Home Again Home Again Jiggedy Jog

Back! For some reason, it doesn't feel too weird. I think that my body is still in shock though from the time difference. Yesterday was the longest day I've ever had, it was literally 31 hours long! The flight back wasn't too bad, we survived the German airport with Haagen Dazs ice cream. It was great to see my parents and then the rest of my family, we ate at Cracker Barrel, a wonderful way to be initiated to southern food once again. I made Coorgi coffee this morning and then I went to the coffee house! It was so wonderful to make a Sam's trip to get milk and half n half again..well kind of. I'm so glad to be back, even though I really miss the friends that we made overseas so much. It was very comforting when someone blared their car horn at us for pulling out in front of them, I felt like I was back in India. Hello America!

Leigh

Two are back!

Leigh and I are back in America. We arrived yesterday afternoon after 19 hours of travel time. Its totally weird. I forgot what it was like to live here. Definitely experiencing a little culture shock. While there plenty of the people we met had been to the US before and one of their comments was everything is so BIG here! It is soo true. Especially the cup size, how can I drink all that?

But it is really good to be back. Again bittersweet emotions of joy to be back with Kevin and my family and friends, but sorrow and heartache to be separate from people in India I love dearly too. The conveniences of home are pretty awesome. I forgot how good it is to drink water from the sink or take a shower with out waiting for the water to heat up. Its so amazing. I am excited to share our stories. See you soon!

-Jamie

Almost Home

So many mixed emotions. As we drove from our home and family in Madikeri, I cried almost the entire way back to Bangalore. My heart aches to leave people I love so dearly. To know it will at the least be a while before I see them again. We invited many to come to America to see our home and I am sure some of them will. Plus many of them have our number at the coffeehouse so we'll be getting calls from India. How beautiful is that!

My heart also thrills to be back home with my family and friends, especially Kevin. Why again did I leave my husband for a month? But I long to share our stories and knowledge of these people and coffee. To be back at the coffeehouse again. Last night I listened to HopeDialect and remembered the smells of Cross Roads. It was again a beautiful moment!

I loved India. It was so amazing. We've gained so many stories and experiences and moments of laughter, goodness, and beautiful tears. I will it dearly. Now Caraleigh and her family are trying to convince us of the greatness of Jordan so we return here. Yeah I am convinced of both places. Oh how awesome is this creation! See you all very soon... I totally cannot believe its been a month. wow!

Jamie

Making Our Way Back

Hello! We arrived in Jordan two days ago, and we have been soo busy! The first day we visited Petra and it was gorgeou. The rocks were reds, yellows, and purples. We also rode donkeys and camels! Yesterday we saw Mt. Nebo where Moses stood, Jesus's baptismal spot, and put our feet in the Dead Sea...Everything has been inspiring us so much, and I hope that we will be able to produce artwork that will bring justice to the beauty of this place. All is well over here!

Leigh

Its Been A While

Again sorry its been so long since we've posted. The internet is not widely available here. It has been absolutely amazing. The people are so kind and welcoming to share their homes, hearts, time, much coffee, and kitchens with us. Our time here is coming to an end. It will be hard to leave and say goodbye to a place we've come to call home and people we have come to call family. I will miss many of them dearly.

As Leigh said, we've seen, done, and learned so much. We are now experts on coffee, south Indian food, and Coorgi culture. Leigh even had Canara lessons from our taxi driver. Its the local language. Pretty awesome. It has been an amazing time. Playing dress up with sarees and Leigh even wearing the men's traditional night clothes. Oh so fun!

But we miss our families, friends, and some comforts of home. I am definitely looking forward to being with my husband again. Still a few more days to play. Until then...

Hello! Sorry we haven't posted in a while. This is the first time we've had access to the internet! We've spent the last few weeks in the mountains on the coffee estates. It has been so beautiful. We've hiked through many coffee estates and watched as they picked and dried the coffee. Black pepper and cardomon grow amongst the coffee. The people here are amazing and so hospitable. Two days ago we went to an elephant training camp and I fed an elephant. I had to actually put a banana on his two foot tongue! And then a baby elephant stuck its trunk in my face trying to get my bananas. haha. We've gone on many walks to waterfalls and streams and red poinsettias actually grow wild alongside the streets. When we wake up in the morning we hear the birds chirping and drink delicious coffee straight from the farm! I will truly miss being here. The climate and the landscape is a lot like home. Miss you guys.

-Leigh

I heart India

This place is soo amazing! We are more and more convinced of the greatness of this place. Americans have it all wrong. It seems to be the common phrase among us. The clothing for instance is so amazing here. Sarees are so comfortable and at the same time exquisitly beautiful. I felt like a princess! Eating with a fork... boo! So much better to eat with you hands. Caraleigh says it tastes better that way. Curry is the best thing ever and they have coffee too. What more could you ask for.

Besides this common phrase, our other frequent thing is laughter. I think we totally shock people because we're constantly laughing. Walking down the street, shopping, eating, sleeping, drawing, drinking tea... all laughing. Its like breathing to us. A requirement to be one of the "Coffee Girls."

I apologize for not blogging as much. Everytime I am at the phone & computer place, I end up on the phone with Kevin the whole time. Sorry guys, but he is my husband! We do love it here. And these precious people have captured my heart. And the heart of Him as well. There have been many good conversations and moments I cannot explain, but are forever with me. It is our last night here in this place. Tomorrow we travel to another estate after a party with new friends. Exciting times! Until next time and not sure when that will be... I say bye.

Oh and watch out for those jumping elephants!
Jamie

Still Laughing on the Other Side

It has been such an amazing time. First off, we touched coffee plants the other day. We hiked up to waterfalls and there were coffee plants lining the trail, and of course we took pictures standing beside them. We have been having such a great time with the family that we are staying with. They have coffee and green tea all of the time, and breakfast is actually a meal here. We're talking like 7 different dishes for breakfast. We've been taking so many pictures too, but I can not figure out how to hook my camera up to this computer. Okay, so just imagine Caraleigh in a red and gold saree, Jamie in a pink and blue saree, and me in a yellow and black saree standing in a garden. That's the picture I wanted to show you! oh, and with our noses pierced. haha, just kidding mom! I really can't complain about anything thus far, I feel soo grateful to be here. Oh, one thing. So we were told it was winter here, so we brought turtle necks and coats. It's like 70-80 degrees! That's their winter. So now were all decked out in kameesas. The sounds are amazing, cows, horns, dogs, cell phones, the mosque, it really doesn't matter what hour of the day it is. You'll always here them. I think I keep laughing too loud and drawing attention, but other than that I'm good. I still can't emphasize enough how great it is to eat with your hands.

Leigh

Chai, Rickshaws, and Coffee!

Namaste! We made it to the other side of the world three days ago. We arrived at 5:30 AM after a flight delay, and we were able to see the sunrise over the city from the back porch of our apartment. It was gorgeous and an amazing way to begin the journey. We rode rickshaws all over the city..haha, much better than a rollercoaster. Eating with your hands is much more efficent by the way. we rode for seven hours on a bus up to the coffee plantations Jamie looked out the window and said, "What kind of plants are those? Are they fruit trees?" and we yelled, "Aah, they're coffee plants!!!". I don't know if they had ever seen anyone so excited to see a plant. Well, the sun just went down behind the palm trees and back behind the mountains, so I better head back to the estate. :) .

Leigh

We're here!

After two flights, way too long in the Frankfurt airport, and no sleep we arrived in Jordan. Yay! We slept late, had some food, and traveled out into Jerash. Ahhh so amazing! My mouth gaped open as we drove from the city to the country. I didn't realize this until we were stopped and the car of people next to us looked at me like I was crazy. Haha. One of the best parts of the day was a Roman theatre. Leigh and I gave a concert to the people there. The resonance was soo amazing! Plus the Jordanian food... ohhh so good. Everyone should come here! Tomorrow we travel through Dubai to Bangalore. It will be a long day, but the beginning of the journey. YES!

Jamie

We made it here, and we're heading out again in the morning! Back on the plane to another country. We have had SO much fun today. Caraleigh actually woke me and Jamie up this morning. Caraleigh has never woken me up! We drove through this beautiful city across the rolling mountains of the middle east. Then we pulled over and looked at spices and ate dried figs..mmmm. We visited an ancient city with beautiful architecture, and it had a theatre coloseum. I sang the oldies song Buttercup! haha. Jamie sang Ave Maria and she sounded amazing. We ate arabic food tonight. I've never had anything like it, and it was so good! Hummus, pitas, eggplant, chicken, lamb, grape leaves, arabic coffee...what a wonderful world

Leigh

we had a great time today.... but I kept having to tell Leigh to close her mouth cause she was in so much awe that her aw kept dropping and I kept seeing Jamie shake her head as if it were unreal! But I must admit that when I first saw them I had to poke them to see if they were really there!! I think that they were a little overwhelmed today cause we saw a whole lot! Got to go finish packing now...
Caraleigh

Yeah..she really did poke us. It was so cool to see her at the airport!

Leigh

its about time!!

well... I have been over here in Jordan waiting for the other two to arrive and it is almost time... I will go to the airport in a little while and then we have a day in Jordan before we get on our next plane and go to Dubai and then Bangalore!! can't wait!
Here is a picture of Amman at sunset... I really love this place... so great to be home! If anybody has any time on their hands... I have been listening to different things from bethinking.org over Christmas... truly great I tell you. Check it out! PLEASE!!

The Departure

Today's the day! We're leaving behind burgers for a whole month! haha. I'm getting ready to eat my last meal here...friiiied chicken. The bag is packed although I can't quite zip it. We'll be heading over the OCEAN in a few hours!
-Leigh