I hope things are beautiful. And if they’re not, then I hope you remember this moment right now when they are. Because you’ve got to hold up each and every other moment to the moment when things are beautiful and say

“Look. I told you. Remember this.”

-I Wrote This For You

We hear it, We’ve heard it

But it’s so nice to dream

You’ve got your whole life ahead of you
You can’t live like this in the forever

We heard it, We’ll hear it

But it’s so nice outside

Come in from the shadows
of these boot black, marching clouds
Because trouble falls like rain,
And lately it’s been pouring down.

Oh come in from the confines
of your own mind my dear,
because worry is all you’ll find there it’s clear.
And tomorrow will always come.
And tomorrow may well bring the sun.

-Ben Howard

Now that I’ve been here for a month I guess I’ll let you in on a few things that I’ve learned.
I’ve gained a strong appreciation for culture, traditions, and family. The people here value their past, their relatives, and their nationality more than I ever thought possible. While occasionally their culture feels stifling to me and makes me feel like I can’t be myself, I’ve realized that each aspect of their culture is important, essential even, to their lifestyle.
I’ve learned that doing without American necessities isn’t primitive, it’s normal. People who live without nice and clean sidewalks, take the bus and don’t own cars, don’t know what a dryer is, are used to their power going off randomly, frequently don’t have running water, don’t have Walmarts, stop lights, and central air conditioning are just as happy and sometimes even happier than people who live with all of these luxuries. I’ve learned to live happily without things I thought were necessary for happiness.
I understand how hard the simplest things are when you’re living somewhere and you don’t know the language. I appreciate and seek out the people who are gracious and understanding when you babble in English and can’t get your point across the language barrier. I know that I’ll be more compassionate to people in my current situation that I meet at home.
I’ve learned that sometimes to make people happy you find yourself sitting on the floor eating off of a banana leaf, knuckle deep in a pile of rice bigger than your head covered in goat curry. And I’ve learned that it’s ok.
I know how to get around my Indian city (most of the time), how delicious chai from a street vendor is, how it’s possible to sweat enough to soak your entire outfit, how to live without a shower for weeks on end, how happiness looks different in different places, how incredible an Indian sunset over a mountain city is, just how awful and awesome living in a foreign country can be, that my God is the only way I’ve been able to stick out this month without bursting into homesick tears and getting right back on the plane, and that I’m hopelessly in love with this hot, dirty, beautiful country.
It’s just the perfect contrast; it’s fireflies and landfills.

Today is the official day that the world lets you know how special and important you are. I hope that you know you are special and important everyday. You are the strongest woman I know and you make me a better person. Thank you for letting me go this year and giving me the opportunity to be on my own. I love you more because of it. Thank you for answering the phone when I needed to talk when I was walking alone down the street, for sending me Thanksgiving decorations, and for making sure that I was taken care of this past year. You taught me everything I needed to know and I hope I made you proud. I love spending time with you when I’m home and I love that you just sit back and listen to me ramble about anything and everything. I’m so proud to call you my mom. I love you this much.
CBEAR