My second trip to India and how it surprised me

[image] Hi, {NAME}! My husband and I just got home from a 10-day trip to Rome and India. My first trip to India (in August) was really rough. It started with a man trying to force his way into the airplane bathroom and then one of the hotel staff actually forcing himself into my hotel room (and standing in front of the closed door for a few minutes so I couldn’t leave) and it ended with me getting violently sick with Delhi Belly. I struggled with sensory overload with all of the newness and different tastes, sights, sounds, smells, and cultural differences and it was hard to know how to grapple with the overwhelming need. I also found it hard to be one of only a few white women in a huge city. The gawking, the pointing, the incessant staring by men… it felt unnerving. I came home wondering why I had gone. Yes, my courage muscles were stretched. Yes, my worst fear of getting Delhi Belly happened and I survived. But I felt confused as to the purpose of the trip… because I honestly just didn’t know what to think about India. But if I hadn’t gone on that trip, I never would have gone back to India this past week. That trip was a catalyst for us to go on this second trip to India. And there was so much redemption in this second trip. I was much more mentally prepared for the sensory overload, so it didn’t overwhelm me like the first time. I also was super careful about what I ate and drank. Most importantly, I fell in love with India and the Indian people this time! I was so touched by their warm hospitality and the way they live and work in such community with one another. They are so involved in one another’s lives. They don’t have the same personal space bubbles I think we often have in the Western world and it’s really beautiful to observe. I was also able to see past the “sensory overload” to see so much beauty, life, joy, and celebration in all the colors, sounds, smells, and tastes. It touched me and inspired me in a deep way. It’s so good to be stretched a little (or a lot!) out of our cultural comfort zones and to get to experience a very different way of life. There’s so much I learned and was inspired with from spending time with and getting to know those who live in India this past week. And I’m so grateful — and I’m coming back deeply impacted as a result. Links You Should Check Out: - [Budget-Friendly Things to Do in Rome]( — a LOT of photos and tips for how to visit Rome on a budget. - [Our First Experience Staying in an AirBnB](— Have you ever stayed in an AirBnB? This was our first opportunity and we can’t say enough great things about it… well, other than the bathtub leaking! - [Law School Struggles, Free Groceries, and a Pregnancy Test]( — My latest podcast episode with Jesse, where we share a number of fun stories from our early years of marriage, including a number of stories you’ve likely never heard before! - [3 Steps to Start That Blog You’ve Been Dreaming Of]( — Want to start a blog? Sign up for my free class where I’ll teach you the one habit you should begin today if you want to set up a successful blog (it might surprise you!), the few key things you need to have in place to get your blog up and running (it’s a much shorter list than you might expect!) and 5 simple ways people are making a part-time or full-time income from blogging (& how you can, too!). Deals You Don’t Want to Miss [image]( Amazon has this [Bath Bombs 12-Count Gift Set for just $10.99 shipped]( when you use coupon code MDF75GP6 at checkout! [image]( Wow! Amazon has this [Delta Children Deluxe Multi-Bin Toy Organizer & Kids Table and Chair Set in Natural/Primary for only $45.49 shipped]( right now! This is regularly $110 so this is a great deal! What fun playroom furniture! [image] Amazon has this [Fire TV Stick bundle with Echo Dot (2nd Generation) for only $38.98 shipped]( right now! This is a huge price drop and the lowest ever on record! [image]( Have you heard of Amazon Cash? It’s an easy way to add CASH to your Amazon balance! And right now new users can get a [FREE $10 Amazon credit for adding $40 to your account](. [image]( If you’re a Prime member and you’ve never tried [Kindle Unlimited](, you can currently sign up to get a [3-month subscription to Kindle Unlimited for just $0.99 total!]( Have a great week! -Crystal P.S. Looking for [Black Friday deals](? We have a list of [all the best ads available here](. And of course, we’ll be live-blogging them all week (and all day on Friday) at MoneySavingMom.com. [Privacy Policy]( [Unsubscribe]( Money Saving Mom, LLC 2020 Fieldstone Parkway, Ste. 900 #313 Franklin, Tennessee 37069 United States