From Kiran:
“As a mixed person, I'm especially fascinated by my origins. And as much as I have searched for and found a good home in the Pacific Northwest, I have always felt a piece of me drawn to the land across the sea.

Especially as someone who loves old stories and grew up hearing about the mythology and history of India, I have wanted nothing less than to hear and experience them first hand.

And, of course, I also want to experience the everyday culture. I grieve sometimes that I wasn’t raised with it. That I cannot speak the languages. That I never got a chance to truly connect with the land and its people.

I’ve heard so much about how rich it all is, and I want nothing more than to experience it for myself; to experience a piece of what my grandfather did growing up in Uttar Pradesh, as well as have my own experiences and build my own connections.

I am more than thankful to Sarahjoy for providing this even as a possibility. The chance to experience the country of my ancestors, guided by someone who has really gotten to know it is a wonderful thing. I am truly blessed that she has offered me the chance to experience this place that has always called to me.”

From Paul:
I love the random challenges and opportunities life presents. A week ago I was on the phone talking about a work project with my good friend Peter Moore when he happened to mention he was going to India. Without thinking, I heard my mouth say, “Cool! I’m going with you!” That was an interesting thing to say. Oh ,Mouth!

"Do you have anything to add? Like a reason or a plan?"

Peter and I had talked about traveling to India together for years. And over the past three years I have become a devotee of Advaita Vedanta as espoused by Ramana Maharshi, Nisagradatta Maharaj, and others. But that hardly seemed sufficient cause to suddenly make such a grand pronouncement. For reasons not yet clear to me, I decided to just roll with it and see what happened next.

Minutes later, I was talking with Sarahjoy, whom I knew with great respect from my years living and working at Breitenbush Hot Springs. We were discussing flight plans, itineraries, and costs as if the trip was, of course, happening. I got off the phone and started looking at what I could sell, what extra work I could take on, how many miles were on my wife’s airline mileage plan, who might be willing to front a loan…

And then Kiran walked in.

Kiran's photo

Kiran is my 15 year-old son, adopted at birth. A lifelong autodidact, his self-directed education has blossomed into a love of history, storytelling, writing, literature, graphic arts, and social justice, among many other subjects. His biological grandfather was born in Uttar Pradesh. And despite the fact that Kiran has recently displayed a deep and growing desire to connect with his South Asian roots, all of these facts had somehow slipped my mind.

Kiran's Grandfather, Iqbal Junaid

“How?” Kiran indignantly proclaimed. “How could you possibly be planning a trip to India and not bring me?” The reason for my mouth’s seemingly unhinged declaration became crystal clear in an instant: this is not my trip–it’s his. Or ours. Kiran and I have proven our love of traveling together over many voyages, on the road and in the air, and to lands as far away as Colombia and Argentina. This trip is simultaneously beyond anything we’ve tried before and also 100% in our wheelhouse.

It’s also the educational opportunity of a lifetime, and a brilliant springboard into Kiran’s coming of age. By the end of our conversation I knew this wasn’t a pipe dream, it was a necessity.

After more calls with Peter and Sarahjoy, and brainstorming with my wife, Anna, we hatched a plan. I agreed to sell what I can - including a couple of really nice cargo bikes: (1) Bakfiets Cargo Bike and (2) Custom Yuba Boda Boda Bike; and look for extra seasonal work. Sarahjoy offered to help host a fundraising effort through the DAYA Foundation, and Anna crossed her fingers and agreed to help front costs with her amazing credit rating while we got everything moving.

And this brings us to today, and the role you can play in helping make this quest a reality.

Any and all donations will support Kiran's dream to go the Motherland where his lineage lies. We're raising money to make this trip possible at a crucial rite of passage for Kiran. You may recall a time in your own life where a fork in the road presented itself. Looking back, such an opportunity likely shaped your own unfolding. The pathway in life, for many of us, is non-linear, guided by powers more wise than our daily life minds can muster. All of us who know and love Kiran can sense the potency of this opportunity. We have no doubt that he will be positively shaped by this journey and will make the best possible use of any donations offered to him for this opportunity.

Thank you very much for your support!

Reunite Kiran With Their Roots In India

Follow the journey to India and see what unfolds.