Tag Archives: India

Day 2276: Mom Goes To India

I’ll be ok no matter what – that’s what I know.

It’s 10: 27 AM on day 2276 of my journey towards independence and I managed to go with my family to drop mom off at the airport, pray, read Proverbs 12: 9 and work on my 25 Smiles Campaign –raised $9 161.04 only $3 338.96 more to raise to reach my second goal of raising $12 500 for Smile Train before Jan 10 2017 (SO SO SO GRATEFUL to everyone who has supported this campaign so far ).

This morning mom left to go visit grandma in India which means it’s just me, my brother and my dad until my sister comes back from varsity in three days (our housekeeper will be here till the evening but won’t stay) times like this I wish I could do more by myself my dad doesn’t mind helping it’s just so humiliating it grates at my very soul.

Day 1940: Observations of India

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“India is a curious place that still preserves the past, religions, and its history. No matter how modern India becomes, it is still very much an old country.” – Anita Desai

It’s 11: 05 AM on day 1940 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read 2 Corinthians 6 and learn one new thing – Despite its name, Worcestershire sauce was originally an Indian recipe, brought back to Britain by Lord Marcus Sandys, ex-Governor of Bengal. One day in 1835, Sandys appeared in a prospering chemist’s emporium in Worcestershire, England, and asked the chemist to create a batch of sauce from his recipe.

A month ago my family and I went to India I saw and experienced so many things there that I felt compelled to write them down. Take a look:

Observations of India

Cash is king (as we were leaving the airport upon our arrival the security guard was arguing with my uncle over a few cents)
India is becoming more open-minded and accepting with each passing day (when I went to India in 2011 everywhere I went people stared at me blatantly but this time around people hardly paid any attention to me it was awesome)
Some Indians are super nice (one afternoon we were outside a restaurant and a autorickshaw driver put my wheelchair in the boot for us while my sister was putting me in the car after which without a word he came to the passenger side of the car, kissed my hand and left I will never forget him)
The people I’ve seen in India have no regard for road rules (because the roads are narrow and people are impatient they do some crazy things to get where they need to go like U-turns in the middle of the road and swerving into different lanes ….travelling on Indian roads is SCARY)
It takes forever to get anywhere in India (we went to visit family friends one day and no joke it took us 4 hours to travel 40 kilometres I could not believe it)
It always hot (it wasn’t even summer while we were there but the moment we stepped outside we were boiling)
The people I’ve seen in India have no regard for the environment (people eat in the car then throw the packets outside the window)
India embraces all religions (I saw a church directly opposite a mosque it was a sight to behold)
India is designed for the able-bodied (most places you go to in Kerala have stairs and no lifts [simple things like going to restaurants and the movies were the hardest for me because we had to check beforehand if the places were wheelchair accessible])

Day 1931: Heading Home

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Where we love is home – home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts. – Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

It’s 3: 31 AM on day 1835 of my journey towards independence and day 27 of our India trip 2015 at the airport (heading to South Africa).

This morning we’ll be travelling back to South Africa can’t wait to be home and see my family over there.

Day 1926: Age and Growing in Grace

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With age we grow in grace– that’s what I keep realizing.

It’s 8: 48 AM on day 1830 of my journey towards independence and day 22 of our India trip 2015 prayed and read 1 Corinthians 11.

Yesterday we went to Bhima Jewellery people were staring at me like I was going to disappear and I didn’t mind at all I even introduced myself to this little girl who seemed to be fascinated by me with age I think I’ve grown in grace and learned not to take things so personally.

Day 1925: India and open-mindedness

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India has become more open-minded in the last four years – that’s what I’ve noticed.

It’s 9: 58 AM on day 1829 of my journey towards independence and day 21 of our India trip 2015 prayed, read 1 Corinthians 10, had breakfast and learned one new thing – Irascible [i·ras·ci·ble] adj. Characterized by or arising from anger. (of a person) Easily made angry. “He was always irascible and quick to get into a fight.”

Yesterday my family and I went to watch a Malayalam movie at the movie theatre the staff was very helpful and the other movie-goers barely noticed me I loved it I felt like a normal human being I’m so glad that India and Kerala in particular is becoming more accepting of the differently-abled.

Day 1924: Routines and me

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Routines are nice to have but you don’t need them to survive – that’s what being in India has taught me.

It’s 8: 02 AM on day 1828 of my journey towards independence and day 20 of our India trip 2015 prayed, read 1 Corinthians 8 and had breakfast.

Today I realized that I’m surviving in spite of the fact that I now have no routine I always thought every minute of my day had to be pre-planned for me to get by and be happy I’m happy to be wrong.

Day 1922: The Kind Autorickshaw Driver

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The smallest acts of kindness take up the biggest space in one’s heart – that’s what I keep realizing.

It’s 1 : 49 PM on day 1826 of my journey towards independence and day 18 of our India trip traveled 3 hours from my dad’s house back to my uncle’s and had a fantastic vegetarian lunch at Rasam .

Two days ago outside of Shines – a restaurant – an autorickshaw driver saw my sister carry me from my wheelchair into the front seat of our car and he took it upon himself to load my wheelchair into our boot which would have been a kind gesture in itself but he went further by coming over to the front passenger side of the vehicle and folding his hands together in Namaste as if to show his respect for me I was so touched I didn’t know what to say.

Day 1921: The fantastic uncle Rajiv and family

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People who’ve been though a lot have a lot of compassion and love – that’s what I know.

It’s 6 : 55 PM on day 1825 of my journey towards independence and day 17 of our India trip continued reading School of Greatness by Lewis Howes – it’s a great book I’m enjoying it so far – went to Perumala – visited Saint Gregorios’s tomb and bed (it’s a place of pilgrimage and a very holy place) – had lunch at Hotel Raj – best butterchicken curry ever – and visited some of dad’s family

A few days ago I met uncle Rajiv – my dad’s cousin (I think) – uncle Rajiv brother’s nicknamed Big Son (in Malayalam) is unable to walk because he had Polio and we were told that his sister-in-law is also slightly intellectually disabled I felt that family’s compassion for me as soon as I entered their house I felt like they valued me as a human being it was really something.

Day 1920: Traditions in the church

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India is big on traditions and customs – that’s what I keep learning.

It’s 11 : 16 AM on day 1824 of my journey towards independence and day 16 of our India trip 2015 went to the organized in memory of my late grandmother at St. Steven’s Orthodox Church – the service was 2 hours long most of what was said went over my head but I think it’s lovely that people pray for those who have passed and besides the church is absolutely beautiful – and had breakfast.

This morning we went to a church service that was organized in memory of my late grandmother when she was alive she organized the same church service for my grandfather and those who had gone before her and we’ll probably do the same thing for our parents india is big on passing customs and traditions down from one generation to the next.

Day 1919: Community and India

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Family and community are of paramount importance in India– that’s what I learned from being in India.

It’s 9 : 15 AM on day 1823 of my journey towards independence and day 15 of our India trip 2015 today we’re go to visit my dad’s uncle and some of his cousins.

Yesterday from the crack of dawn people were over at our house (dad’s house) visiting reminiscing about the good old days it was so sweet in the western world I feel like that sense of community has been lost somewhat.