Trip to India 2006: Engagement...

What a slacker I know, but you can't imagine how busy and hot it was in India. If we weren't entertaining, visiting, going to a dental appointment or eating, we were sleeping. It was non-stop... but non-stop in a good way. I had an incredible time in India, especially at home with the family. I was comfortable from day one. I always felt that I was treated like a daughter and not a daughter-in-law and I couldn't have been happier with the family I received either ;)

The cultural differences were at times overwhelming, but I attribute alot of that to heat exhaustion too! Nothing like 44 degree humid heat let me tell you. The poverty is pretty hard to miss, it's all around you, unless you've settled in for the night at home. The pesty bugs around were a bit troublesome for me too, but mostly because I am unfamiliar with the creatures who exist in the hotter climates. There were a couple of tense show downs, but Ajay always came to my rescue. Hard to imagine me as a damsel in distress but if it's creepy and crawly I turn into jello and forget I have a backbone.

The food fair was very enjoyable, lots of different things to try, like mutton. Who would have thought that mutton would be so tasty? Certainly not me. But everytime I heard that birayni with mutton was going to be on the table, I started to salvate. I guess for those disbelievers you'll have to try it for yourself. The one thing that I had trouble adapting to was the fact that every meal had a savoury taste to it. Here in Canada or even North America for that matter, we find that there is something sweet at every encounter, whether it's syrup for french toast, french fries with ketchup or honnied carrots with dinner, there is always something sweet gracing our plates. I learned to comprimise with ketchup where applicable and toast with jam for breakfast, often accompanied by an orange or some watermelon.

The engagement was very special... it is much more than just an exchange of rings and promises to marry. It is more of a celebration with friends and family, and a welcoming into each other's family. It was quite unique and beautiful... I'm sure unless you see the video that I will be unable to do it justice in word. Needless to say, I don't see how it could have been any more meaningful to us, and I hope that we continue to look on tradition and our cultural nuances as blessings to us.