leaving on a jet plane

I can't believe it.

I am going to India. INDIA!!!

photo by Adam Gruchala via National Geographic

photo by lark & linen

 My first international trip in SEVEN years. Which for me, is quite sad - considering I've traveled internationally every 2-4 years since I was maybe... 4 years old? (for which I am extremely thankful to my parents for giving us the gift of travel!)

Thanks to our green cards, we can now travel internationally, and this marks such a huge milestone for us. I am meeting my husband's family for the very first time - well, besides meeting on Skype video calls (thank goodness for technology).

This blogger's posts and photos of her trip to India have been absolutely inspiring. And although we are not going to those same cities (we're spending our time in my husband's hometown), I am beyond excited (and a little nervous, I admit).

As you can tell, I have been a little bit panicky since last week. And my panicky state manifests itself in weird ways. Like a few days ago, I just decided to make mayonnaise. From scratch. For no particular reason other than to whisk something until I would feel like my arm would fall off. As a side note, I will say that it was SO.GOOD. (I followed this recipe.). And for those of you who don't like mayonnaise, this is nothing like the jarred stuff. I ended up making a lemon garlic aioli as well out of it. For no particular reason. If Forrest Gump runs across America for no particular reason, I get into the kitchen and make totally random things.

Anyway, back to our trip. Our bedroom is in complete mayhem right now with bags of gifts and things that need to be packed, as well as clothes, personal care and health care items to sort through and check off our list. Even the load of laundry I did last WEDNESDAY is still sitting in the basket and has not been organized in the closet. Aaaaaack!!!

Meanwhile I am trying to write, write, write and get my work done. I still co-teach at the university until 10 pm the night before we have to leave.

So needless to say, I am doing my very best to stay healthy. Taking lots of fruit smoothies with this hemp protein powder I just discovered (no processed soy, lots of omega 3's).  Eating my greens, and maybe half my weight in hummus, avocado, and this raw nut pate I made last week. Getting enough sleep. And ok, having some dessert doesn't hurt. I have to thank my husband for running out at 10:45 pm one night to run to a nearby restaurant and get takeout creme brulee AND tiramisu before the restaurant closed at 11 pm (A., you are the best!)

Although I'll still take my laptop with me and squeeze in some work when I can (this just isn't a choice in my life right now), I'll also do my best to soak it all in. The experience of setting foot on international soil again. The culture. The language. The food. And most importantly, my new Indian family.

Just a few more days...