Re-entry

At our initial orientation in Washington DC, the Fulbright staff kept referring to our coming home as "re-entry." At the time, I had to laugh as I pictured us all crashing through the atmosphere and ending up somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean. Now that I have experienced "re-entry," I realize that they aren't too far off.
I didn't want to come home, that is no secret. I am home now, and leaving Mumbai was perhaps the hardest thing I have ever had to do. The last two days were tough. I had to say goodbye to people that had become a surrogate family. An Indian friend is a friend for life. I truly, firmly believe that now. There were many tears, and long goodbyes. I almost missed my plane because I took my sweet time getting to the airport knowing full-well what Mumbai traffic is like.
Collectively, it seems that all of the Indian Fulbrighters were reluctant to leave. We all said, we need a year. After 5 months, you have just completely settled in and created a social network. All the day to day frustrations of commuting, grocery shopping, and all that have been resolved, and then poof, it is time to go. It is almost cruel! But, I never imagined it would go as such. I thought I would be home by Christmas and more than ready to do just that. So not the case.
I keep thinking about what the astrologer said at Choki Dhani, "my work in India is not done, and that I am a lucky person." He was right on both counts. I am not sure what my "work" in India consists of, but I will be back. It is out of the realm of thought to think I could meet such amazing people and never return. And, I am lucky. Lucky in the sense that I had the opportunity to embrace such an amazing culture, to meet such incredible people, to travel, travel and travel some more, to watch a city rise up after after horrible terrorist attacks, to be part of the Fulbright family, and to find the strength to overcome any obstacle that was placed in front of me.
Coming home has been hard. It took me a week to write this because the thought of leaving still brings tears to my eyes. Though I am happy to be back in my own home surrounded by the people I love most in the world, I have struggled to find a place for all these amazing memories. I am blessed to have seen so much. I still use my well-worn 20 or so Hindi words whenever possible, even if no one understands me. I am searching for good chai. When I am ready to eat Indian food again, I will search the city for the perfect "joint." I have surrounded myself with Hindu idols and all things auspicious to bring me much prosperity. So, with that, I close this chapter of my life. The memories remain and the friendships are forever. If I seem a little distant I apologize, just give me some time because in my heart, I am still in Mumbai.