I just wanted to let everyone know that in this moment I am so happy. I just arrived back in Mussoorie, back in my beautiful home with the lovely family that lives downstairs. Rishikesh and Haridwar were interesting, seeing the tourist aspect of what I saw in the mountains, and slowly realizing that the fact I saw these pilgrimage sites completely alone was truly a rare gift. Rishikesh also posed mosquitoes issues, but I absolutely fell in love with the Ganga there. I would dip in her waters at least twice a day as the days got hotter. I didn't even change out of my clothes for almost a week. I would sleep in them to cover as much of my body as possible to protect from the mosquitos, then in the mid morning I would dip into the ganga walk around with my wet clothes staying cool, and then in mid afternoon when my clothes had dried and I was getting hot again I would swim in her waters once more.
After my two good friends met me in Rishikesh, I returned with them to Delhi where it was about 107 daily. I feasted on take out food, mangoes and coconuts. Katherine and my friend's apartment had internet and television and I indulged in as much as both as possible. The days flew by quickly as I visited my home stay family, found books for my research and ate delicious food, including an amazing hot chocolate with cinnamon, saffron and rosewater.
Today I came back to Mussooire, it was so nice to have the air on my face resemble a cool breeze instead of a hot hairdryer like it did in Delhi. After coming home, I found an amazing store, Prakesh's general store! Instead of an hour hike down (and then back up) the mountain to get to any groceries, I found a beautiful 15min hike up a shady path right behind my house to this general store with over 10 kinds of cheese!! Gouda, sharp cheddar, blue, ricotta, Cabernet, Gruyeres!! Homemade jams, olives, olive oil, granola, pretzels, spices like oregano and rosemary, pastas and pancake mix! I was really overwhelmed with happiness of all the things I will be able to make in the coming weeks. I was silly and did not bring much money with me (though I have plenty left over from my stipend), so I got some cheddar, homemade apricot jam, and crackers and had an amazing feast of one of my favorite comfort food combinations. I just felt so happy to find this goldmine.
I am now in full academic mode, trying to analyze my crazy experience and place it a theoretical and academic context. In combing through my copious notes, research, journals and comments from all of you, I am realizing that I actually have a lot of information and I am currently in the stage of figuring out how to incorporated as much of it as possible.
So I just wanted to let everyone know that I am happy and safe in the throngs of academia once again, but this time surrounded by the amazing beauty of the mountains and trails, just no longer snow capped. Thank you all for your supportive comments, I can't describe how much they helped me persevere.
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