My Extended Indian Family

Jodhpur, India

One of the most rewarding aspects of my internship should be the opportunity to integrate into Indian community and culture. During the entirety of my stay in Jodhpur, I will be living with a host family, who will hopefully allow me to experience social intricacies a simple tourist may overlook.

So last Friday, I moved in with my aforementioned Jodhpur hosts: the Williams. The transition was incredibly smooth, since the FSD office is conveniently located just above their house. The family consists of Mr. and Mrs. Williams along with their two sons, Winny 25 and Sunny 30, who are either engaged or married and no longer live at home. By day, Mr. Williams is a bank manager; by night, he is the restaurant manager of On the Rocks, a popular establishment with the locals and tourists alike. Mrs. Williams is the Food and Beverages Supervisor for Umaid Bhavan Palace, which explains her natural talent for preparing simple yet delectable meals. So it appears, I will have an excellent opportunity to assimilate some Indian dishes while I'm here. Additionally, Mr. Williams practices Christianity; while, Mrs. Williams is a Hindu, which I find remarkable especially in such a conservative area of the country. They both speak fluent English, which has eliminated the probability of simple miscommunication; although, it may create a serious obstacle in my attempt at learning Hindi.

On the whole, I feel as though I have won the host lottery. My Indian parents could not be more munificent, and their kindly nature is a breath of fresh air after the typical rough edges of urban India. We are located in suburban Jodhpur, just to the south of the city, in a small residential colony. Despite the colour of my room (a manly salmon), it has all the comforts of my normal abodes, with the lavish addition of a private bathroom. I'm situated at the front of the house, just a short two steps from a bench swing, where I will undoubtedly spend many lazy Sunday afternoons. While admiring my surroundings, I drift into unconscious reflection ... My birth mother and father have been exceptionally apt (sometimes even brilliant and altruistic) providers of health, safety and wisdom. However, they have fallen short in two essential areas: HBO and an internet connection superior to dial up. Both of which, I am presently using. Even with these glaring shortcomings, I love my parents and would not trade them for for all the stars in the sky (read: I gave my parents this blog address and would appreciate being welcomed home at some point).