India...BLECH!!!

India…blech!

I hate to offend anyone from India or those who just really like India but my most recent “trip” to India was BAD.

My trip back to Nepal was supposed to end Wed at 3pm, however I would not arrive in Nepal until Thursday at 3pm.

What happened was, just as our plane was getting ready to land at the Kathmandu airport our captain pulled up and announced that due to poor visualization we were not going to land. The captain announced that we would be going to Veranaci India to refuel and try again.

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The minute I heard the name of the place we were going to I knew it was not going to be good. You see, India is difficult. Small town India is even more difficult. Small town India that is famous for people going there to die is bad ju ju…but I don’t believe in ju ju so let’s just say that its super difficult.

home for the night

Upon landing 130 people were stuck on an Indian tarmac for 6 hours. Around 11pm we were allowed off the plane into an open terminal where we would all spend the next 15 hours. There was very little food and water and marble floors are not ideal for sleeping. I won't go into all the details of that night but suffice it to say the entire experience was bazaar.

inside

During my time I met;

• Corrupt airline officials who kept asking for bribes.
• A French businessman who would eventually miss the seminar he was supposed to speak at
• A gay couple going to Nepal to trek
• A female Canadian currently living in San Francisco trying to insight revolt against the airlines.

The entire time I kept thinking, “this only happens to people in the movies.”

22 hours later we were able to start the boarding process and head to Nepal. I have since written a strongly worded letters to Singapore Air. I will try to keep you posted on the outcome of said letter and the possible revolt led by the Canadian San Fran girl. 

For the third time...

I’m back in Nepal.

I tried to write a “goodbye America” post…well I did write one and even posted it but after a few hours I re-read it and decided to delete it. When I wrote it I was way too emotional. Note to self, don’t cry and blog at the same time. Nothing good can come of it.

Needless to say, leaving America was not easy. This was the third time in my life where I had to pack up my things and say my goodbyes knowing it would be a while before I returned.

The first time I did this, I was right out of college and had no idea what I was getting into. It was as if I was floating on a cloud of naivety.

The second time I had been in America for three years. It was just long enough to dull the memories of what its like to leave and what it’s like to live in a 3^rd world country. I was tired of the American 9-5 and was running toward the other side of the world.

The third time….ugh.

I basically had a six-month American vacation. My time was full of family, friends, great food, and convenience. You may be thinking “convenience?” What does she mean? Well, in it’s simplest form it is water, electricity, gas, and heat. In it’s more complex forms (if convenience can be complex) it is being able to put in special orders at a restaurant, paying with a debit card, drive through  restaurants, shopping on line, fountain drinks, traffic laws and so much more. America the brave and home of convenience.

My last full day in America happened to be Super Bowl Sunday. While others were eating party food and watching the game with friends I was spending my last moments with my Grandparents, Sister and her family, and my Parents. It was a day full of my favorite foods and hard goodbyes. It was also an evening of trying to figure out where I could stash some Oreos and chocolate chips.

At 3:45 the next morning Dad and I got in the car and slipped through the fog to get to the airport. Dad was strong and kept it together. I was focused on the “next step”

Check in luggage

Pay for extra luggage

Say goodbye to Dad

Get through security

Watch the sun rise at the Seattle airport

Get one last Starbucks fix

Board my flight

Find the right terminal in LA

Call Mom one last time

Send one last text

Leave America…3 days later…Nepal. 

SNOW!

If you watched American news then you may have heard that the Northwest was hit with a winter storm. Where my parents live it started snowing on a Wednesday and did not really stop until Friday. Schools were delayed, people were stuck, danger seemed emanate...and I loved it!

There is something about snow that I adore. It is reminiscent of childhood and adventure. Days of sledding, snowball fights, ending with wet clothes and hot chocolate. Every child should be so lucky as to experience snow. I also love the unknown that snow brings. Will I be able to make it up the driveway? Will school be closed? Will it snow again tomorrow? Every question holds adventure in the answer.

As I’ve gotten older I’ve quickly learned that the latter effects of snow lead to slushy streets, dirty cars, and make up days. Snow may pause life for a few days but reality will eventually set back in.

Some of my favorite things about snow

+ it makes everything look prettier…as if giving the barren trees a winter sweater

+ it causes everyone to stop…no work, no school, no extracuriculars just stay home.

+ I am in awe of the gentle force…is soft and slow, yet in a few hours covers everything

After a few warm sunny days the snow quickly melted away from the streets and life seemed to return back to normal. It however, sure was nice that it came to visit for a few days. 

Christmas

Christmas….what do I say, where do I begin?

It was nice to be able to spend Christmas in America with my family. It had been three years since I was able to spend the entire Christmas season in the states.

To be honest with you I went into it with too high of expectations. Living overseas can do this to you. When you are far away from home you imagine your entire family wearing Christmas sweaters, sitting by the fire, smiling and singing songs. This is not the truth...in fact no one in my family even owns a fireplace.

In America, Christmas starts at midnight of Thanksgiving. People suddenly become busy and the feeling of “cheer” and “good tidings” is quickly followed by stress. Due to extenuating circumstances the week leading up to Christmas was stressful at my parents house.

Looking back over Christmas Eve, Christmas day, and other events, my favorite moments were the quite ones. The ones full of one on one conversations and laughs. The moments spent with family and friends that were sweet and unplanned. During those times I would tell myself “remember this”…because truth be told I won’t have this again for a while.

At times it was difficult to get into the Christmas spirit. As much as I would like to blame Justin Beeber for sucking out all the Christmas joy I think the blame is to be placed on myself. Rather than rejoicing in the birth of my savior I got wrapped up in the stress of life.

So my sweeping declarations will be “next year  I SHALL BE FULL OF CHRISTMAS CHEER!!” 

Once I returned back to the Northwest I was pleasantly surprised with warm sunny weather and Occupiers next door to my cousins apartment. My cousin Ang, Alyssa, and I, like true Portlanders, took advantage of the beautiful weather knowing full well that it would not stick around. We went on my favorite drives through the scenic highway stopping at waterfalls and taking pictures. 

Some of our pictures were inspired by a statue of George Bush in the TX airport. 

My friend Alyssa is a writer so she does not have to keep conventual work hours like the majority of Americans. This is most certainly to my benefit and often leads to her being my partner in crime. We became a little enthralled with the Occupy movement, especially since they were right out our front door. We often found ourselves walking by the camps and trying to work up the courage to actually take the path that cuts through. Here are a few things I learned about Portland....

*Portland is a people watchers dream...especially when occupiers are thrown into the mix.

*Portland people can appear to be cold and stand offish but they have great food so there has got to be something there. 

*Everyone should have a friend that aspires to be a professional tour guide. If you are ever in Portland please contact Alyssa Sellars, she will show you around...for a small fee that can be paid in coffee and food. 

Time. If flys

Time. It flys....it also freaks me out. It seems like just yesterday I arrived in America and it was sunny and warm. Before I knew it the weather was distinctively cooler and I was stuffing my face with a Thanksgiving feast. Where did the time go?!

I think my constant traveling has played a large part in my loss of time. Over the past few months I've spent very little time at my parents house. I've spent more nights on friend's couches than in my own bed.

My adventures have taken me from Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama, back to Portland and the occupiers, a WSU football game and the Oregon coast. Here are a few of the highlights....

My company had me go to Virginia for some debriefing. It was a much needed trip and it also allowed me to catch up with some old friends. On my way home I decided to make a pit-stop in Tennessee and visit my good friend Jenn Hand. The trip held a few surprised, as it always does when one spends time with Jenn, but best of all it was great to spend time with my friend. I was impressed with Southern hospitality and the beauty of Tennessee. Let's face it coming from the Northwest I can be a bit of a snob.
Here area few things I learned on this trip
*Southerners like to hug, listen to Christina music in restaurants, and ask EVERYONE how they are doing. At times their affection was exhausting for this Northwest girl.
*Chattanooga TN is a very cute town. I loved the cute coffee shops, and street performers.
*The South's love for rocking chairs is contagious. I want one.
*Everyone should have a friend that is a professional counselor. Jenn is currently working towards this and she is skilled in asking all the right questions.
*Purchasing a phone with GPS was one of the best investments I've made in America.

I'll tell you more about my adventures tomorrow.

I'm not the only one.

Things I have to remind myself of while living in America....

1. People like their personal space. If you "crowd" them in line they will probably give you a dirty look and even say something. 

2. The shower will not run out of water. 

3. You can be specific about your food order...feel free to make it "special"

4. America knows very little about moderation, it is something you must implement yourself. 

5. You can not state something as fact and assume people will believe you...they will first look it up on their phone to make sure what you are saying is indeed true.