Chai
Chai is the Hindi word for tea. I planned my days around chai, not only for the time it took to drink it, but also for the inevitable response of my digestive system to caffeine. I loved tea, both for the actual tea itself, and also for the idea of it. Time taken out of the day to just slow down and enjoy each other’s company, ah what a concept for an uptight Westerner like me who plans my days in 30-minute increments! At Visthar, we began the day at 7:00am with self-serve chai in a gazebo type area. There was a roof, but no walls. I loved the symbolism of that place because I think it captured the atmosphere of Visthar: a canopy of love and justice and equality, but no walls to keep anyone in or out. Morning tea was often one of my favorite times of the day. It meant not just waking up in the cool, crisp air, but also the start (or continuation) of enriching discussions with R and M. After a few intense hou...