Wow. \u00a0My first full day at home in Santa Cruz, CA, the first thing that I noticed was the quiet. \u00a0Compared to the bell-clanging, horn-honking, engine-sputtering, brake-squealing hustle-bustle of Kolkata’s 4.5 million human residents, plus umpteen million cars, motorcycles, auto-rickshaws, crows, dogs, cats, goats, and squirrels, Santa Cruz (pop. about 64,000) is practically a ghost town. This afternoon, just a few waves are lapping the sand at Seabright Beach, and if I listen really closely, I can hear the barking of a couple of the sea lions hanging out underneath the Santa Cruz Wharf, more than a mile away. \u00a0At the end of next month, after Memorial Day, the tourists will take over. \u00a0Even then the resulting increase in busyness could never be compared to the likes of Kolkata.<\/p>\n
Two weeks before I left, as I was desperately searching for packaging materials, I also started to emotionally process that I would be leaving Kolkata after being there for the better part of seven months. \u00a0A great part of me couldn’t wait to come home!! Yet,\u00a0I knew that as soon as I arrived home, another, equal, part of me would be missing Kolkata.<\/p>\n
There are the obvious things that I welcome about being home — my husband, cats, garden, studio, being able to bite into an apple without peeling it first, and eating raw, leafy green salads without a detailed, rigorous rinsing regimen. \u00a0And having my\u00a0truck there for me to\u00a0drive, wherever, whenever.<\/p>\n
This was my fifth visit to India. \u00a0The first three relatively short visits were as a tourist, during\u00a0the late 80’s –\u00a0late 90’s. \u00a0The fourth visit was as an artist-in-residence at Sanskriti Kendra in 2011, plus a little traveling. This time was very different. \u00a0In seven months, I made many friends and developed\u00a0a rhythm of living\u00a0life there which made leaving so bittersweet. \u00a0There’s so much to miss about Kolkata and its vibrant, teeming culture — rather than listing it all, I prefer to resolve to return in the future. \u00a0And I will.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, I’m back and there’s so much to do! \u00a0Besides the post-grant Fulbright paperwork and the ever-present house and garden projects, what I’m looking forward to the most is diving back into the studio and integrating all of these incredibly rich experiences into my work, both permanent and temporary. \u00a0My experiences with Elements and Ek Tara have motivated me to seek more partners for collaborative works. \u00a0Any ideas? Please contact me at cynthiasiegel@msn.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Wow. \u00a0My first full day at home in Santa Cruz, CA, the first thing that I noticed was the quiet. \u00a0Compared to the bell-clanging, horn-honking, engine-sputtering, brake-squealing hustle-bustle of Kolkata’s 4.5 million human residents, plus umpteen million cars, motorcycles, auto-rickshaws, crows, dogs, cats, goats, and squirrels, Santa Cruz (pop. about 64,000) is practically a ghost … Continue reading Coming home to Santa Cruz<\/span>