[most of the following was written a month ago but I'm only getting around to finishing and posting it now... more to come!]

As suspected, my quick 3-day stop back in Auroville flew by... But I loved every second of it. Have you ever lived somewhere a while and then been able to show it to someone else for the first time? When I have these experiences I often find a new appreciation for the place, and this proved true as I shared Auroville with Kelsey. Arriving back to the International House was very special, filled with hugs and excitement, and also a sense of subtle change. Most of the guests were different from the last time I was there so I had some new faces to learn in addition to the old.

Kelsey and I went next door for a farm-fresh lunch thali then we relaxed in our shared room. We rented a moped to share which took us to Pondicherry the next day.

Kelsey was new to this area of India so it felt special to introduce her to the city which was my introduction to India! She was in her element snapping pictures along the promenade of the colorfully dressed women.

We went to the Sunday Market and I bought some gifts and spices before going to a late lunch with Kelsey and Sumit. We cruised back from there and I said bye to Pondy for a while... But it still wasn't really hitting me that I was leaving. I had to put all my focus on not crashing the moped with Kelsey on the back as I navigated the now familiar city streets.

That night we went with friends to the beach at dusk and watched the waves and the moon.

 After an hour or so we decided to go get some dinner, but right when we were walking up to our bikes I couldn't seem to find the key. I didn't panic but I was definitely worried that I had just dropped the only access to our poor rental moped in the sand. Somewhere. I searched my bag and Kelsey began to look around with her phone light, and somehow magically found it in the sand nearby half-buried 😳 WHOOPS that was a close one. But another crisis averted! Pizza dinner, then chai and games with the ever-growing International House crew, then a good night's rest.

I got up early to get ready for the farm and reunite with Pierre, Debu, and Nitin, my little farm family. 

It was so good to be back, I spent more time at this farm than anywhere else during my one at Auroville so it holds a very special place in my heart and it contributed daily to my growth. I loved seeing the subtle ways in which the operations and plants had shown growth since I had last been there. I had nothing but gratitude to spread to it all, and planted the final sprouts that I would here, wishing them a safe journey.

After breakfast, Nitin helped me package seeds from the farm for gifts and gardening back home, so a taste of Shambhala will grow back in the states as well! I went for one last chai with them before heading to the Matrimandir for one final visit.

I arrived after they had closed the door, but thankfully the kind people working there let me enter. I was instructed to slowly walk towards the door at the base of the globe to set off the sensor and it would slide open, and sure enough like out of some futuristic movie this massive gold curved door slowly slid underneath the opening as I walked the steps up to the entrance. I felt welcomed, and knew the Mother's grace allowed me to be there this day. I walked the ramps up to the meditation chamber alone, and entered with a pounding heart and gratitude to return to this special place.

The following day was my last day at the school was filled with play and laughs and hugs and lots of little hands waving goodbye. I'll never forgot those sweet little faces and mischievous personalities.

 The teachers and I were tearing up as we parted ways, likely to never see each other again but still filled with a deep sense of connection and care for one another. 

The hardest goodbyes happened that evening back at the International House.  The sweet family who ran the place had been like my extended family throughout my stay. The daughter asked if we could bake some cookies together on their small wood stove, so that's how we spent our last evening together. Sumit and Kelsey were there to help as well, and I stress-ate cookie dough as I kept checking the gate for my (late) taxi to Chennai. 

When it finally pulled up, I scooped up my bags and gave my final hugs and met my eleven-fingered taxi driver. He showed me the extra pinky finger on his left hand and told me how it meant he was lucky/blessed/etc. He picked up an older French musician and drove the two of us to the Chennai airport, where we split the fare and parted ways. It was really happening. I smoothly navigated my way through the familiar airport, wondering when I'd be here again. I switched into travel mode and mentally prepared for the three flights ahead of me, taking me only to familiar places now. 

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If you're reading this, thanks for sticking with me. I have now spent over a month back in the states and this post was long overdue. But the real overdue one is still in the works... I hope to write more of an update and reflection on the trip as a whole, now that I'm back in the land of drinking tap water and breathing cool air. Stay tuned :)