We're here...we are in India!

As we were landing my husband grabbed my hand and looked at me and said,” we’re here, we are in India”. It was the way he spoke his words and the look in his eyes that I will never forget. I know he is excited to meet his daughter and to be on this journey with me. I’m so grateful for his companionship and support. The Delhi airport customs was very easy and smooth. I was expecting much more of a crowd.  The drive to our hotel was a different story. We were greeted and helped into our car and the drive was exactly what you see in movies. Chaos, congestion, horns, bicycles, motorcycles, cows all of that and more. It was great!  When we arrived at our hotel the security checked our car for bombs and our entire luggage screened through a metal detector.   We went to bed quickly as we were to catch the 6am train to Agra.  

This morning was a morning I will never forget.
We drove to the train station and it was still dark out. We passed people sleeping on the streets. Families with all of their possessions lined up on the side of the road, some not even having a tent or a tarp. Some were beginning to cook and you could see the open flames and their one pot steaming. This was just not one case; we passed multiple scenes of many people living in these conditions. Stray dogs were running in the alley ways and the city was beginning to awake.


We arrived at the train station and there were many people asking to port our luggage, men with turbans were selling newspapers and families sleeping on the hard concrete, no blankets, no belongings. As we were waiting in line to board the train I looked to my left and saw rows of people sleeping. The vision that struck me most was a woman asleep with her two children. She laid there wrapped in her sari and all I could think about was how this was her reality and her children’s’ reality. I held it together but as soon as we were seated on the train, I lost it. Tears rolled down my face. Things I take for granted; clothing, shelter, food, a bed would be incredible luxuries for this woman. I thought of my daughters who I love so dearly and want to provide for. Here she was trying to provide what she could for her children which happened to be a corner of her sari to keep them warm. We are both mothers and yet her daily feat is survival for herself and children. I felt ashamed for having our luggage full of stuff and at one point I wanted to unload it all and give everything away. The image of her will always be engrained in my mind.

 As the train rolled along we passed many homes consisting of tattered materials and cardboard. Mike witness several people taking their morning bathroom privileges near the train tracks. Many cows and goats rested within sight and the morning rituals of the villages we passed came to light. I felt like I was living out a scene in a movie. Even though there is great poverty there is a sense of beauty and peace within this country.

We arrived at the train station and again I was hit with waves of emotion.  We had met some nice people on the train who were traveling as a group and our hotel as well as theirs had packed us a boxed breakfast. There was a collection of fruit and sandwiches which had not been eaten so we gathered them up and their guide gave the food to some children outside the station. You should have seen the joy and excitement on their faces. Again I was hit with such strong emotions.  Something that I take for granted something as simple as breakfast was such a precious gift to them. There were other children running up to our car banging on the windows asking or rather mouthing with their hands for food. My eyes locked on with a little boy’s and his face will be etched in my mind for a long time. We brought granola bars and fruit leathers with the intention of handing them out to children, but our driver said this would not be a good time as sometimes it can get chaotic and cause quite the commotion so we followed his lead and left the station.

Children looking at the food collection

 

Driving in India is very entertaining and there is never a dull moment.  We paused today for a herd of water buffalo, shared lanes with many cows and even passed a camel. I loved witnessing the life of the locals as we passed by. We are in Agra if I haven’t mentioned. Today we visited Agra fort which is incredible and so beautiful. Tomorrow we will visit the Taj Mahal as it is closed on Fridays. We have been able to get a great look at it from a distance from the Agra fort and from our hotel. It is stunning and magical looking.



Agra fort



India is everything I imagined it to be and more. Although there have been emotionally hard moments there is such beauty and graciousness from the people we have met. I am so happy we are here and a heartfelt connection with this country has already been embraced and formed. Much love and blessings to all, Brie