Favorites and Longings

In this blog, each family member writes about what they enjoy the most in India, and what they miss the most from home...

Mark- I miss my friends and family the most. What I like about India is animals, like dogs (cats not so much), cows, monkeys, chickens hanging in the windows, and the chickens that are alive. I also like the school campus.

Amy- What I like about India is the vast array of sights you see wherever you go. For instance, on the ride to the kids' bus stop, we pass donkeys and cows eating garbage by the road, lots of little storefronts, people selling fruit from a cart, half clothed little kids running around, women washing clothes outside their 1 room houses, lots of stray dogs, boys playing cricket in an open field, children dressed in uniforms walking to school, a whole family squeezed onto a motorcycle. Hopefully I can take a video and post it for you all to see. There is always something fascinating going on. And the people seem content with life despite their struggles. I also like the closeness India has brought to our family.

The things I miss most are family, friends, and the simple comforts of home, e.g., a comfortable mattress, a dishwasher, a car!!!

Thomas- Like Mark, I miss my friends and family the most (including Libby). My favorite thing here is to be a part of another culture and to see the conditions of places outside the United States. Our school is pretty good and we just bought a cricket set which we have played a lot today (which is a holiday called Sankranthi in South India to celebrate the harvest).

Grace- What I miss most is my friends, mostly Freyda, Becky, Madi, Sarah and Emma. I miss my dog and my family also. I love India becase everyone is so nice to me. It is very beautiful. I love going shopping here also.

Tim- I have very much enjoyed the time together as a family. Back home, we all (including and perhaps especially yours truly) were occupied with many activities outside the family. Those activities are fine and important within limits, but this experience is enabling us to grow closer as a family with far fewer distractions. Regarding what I miss the most, I have to say my dog, Libby (no offense to my extended family--remember, Libby can't Skype, but you can).