Back in February when Adam had a business trip to India, he ended up with a driver that her really liked named Naveen. Unfortunately, you don’t always get the same driver when you are using a car company, but when Adam and I took a weekend get-away to Mysore, we decided to specifically request Naveen to see if the car company could have him come drive for us. Luckily, Naveen was available that weekend and more than happy to take us around to all the sights in Mysore while we were visiting.
By the end our weekend with Naveen we had really come to feel like he was part of our family and we felt completely safe with him, and had built up a great relationship of trust. He was just such an amazing and GOOD man. We could just tell that his heart was pure, that he loved kids, and that he was kind and generous to the bone. All he talked about the whole time was his little boy whom he loved, and about OUR kids, who he couldn’t wait to meet. I had given him a few of my blog books to look at in his free time (Drivers in India usually sit in their cars for HOURS waiting for the people they are driving to complete their activities) and he had just fallen in love with our kids from looking at so many of their pictures. It was all he could talk about the rest of our trip and he seemed genuinely excited to meet them.
So it wasn’t a hard choice to decide to ask Naveen to be our driver when we moved to India with the kids in April. And lucky for us, he was more than happy to do so and kept telling us that he had never met such a beautiful family as us. He truly has been such a blessing to our family!
One of the things we really wanted to do while here was to meet his family – and so one day Naveen informed us that we were close to his home and he asked if we would like to go to his home so he could introduce us to his son 3.5 year old son Swaroop, and his wife (whose name for some reason I can’t keep straight in my head). We of course quickly agreed and felt very honored that he would invite us into his humble home. His wife was so nice too and his son adorable and we even got to meet his parents (whose house Naveen lives in) as well as his Uncle (who also lives in the house). Naveen’s other Uncle and Aunt also live there but they were out of town when we visited. So basically 4 families live in the one home. It was sure fun to get a tour of their home though and to meet all the special people in Naveens life. They completely spoiled us too getting us all a mango drink and lots of different snacks! We definitely did not go hungry! And we appreciated their generosity and kindness so much!
Outside of Naveens home with his wife and mother.
The kids playing with Sworoop Naveens 3.5 year old son.
Naveen’s mother and Uncle.
Harry showing off his tower he made with Sworoops blocks. Naveen’s father is in the background of the picture.
Naveen’s Uncle and son.
Naveen’s wife and Uncle
The snacks they brought out for the kids and I. Potato chips, spicy swirly chips, and a nut snack that sort of tasted like spicier cracker jacks. They were all very tasty! We also got yummy Mango juice to wash it down with.
More block creations!
And a tour of Naveen’s house. The first room we went into was where Naveens father was sitting and was I believe used as a bedroom. The below room is the TV room and where they all gather. It was the largest room in the house and is used as a bedroom at night. One bed is the red one. One bed is the green one.
This is Naveen and his families room. They have all their cooking stuff in here and in the corner are mattresses and blankets that they use at night to lay on. They just put them on the floor as their beds and then roll them up in the morning to make more room. Naveen, his wife, and son all sleep in here together.
This was their little sacred room where they offer prayers to all their many Gods. Notice the colored cup like things to the right. They dip their fingers into the colors and then put the dot on their forehead in traditional Indian style. I need to ask more of what the meaning is – but haven’t yet.
This is the kitchen in Naveen’s house where his mother, aunt, and wife all cook the meals for their families.
This is Naveen’s Aunt and Uncles room. His Uncle plays some bongo drums and his Aunt is a seamstress of sorts.
This is his aunts sewing closet full of different fabrics to make clothes or other items.
The boys loved playing his Uncles drums!
This is the shower area. Naveen says they get water from the spicket to the left and then fill up the bucket in the corner. Then using a big measure cup of sorts or pitcher they pour it over their heads to take a shower. Pretty different from our showers in America. And we do this same thing here in India in our apartment to wash the kids since none of them are crazy about showers (although we at least have a shower nozzle for those that want showers!)
This is the side yard of the house where Naveen says they wash their hands, get water, use the bathroom (blue door behind Branson) and clean their laundry (on a big rough flat looking rock). Very different from what we do in the States, but very cool to learn about. Naveen’s mother’s hand is on the laundry rock they use to wash the clothes.
And that is pretty much it. Naveen did take me up to the roof of his house where they hang their clothes to dry and its actually quite nice up there and is mainly a big patio with lots of room to play but Naveen says they rarely let their son up there to play because they are worried he will fall off the roof (although its all walled in).
That is one thing Adam and I have noticed a lot here in India is just how OVER-protective many parents are of their children. Where in America kids are encouraged to be brave and try new things and explore and be curious, and not give up. Here in India children are kept from any danger, or possible injury, and coddled and watched over constantly almost to the point that their kids don’t really get to experience life. Its most likely because many couples only have one child and everyone is so careful to make sure the child is okay – but sometimes I wonder how these kids will grow up because their parents do everything for them and never allow them to try difficult or hard things so that the kids learn what they are capable of. Just a very different culture than what we are used to. But India has some of the best people I’ve ever met, so they must be doing something right and I’m glad I get the chance to learn from them things that I can do better. 🙂
It sure was a wonderful day spent with Naveen’s family though. We truly just love Naveen like family and love that he feels the same way about us. He’s already talking about having our whole family over for a traditional Indian lunch! Oh how I love the generosity and goodness of these amazing people. They have so little when compared to all that we have in America and yet they are so willing to share what they have so openly. Is it any wonder why we are falling in love with these good people so much! They teach me so much everyday! 🙂