happiness and food

It’s over 8 in the night and there are still 15 minutes left for the Sun to set. As I sit and type from this temporary work desk, I hear a hum of the refrigerator. My hotel room is nicely insulated so it’s quiet and feels like time may stand still. I have had my chai(s) for the day. Three today and feels like I needed them to handle the day. These posts are irregular but my love for chai is consistent.

If we were having chai together, I would tell you that I was in the US for around 8 days and flying back home in just about a few hours. Every time I come to the US for work, I appreciate the many things I see around. The rule following citizens, the cleanliness, the organized traffic, lane driving, open land, beautiful homes and people. Every time when I am away from India, I also feel grateful for the connections back home, the familiarity, the food which seems more healthy since it’s made from scratch, the comfort of my home and my side of bed. Distance sure makes heart go fonder.

If we were having chai together, I would tell you that my course (Coaching certification) that I am studying for is going well. I love that tingling in the brain when I have to unlearn to learn something. My fellow classmates are from around the world and so are the teachers. It’s wonderful to hear all the new perspectives and share what I know and believe.

If we were having chai together, I would tell you that I made 25 Rakhis this Rakshabandhan. It’s fun to make these Rakhis for the festival and knowing that people share my makes with their loved ones. KN has been a huge support for me in the process. She is talented, kind and finds opportunities for us to collaborate.

If we were having chai together, I would tell you that Bangalore has been rainy and cold this past month. I love this time of Bangalore. I know that the rains cause traffic snarls, Sun plays hide and seek but I love that trees on the roads and in my balcony get all the water they need to grow and the flowers bloom. This is also the time of the year I look for rainbows and this year, I haven’t seen one.

If we were having chai together, I would tell you that after my friend GK helped me organize my yarns by color, I feel better when I pick a new project. I am also very consciously using my stash and trying to avoid buying yarn until I use a significant portion of my stash. I am also still keen on buying a sewing machine for myself. Maybe it will be a birthday gift I will give to myself. I still need to find a place for it in my house. If you can recommend one for a beginner, please do.

If we were having chai together, I would tell you that my friend SK took me to a Yemeni chai place in Minneapolis. I must say that when ever I travel out of India, I miss chai the most. This is the reason I carry my instant chai premix too. So when SK offered, I wanted to taste it. Before we reached, I asked her if this was going to be black tea. You see I was skeptical. But this the kettle of flavorful tea was just the perfect thing to compliment our conversation. We also had some leftover tea that I took to the hotel and enjoyed two more times.

If we were having chai together, what would you tell me?

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Conversations over chai is my take on sharing a bit of life, reflections, learnings and gratitude with you. By now, you all know that chai is my favorite beverage and I hope we get to have chai together one day.

So join me by sharing something that you can and let’s talk.