A Month In India: Our Journey into Beautiful Chaos
It is hard to imagine it being worth the 36 hours of travel (2 planes and a 5 hour drive), but as I stand on my balcony looking at the luscious coffee plants and jack-fruit trees, I can’t imagine being anywhere else.
It was so hard to enjoy the scenery the first day as we were so exhausted but after a night’s rest, we awaken to the amazing beauty that is Chikmagalur, India. We landed in Bangalore and after a sweet reunion with my in-laws we traveled here to rest, recover, and introduce my children to all the wonder that is India.
The first time I came to India, I got married. It was amazing but hard. You see, I was (am still a bit) a person who likes to be in control. But you can’t be in control in India. you can’t hold on tight. You have to let it happen to you. Just be present and let go. Much like the traffic here, India is awash in chaos - a beautiful chaos - but a chaos all the same. I find myself able to manage India much better this time because I’ve learned to let go. It feels good to have grown into myself.
This calmer mindset was challenged our first morning when we walked out to find some - but oddly not all - of our shoes missing. We thought perhaps someone had stolen them but then noticed that we had mismatched pairs left? Surely, a human would have taken both shoes? Also, one seemed a bit chewed on! Turns out local dogs had found some of our shoes and thought they had hit it big!!! My kids laughed with delight and it still feels me with joy to think of it. I luckily wear the same shoe size as my husband so I had one of his shoes and one of my shoes on for the rest of our India trip! Mismatched shoes for the win! I did pick up some sandals later. My husband wore flip flops during all our hikes- even those with the leeches!
During our three day stay at the coffee plantation, we hiked through the coffee, watched cows being milked by hand, played with the newborn puppies and kittens, sat on a glorious swing, played Indian board games, and just soaked up all the nature and amazing food.
As I walked through the coffee farm and the owner told me about how the plantation was run, I wondered how many people who drink coffee every day have ever even seen a coffee plant? These beautiful plants must be harvested by hand. They need shade so large trees are carefully trimmed to ensure the right amount of sunlight. All of the coffee there is export quality so the workers will never even enjoy the coffee they work to harvest.
Next time you take a sip of coffee, take a moment to recognize all the people who helped bring that coffee to you. Gratitude.
Everywhere you go, it is the same
We have several long conversations with our host’s wife. Her son if 5 years old and she lives in town so they can send him to school while her husband manages the farm. She says she wishes she could homeschool but there is no community for him where they are. It is too isolated. She sends him to a Montessori school which is the school we sent out children before we homeschooled. I’m struck by what we have in common. She laments that the young people in India are selfish, in her opinion, and only seem to care about themselves. They don’t care about their communities. She said the Government has made it easier to not work so it’s hard for her to get workers for their coffee plants. That’s why they started the home stay business - how we were able to stay there - because the coffee doesn’t bring in enough money. They want something better for their son. I wonder what will happen if the next generation gives up on coffee farming? I suppose we know - the big companies will snatch up the land and take over.
The things she speaks of remind me so much of the same troubles in the United States. How is it that no matter where you go, the same problems persist? Is this just part of our natural development as a people or just the nature of our interconnected world?
Life is Beautiful
There is a firefly walking up my window and it reminds me of just how wonderful this beautiful planet is. Living in the desert as we do, you forget the scale that nature can be. We saw a Rolly Polly that was 10 times the size of the ones in our backyard at home. The jackfruit trees are one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen. Their size is awe inspiring; their fruit 20 pounds! If you can, go to India during Jackfruit season. It is the most amazing fruit.
I asked my youngest what her favorite part of India is so far. Her response: Watching the ants bump into each other.
Well, until next week, stay happy, stay present, and hug your children❤️
~Claire
