Three months of sleeping in new places

As the last few days of summer travel, work, and play come to an end, I’ve lost count of the number of places I’ve slept the past three months.

These pictures were all taken from the hotel we stayed at in Bangkok for a day before heading North to Chiang Mai.

Over the past few months, I’ve rested in numerous hotels, bungalows, and apartments. Some have been great, others not so great (bedbugs in one and rats and roaches in the others). At night, I’ve fallen asleep to the sound of the ocean crashing by my head and other nights I’ve fallen asleep listening to the sound of traffic or Bangkok club music.

I’m going to miss the sounds, the good views, and most of all this feeling I have when I look back at the photos taken in the quiet moments this summer.

Race day | Wilmington, NC

I recently got around to developing an old roll of film.

This is some of what I found –> late summer trip to Wilmington and images of a marathon.

It is amazing how our brains choose to remember only bits and pieces of days months ago. I forgot all about how green the grass was there, how J looked an awful lot like Lincoln then, and how I broke my shoes that night while running to get watermelon.

I’m increasingly anxious and excited for this summer, for warmer days, and finding the balance between making and not making plans.

Cleanse

Last night after work, I went home, ate a cupcake and then started cleaning out my life. I’m not a particularly clean or organized person (*something I often blame on my artistic temperament or something), but I do go through phases when all I want to do is clean. I didn’t get to a good stopping point until this morning and already feel the need to do a second great cleanse.

Partially motivated by fear that I am hoarder, last night’s cleanse left me feeling a new wave of motivation and inspiration. Like all hoarders, I’m nostalgic as anything and in part I think that’s why I take pictures and keep extensive journals // lists.

“Memories mean more to me than dresses.” – Anne Frank

Last night, I even got around to organizing some of my messy photo files too.

Last week, I finally got around to developing the last of the film I have been curious about from the summer last week. As a result, I’ve been flooded with memories of just how different my life looks and feels now than it did then. But, it’s good and for the first time in a long time, I’m not entirely paralyzed by my missing another place. I’m just here and here isn’t so bad. . . especially when life is clean and organized.

Celebrating July 4th (*Nepal Style)

Yesterday was ridiculous in the best ways possible.

We planned on celebrating America’s birthday to the fullest for nearly a week and yesterday did not disappoint. It was filled with fun.

When we’re completely honest with ourselves, we all tried pretty hard to get out of work, but ended up working on the field twice. *And enjoyed it in the end.

We spent the hot hours of the day down by the river because what Independence Day is complete without water? Rapids//drinks//good books to read//the hot sun. All good things. After the river times, we did some more work and this time around got distracted by the poisonous snakes in the field.

The night ended with beer//funny conversations//lots of dancing and even fireworks (*It turns out fireworks are highly illegal in Nepal, but our dear friend Ganesh went all the way to “little India” to buy us some!).

I have felt so extremely out of touch America and most of the rest of the world these days, and I’m okay with it. I feel that I’ve missed a lot of world news//big events. I feel that all of this is quite normal when internet access is limited and you’re living someone new// different.

I also realized yesterday amidst all of the ridiculous celebrations, I have a diminished capacity of feeling pride or great love for America. Granted, I am very blessed and privileged to be from such a place, but I have never had great pride in my country and I don’t know why. In trying to explain the concept of why we celebrate “America’s birthday” to our Nepali friends, I had to laugh. It all sounded entirely ridiculous and strange. We ended up settling the whole thing and told them that this was a day in America where it was okay to stone British people (*Like our lovely Immy) and the night ended with everyone being just as confused as ever.

It all turned out to be one memorable 4th and a nearly perfect day here in Letang.

[Photos: July 4th in Letang//Grace Farson]

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Oh, hello again India

Alive and well in Mumbai!

It’s honestly a miracle. . . all of this.

I got in last night around midnight and thanks to the fabulous Amirah and her family, I had not only a ride from the airport, but also a gorgeous place to stay . The view is stunning from the apartment, it’s 17 flights up and you can see ocean from every window.

I wouldn’t be here now without Kelsey and Alex either. They’re the real heroes of  this story. They both took off work early and helped make the impossible possible. Honestly, I’m still in shock I made my flight. We managed to pick up my visa at the Embassy, drive through D.C. traffic, AND make it to the airport by 5:40 p.m. I was the last person to board the plane and amazingly, my backpack even managed to get on the same flight too.

The moment I stepped off that plane in Mumbai last night I remembered just how much I love this place. I felt devoid of all emotion the entire flight and was worried about my overall apathy. I was doing the thing I love the most in life and traveling to my second home on earth, and I still felt very little. . . But, the moment I smelled India and was hit with that thick wave of heat, I knew part of me was home again.

I sat in the back of the car and cried a little and celebrated the emotions that surprised me. I sat and cried quietly and was so overwhelmingly thankful. I wouldn’t be here without the amazing love I’ve experienced from my family and friends. Their encouragement and support means the world to me and I wish I could more fully express my gratitude.

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So. . .  this one is for all of you today:

+ For Mom and Dad and for your trust in me. Thanks for being crazy enough to let me do stuff like this every year since I was sixteen. You two are remarkable and without you none of this would have been possible. Plus, Mom, I cannot wait to share this with you in August! You’re in for the biggest adventure of your life.

+ Again, for Kelsey and Alex. Your generosity and support is overwhelming!

+ For Abby. Thanks so much Abs for making the trip to D.C. and for sharing your time with me before I left.

+ Again for Amirah too. Endless thanks for putting me in contact with friends and for talking to me this morning on the phone! I look forward to India with you next time.

+ For the Mandalia family and your incredible hospitality.

+ For Kandyce. Juice sister, without you, I would have never met India and my life would not be what it is today. India messed me up forever at seventeen and you’re partially to blame for that!

+ For the Mahatma Gandhi Fellowship and UNC.

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I have no plans for today,  tomorrow, or the next few days, but I know I’ll be in DELHI in a few days and then NEPAL.

For now, I’m here , celebrating being HERE.

[Photo: Gateway to India, Mumbai//Grace Farson]

PA road trip recap

A brief recap from our time together in Pennsylvania ->

We learned that we did not know our animals very well, we listened to this and our world was made bigger, we went hiking in the Catskills in NY, we laughed, *some of us cried, and we read poems in the car.

It was everything it could have been.

I’m in D.C. as I write this. I’m in a state of panic and praying that I can actually make my flight tonight. . .

Something will happen, good or bad and I am confident there is some sort of resolution . . . this always happens with big travels and sometimes I question why I like all this so much.

“Ah, love, let us be true
To one another! for the world, which seems
To lie before us like a land of dreams,
So various, so beautiful, so new,
Hath really neither joy, nor love, nor light,

Nor certitude, nor peace, nor help for pain;
And we are here as on a darkling plain
Swept with confused alarms of struggle and flight,
Where ignorant armies clash by night.”

– Matthew Arnold

[Photos: Union Dale, PA//Grace Farson]