I just feel like India is going by so stinkin fast! People always say that about study abroad and normally I just smile politely and ignore them, but THEY'RE RIGHT!!!! I don't like to think about it too much, but I feel like India is becoming a blur. I thought about the first couple of weeks of India today, and I just chuckled to myself. I must have looked like a lemur with those huge, wide eyes darting my head every which way to watch for what was coming at me. I don't think I've gotten "used to" India by any means, but I do think that I no longer hold a constant lemur face while strolling down the side-walk.
Yesterday I was thinking about all the types of people that I've met and the various walks of life that they've come from. I was just amazed at how many stories I've been invited into by meeting these eclectic and wondrous human beings. When I think of the "world" I picture a space-shot photo of the globe: big, blue, green and mysterious. It's crazy to look at a globe and place your finger on your state or even your city, but then, it's even crazier to take your finger from your state or your city and move it all the way across to India, or wherever you may have travelled. Then, think about all of the people that you've just stood next to or walked past from your city to the other side of the world. I like to think of Google maps and how if you continuously zoom in on your city you can get to your street to your home to your backyard. It's actually quite frightening but awesome at the same time. I just picture my entire journey as viewed through the lens of Google maps. Gee whiz.
So I've been asked by the CSB/SJU newspaper, The Record, to write a short opinion article on what I think India is and what sets it apart from other countries. You know, just the basics. Now, I'm not sharing this to brag about my 5 minutes of fame, but I'm sharing this so that you realize or maybe not, how difficult this is for me. Summarize India in 500 words or less. I am overjoyed to do it, don't get me wrong, but I just simply wont do it justice. As I was writing it last night I realized that unless you come to India and you see India, you won't understand India. I don't intend to come off as pompous or experienced, I am telling the truth. Even I don't feel like I know India, because I'll only have 4 months here. Want to know something? This is why I love India so much. It isn't a land of Westernized stereotypes of elephants and monkeys or exotic dancers and jewel palaces or slum- filled streets and garbage. It is so much more. It is a country of numerous cultures. An article I read before I left said that if you are going to India hoping to assimilate to the culture and to learn the culture, you will be significantly disappointed. India cannot be encompassed into one dominant culture, not even 10 dominant cultures. India is its people and the passion and stories that those people carry with them every day.
Yesterday, I had a lovely experience and a rather humorous one as well. I took it as a reminder from my guardian angel, and I am so relieved that my guardian angel has a fantastic sense of humour. My room-mates and I were trying to hail a cab but were having zero luck in this endeavour. This woman was walking towards us with a cup of change, asking and begging for money. We gave her the fruit we had and then attempted to get a cab. While we are literally putting our bodies in front of taxi's, this woman starts yelling at the cabs in Bangla to take us to City Center, which is where we live. We would get a cab, and then she would march right to the driver's window and demand him to take us to City Center. She did this numerous times, and I was just in awe of her. All she wanted was a few rupees to buy rice. She wasn't asking for anything more, and she was probably the first woman I've met in India with that much gumption and gusto. I really, truly liked her, and I thought to myself, wow, what an incredible way to be reminded of my guardian angel. Although we didn't get a cab, she gave me more than enough joy for the night, and I still chuckle as I write this.
Yesterday I was thinking about all the types of people that I've met and the various walks of life that they've come from. I was just amazed at how many stories I've been invited into by meeting these eclectic and wondrous human beings. When I think of the "world" I picture a space-shot photo of the globe: big, blue, green and mysterious. It's crazy to look at a globe and place your finger on your state or even your city, but then, it's even crazier to take your finger from your state or your city and move it all the way across to India, or wherever you may have travelled. Then, think about all of the people that you've just stood next to or walked past from your city to the other side of the world. I like to think of Google maps and how if you continuously zoom in on your city you can get to your street to your home to your backyard. It's actually quite frightening but awesome at the same time. I just picture my entire journey as viewed through the lens of Google maps. Gee whiz.
So I've been asked by the CSB/SJU newspaper, The Record, to write a short opinion article on what I think India is and what sets it apart from other countries. You know, just the basics. Now, I'm not sharing this to brag about my 5 minutes of fame, but I'm sharing this so that you realize or maybe not, how difficult this is for me. Summarize India in 500 words or less. I am overjoyed to do it, don't get me wrong, but I just simply wont do it justice. As I was writing it last night I realized that unless you come to India and you see India, you won't understand India. I don't intend to come off as pompous or experienced, I am telling the truth. Even I don't feel like I know India, because I'll only have 4 months here. Want to know something? This is why I love India so much. It isn't a land of Westernized stereotypes of elephants and monkeys or exotic dancers and jewel palaces or slum- filled streets and garbage. It is so much more. It is a country of numerous cultures. An article I read before I left said that if you are going to India hoping to assimilate to the culture and to learn the culture, you will be significantly disappointed. India cannot be encompassed into one dominant culture, not even 10 dominant cultures. India is its people and the passion and stories that those people carry with them every day.
Yesterday, I had a lovely experience and a rather humorous one as well. I took it as a reminder from my guardian angel, and I am so relieved that my guardian angel has a fantastic sense of humour. My room-mates and I were trying to hail a cab but were having zero luck in this endeavour. This woman was walking towards us with a cup of change, asking and begging for money. We gave her the fruit we had and then attempted to get a cab. While we are literally putting our bodies in front of taxi's, this woman starts yelling at the cabs in Bangla to take us to City Center, which is where we live. We would get a cab, and then she would march right to the driver's window and demand him to take us to City Center. She did this numerous times, and I was just in awe of her. All she wanted was a few rupees to buy rice. She wasn't asking for anything more, and she was probably the first woman I've met in India with that much gumption and gusto. I really, truly liked her, and I thought to myself, wow, what an incredible way to be reminded of my guardian angel. Although we didn't get a cab, she gave me more than enough joy for the night, and I still chuckle as I write this.
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