the train. Thursday, February 17, 2011     Oh the train.  Eight long hours in the AC Chair car cost 18 bucks for a family of four (and we only chose that because First Class AC and Second Class AC were booked).  K. traveled with us and warned us not to eat the food they served.  The whole experience wasn’t as bad as I expected, but we were all very tired, very hungry and very, very dirty afterwards.  

first stop. Wednesday, February 16, 2011 Our first stop was the city of V., a quick hour and a half plane flight north-east of where we live. My brief impression of this little farming city, with its surrounding patchwork-green rice fields, was of a slower-paced life: clean-swept streets and sidewalks, people dressed traditionally – women in saris, men in dhotis, tea stalls, and old-fashioned rickshaws (the kind powered by men, not motors).  It was quaint, like an R.K. Narayan novel. Our purpose for visiting this city was to meet the group of pastors working with K. in this area (and who happen to include K.’s father and brother).  They had…

  bath time on the road. Tuesday, February 15, 2011      

  low. Tuesday, February 15, 2011   It is Tuesday morning, sunny and breezy in our city. I have this building head-cold, and I’m praying it doesn’t turn into yet another sinus infection.  I am using my neti-pot twice a day, faithfully using my Flonase, taking my vitamins, still feeling rotten. I am tired.  I desperately need space.  But I don’t even know where to go that is quiet and restful. What I really want, is to go back home.  I feel a welling-up sense of panic at the thought of living here long-term.  It has been nice while it’s lasted, but now I’m ready for normalcy, for my old…

  safe and sound. Saturday, February 12, 2011   We have been away for five days, traveling in our country, seeing some more of the work we are here to do.  We rode on planes, on a train, in cars and taxis, on a ferry, went to three cities, saw a famous monument, visited a fishing village, swam in an ocean, slept a little, and took tons of pictures. I will begin posting these for you very soon. But for now, I am very tired.  All my life I have longed to be the cool traveler-chick who wants to back-pack across continents and stay in hostels and take like two…

  he says. Monday, February 7, 2011   Judah: “Okay, I really need to focus.” Judah: “Maggie and Anju are my best friends.” Judah: “Bye Anju!  I’ll text you when I need you.”  

  losing the fortress. Sunday, February 6, 2011   A good friend Arvind and I (David) struck out into the countryside for a second hike to a second fortress.  I’ve grown to crave these respites from exhaust fumes, car horns, and shoulder to shoulder people.  This time we drove an hour and a half north to find unmarked fortress remains atop a rocky ridge in our state. After walking around the base looking in vain for a path, we gave up, and made our own over thorns, brambles, and rocks.  We brought sticks to beat the ground in front of us to scatter potentially sleeping cobras.  Cut, filthy, and exhausted…

  christmas in february. Friday, February 4, 2011     Thank you, Grandpa and Mum-Mum!!!  

  bath time. Friday, February 4, 2011      

  birthday party. Wednesday, February 2, 2011   Sunday night was my birthday party.  The girls –- Colleen and Keli and Maggie –- came at 8:00-ish.  Colleen set up all the little tea candles she brought around the living room and I turned on my new Regina Spektor album, and the four of us kicked back and relaxed. We caught up on our week and talked about our favorite TV shows back home and ate the Death by Chocolate cake David got for us (Yes, that’s really what it was called.  And it was to die for). David had asked the girls to come prepared to share a way that…