Seven days left before we get on a plane bound for India. Yesterday I ran into a guy who looked Indian so, without thinking, I just asked, “Are you by any chance originally from India?” Thankfully he wasn’t upset at all by my invasion of his privacy with a question about his origins. We talked a while about Indian politics and culture, about landmarks he wanted to make sure I saw in Kolkata. And then, his last words, “Kolkata is different from India. They are very emotional but you’ll be safe.”
He didn’t elaborate one bit. Just a wry smile and then he closed the drive-through window and I passed the slushies back to the kids and drove away.
More emotional? You’ll be safe?? Seven more days to figure out what he meant and be OK with it.
And seven more days to switch this blog over to WordPress and a brand spankin’ new look.
Brad and Barton have worked hard. Now it’s Ben‘s turn. He starts slicing and coding, um, today I hope, with the aim (not the promise) of launching the new blog in time for the India trip. I don’t do deadlines: It launches when we’re all happy with it.
The rest of the site won’t launch at first. Just the blog. This’ll give us a chance to beta test it on you guys before expanding – you know, fix any big flaws before building a bunch of flawed pages. (No, I’m not a perfectionist. What makes you say that?)
Seven more days before grandparents take over for us, all the bloggers meet in person for the first time in the Chicago airport, a bajillion hours on a plane, we meet the children of Kolkata, and hundreds of them are released from poverty.
Seven more days before you link to all of us right? RIGHT?? (Thanks for that.)
That paragraph about all the flawed pages made me twitch…how can you stand that???
”…you’ll be safe.” Amazing words and very, very true. My advice to first-time travelers to India is to embrace the differences you will see and be prepared to come back utterly changed forever (even more than you already have been given your travels).
Oh, how I wish I were going with you. To see India again would be an overwhelming joy. I look forward to hearing about your trip!
Kent
is that a steven bush photograph from ethiopia i see peeking from the top left?
Yessir. Yes it is. Brad liked it so much he used it in his comp. I’ve been staring at that picture for WEEKS.
Shaun,
Will be praying for the trip. Great news – I officially received my approval and welcome as a Compassion Advocate last week. Pumped is an understatement. Talking to Ronnie, and hopefully myself and Bo, our Missions guy here in our church will be headed to Peru in October.
God Speed in India.