Welcome to India.

I... am... here!

I have decided that India is what I call, my Heartland. It's not technically my homeland and it's not technically my home either. But it is in my blood and I am Indian at heart. It's such a beautiful country and I am so excited to be back. I have to admit that I've already gone through quite a rollercoaster of emotions and I've only been here for four days! But that's what's so exciting.

My first shower, which was actually not a shower, but a bucket bath, was the first experience that told me I had arrived. The paint above the shower tiles was bubbling and peeling away and pigeons cooed as I doused myself with barely warm water (which was only because I didn't use it right away) from a bucket. Somehow, I love it though. It's just one of the beautiful, humbling experiences that you go through while being here.

This is the window in my room at my Aunt and Uncle's house that I'm staying at right now. All the greenery outside is beautiful. It's SO green and there's a lot of it here in Delhi.

I took my first auto rickshaw ride of this trip to my cousins house. My drivers name was Shurdan Singh. He was a quiet, but sweet little man. I love riding in autos because they're open and you can feel the breeze and just watch all of the madness going on around you.

Yesterday, I went to meet with the first jeweler who I'm going to be working with. He is a fine jeweler and his workshop is in this crazy place called Chandni Chowk, which I will go to for the first time on Wednesday. While I was at his shop, he had to make a run to get some gold melted down, so I got to go with him. It was so interesting! We went into this little workshop that was just an apartment and it felt like a drug house. They had a furnace in there and when we walked in there was a man cleaning beakers. But I got to see them melt gold! It was crazy!

So, there you have it... my first few adventures in this crazy place that we call India.

Peace and love to everyone.

I already miss you all so much!

Take care and be in touch.