19 januari - hemma i Sverige đĄ
Flygresan kĂ€ndes verkligen lĂ„ng och trĂ„ng. Phu, det Ă€r utmanande att sitta + 9 timmar pĂ„ ett flyg âïž . Visst, det Ă€r kul att titta pĂ„ filmer đ„ ett tag, men efter ett tag fĂ„r man ont i huvudet av TV-skĂ€rmen som sitter sĂ„ nĂ€ra, sĂ€rskilt nĂ€r personen framför lutar sin stol bakĂ„t đ đŸ .
Det var verkligen skönt nĂ€r vi Ă€ntligen landade i Finland đ«đź, men mindre skönt nĂ€r vi klev ur planet och fick gĂ„ till bussen â sĂ„ kallt đ„¶, vi hade bara fleecejackor och gympaskor. VĂ„rt plan frĂ„n Delhi hade landat en timme senare Ă€n berĂ€knat, men vi hade tur för flyget som skulle ta oss till Landvetter var ocksĂ„ försenat đ. Vi var hungriga och dĂ„ vĂ€ldigt glada över Saritas Parathas som hon hade packat till oss (indiskt bröd).
Framme pĂ„ Landvetter vĂ€ntade vĂ„r fina granne pĂ„ oss och körde oss sĂ€kert hem 𧥠đ. VĂ€l hemma somnade vi efter nĂ„gon timme. đŽ
PĂ„ lördagen, dagen efter, sprang barnen ut och lekte i snön âïž med sina vĂ€nner som de hade saknat. Jag ville göra en sista film med Milo dĂ€r han kunde summera vĂ„r resa till Indien đźđł, men det gick sĂ„dĂ€r đ€. Barn Ă€r fantastiska pĂ„ att leva i nuet. Han var sĂ„ glad över snön och ivrig att springa ivĂ€g och leka med sina vĂ€nner, sĂ„ han kom inte pĂ„ sĂ„ mycket att sĂ€ga om Indien i det ögonblicket.
Men om jag sjÀlv ska summera vÄra 6 veckor i Indien sÀger jag att vÄr lilla familj har upplevt alla kÀnslor en mÀnniska kan ha under denna tid. GlÀdje, grÄt, ilska, skratt, förvÄning, avsky - japp, allt! Det har ocksÄ varit mÄnga svÄra stunder dÄ man som vuxen ska hitta kloka och lugnande ord om varför vÀrlden Àr sÄ orÀttvis för bÄde mÀnniskor och djur. För hela familjen har det blivit en rejÀl pÄminnelse om hur otroligt bra vi har det hÀr i Sverige. Det ska vi pÄminna varandra om nÀr vardagen kÀnns sÄdÀr otroligt grÄ och trist ibland.
Att vĂ„r lilla familj har fĂ„tt uppleva Indien och alla Ă€ventyr och kĂ€nslor tillsammans har gjort oss Ă€nnu mer sammansvetsade. 𧥠Vi har fĂ„tt frĂ„gan om vi nu Ă€r Indien Lovers đźđł eller om vi aldrig mer vill Ă„ka till Indien. Svaret Ă€r sĂ„ klart att vi kommer att Ă„ka tillbaka till Indien i framtiden, vi har ju vĂ„r indiska familj dĂ€r som vi Ă€lskar sĂ„ mycket. Men nĂ€sta gĂ„ng kommer vi inte att besöka de stora turistattraktionerna, för det har vi redan gjort och det var dĂ€r vi upplevde de jobbigaste stunderna. Men sĂ„ klart, Taj Mahal vill jag Ă„tervĂ€nda till och se i soluppgĂ„ngen.
Barnen har efter resan ocksÄ blivit tuffare och vÄgar ta plats och sÀga ifrÄn till frÀmlingar nÀr de kÀnner sig obekvÀma. De har blivit mycket modigare pÄ att prata engelska. De har verkligen vuxit under dessa sex veckor. PÄ bÄde gott och ont har de lÀrt sig att vÀrlden utanför Europa Àr vÀldigt annorlunda. Men de har ocksÄ lÀrt sig att man kan kÀnna sig hemma i vilket land som helst om man Àr runt nÀra och kÀra. Milo har ocksÄ fÄtt en ny indisk vÀn. Det Àr fantastiskt att ha vÀnner frÄn andra lÀnder.
Det jag kommer sakna mest frĂ„n Indien Ă€r att man alltid var i nuet. Det fanns liksom ingen tid att sitta och fundera pĂ„ nĂ„got annat Ă€n just hĂ€r och nu. En fantastisk kĂ€nsla. Sen kommer jag sakna den underbara maten. Som vegetarian đ± Ă€r Indien fantastiskt. Jag kommer ocksĂ„ att sakna alla leenden man fĂ„r frĂ„n alla kvinnor man möter. Att gĂ„ förbi en massa vackra kvinnor varje dag som ler Ă€rligt mot en Ă€r en fantastisk kĂ€nsla. Det kommer jag att sakna. Jo, jag kommer ocksĂ„ att sakna alla fĂ€rger i Indien. Alla dessa fĂ€rgglada klĂ€der, tyger och inredning. NĂ€r man kommer hem till Sverige möts man av allt det grĂ„a; vĂ€dret Ă€r grĂ„tt, alla bĂ€r grĂ„a eller svarta klĂ€der, och dĂ„ saknar man verkligen Indiens fĂ€rgstarka klĂ€der.
Hela familjen, och nu Ă€ven dottern, Ă€r sĂ„ tacksamma över vĂ„r tid i Indien. Att barnen fick ledigt frĂ„n skolan, att vi vuxna kunde ta ledigt, och att vi hade pengarna för denna resa. Ăr ni nyfikna pĂ„ vad den kostade? Vi hostade upp 150 000 kr för detta Ă€ventyr. En livsinvestering för familjen!
Nu blir familjens nÀsta Àventyr förhoppningsvis att fÄ hem en liten Howavart-tik i juli. DÄ kommer vÄra reseberÀttelser vara frÄn Europa nÀr vi packar hunden och barnen i husvagnen och ger oss ut pÄ vÀgarna.
Nu sĂ€ger vi hejdĂ„ tills nĂ€sta gĂ„ng. VĂ„r hĂ€lsning till alla Ă€r att vara tacksam för er vardag och nĂ€r ni kan, bidra pĂ„ nĂ„got sĂ€tt till att andras vardag blir bĂ€ttre. Det kan vara att donera pengar, men det kan ocksĂ„ vara att bidra med ett leende till personen ni möter pĂ„ gatan. đ â„ïž
In English:
January 17 - Back Home in Sweden đĄ
The flight truly felt long and cramped. Phew, sitting for +9 hours on a plane is challenging âïž. Sure, watching movies đ„ is fun for a while, but after some time, the TV screen being so close, especially when the person in front leans their seat back, gives you a headache đ đŸ.
It was indeed a relief when we finally landed in Finland đ«đź, but less pleasant when we stepped off the plane and had to go to the bus â so cold đ„¶, we only had fleece jackets and sneakers. Our flight from Delhi had landed an hour later than scheduled, but we were lucky as the flight taking us to Landvetter was also delayed đ. We were hungry and very happy about Sarita's Parathas that she had packed for us (Indian bread).
At Landvetter, our lovely neighbor was waiting for us and safely drove us home 𧥠đ. Once home, we fell asleep after some time. đŽ
On Saturday, the day after, the kids ran out and played in the snow âïž with their friends whom they had missed. I wanted to make a final video with Milo summing up our trip to India đźđł, but it didn't go so well đ€. Kids are fantastic at living in the moment. He was so happy about the snow and eager to run off and play with his friends that he didn't think much about India at that moment.
But if I were to summarize our 6 weeks in India, I'd say that our little family has experienced all the emotions a person can have during this time. Joy, tears, anger, laughter, surprise, disgust - yes, everything! There were also many tough moments when, as an adult, you have to find wise and calming words about why the world is so unfair to both humans and animals. For the whole family, it has been a significant reminder of how incredibly fortunate we are here in Sweden. We should remind each other of this when everyday life feels incredibly gray and dull at times.
That our little family has had the chance to experience India and all the adventures and emotions together has made us even more bonded. 𧥠We've been asked if we are now India Lovers đźđł or if we never want to go to India again. The answer is, of course, that we will return to India in the future; we have our Indian family there whom we love so much. But next time, we won't visit the major tourist attractions because we've already done that, and that's where we experienced the most challenging moments. But, of course, I want to go back and see the Taj Mahal at sunrise.
After the trip, the children have also become tougher, daring to take up space and speak up to strangers when they feel uncomfortable. They have become much braver at speaking English. They have truly grown during these six weeks. For better or worse, they have learned that the world outside of Europe is very different. But they have also learned that you can feel at home in any country if you are with loved ones. Milo has also gained a new Indian friend. It's fantastic to have friends from other countries.
What I will miss most from India is that you were always in the present moment. There was simply no time to sit and think about anything other than right here and now. An incredible feeling. Then I will miss the wonderful food. As a vegetarian đ±, India is fantastic. I will also miss all the smiles from all the women I meet. Walking past many beautiful women every day who genuinely smile at you is an amazing feeling. I will miss that. Oh, I will also miss all the colors in India. All those colorful clothes, fabrics, and decorations. When you come home to Sweden, you are met with all the grayness; the weather is gray, everyone wears gray or black clothes, and then you truly miss India's colorful attire.
The whole family, and now also our daughter, is so grateful for our time in India. That the kids got time off from school, that we adults could take time off, and that we had the money for this trip. Are you curious about what it cost? We coughed up 150,000 SEK for this adventure. A life investment for the family!
Now, the family's next adventure will hopefully be bringing home a little Howavart puppy in July. Then our travel stories will be from Europe as we pack the dog and the kids in the caravan and hit the roads.
Now we say goodbye until next time. Our greeting to everyone is to be grateful for your everyday life and, when you can, contribute in some way to make others' daily lives better. It can be donating money, but it can also be contributing a smile to the person you meet on the street. đ â„ïž