Anticipation. I don’t think it is that I am worried or scarred, it is that I know come next Saturday I won’t know what it is Delhi, India will serve me up. A new country that I am by no means an expert on, full to the brim with languages I don’t speak (although apparently coming across English won’t be difficult). But hey, that is what an adventure is for isn’t it? And that is what I am looking forward to, going forth through the unknown. Five more nights in the Netherlands with family, the loving cocoon where I am in some ways sheltered but well taken care of, and then comes four plus months of discovery. Discovery of myself, of a society, of friends, of a language (I am attempting to learn Hindi), of an education system, and of development work.
The final countdown
Am I excited?
Hell yes.
But let me go back and review the past week. When I wrote you last I sat in the kitchen of the Spanish family belonging to Jesus Herranz Herrero, the student my parents hosted for the first half of this year in California. Apparently, English wasn’t quite the strong suite that it was when he was still with us. Translation: I have to speak and learn more Spanish than I am formerly capable of. But it went surprisingly well seeing as I was surrounded by the language and the help of a little phone app called Google Translator. Myself and the mother of Jesus, a very sweet and caring lady, downloaded the app, and when we couldn’t communicate normally the translator came up to help us out. Very handy indeed. The family hosted me graciously. Beatriz and Gonzolo, Jesus’s 12-year-old twin siblings, would be off to a three-week English camp after I left, so a good bit of English was spoken to me from these two. Who are by the way, nationally winning Chess players. After watching them go a couple rounds, I played each of them once, and they whooped me with prose.
With Jesus and his family we went to an Adventure Park full of zip lines and high balance acts. Hikes and walks through Laredo with his younger siblings. And on my last full day, Jesus and I went on an boat tour around the big bay on the Northern Spanish coast. With beautiful weather, I took beautiful pictures that have already made their way onto Facebook.
Thursday, arriving at Bilbao airport thanks to the father of Jesus, I went through security with a breeze this time, and to my surprise coffee and a croissant was only three euros (Ridiculously cheap for airport food!). Once I got off the plane in Amsterdam and was waiting for my luggage, Oma was already waiting on the other side of the glass in the Arrival Hall. I was happy to be back in my cocoon for a little bit after a strenuous but adventurous eleven days of traveling. The days have been relaxed again for a bit. Friday and Saturday nights were spent at the local Tennis tournament, watching the games and enjoying a some drinks with my aunt and uncle, and many of their friends. Thursday and again today make for some good days to go out on the lake for some boating, and I will be off to do that with Oma as soon as I finish this post, whoopee. As I prepare for a new adventure I’ve also been enjoying some biking time around the area, and exercising again. All of Saturday was spent with little cousin Sky at Oma’s house. Sky is a joy to have around, a ball full of energy until he can’t go any more; at which point he will promptly take a nap. Until next when I am in India again!
Photos coming soon!
