Last Updated on January 13, 2015 by Babita
The Holiday season has passed, and we are into the New Year. Another year has flown by and I cannot help but look back and reflect on the bygone days. I came to the States as a newlywed seventeen years back. Those earlier days were kind of difficult for me. Here I was in a new country, far away from home, far away from my family, my relatives and all my friends. It was only my husband and I, and I felt terribly lonely.
However, time went by and over the years, life caught up with me. I have two girls now and a family of my own. However I still miss my family back in India. Most of all I miss my mom and her cooking. I still remember the day I left for the States. She had packed me tons of Indian spices to help me with cooking (I did not know to cook at all). She also made a special blend of the spices for my favorite recipe “Kori Roti”. In my opinion she was the only one who made it the right way. It’s been many years now and I make Kori Roti all time, but there are days I still want to eat the Kori Roti made by her.
TEE and ‘S’ with my mom and my niece
As I was watching this video by Western Union (see below) and I could not help but feel a personal connection to all the people featured in the video. The customers of Western Union are “Dual Belongers”. They are people from other countries and places who have their hearts in both those places. I know this better than anyone because a part of my heart is in Mumbai, India. Western Union (#WUHomedCooked) wonderfully surprised their customers with their favorite meals from back home.
There are times when like the customers of Western Union; I want the comfort of eating meal cooked by my mom (especially the Kori Roti). Nowadays traveling back with kids to India has become a luxury. My girls miss their grand parents and wonder why we don’t have any extended family living here in the States. Although we keep our selves connected through social media and Skype, having family here physically is what my children want the most. I on my part try to keep them connected by cooking them my mom’s recipes.
TEE and ‘S’ having a blast with their cousins in India.
Whenever I prepare my mom’s recipe it is not Indian food to them; it is grandma’s cooking and they look forward to it. I know I have been going on and on about my mom recipe for “Kori Roti”. Below is a picture of this fabulous dish and you can click on it for the recipe.
You can also learn more about Western Union (Click Here). Customers use Western Union to send money home. These are hard working people who don’t boast about it and support their families back home by their selfless acts. Many of them are here for education, career or better standard of living. However this does not stop them from thinking about their families back home. Western Union makes it possible for customers to keep them connected to their families. Make sure you check out their heart warming video above.
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
Kori Ghassi for Kori Rotti -Mangalorean Bunts Recipe
Love the photos of your daughters enjoying time with the family. It’s nice to try to keep the connection and memories going with food.
I can sure relate to loving grandma’s cooking. I remember my grandmother’s cooking very fondly, all of the time!
I have family in different parts of the world,I would love to sit down with every single one of them for a really big home cooked meal.
Being away from family is very tough, I have a lot of important ones nearby and that’s what matters!
It must be so hard having family that far away, I’m lucky to have mine all close by!
Western Union definitely make things easy especially for those who are far away and working far off… from one another.
I use Western Union because it is reliable. A great service!
All of my family is very close to us. I did work for Western Union a long time ago and loved talking to people that were sending money to loved ones.
I could never live far from my mom. lol it would be too tough for me.
As a young Navy wife, I moved away from family at an early age and missed them so much. I live near some family now which is great.
I have used Western Union one time. The fees were outrageous, hopefully they have improved that part of it.
I really don’t have family, period. They’ve all passed away but when I make. Apple crisp is brings back memories of home and my wonderful grandma. It’s so comforting especially when I need it most and I pop a quick crisp in! Love this video.
Beautiful and a great explanation of families in this situation. So happy that Western Union is there to make it easier.
I used Western Union over the holidays. Their system is so easy and user friendly.
My brother is currently overseas, and we have a good amount of family who live about 11 hours (driving) away. It’s definitely challenging on occasion.
We are just like you with family all over the planet. Always nice to know you can support them even if far
We have family across England and beyond as a child we lived near all my Dad’s family and would see them all the time but then we moved away I still remember the big family roasts.. I miss them. xx
I’m just like you Babs. With family all across the world it can be tough staying in touch. I do use Western Union for sending money to family and friends and I love that they can get it within a few minutes.
You are very brave. I don’t know if I could have made it without my family in the early years of my marriage. My family has always been geographically close by. I am making a comfort food today, chicken and dumplings.
I love this video, it is so true. There are certain foods that are comforting and remind me of my family.
It must be really hard to be away from people you love. My family is all close by and if my daughter ever moved, I’d pack up and follow her. Those pictures are wonderful and beautiful.
I was born and raised in Toronto,Ontario, Canada and I often get home sick I live in Michigan usa and being lonley I can relate even when you have family in the same room it’s hard being home sick western union has helped us a few times to send money back n forth for Christmas time and I’m glad they have a service for people who needed it.
Those are some sweet pictures. Ads like that one make me all teary.
I am the exact opposite. All of my family is located within about a 25 mile radius, so I can see them whenever I want. I guess I take that for granted after reading about how your parents are on the other side of the planet.