What we have experienced in the past weeks has paled compared to our forays into the countryside in the last days. Sometimes, Liam feels like the Pied Piper, leading groups of kids who all want to know our names and where we are from.
Yesterday evening, at the far terminus of our walk, we met a local school teacher. He invited us to sit on the porch and have cool drinks while we chatted. Curious kids patrolled the periphery. We talked of this and that, met the owners of the house who were, of course, extended family. Our new friend then invited us to his house, an offer which we felt incumbent to accept.
We toured the village and arrived at his beautiful home. Tea was prepared by his wife and we sat down to Masala Chai and banana fritters, pressed upon us with great insistence by our host's wife.
As the sun was setting low, we finally headed back towards town, guided back to the main road by our new friend. He had invited us to stay at his house when we return to Kerela. I invited his family to do the same in Seattle. He asked if I could help him with getting a tourist visa and I assured him I would try. It is difficult, it seems, for Indian Muslims to gain entry to our fair shores.
As we were returning along our shaded path, we were discussing the visa restrictions and how I might help the folks we had met. Liam turned to me and said, with a straight face, "Welcome top the FBI Watch List." Then we laughed ourselves silly.
No comments:
Post a Comment