The Sweetest Sorrow

Sigh...

After nearly two blissful weeks of hanging out with my Mom and sister first in Calcutta and now in Bombay, we are getting ready to part ways. We're dropping Sonya off at the airport tonight so she can leave for Amsterdam. I'm on my way to South India tomorrow for the Fulbright Conference. As my sister might say at this point, 'tear*.'

We had a great time together, quickly realizing that boneheaded sister humor transcends even international boundaries. We screamed with banchshee-esqu laughter in upmarket Calcutta restaurants, acted like complete goons on the airplane, and were beyond obnoxious sitting in "Mocha," the trendy Bombay coffee shop. I sure will miss her :(

The highlight of the trip was undoubtedly our family trip to the Orissan beach city of Puri. It is a quaint beach town that boasts the colorful Jagganath Temple and ancient Sun Temple. It was our first time travelling by train in India (or anywhere for that matter). While the overnight train there was cozy and comfy and the beach was lovely and restful, the train back should have been called the 'Nightmare Express.' Our seats were directly next to the stinking urinal, the floor was tracked with bathroom mud, there were families of cockroaches dwelling in the bunk that would have mine, and cold blasts of air interrupted our 'sleep' all night as the train doors opened and closed. Though my mother rose Hell with the "conducter saab," we could do nothing to better our condition. We slept sitting up--noses plugged--in shifts all night to avoid luggage theft.

The best part is that there was a sweet little French family sitting right next to us who never made a peep about the whole thing. The just cuddled up and went to sleep (on the roach-infested cots). Are we Americans just pushy and demanding, or are we the only people who demand high enough standards to make a stink? What do you think?