#1- Driving is nothing like the states. not just in speed but in amount of rickshaws,2 wheelers, and cars on the road but also the use of the road. Why stay in one lane when you can drive in the middle of both for extra comfort. also you will be bombarded with constant honking to the point of submission, once you realize that India encourages honking, you will begin to understand (only maybe, sorta, somewhat) the logistics and flow of how it works.Honking is the language in which drivers all communicate on the road, avoiding accidents and jay walker deaths, which miraculously have yet to be witnessed. I have come to admire indian driving skills while simultaneously questioning the laws of physics (has anyone researched indian driving compared to u.s driving? are they better at mario kart?)
#2- Indian people I have come in contact with have been nothing but humble, gracious, and open. Customer service is replaced with genuine helpfulness. One day a couple of my classmates and I went out shopping and ended up in a nice mens clothing store. There we were given drinks, and escorted to a nearby restaurant as well as given directions to a nearby cellphone store, all without even asking which made me wonder, where the hell is the catch? the beautiful thing about india is there isn't one. people are wonderfully genuine here
#3-India is the place of extreme opposites. poverty and riches, majestic views and poor conditions. India cannot be pigeonholed into a single color. Instead India is like a buffet. You will like some things more than others, some things you will avoid completely and some things you will devour to the point of feeling overwhelmed and maybe a little nauseous (hi curry I don't think I'll be eating you much once I'm back in the states).
#4- You will be touched to the point of tears whether its due to the amazing inspiring figures you will meet (both through usc's collabs or on your own) the view (the view from jawhar palace left me breathless) or the conditions that plague india (poverty, children on the streets, caste system, ect) you will keep at least one memory in your memory bank that will last you until you are old and in a rocking chair telling your grandkids stories of India.those moments don't come often so experience India openly and let it impact you in the way it's meant to
#5- You will be perpetually sticky and sweaty, there is no way around this. Also, monsoon season came late for us students and now I understand what its like to be sticky sweaty and wet from the rain, all at once. Talk about sensation overload and total abandonment of maintaining any physical attractiveness (that poncho though)
#6-The idea of language as a barrier becomes nonexistent. All jokes aside, while being here I have come to realize that although hindi was the preferred language spoken over english, sometimes language was not neccesary at all. A smile, a nod, and body language cues has worked wonderfully. Furthermore, I am in awe of the ability for human connection regardless of any differences. Humans essentially function under the same scope of emotions, needs and basic wants. By maintaining this awareness, people cease to be viewed as mysterious and instead are seen as your allays, your fellow peers, friends.
#7- Some experiences here will trigger more than you expect. While visiting srujna, I was so touched by the hospitality of the women, and especially that of the founder kiran. While on lunch break I called her over and told her how similar our names were. She shook my hand and laughed, telling me I will love our name more after hearing her story. And I did. kirans strength and presence to do more for other and for herself left me overhwlemed with emotions. I saw so much of my mom in her prescence and wished teleportation machines existed so they could meet each other. I told myself that the minute I get back to the states I would share her life with my mom to start a domino effect. I will use their stories and wisdom to inspire the women I will come in contact with, social work related or not.
#8-Interacting with child beggars in the streets can be a double edged sword. I am willing to admit I am too emotionally inclined to homeless indivduals particularly children. therefore I tried to mentally prepare for the impoverished children I might come in contact with in India. However prepared I thought I might be I was still heavily impacted. while visiting the gate of India, a little girl came up to me no more than 5 years old. She asked for my shawl that i was wearing, which i kindly replied no. While bumping into her again outside she asked again and after declining an older woman came up to me and my classmate and wrapped flowers around our wrists. Touched and feeling guilty for nothing giving the girl my shawl and bent down and presented it to her. Accepting the flowers and giving the shawl led to them believing we would give more, so they began to ask for rice and milk. At this point we had a small group following ours with the little girl at the front tapping me and telling me to go buy them rice and milk. Her tone and mannerisms were teetering onto rude territory. Once she saw us walk past the rice stand she got upset with me and demanded money. GIVE ME MONEY she said, her small eyes expanding in size. Horrified,I imagined the 5 year old girls and boys I know in my daycare center, developing and exploring the world carefree. And here was this 5 year old acting 4 times her age, clearly angry that I was not shelling out more items for her, not providing her with basic needs. The idea of a child having to act in this manner pained me greatly. Her development and view of the world was already forming, one in which it was ok to beg and ask, in order to survive, even if it meant getting angry. This child had not been asked to be put in this reality, full of struggle and poverty. Feeling overwhelmed, I asked my roommate to quickly get me out of the street, because I could not handle it any longer. At first, I felt ashamed of the entire situation once it had transpired, partly due to letting myself get that upset and partly allowing more interaction which in their mind lead to them believing we would give them money or food. Child poverty is a real reality here as it is in other places, and although my approach looking back could of been different,its hard either way. Truth is it is a part of me to have a soft spot for children, struggling or not. Not only due to lack of possessions but more so the impact their lives can have on their emotional and physical development.Therefore child beggars are a double edge sword, Its impact can be emotional and even painful to experience it but you also cannot deny its impact on you.
#9- Lastly, traveling to India will change you regardless of our different walks of life's and perspectives.India is a place of extremes as I mentioned and those act as a catalyst within you. Witnessing everything india has to offer will cause you to introspect, and understand every part of yourself. In a sense maybe india is living breathing tangible analogy of what lies within ourselves. both light and dark. both good and bad. Different aspects coexisting and contradicting all the while remaining absolutely beautiful in its own way.
#2- Indian people I have come in contact with have been nothing but humble, gracious, and open. Customer service is replaced with genuine helpfulness. One day a couple of my classmates and I went out shopping and ended up in a nice mens clothing store. There we were given drinks, and escorted to a nearby restaurant as well as given directions to a nearby cellphone store, all without even asking which made me wonder, where the hell is the catch? the beautiful thing about india is there isn't one. people are wonderfully genuine here
#3-India is the place of extreme opposites. poverty and riches, majestic views and poor conditions. India cannot be pigeonholed into a single color. Instead India is like a buffet. You will like some things more than others, some things you will avoid completely and some things you will devour to the point of feeling overwhelmed and maybe a little nauseous (hi curry I don't think I'll be eating you much once I'm back in the states).
#4- You will be touched to the point of tears whether its due to the amazing inspiring figures you will meet (both through usc's collabs or on your own) the view (the view from jawhar palace left me breathless) or the conditions that plague india (poverty, children on the streets, caste system, ect) you will keep at least one memory in your memory bank that will last you until you are old and in a rocking chair telling your grandkids stories of India.those moments don't come often so experience India openly and let it impact you in the way it's meant to
#5- You will be perpetually sticky and sweaty, there is no way around this. Also, monsoon season came late for us students and now I understand what its like to be sticky sweaty and wet from the rain, all at once. Talk about sensation overload and total abandonment of maintaining any physical attractiveness (that poncho though)
#6-The idea of language as a barrier becomes nonexistent. All jokes aside, while being here I have come to realize that although hindi was the preferred language spoken over english, sometimes language was not neccesary at all. A smile, a nod, and body language cues has worked wonderfully. Furthermore, I am in awe of the ability for human connection regardless of any differences. Humans essentially function under the same scope of emotions, needs and basic wants. By maintaining this awareness, people cease to be viewed as mysterious and instead are seen as your allays, your fellow peers, friends.
#7- Some experiences here will trigger more than you expect. While visiting srujna, I was so touched by the hospitality of the women, and especially that of the founder kiran. While on lunch break I called her over and told her how similar our names were. She shook my hand and laughed, telling me I will love our name more after hearing her story. And I did. kirans strength and presence to do more for other and for herself left me overhwlemed with emotions. I saw so much of my mom in her prescence and wished teleportation machines existed so they could meet each other. I told myself that the minute I get back to the states I would share her life with my mom to start a domino effect. I will use their stories and wisdom to inspire the women I will come in contact with, social work related or not.
#8-Interacting with child beggars in the streets can be a double edged sword. I am willing to admit I am too emotionally inclined to homeless indivduals particularly children. therefore I tried to mentally prepare for the impoverished children I might come in contact with in India. However prepared I thought I might be I was still heavily impacted. while visiting the gate of India, a little girl came up to me no more than 5 years old. She asked for my shawl that i was wearing, which i kindly replied no. While bumping into her again outside she asked again and after declining an older woman came up to me and my classmate and wrapped flowers around our wrists. Touched and feeling guilty for nothing giving the girl my shawl and bent down and presented it to her. Accepting the flowers and giving the shawl led to them believing we would give more, so they began to ask for rice and milk. At this point we had a small group following ours with the little girl at the front tapping me and telling me to go buy them rice and milk. Her tone and mannerisms were teetering onto rude territory. Once she saw us walk past the rice stand she got upset with me and demanded money. GIVE ME MONEY she said, her small eyes expanding in size. Horrified,I imagined the 5 year old girls and boys I know in my daycare center, developing and exploring the world carefree. And here was this 5 year old acting 4 times her age, clearly angry that I was not shelling out more items for her, not providing her with basic needs. The idea of a child having to act in this manner pained me greatly. Her development and view of the world was already forming, one in which it was ok to beg and ask, in order to survive, even if it meant getting angry. This child had not been asked to be put in this reality, full of struggle and poverty. Feeling overwhelmed, I asked my roommate to quickly get me out of the street, because I could not handle it any longer. At first, I felt ashamed of the entire situation once it had transpired, partly due to letting myself get that upset and partly allowing more interaction which in their mind lead to them believing we would give them money or food. Child poverty is a real reality here as it is in other places, and although my approach looking back could of been different,its hard either way. Truth is it is a part of me to have a soft spot for children, struggling or not. Not only due to lack of possessions but more so the impact their lives can have on their emotional and physical development.Therefore child beggars are a double edge sword, Its impact can be emotional and even painful to experience it but you also cannot deny its impact on you.
#9- Lastly, traveling to India will change you regardless of our different walks of life's and perspectives.India is a place of extremes as I mentioned and those act as a catalyst within you. Witnessing everything india has to offer will cause you to introspect, and understand every part of yourself. In a sense maybe india is living breathing tangible analogy of what lies within ourselves. both light and dark. both good and bad. Different aspects coexisting and contradicting all the while remaining absolutely beautiful in its own way.
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ReplyDeleteHi Karen!
ReplyDeleteI too found India to be a land of extremes.
I love how you tried to emotionally prepare for some of the more painful sights of the realities children face here. It affected me profoundly as well. I love the future of telling your grandchildren about stories of India. Since I am a smidge older than you, I’ll tell my teenage daughters now. Kids get sick of hearing their parents incessantly ramble on about how lucky they are: but they are fortunate, and will hear about it –again and again– against the backdrop of India.
Yes, you are correct: I have also never been so “sticky and sweaty” in all my life. I would also add dirty: the heavy and gritty pollution adds yet another layer to the face and body. Now I know why so many Indian women completely wrap their face and hair with scarves and wear sunglasses. They already knew what we had to learn.
Thanks for sharing a piece of yourself and heart, Karen.
~Rebecca