Graphics for Glory: a House visit

So my friend Lak took me to her house today! We walked there, and the whole way she was a chatter box, like a little kid so excited about taking her friend home with her. She lives not too far from where I work. I was able to take my camera and got some good pictures. Wwalked through this field, then finally arrived, walked up a sidewalk where all the houses open up to. Everyone was outside staring at me as I walked by! Then Lak lives at the end as you would know it! First she introduces me to her mother, then other older ladies there, then we went in her house. Her house is stone walls, but the roof is basically dried banana leaves. There's 2 rooms, the first room is partly kitchen, open floor, and then there's half a wall, open doorway and the back room is the bedroom for all 4 family members. Her little girl was there, Pooja who's 3 yrs old and just downright adorable! First when I saw her I grabbed her up! When I had arrived Lak got a chair from the bedroom and pulled it out in the other room, made me sit down, then her mother arrived with store bought food stuff, biscuits and such (biscuits are the British term for crackers/cookies basically). So Lak fixed me a plate then wanted me to eat everything! Well I was too distracted with Pooja who's still in my lap. She just stared at me, and stared, I tried all I could do to get her to talk or smile... but alas to no avail... she just stared at me, and we petted each other. She loved to rub the underside of my hands, where calluses would be if I was a hard worker. So cute. And then she was about to fall asleep, so Lak took her and put her in this awesome hammock they had made! It was a sheet that hung from a hook on one of the poles of the roof! So she sleeps in there, just imagine a stork holding a baby, and that's what it looked like. Well that didn't last too long, she was back awake! So she started twirling around in the sheet, she'd bury her head in it, then spin around, then lift her legs up as it would spin her the opposite way! And then I would reach out to tickle her and she was just shouting laughter! It was so wonderful!
Meanwhile Lak's family... sisters, friends, husband's family... all came by to see me. And then Lak's mother came in and presented me this sari!!! What!! I know! But she was so honored that I came so she bought me a sari! Lak told me how much she'd spent on it, which was the equivalent of about $10! Her mom said I was like part of their family now that I've been there, so she wanted me to have this! She also had given Lak one that was same stitching but different color. Lak's is lime green, and mine is white to match my white skin. And Lak said all her neighbors came by and I was bringing good luck to be there. Umm ok. I just poured myself into the little girl and pryed the whole time for her and this family. the rest of the people there kept saying how pretty I was, and wondered why i wasn't married. There was also confusion about my toe ring... here you wear a toe ring on each foot to signify marriage, so it was confusing that I wear one on one foot. But Lak explained that no I'm not married, I just like wearing it! Which is the explanation I've given her before.
I stayed about 3 hours. I didn't think about it till we were walking there... how long does she expect me or want me to stay? I thought she'd live further than she did. After I'd eaten a good bit of sweets, and struggled through conversation with Lak, (no one else there spoke English or Hindi!) and I realized I should probably go. So I stood up and Lak said, "Going?" Yep. So Lak walked me out to the field that I crossed by myself and returned home.
It didn't feel earth shattering to me, it didn't seem like a big deal to me that I went to her house. But I'm pretty sure she loved it and it meant the world to her. I'm glad I made the time.

This is Lak fixing my tea/chai...