The plane shook violently as it flew across Mumbai, heading further south into the lands of Malabar. The flight hostess came around with what smelled like chai highlighting heavy notes of cardamom and clove. As the hot chai poured into my cup, the hostess reminded us of the short duration we had left on the flight. The chai nestled in my taste buds reminding me of my grandmother's secret recipe she prepared for me every morning while I stayed with her. I was arriving in Kerala, for the first time in the last 6 years. All I remembered from my trip before was complaining about all the things India failed to have that America had. Little did I realize that though America had various technological advancements, India seemed to have more connection with my roots than America had ever had. The plane's wheels hit the ground and a loud crowd of proud Indian Aunties and Uncles clapped for pilots and attendants. We had finally gotten past the long-haul flight, but the next three weeks proved to be a much longer and heavier haul than a 16-hour flight ever would have been.
My mom always had this shimmer in her eyes whenever we entered the Cochin International Airport. Something about the smell of freshly fried bananas or the humidity that made your skin feel so soft, made her reminisce about her adolescence growing up in what one calls “God’s own Country”.
Kerala, a coastal state in the south of India was home to both my parents. I had been coming here since I was a child- quite literally, as my first trip was before I even turned 1. Although I was a regular, I never felt completely intact with my culture in India. I always thought it was because I was too American or because my accent often broke my facade- but now, looking back, I seemed to feel that way because I hadn't fully felt proud of my heritage. I blocked out almost any form of culture when I was younger. I blocked out Indian dresses, and Indian accessories, even to the point where I would never take Indian food to school.
As we walked to find my luggage, I was greeted by my eager family excited to see how much I’d grown and changed. My grandmother, being my ultimate comfort person, came up to me and gave me a warm hug. I felt secure in her hands. I felt at home in her hands. The baggage finally arrived on the carousel and I went to grab it. Showing off my newly built muscle, I picked up my suitcase and rolled it over to my grandparents. My grandmother knew of the athlete I dreamed of being- and one of my most thankful memories is the support I always endured from my family in my athletic endeavors. It was time to catch the cab so we quickly rolled my suitcase away but before we left, I begged to stop and eat my favorite- fried bananas, often called Pazham Pori. I went up to the shopkeeper and ordered one order of each. As expected, my Malayalam was quite rough. I don't know what I was expecting since everything needs practice to be perfected- and I had not done my part in practicing my home language.
The roads were narrow, windy, and uneven. Sounds of car horns surrounded me like moths to a flame. It always amused me how Indian drivers would always be multitasking- listening to horns, changing gears manually, and on top of all of that being able to switch lanes in the mob of hundreds of cars. I waited eagerly to see the house that only survived in my faint memories. As the gate opened I saw bright lilies and vibrant greenery that filled the outside of the polished, cement house. The driver opened my door and I stepped out. The sun perched on my skin while the humidity sat on my hair. I felt myself welcoming these aspects of India with an open door. I made a promise to myself that instead of finding fault in the absence of normality while I was in India, I would embrace the difference- embrace the change. I wanted to learn about the roots of my family and the exuberant culture India provided. So, though the next 3 weeks seemed to be unapproachable, I learned that keeping an open mind to differences, rather than a negative outlook, not only allowed me to enjoy my time but also connect myself with my culture.
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