The day after my Diwali romp through New Delhi, I am feeling sad and lonely. I miss my friend Shivani. Having had a peek into her Delhi life, I can’t help but wish that I had the same: Peers my age. A sense of mission. Lofty things to keep me busy.

I told myself that I wanted immersion, but now I’m seeing that there’s a downside to just unplugging and going somewhere new. I’m beginning to question the original bookends of my trip: Winter 2007 Hindi studies in Mussoorie, and Summer 2008 advanced Hindi studies in Jaipur.

Maybe I want a more integrated existence. Not just intense Hindi studies, followed by intense service work, followed by intense travel, followed by more intense Hindi. How about a longer stay in one cosmopolitan location? How about some new friends, a long term project, regular Hindi lessons, a fun club on a Friday night? How about some politics? How about some cool events to go to?

It’s hard to set out and build these things once you realize you are lonely. It’s only been a week and I’m already feeling this way. If you are going to try your hand at something new, I guess it inevitably involves being sad about what you’ve left behind.

But it’s only been a week. Isn’t it too soon to be feeling this way?