I first visited India in October of 2013 with my first World Race squad. It was the first country on my third squad’s route this past January. I hope you can imagine some of sights and sounds that remain vividly in my heart.
I slip my feet back into my chacos and make my way towards the open gate. The air is cooled by a soft breeze and I’m grateful to learn that the January temperatures are more mild than what I remembered from October a few years previously. My pace matches my co-leader’s and we draw back on memories from previous times our feet walked this same road. With no issue, we make our way to the road in front of a nearby hospital. We’re greeted by the Hellos of little children, and horns honking from every passing auto rickshaw and car.
We peruse the food stalls, greeted by spicy smells and the looks of the locals. We use our newly acquired head bobble and hand motions to secure some sort of breakfast and are ushered to sit on the nearby plastic stools. Soon a plate sits on each of our laps and we attempt to navigate ripping of scalding hot masala dosa into the two chutneys. It’s delicious. The family that runs the stands giggles at our thank you and accepts our handful of rupee bills.
We set out again in search of chai and don’t have to wander very far. For ten rupees, we each are handed a small paper cup with the wonderful nectar. Hot enough to fuse your esophagus, we take smaller steps, and small sips as we work in between the cars and autos towards the house.
For multiple mornings, these were the patterns of my first days back in India. And arriving back at the end of the month, we met back with our favorite food stall owners to once again enjoy their foods and drinks and share smiles.
A hearty slap of a hand meets my upper back.
“Training. Training.”
I turn to the laughing eyes of Regina, the cook for the team which which I am staying. I start laughing which prompts her giggle. She has already kicked me out of the kitchen once today. I don’t think I cut the tomatoes fast enough for her liking.
“Rest. Rest,” she told me as she ushered me out of the room with a swat of her hand. Her hands are worn with the work of cooking and laundry and they are strong, every time she decides to show affection.
She does not speak much English but we’ve learned she has grown children that she does not always get to see and that she recently donated a kidney to her brother, who did not live much longer after the surgery.
I roll out chapati as I have seen her do, but without dexterity. She tells me, “It’s good,” smiling broadly.
She lets me stay in the kitchen this time.
I recognize the turn up ahead. Left and then a right and then we will wind around until the house is on the left.
My body eagerly leans forward, attempting to catch sight of the home as soon as it’s possible. Soon enough, the auto pulls up to the house that was once blue in color. It now stands as a bright green. But it’s the same house.
We pile out and the team that has been staying there all month moves aside to let me get forward. I set down my back pack inside of the church and step back onto the sidewalk with leads to the covered patio. Grace steps out and grins. We embrace and for the rest of the time sitting and catching up, she rarely is not touching me, her hand on mine, or her arm resting on my leg.
I bring out the pictures I printed when I learned I was returning to India and we laugh at the memories that have come flooding back. Grace and Samuel ask about the women from my team and what they are doing now. They nod approvingly at the knowledge that Jenny is engaged and Deborah is married. I ask about their children and learn that they are in the midst of exams and long school hours.
Later, the team piles into the family vehicle. The new name, Clifford, doesn’t roll off my tongue quite like the old familiar, Magic Martin. As we drive through the Indian countryside, I am reminded of the hours spent by my first World Race team in the same car. That car has carried prayer warriors, dance parties, 17 people at once and the laughter of so many. Today it carries my memories and as the sun sets I am taking mental snapshots of new ones. McKenzie’s hands are raised in worship and Jacob fervently prays for the night ahead. Eric and Krystal ride facing the road behind us and we pass by backdrops of banana trees, rice fields, temples and goat herds.
I never thought I would be back here. But I’m so glad I am.
We woke up early, before the sun and met our driver out front of our hostel. Our previous day was long with a walking tour around Old Delhi. Still tired, Tammy, Lo and I all take turns napping for our three hour drive to Agra.
As we near the Taj Mahal, our driver, Prabhat, questions with humor mingling with frustration, “Did you all not sleep last night? You sleep a lot.”
He carries on the conversation, giving details and instructions for what we should expect and where to meet him when we are done touring the Taj Mahal grounds.
As the day moves on, the Taj Mahal seen, lunch scarfed down, we find ourselves once again riding in the car with Prabhat. We learn he is both a driver and owner of a mango grove. He likes practicing his English and loves his family. We gather moments of laughter as he becomes king of one-liners.
“I laugh for one hour every night. Straight one hour.” “Which hour?” “9 o’clock.”
“Bill Gates is my friend… I am a liar.”
Prabhat says he will come to our weddings and that if we do our honeymoons in India, he will be our driver. He shares details about Indian culture. He proudly takes a picture with every customer and makes sure that we take one too. He makes friends with every person we talk to throughout the day. He drives while showing us pictures, many of them selfies.
At the end of the day Lo swaps what’sapp numbers with him and they still, three months later, send messages back and forth, our favorite driver in India.
I’m currently in Cambodia for month 4. I have roughly two months until I land back in the USA. I have roughly two months until I need to be fully funded to finish this season with S Squad. If you feel led to support me financially, click the link on the left. I’m in need of roughly $2500. Thank you!
