they'll never love you like I can!

Oh Sam Smith.... anyways.

Today is the last day of the 5 day festival known as Tihar, or Dipawali.  The first day was kaag puja (worship of the crow), the second kukur puja (doggy worship), the third day laxmi puja and gai puja (the god Laxmi and cow worship), the fourth day is dedicated to goro puja (male cow worship… is that an ox?), and today was bhaai tikaa (day to celebrate our brothers).

Thus, to make a tie back home, happy bhaai tikaa to my own blood brothers, Reynold and Antonio! I love you two and sending you malas and saptarang tikaa on your forehead.  But yall are supposed to give me money in return, so I’ll be waiting for that.

PPS- speaking of $$, congratulations on my little brother for getting himself a job. Make money for the three of us!!!

Now back to Tihar.  It is definitely my most favorite holiday of all the holidays celebrated in Nepal (and trust, there are a lot of holidays).  It’s sorta like Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Fourth of July combined in one holiday over the span of 5 days.  There’s lots of different types of roti and other sweets made and eaten, lots of dancing and music, “Christmas” lights put up on houses, fireworks being set off (at some places- I didn’t see any), and dogs running around with flowers around their necks.  So great.

However, I must admit, after all the celebrations finished today, I began to feel berry homesick.  The holiday feel makes me miss my own family, my mama, my brothers, and my friends. I was zoning out at dinner today just thinking about home.  It’s exciting to know I only have one year left until I’ll be able to see everyone again, but it does hurt a little knowing it’ll have been beyond 2 years since I last saw my friends, family, and mama.  I’m gonna sleep on it, but I was contemplating coming back home to visit for the Christmas holidays this year, for about 2 weeks.  I mean, I’ll have to figure out my money situation, but seeing everyone for a bit before the end of another full year would be nice, no? I’ll sit on it.

Sending my love <3

God bless Cali and Nepal! :)

-Bora