managed to suck back my tears and get my words out just like I intended. Someone actually asked me if I gave speeches professionally. I am still not sure what that means. Like folks would hire me to come in and give speeches at weddings? Mmm, perhaps.
I had come to the US to attend a wedding, and I was determined to get there. So one day later than I intended, I donned some sweats and hit the road to Portsmouth, VA for the weekend.
I arrived just in time to join the other bridesmaids at the nail salon. As I walked in, Rebecca introduced me as her friend who flew in from India. After brief hellos, the conversation quickly turned to, "How are you feeling?" And this is how I would be known for the rest of the weekend, the friend from India with diarrhea. Good thing I have a decent amount of confidence and can make a good potty joke.
But honestly, being the one who flew in from India is pretty exciting. I know most folks don't get the chance to travel as much as I do and people are generally very flattering with all their attention and questions. I am not going to lie, it is fun to be in the spotlight and play the exotic traveler. Well, that is until Rebecca's cousin arrived. Her name is Stephanie and she is a real India traveler. She is Tibetan settlements and India-based Women Entrepreneurs conferences. I am toilet bowl cleaner and potatoes. She is thinking of starting a school in India. I am trying to get my kids to school on time. I asked her where she has been and she begins rattling off a dozen names of cities in the north that I am certain sound familiar, but my geographically challenged brain can't place. She asks where I have been and I sound feeble when I say, "We went to the north a couple of times, but really we just stay close to home with the kids." Note to self- travel more, read more signs at important places and try to retain that knowledge, don't skip the hard articles in the newspaper, study Kannada and attempt to do something fantastic in the next 2 months. It is one thing to think you are exciting, but it is quite another to actually excite other people.
And the wedding... the wedding was perfect. Rebecca and Rodney were smiling from ear to ear, when they weren't crying tears of joy. Depsite all the belly troubles and hours of flying, I was so glad and so proud to be there by her side. My speech went well. I managed to suck back my tears and get my words out just like I intended. Someone actually asked me if I gave speeches professionally. I am still not sure what that means. Like folks would hire me to come in and give speeches at weddings? Mmm, perhaps.
You are so cute! I'm only a "real" North India traveler! I promise to come south next time and will let you know how Ladakh is in a few weeks. Isn't it funny how some folks find home in P-town and only leave for short times, and some of us discover exotic places that challenge our ideas of "the norm" and cause us to want to engage at deep levels over and over again?-Cousin Stephanie
ReplyDeletei BURST out laughing at the first line of this!! haven't even read the rest yet!
ReplyDeletethat made my night. totally needed a laugh
C