Getting Colorful with the Neighbors

This is our 4th Holi in South Asia, but our first time to actually participate. I remember our first Holi well because we were stuck inside a fifthly hotel, but that is another story. Our Apartment complex society really makes a big thing of Holi. March 5th they had a dinner together, then March 5th they had breakfast, played colors, and then lunch together. We though this would be a good opportunity to get to know our neighbors and show them that even though we are different, we want to be part of the society. Though there is a mythological story behind Holi, with some relation to a god, my neighbor friends couldn't agree on the details of it when they told me the story, so the story isn't a big deal to them. The important thing about Holi is having fun getting colorful. While JP and and Silas joined in on the water fight with the kids, Evelynn and I hung out with the ladies (though we kept a little distance when the colors went flying). Every lady down there greeted me with "Happy Holi!" as they spread colored powder on my face and dotted a little on Evelynn as well. When the music got loud they ladies started dancing all around and throwing colors while their husbands sat in chairs on the side watching. Because our society threw a big bash, two news channels showed up and we ended up being on the news as the token foreigners joining in on the celebration. We had a fun time, but it was lonely as well. There is nothing like a cultural event to make you feel like an outsider. I haven't had time to make a close enough friend to guide me through the festivities, so I remained mostly on the outside looking in. Hopefully next year we can look back and see how far we have come in being a part of our community and the relationships we have built.