The Hobbit- Chapter Two: Roast Mutton, Entry 2

Fortunately, Bilbo arrives at the meeting point and he is soon off on his adventure. At first he thinks that “adventures were not so bad after all,” but very soon our hobbit is “sadly reflecting that adventures are not all pony-rides in May sunshine.”

Adventure itself is often romanticized. A typical theme goes something like this: There is a hero, magical lands, a rescue and finally, victory and celebration. As the hero’s absent companions we find ourselves enthralled by the breathtaking scenery, frightful beasts that are conquered, and enemies swiftly destroyed. Although it is easy for us to read about such adventures, it is quite a different cup of tea to actually live them.

For example, our hobbit friend Bilbo thinks, “I wish I was at home in my nice hole by the fire, with the kettle just beginning to sing!” I love the next bit of narration Tolkien gives: “It was not the last time that he wished that!”

Our family’s unfolding adventure in the exotic land of India continues to entertain us with a myriad of cultural nuances, such as the thrill of auto rickshaw rides made more exciting by dodging cows lounging in the middle of the street! More often, however, we find ourselves constrained by our inability to speak the language and communicate clearly where we want to go. It is all part of our wonderful adventure far away from home, away from family, and above all, away from the familiar. 

We do, however, have one thing in common with Bilbo--the familiar often beckons us, just as Bilbo’s kettle did!

The Hobbit- Chapter Two: Roast Mutton, Entry 1

To the end of his days Bilbo could never remember how he found himself outside, without a hat, a walking-stick or any money, or anything that he usually took when he went out; leaving his second breakfast half-finished and quite unwashed-up, pushing his keys into Gandalf’s hands, and running as fast as his furry feet could carry him down the lane, past the great Mill, across The Water, and then on for a mile or more.

I can identify with Bilbo as he finds himself “packed” for his adventure. I hate packing for a trip. All the logistics involved with laundry, sorting and choosing can overwhelm me with stress before I even begin. There are serious choices involved: How many outfits do I need; am I wearing casual, cute or comfy? Do I need extra tops or bottoms just in case? What about shoes--how many? Will they match my clothes? On top of all that, I have to pack for me plus three! Oh how I agonize while packing. ”But, what if?” ”But, just in case.” “But, I need options.” 

Packing is not only an ordeal that consumes so much brain power and time, but no matter how hard I try I can’t get packed earlier than midnight the day before a trip. And here Bilbo finds himself with less than fifteen minutes to pack and be at the meeting point! Oh horror! What a nightmare. I am getting sweaty palms just thinking about it!  

There is, however, some good news! During the past ten years I have learned to chill out about packing, telling myself that I can always buy what I need if I forget something. That may work well for domestic travel, but when it comes to international travel, buying things in a foreign country can be tricky. As Dwalin says, “don’t worry! You will have to manage without pocket- handkerchiefs and a good many other things before you get to the journey’s end.” 

Hold things loosely—I am still learning that one.

The Hobbit- Chapter One: An Unexpected Party

Hobbits like the repeatability of a routine everyday life. As Bilbo says, “We are plain quiet folk and have no use for adventures. Nasty disturbing uncomfortable things! Make you late for dinner! I can’t think what anybody sees in them.”

I don’t think I am hobbit-like, but since my childhood I’ve always had a distinctly deep and wide anxious streak. For example, I would burst into tears if Mom or Dad failed to arrive within seconds after school dismissed, and I was a home-body--always most comfortable when I was with my family.

I think surprises can be fun, but confess that they run the risk of making me nervous. Yet, I do find myself yearning to be more spontaneous despite being shackled by the unknown and the unexpected.

Still, I do think that although new experiences can be both fun and thoroughly enjoyable, the unknown is always lurking in the background, poised to awaken my old adversary--fear. By contrast, the familiar and the known beckon me: the comfort of a daily routine that is thoroughly predictable, shopping at the same store and easily finding the will power to pass up that special offer in the window of another.

My first international adventure occurred in 2003 when I spent three months in Budapest, Hungary. Just getting there immersed me in a sea of unknowns: my first solo airline flight, living alone in a tiny apartment, and surviving in a foreign country! Eight years later I found myself boldly setting off on adventure number two…India.

Alas, I digress too much! Let us return to The Hobbitt. Bilbo Baggins was chosen for his adventure by Gandalf, but there was also that Tookish part of him, compliments of his mother, that was kindled by an adventure that had wandered right into his hobbit hole: “Many a time afterwards the Baggins part regretted what he did now, and he said to himself: ‘Bilbo, you were a fool; you walked right in and put your foot in it.’”

Although I wouldn’t say that I have regretted living in India, there have been times when I thought, “What am I doing here?” Those doubts, however, often seem justified because I don’t automatically fit or blend in with this culture--I can never be part of the crowd.

During our family’s first two years in country that fact kept me in my “hobbit hole.” So, I tell myself, “Melissa, let this is be a lesson learned--you are the foreigner. Accept that reality! Let yourself be seen! Let people stare at you! Don’t let India immobilize you! Get out of that “hobbit hole” and enjoy the adventure!”

The Hobbit- Introduction

Our family arrived in India in 2011. We moved into an apartment and began experiencing a new country, a new culture, a new language and a new way of doing everyday tasks.

As a family we started reading The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien. I had read that book about seven years earlier and vaguely remembered some of the storyline and chronology of the book that unfolds something like this: Bilbo finds the ring, logs lots of miles, there’s a dragon that’s killed by a guy from a small town, and Bilbo ends up back home in his hobbit hole.

As we read the book, however, Bilbo and his tale struck a chord that resonated deep in my psyche, so I read The Hobbit again and decided to record my thoughts for each chapter. A majority of these musings pertain to my experience living cross-culturally in India. I would like to share these musings with others, so you are welcome to come along with me on my journey. It won’t be the most exciting of tales, but it will be all about the trek there and back, and that is an adventure worth sharing.