Hello from London! On Sunday, Aug 17th, I set off to the United Kingdom! The flight over was good but I had forgotten how hard it is to fly red-eye. Because of the time difference, my flight left in the evening and arrived in London the morning of the 28th. There was a decent meal on the flight but no free alcohol (when did that happen??). Upon arrival, I went through immigration and had a lovely chat with the immigrations officer! I presented her with the Semester at Sea transit letter about the reason for my visit and she then bombarded me with questions about the program and travel locations. You're going to how many countries? There is a program like that really? Can you send me a postcard? I was a bit cranky when I met her, not having slept much, but she reminded me what a gift it is to be going on this program and I was very grateful for her in that moment. I walked out of the airport and London greeted me with the sounds of families hugging and taxi drivers smoking. I had been to London almost 15 years ago, on a study abroad program, but this was not that London.
It took me quite a while to find my Aunt and Uncle at the airport. Why do they make airports so confusing. I pushed my three bags and backpack up and down the airport because the exit, as it turns out, was only the departures areas. A kind Indian lady, seeing me muddled and exasperated, offered to give me her cell phone so that I could call my uncle (I couldn't use mine, no international plan). She stayed with me until we were able to make contact with my uncle and I was sincerely appreciative. In that moment, I fully realized my dependence on technology – how did people ever meet up without a text message?
My host relatives were an aunt and uncle I had met only once in my life. Harshad and Pushpa Patel were, by far, the most welcoming, gracious and cordial people I've met in a long time. Pushpa Kaki had bought me cookies and chocolates for my travels and left them kindly in the guest room. Harshad Kaka, at the ripe age of 79, had driven all the way to London from their home (almost 1.5 hours) to pick me up. In turn, I set up Kaka's new iphone with email and internet (poor compensation, I know). It was also lovely to have some delicious home cooked Indian meals before the voyage – warm puri and gujrati kudi is the best! We spent the first day getting to know each other and I found out that they had tons of stories of my father and grandfather from about 40 years ago. Kaka and Kaki had lived with my father's family for a few years in Bombay, under the tutelage of my grandfather and grandmother. Over warm cups of chai, I heard about the time they learned to navigate their new marriage after small quibbles. They told me about my father's youthful antics and shenanigans (let's just say I have a lot of blackmail material on my father now!). It was like I had gone back in time to my grandfather's home in Juhu beach, Mumbai. Kaka and kaki had never surfed the internet, didn't have wifi at home, and bathed instead of showering. I didn't mind it at all; I felt strangely liberated, much to my surprise. They had a peaceful garden filled with leafy tall hedges and loads of blooming flowers in the back and we sat in the kitchen facing it for every meal. They were warm, friendly, hospitable, and generous beyond words.
Starting my journey in their home was definitely the best gift because it felt like I hadn't left home at all. It reminded me of the kindness of my grandparents (miss them loads everyday) and it's always nice to think of them on a new journey. It felt like generations of Patels were blessing my path. Come visit us soon Kaka and Kaki!
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