learning...

its been almost a month since i returned to Kolkata...how time flies.

this transition has been smooth (shockingly smooth, i'd say). i'm thankful for how life is settling into a rhythm here. i'm figuring things out. on thursday i even had a "good bangla day" where i felt like i understood what was being said to me...and for some reason felt confident enough to initiate bangla conversations and joke around with the ladies. it was good.

last weekend was my friend/roommate beth's birthday, and we had a party. we ate good (no GREAT) food, and hung out with some good friends - and got to know some new friends. Last sunday morning i sat on the floor in my kitchen drinking coffee, while friends were in various stages of getting brunch ready, washing dishes, chatting and generally enjoying one another's company - and i thought to myself, "i don't think it gets any better than this" i've had that thought a few times the past few weeks - as i slowly find my place here...

i also feel like i've gotten more than a "normal" share of news from home over the past month that weighs on my heart (good and bad). celebrations that i'm not a part of. people i love going through rough times...and i grieve with them.

there are these moments where all i want is to sit in a room and simply be with a friend - and i can't...i'm half a world away.

so i wonder...
what does it look like to share life from half a world away?
what does it look like to miss celebrations?
what does it mean to grieve with friends who are struggling?
will these feelings/ties to home lessen over time? i hope not.
what does it mean to have roots in two places?

and then, what does it mean to share the deepest joys and sorrows of my life here with people half a world away?

i don't know.
i'm figuring it out.
learning.