We all get excited when we start thinking about our home country or home town or India (in my case) trip. Just a thought of meeting our relatives, friends and dear ones creates a feeling of happiness which is hard to express in words.
Few days ago, I was talking to one of my friends who was doing preparations for the upcoming India trip with her 3 years old daughter. She looked excited, no doubt, but she was also little concerned about how her daughter would manage on a long flight and later in India. This was her daughter’s 2nd India trip. Last time, she was hardly 1 year old.
While talking to her, I recalled my last India trip. I also recalled one of my articles that I wrote after coming back.
I just thought of sharing my experiences with you. Here is it. I haven’t made any changes in it…
“You must be excited? Yes, I am….” This was my answer (we all answer this question the same way when we booked our tickets for India). February was the only month I was looking for in the calendar after that. Even in stores, I used to look for things that I can take to India. Whether it be clothes, perfumes, books, toys…My little girl also got this idea that now a days whatever her mommy look for, is in some way or other related to our India trip. She used to ask me – can we take this to India?, can I take this coloring book on plane? BTW worth mentioning is she was more excited than me having the feeling of getting a separate seat & all big girl like treatment – separate pillow, blanket, food & above all of that separate TV for her cartoons…:)
So finally, the day came. I and my little girl rolled up our sleeves & we were all set for our very long but much awaited travel. Yes, it was a 16 hours flight. No jokes…I remembered her saying once during our 2.5 hours of air travel when we went to Chicago “how long do I need to sit, I am getting bored.” That time I wondered what this girl will do when she will have to sit for 16hrs at a stretch. Keeping that thought in mind I packed some age-appropriate stuff for her in my carry-on, few of them wrapped in gift paper just to add some surprise to it. Who doesn’t like surprises?
During our 1st short flight she did really well. We landed on NY airport. I let her have meal of her choice, need not to mention being a mother who was traveling with 3.5 years old; my first & foremost job was to keep my daughter calm & happy during our upcoming long journey.
Now we were inside the plane, seated nicely buckled up, ready to take off. I could see the excitement in her eyes. She was ready to go for her princess movie holding her glass of Apple juice…:) (Imagination part, I leave it for you)
When we landed on Delhi airport, she was quite confused that she slept throughout the night but when we landed it was still dark. She asked me “I just woke up, do I need to sleep again?” She was looking at everything with such a curiosity as if trying to capture the first glimpses of her India trip into her eyes.
Then on our way to home she saw one Shaadi Band & there came her first question “why is the music so loud? Everyone is sleeping”. I was very much sure that this is just the beginning, it’s a long way to go…but I was fully prepared to face it and answer to her each & every question in the best possible manner.
This was the first part of my India trip. To know about out India stay and what my daughter had to say at the end of our trip, check out the next post “My India trip – Fun at India”
