I am an Indian, who is born, brought up in India and has felt it to its core. Now I live in America with my family of four. Although both my kids are born in India, they are growing up in America.
A few years ago we planned our first visit to India ever since we moved to America. While the excitement was at its peak, the anxiety hit me quietly but evidently, for this being the first ever India visit of my kids. How will they like it? Will they appreciate all the greatness India has to offer or will they reject it immediately for all the not-so-good aspects of India? How will they react to the ever growing population and the pollution that’s worsening with time. With many questions in mind, and a heart full of love for my country, I landed in India with my family. As soon as we stepped out of the International Airport, the strong smell of soil and that gush of air filled with moisture, dust, and pollution hit us instantly.
“India smells different mama”, said my daughter, and “it’s so noisy here, I barely can hear anything”, my son remarked! My husband and I had smiles on our faces as we were excited to see their reactions for many different things they were going to experience while their stay in India. Soon we arrived at my mother’s home where my mom and my sister’s family were waiting so eagerly for us. My mom hugged all of us with tears of joy and my sister let us inside the house after she performed ”Aarti” one by one with each one of us, to which my younger one asked, “what is Mausi doing mama? Don’t we do Aarti only to God, so why is she doing this to us?” “In India, we consider guests and family next to God,” I answered him with pride. He seemed confused but impressed with my answer.
Soon we all settled into this new environment, and once we got past our jet lag, my entire family was beyond excited to show our kids what India looks like.
We visited to our relatives houses, got to eat variety of foods, travelled multiple times in trains, did lots of shopping, ate street food, noticed cows and dogs roaming freely on the roads, and even more. My kids were surprised to see how we didn’t mind eating golgappas, next to a drainage, how no one was bothered of traffic lights, and lanes, how every store was full of many people, etc.
I wasn’t surprised to see their reaction to what they were experiencing so far, and was looking forward to make them aware of what they had been untouched of when it comes to India.
We then travelled to Ooty and Kodaikanal, two very popular hill stations in India. My kids were mesmerized to see the nature around, which they thought India absolutely lacks in. The mountain peaks were beautiful and so were the people of these small towns. Simple to their core, full of kindness, helping, and absolutely caring, these people are the ones India is known for. The lakes, waterfalls, hiking trails, sound of birds, wildflowers, clouds, were all known to us, but today they all seemed different. This experience was serene, overwhelming, and absolutely surreal.
We then visited cities, like Hyderabad, and Bangalore that are known for being one of the largest IT hubs in India. Also these cities have a lot to offer in terms of historical heritages, and monuments. While we got to experience a tranquil and peaceful time at India’s small hill stations, Hyderabad and Bangalore let us explore the fast-paced lifestyle within Indian metro cities.
By end, we travelled down to Visakhapatnam, also known as Vizag, for the city being my husband’s hometown. While the kids were excited to meet their grandparents, they were looking forward to seeing the stunning beaches of Visakhapatnam, they had heard so much about . As we drove down to one of the public beaches, our eyes filled with utter happiness to see the varied food stalls, accessories, and jewelry stalls, ocean themed decor stalls, and the kind of crowd, we never can imagine at the beachside places in America. The air was filled with moist, sand, and people’s sweat. Although the beach was heavily packed, it was clean, and well maintained. We enjoyed every bit of that evening. On our way back home, we ate street style roasted corn, bhel, and kids got to enjoy some of the small but very colorful wood made rides.
After a month of traveling several cities of India, we were back to Jamshedpur, to my mother and sister’s home. Once again, we were welcomed with open arms, variety of foods, and loads of love. The kids were pampered and happy to the core to receive huge amount of attention from everyone in the family.
The last few days we spent meeting a few more local relatives, eating several other kind of foods, shopping Indian ethnic wear, visiting local markets to buy things that aren’t necessary but way too appealing and affordable.
The trip to India had now come to an end. Kids were surprised to see how everyone from the family was here to drop us at the airport. All were sad and some of us were in tears too. With extremely heavy hearts, we bid farewell to our family and boarded into the plane. I asked my kids to be at the window seat until the flight takes off. They didn’t know why I asked for that but to my surprise, they didn’t ask me anyways and let me sit at the window seat. Sitting there, I looked outside the window, with more tears in my eyes now, that were not for my family, but for leaving my country again, and for not knowing when will I be able to see it again. I wanted to fill my vision from one end to the other end, not missing anything in the last minute of whatever I could see through my bare eyes, capture memories, to cherish this moment forever.
The plane flew and we came back to Dallas. It’s been 5 years since we made our last visit to India. Life is beautiful here but whether we express it or not, we miss our country and its people. My heart gets full whenever in a humid, rainy day, my daughter says, “mama, it smells like India,” and if we ever get to experience many people forming a huge crowd, my son remarks, “Mama, this place is so lively with so many people, just like India”.
And I ultimately, am living my life with my survival instincts, trying to be the best version of myself, returning the world all the goodness that I have received, and bringing a hint of India in no matter what I do.
I am an Indian, born and brought up in India, holding it in my heart with love and care, and will always represent my country with utmost respect and pride, till my last breath.
The Momma Clan 
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