Siddhartha Comes to America

I woke up before my alarm even had a chance to go off. Today was the day that Siddhartha would be coming. I sprung out of bed and got ready to leave even though I had another hour before I had to leave. I was so excited to see Siddhartha and I couldn't wait to take him to Boston and then back to Holyoke for an experience that would last a lifetime. The hour before I left the house passed like I was stuck in slow motion but then finally it was time to start heading to the airport. I stood outside of the terminal gates watching people swarm by to the luggage station to retrieve their luggage. Finally, I saw a tall thin man dressed in a robe with moccasin slip-on shoes on, I realized that he only had the clothes on his back and the small drawstring bag made out of cloth carrying the rest of his belongings. I knew it was Siddhartha. I greeted him with a gentle hello and a small hug. He seemed to be a little on edge. I then asked if everything was okay and he reassured me that he was just amazed with all the people on his flight and all the things that they took with them on a trip; almost as much as if they could be completely moving their entire home. I held back the laughter and said yes that is how people travel these days. 

"Are you ready for our day?" I asked.

"Yes I believe I am!" said Siddhartha.

"Great! We are heading to Boston for a Red Sox game! I figured that after sitting so long on a flight that I would take you to a lively game between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees." I said. 

"Okay I will try new things even if they are out of my comfort zone." said Siddhartha. 

Siddhartha and I talked for the rest of the trip and before we knew it we were pulling into the parking garage just across from the right field entrance to Fenway Park. As we enter Fenway the sun hits my face and I breathe in the aromas of the sausage grinders, popcorns, and peanuts. The sounds of the clicking turnstile that count the number of fans attending the game is mixed with vendors and fans talking amongst themselves and fills my ears with a lovely tune. Siddhartha seemed to be hesitant to push his way through people but was  more at ease when I took his arm and pulled him along. After we entered the ball park we found our seats. Before we knew it the national anthem began to play all the sights and sounds of the park became frozen in time. Then the game began and the fans began their clapping, yelling, and cheering; everything that would come along with a great game. Siddhartha took in all the sights like he had never seen civilization before and begins to warm up to the fact that there is almost never silence. Then the seventh inning, the fun began and people started chanting "Sweet Caroline, Good Times Never Seemed so Good!" Siddhartha began to become more comfortable and even joined in on the "wave." But before we knew it the game was over and we  walked to my car where we would then travel home to Western Massachusetts and continue our day in a more mellow setting in the area of Massachusetts I know best. 

I took Siddhartha to the Holyoke Reservoir. I figured that after the long day he would like to feel as if he was in his own element and be in a state of peace. It was just about sunset and the gleaming sun glistened off the water upon our faces. I brought a blanket and placed it in clearing under a beautiful tree where the sun was shining through the branches. Siddhartha seemed to be relaxed the moment he saw the reservoir. We sat down on the blanket I had laid out and sat in silence.
Sid took in the scene "as if he was seeing the world for the first time."(p. 39) this was not the case at all though this; was the setting he was use this type of setting. The peacefulness he seemed to reach was one that seemed to be a second nature to him. I observed Siddhartha for what seemed like a lifetime but I still couldn't build up the courage to break the silence. I feared I would be considered rude and disrespectful if I interrupted him when he was trying to reach a state of peace.

"This reminds me of back when I was in India and sitting along the banks of the river," said Siddhartha.
"How old were you?" I said. 
He continued "All this, all this yellow and blue, river and wood, passed for the first time across Siddhartha's eyes."(39) This reminds me of the first day after i received permission to leave home from my father and went to the river. I took in all the nature that surrounded me for the first time in what seemed like forever. I realized the greenness of the grass, the secrets of the river and feeling of the air."
 I then asked Siddhartha what made him realize why the world around him seemed so important now.
 "The world was beautiful, strange and mysterious," he explained.(39)
Siddhartha said to me that you truly learn a lot from the world around you when you take the time to notice it. The sun then sank behind the trees and we wrapped up our blanket and made our way out to the parking lot. Siddhartha laughed as we got into our car, and then said "it seems weird to drive from such a beautiful place. Back in India the only way to reach beautiful places like these are to walk miles to and from them." I just said it is amazing how close to our worlds beautiful land formations are to our civilization. 

We then headed back to my house where we would stay the night because Siddhartha had to get up very early for his flight back to India. When we were settled back in at my house we began talking. Siddhartha and I reminisced about our eventful day. I asked many questions about life in India and learned a lot just from talking with Siddhartha. After our day together and taking Siddhartha to two of my favorite places to go, I realize that by taking Siddhartha to the reservoir I was able to experience a deeper connection of how Siddhartha acts in a place he feels comfortable with. I have come to the conclusion that Siddhartha would be most comfortable living in the reservoir park because nature surrounds him and he feels that nature guides him in his teaching of life in general.