USA

This trip has been amazing so far. I keep meeting people everywhere I go. On many a trip I was very lonely having no one to travel with me but this time it is far from that. I travel from city to city and in each I feel as home, I meet new friends and soon they are known. Many times I felt as though I had met certain person but it wasn't so.

Let me tell you my story.

First of all I have to familiarize you with my big "plans" for this trip. I wanted to see Washington, New York and Chicago while I am in the USA. I knew the wedding date and I knew when Parisa is getting back from her honeymoon. So this traveling was to happen sometime between these two dates. I was counting on finding someone who is driving to one of these cities, or at least somewhere close. I was lucky and found someone to go with to Virginia. That set the order in which I would visit these cities: 1. Washington (closest to Virginia), 2. New York (closest to Washington), 3. Chicago (far from everything), 4. back to Atlanta. I booked the flights only on Wednesday 24. Dec and have managed to write down on bits of paper the confirmation numbers and dates for all the flights. But somehow forgot to write the times... I booked a bus to New York on Friday evening, only 2 days in advance. I was just too lazy to do it sooner. Too late I remembered I don't have anyone to stay with in Chicago so emailed a friend expecting the worst but he was able to arrange everything. (Who has more luck than me?:) I was supposed to stay with a friend's mother in New York for all three nights that I was there but ended up staying at different places every night. I strongly advice people to try at least once to go to a foreign country by themselves and with no plans and practice their patience, endurance, peace and trust in God...

So here it starts.

On Monday night (22nd Dec) I wrote to my journal: "I cannot believe what just happened. I am a little nervous about it. It will take a while to get used to the idea. Cara invited me first to drive with her to Virginia where her family lives. I have accepted as it is near to Washington D.C. where I was planning to go. Later she said I can stay with her overnight and take the train the next day. In Virginia we found out the tickets were too expensive from Virginia to Washington during Christmas time so she said I can stay with her until Saturday because she will drive to Fairfax near Washington where she lives and studies." In the end I did not only drive with her to Washington I also stayed two more nights in her beautiful apartment. Thank you, Cara!

"Today's eight hour journey was perfect, we talked a lot, we have a lot in common. Than we sang. She told me many stories about her year of service and we talked about everything possible."

Many things remind me of India on this trip. It sounds strange maybe because USA and India are very different. But a lover sees signs of his beloved in every land. When I got out of the airport the air was so humid and so warm in Atlanta, it reminded me of when I got out the Delhi airport in August. I wore saree in public for the first time since serving at the Lotus Temple. Cara's mum had a picture of Lotus Temple in her kitchen. We went together to Indian restaurant in Roanoke and then to a shop with clothes from India. In New York there were so many cars and people that it reminded of the two huge cities I have visited in my life - London and Delhi. There was a place in Central Park where I had to jump from stone to stone in order to avoid the mud and water as I did so many times on the streets of Delhi. We went to cinema with Cara once and as I was sitting down I realized that I haven't been to a movie since Singh is king in Delhi. I am also very peaceful because there are no responsibilities, I am plainly enjoying my life and meeting many young Baha'is all over USA. So many things, so many to remind me of August.

I think this was the best Christmas in my life. On the 25th we went hiking to Sharp Top with Cara. The day was beautiful, sky was clear and it wasn't too cold. There was no sign of Christmas in their house except some presents brought by their family and friends lying around. We practiced yoga with Cara, watched plenty movies, went shopping a lot.

On Saturday 27th I wrote: "Today we arrived to Fairfax where Cara goes to school. We lit some rose candlesticks and danced salsa. Her friend Philip came over, we talked for a long time and then decided to study FUNDAEC materials on teaching at 12.30 at night... Our brains just didn't work so it was fun." I didn't go to bed until 4am because I met a friend on facebook that night after a very long time.

On Sunday we went to see Washington with Cara, we've been to the Holocaust museum and walked around a little talking. In the evening we went to a devotional meeting at Kojo's house where I met Makini and found out she is on the same bus as me the next morning.

So on Monday we left Washington on a 9am bus to New York. I asked her about her year of service as I am very interested to hear people's stories. We arranged meeting for lunch the next day.

"This trip is in the spirit of the wedding and marriage. It began with the wedding of my best friend. Continued with long discussions with Cara in the car on the way to Virginia and later too. Then I met Makini and had lunch together with her brother and two friends and my friend who I met at the wedding Julia. Then we went around the city with Julia. In the evening I met again with Makini at her friend's Sara's house in Brooklyn. There was also Stephany and two more people whose names I don't remember. It was real fun that evening. We talked about marriage, partners, chastity and all kinds of things until 1am. I still cannot believe how much luck I have on this trip. How many beautiful people I am meeting. I am somewhere else every day and my plans are being changed frequently. I have no idea where I will be tomorrow and I love that feeling. All people are beautiful, immensely beautiful."

And on the plane to Chicago I wrote: "Makini invited me to her apartment for New Year's Eve. She lives in Newark near New York. Her family was having a Unity feast with a Kwanzaa celebration and a New Year's Eve party. Kwanzaa is an african-american celebration where each of the 7 days it lasts is dedicated to different aspect of the african-american community. There is mostly black people living in Newark and I was one of the two white people at the party. It was a strange feeling but it was by far the best New Year's Eve party I have every been to. I got used to it quickly, enjoyed the spirit, the food and the long conversation with Kafele, Makini's brother. I stayed with them for the night and left to the airport the next morning. The whole family is very funny and loving, they always laugh at something and it was apparent how happy they are to be together."

Only on the plane to Chicago I actually started thinking where I am going and who I am staying with and how to get there and realized I forgot to tell the person when exactly I will arrive and I failed to look at a map to find out how to get to her apartment. Too late. Ooops. I got used to not thinking about future much. Future meaning more than few hours.

"Visiting Wilmette:
I don't have, of course, so intense feelings about visiting this House of Worship as when I arrived to Delhi but still, my heart was beating very fast as I was approaching this magnificent edifice. The Temple stands on the shore of Lake Michigan so I went for a walk to the near-by park by the lake. The beach was frozen. This lake is so huge that it looks like an ocean and it also has a tide. I am not wearing tights and I can hardly feel my thighs and toes although I have two pairs of socks. It is freezing here. But I like it. I am starting to like winter again. I have a feeling I will not come back here anymore. Not deliberately, I just have a feeling. While when leaving India I knew I will return there and for much longer. I think I prayed for everything possible. How often does a person get to visit a House of Worship?"

That's it. Now I am back in Atlanta. I was expecting everything to settle down, no more traveling, just staying with Parisa and Daniel. But no, the trip is still not over. Due to my traveling mood that forbids any planning whatsoever I failed to arrange a pick-up from the airport as well as people to stay with. But I managed as I always do...with the help of friends who are more responsible than me. I am staying at Desiree and Kit's house and they are a wonderful couple. I feel like their baby... :)

I have some new projects, ideas:
1. I am learning Hindi.
2. I am going to get a cat.
3. I am going to write a book.

We will see how long I will remember these new goals.

ps: This post was published thanks to all the people with who the author stayed in the last two weeks, who fed her, who gave her directions and introduced her to more people. Thank you very much, Joana from Atlanta, Cara and family and cats from Roanoke, Dr. Kirilcuk from Roosevelt Island, Sara from Brooklyn, Makini and family from Newark, Chaley from Chicago and Des and Kit from Atlanta. I am alive thanks to you. :)

Wedding

Parisa's radiant spirit, goodly character and pure heart were responsible for me becoming a Baha'i only 2 years after I met her. I had just turned 13 and she was half a year younger. She left Slovakia where we went to school together a year later and although we have been in contact ever since there weren't many opportunities to spend time together.

This friendship, I feel it my duty to emphasize, is unique. This friendship doesn't depend on spending time, having fun nor showing love. It is a connection between two souls that will never be cut. Parisa is more than my sister, she is my soul's twin. Being with her I feel energized, purified and uplifted. I can see the future and all doubts cease.

And now Parisa got married to a person with no less illumined spirit, no less upright character and with heart filled with joy and love. Parisa and Daniel formed a union of which every person dreams. The earth had been shaken during their wedding. The words they uttered made every heart beat faster and every soul dance.

Daniel was looking at Parisa with such love and tenderness that every woman in the room wished to be her while her eyes showed loyalty, respect and trust which every wife should have. I saw the world being unified in front of me. I wish everyone on earth can find such peace, love and unity in their lives.

Unexpectedly and quietly tears burst into my eyes and I cried for no reason. I was wondering all this time what was it that made me cry. I don't know. The only thing I know is that last time it happened at my grandpa's funeral.

"Spolocne sa zaoberajte uslachtilymi tuzbami a vzletnymi predstavami. Nech medzi vami niet ziadnych tajomstiev. Svoj domov premente na pristav pokoja a odpocinku. Budte pohostinni a majte dvere domu otvorene tvaram priatelov a cudzincov. Privitajte kazdeho hosta so ziariacou laskavostou a nech kazdy citi, ze je to jeho vlastny domov."

'Abdu'l-Baha