Moment

27th July, 2010- A moment, not so monumental.

Power outage at work closed me down early for the night. (Well, i guess 8 p.m. isn't all that early.) Packed up my things and headed out into the storm. Don't know when it started or when it's going to end, all i know is that it made me smile. Walked through the rain, trying to navigate around dark puddles. No light from the buildings, seems the storm knocked out all the power on my street. The only light is provided by oncoming traffic and the lightning tearing up the sky. Bright light flashing - but there's no thunder to accompany the lightning and the rain. Sights of a storm, but not the sounds of one. I'm dancing around puddles and smiling because i can't help it. People take refuge in shops, but i just gotta dance! Then the sound of the Muslim Call to Prayer rips into the night air.

The rain, the honking, the calling... it was my perfect South Asia moment. So unique, yet so normal. I've had so many moments like this since i've been here, but for some reason- like the lightning in the sky, this moment struck me. As i walked under the cover of our apartment stairwell, my eyes felt blinded as they tried to adjust to an even darker darkness. Sitting silently below the staircase was our watchman, who soon piped up: "No current here, madam!" Oh good golly, it startled me so badly! "I didn't see you there! You scared me!" I laughed to him. He probably bobbled his head and smiled. I don't know, i didn't see. I laughed to myself the whole way up the stairs. The watchman's startling voice from the dark stairwell hadn't interrupted my moment, it added to it.

So here i am, standing in the dark, relying on flashes of lightning to recall this recent moment. It's a small tale, really. An unmonumental moment. But i know i'll remember it and i'll smile. And i know that i'll wish i recorded more moments like this. Hair dripping wet, feet muddy, eyes wide. South Asia- you're not so bad. Don't tell anyone this but, i'm going to miss these moments we shared.