In April this year, E. and I visited India for about 2 weeks. It was the first time E. was travelling to India after the adoption. I had spent the previous 6 months learning hindi language, which made a huge difference in our experience. A dear friend of mine lives in Delhi and she hosted us while we were there and we met several of my language partners, who were kind of enough to be our guides in the other places we visited. Being able to speak hindi and mingling with the locals created a rich experience for both of us.

We were both very excited for our trip. Before leaving Finland, E. made an interesting remark: “For once, you will be the one to stand out, mum”. And he was right, as I soon found out how much attention a white woman draws in India, especially in less international places. People were very curious about why E. and I travelled together and why I could speak hindi and English, while he could not. Nevertheless, we were met with warmth and hospitality. Beside the connections I had made before, we were also invited into people’s homes for dinner. Atithi devo bhava, guests are the manifestation of god, we were told. I was very grateful for these chances as E. could experience Indian family culture up close.

“People treated me way better than in Finland” he commented later “When they saw there was some danger or I was at risk of hurting myself, they held me. In Finland no one would do that ever”. Indeed I noticed that people, regardless of their age, were more at ease around an 8 year old boy and they didn’t refrain from holding his hand or physically protecting him when we walked in traffic. In general I observed that E. fully belonged there. I was expecting strong emotions or unmet expectations, but he was truly at home there. He looked excited and carefree, fully in his element. The language barrier didn’t stop him from playing with all the friends we met and their children.

The top 3 foods according to E. were paneer, paratha, and naan. While everything definitely tasted better there, it was beneficial that he was familiar with most of the dishes we ate as we had cooked them before. We learned many new things on our trip, but I think his experience was positive also thanks to all the cultural references he already had. I like to believe that they contributed to make him feel at home there. The food was simply bliss… I regret not eating more on account of the warm weather that spoiled our appetite a little.

Beside staying in Delhi, we travelled also to Lucknow and Agra. We moved by train, which was a fantastic experience we will definitely repeat (especially after acquiring familiarity with the complex booking system). The AC class was comfortable, clean, and safe. We had mobile data connection throughout our trips – something I cannot say of Italy, for instance.

We visited several places (although there was much more to see!). Both E. and I were very impressed by the Taj Mahal in Agra and by the fortress Bara Imambara in Lucknow. The gurudwara (Sikh temple) Bangla Sahib in Delhi was also breathtaking and E. could witness the langar (a meal freely offered at the temple) being served.

Since we came back, E. has asked many times when we can go back. I think he feels like he belongs here in Finland, but he felt a sense of belonging also there. The trip was an extremely positive experience for him. I think he enjoyed blending in there and our friends commented that he “behaves just like any Indian boy”. Little dude definitely has a desi heart. We will definitely go back, try and stay longer, visit more places. Cultivating his Indian roots is paying off in making him feel whole, I think. Only time will tell, but this is what I believe based on my observations. Frankly it has been exciting also for me to be able to explore a new culture that I find very similar to my own. Maybe seeing me participating actively has created a bit of a bridge for him. I am curious to see how his experience of Indian roots will progress and how he will see these years and my efforts when he is older.

Hopefully we will go back to India again soon and we will have more adventures to share!