This morning I said goodbye to Chitwan and goodbye to the Adhikari Family. Tara & Anjana woke up with me at 4:45am to see me off. I would be catching the 5:20am bus to Pokhara that morning to begin the next chapter of my journey. Anjana quickly warmed some buffalo milk (one of my favorites!) and made some fresh roti with ghee for my travels. I told her she didn’t have to, but she said she did. I am a mother, it’s my job, she told me. I smiled and didn’t argue.

In typical Nepali fashion, we were running late. I quickly downed my hot milk and packed the roti into my backpack for a snack on the bus. While Tara was finishing his tea, I slipped back into the family room where I’d slept my last night. I whispered a goodbye to Aakriti and Ananta, gently placing my hand on their heads. Ananta’s eyes fluttered open and he smiled, mumbling a goodbye back to me. Aakriti got up and gave me a hug. I told her when I came back we would dance some more. She agreed.

I heard the motor bike start and I rushed out the door. I slung my backpack over my shoulder and hoisted my duffel onto my lap. With a hug and kiss from Anjana, we raced off to catch the 5:20am bus in Chanauli, a ten minute ride away. It was 5:15am. The morning was dark and very foggy, classic conditions in Chitwan. It is difficult driving, Tara said, stating the obvious. The rhinos will be returning back to the jungle now. Rhinos?! I had been worried about catching my bus, but now I was just concerned about surviving the ten minute ride to the bus stop. We sped through the fog and I gripped onto my duffel, wondering how I would fare a collision with a rhino. Not well, I concluded.

Miraculously, we made it to Chanaouli in one piece and I arrived a good ten minutes before the bus. Luckily, the bus runs on Nepali time! I said my final goodbye to Tara, who had been an incredible host and teacher during my time in Chitwan. He gave me a stiff hug (not a common gesture in Nepal) and a firm handshake. With that, I got onto the bus and watched him disappear into the mist. Hopefully, not forever.

This is one of many goodbyes I’ve said since leaving the U.S. and coming to Nepal. I’m getting better at it, but I can’t say I enjoy it. I always want it to be meaningful. I want to say something deep and impacting, something that expresses how grateful I am that our paths crossed. Usually, Thank You, the only thing that comes out. But maybe that simple phrase expresses exactly what I feel. Maybe Thank You is enough.