Thank You India!
For more pics of my India Adventures scroll down on the right hand side- and click on the link "Pics of my Adventures" or click here.
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Friday, July 28, 2006
So how was India?
Honestly, it's a bit of a dreaded question to ask me. That phrase: "How was India?" -- I have probably been asked that more than 50 times since I landed in Toronto.
Why do I dread this question? For the simple fact that when people ask it, I feel as though they want me to come up with a simple and magical sentence to sum up 2 months. I think I can speak very well for anyone who has travelled, or been away from home, and when this simple question is asked to them-- it really is hard to come up with that 3 second answer.
And so here it goes, I think I've figured out what my 3 second answer will be if I am again asked this question.
So how was India?
Humid, spicy, loud, I learned to bargain, truly incredible-- absolutely loved it!
However, since I've got more time right now, and this is a place where I can express my thoughts in more than a 3 second manner... I will feel free to elaborate.
Humid
As soon as we had stepped out of the airport in Bombay, the warm tropical air came over us. I think it was at that moment I knew I was in India. Especially now that I'm back in Toronto, and though it is also hot here with the summer weather, there is something about the tropical air that is so different.
The humidity, though at most times you just want to get away from it... it just added to the whole experience.
Spicy
I have to admit, the first few weeks in India, it was hard to get used to the food for the simple fact that I was not used to having so much spice in my meals. But I quickly adjusted, and I'm proud to say that I can definitely take in more spice.
Indians are very proud of their culture- I have said this before. The food is a great part of it for sure. I know I'm gonna miss it. And yes, I know that I can visit Indian restaurants here if I'm getting a craving, but really... it's not the same. I mean, restaurants here don't serve Pav Bhaji, Vada Pav, Chola Bathura, Pani Puri, dosas and idlies... Yup these are some foods that I have really come to love.
Loud
I think that at times this is certainly an understatement. There is definitely a lot of noise everywhere. If you're sitting in a rickshaw, the noise of the traffic surrounds you-- mostly it's the cars blaring their horns and the motorcycles and autorickshaws' motors revving up... When my sister picked me up from the airport, driving through the streets here, it was so quiet that I felt as though I had been put in a bubble. That's definitely one of the ways that I knew I was back.
Walking through a marketplace is another experience in India. We did most of our shopping in Delhi at Janpath Market and also Palika Bazaar. It is definitely quite an experience, especially if you're a foreigner, to walk through a marketplace in India. At times, it was actually very overwhelming-- but I certainly did enjoy it.
I learned to bargain!
Another thing that I have to admit... before I went to India, I dreaded the fact that I had to bargain at certain places. I had no clue at how to bargain, but certainly, one of the things that I learned on this trip was how to bargain. I was quite proud of myself. In Delhi, especially, we had to know how to bargain to even take a rickshaw.
Truly incredible!
India is truly incredible. I know that although we travelled through 5 different cities there, I barely scratched the surface in really trying to explore India. I already know that I would like to go back and do a full-on travelling through the country. Taking a scooter ride on the small roads of Goa being surrounded by the lush green mountain and fields was just incredible. I know that I want to explore more of this type of scenery in India.
I loved it!
What was not to love? The food, the cities, the wonderful scenery, the shopping-- all were just awesome. But definitely though, I would really have to say that I loved the people the most. Everyone that I met during this trip was just truly amazing, not only with the hospitality that we were greeted with, but they are just really amazing individuals who have really touched my heart.
To AIESEC India-- a million thank you's to those I met in Bombay, Pune, Bangalore, Delhi, my OC team-- and anyone else that I came in contact with. It is very difficult to really put into words what this journey has meant to me.
Thank you for the late night conversations about social issues, experiences we've had in AIESEC and life in general.
Thank you for letting us crash your EBMs, MTMs, GBMs, and OCMs. I have learned so much, you don't even know.
Thank you for the wonderful meals that we've had. Everyday was such an adventure getting to try so many varieties of foods.
Thank you for tea time-- chai with parle G-- dip dip yum!
Thank you for giving me a forum to speak in your GBMs about my international experience and what it has meant to me so far.
Thank you for letting me do sessions and simulations in your GBMs-- you don't know how much I enjoyed doing them.
Thank you for re-inspiring me and reminding me why I joined AIESEC in the first place. This CEED experience was definitely something new for me-- a new learning curve and it has made me re-learn AIESEC from a different perspective. Thank you for giving me that, a new perspective on what I can do and how I can contribute to this organization. I certainly needed it.
Thank you India! I really will miss you guys!
Why do I dread this question? For the simple fact that when people ask it, I feel as though they want me to come up with a simple and magical sentence to sum up 2 months. I think I can speak very well for anyone who has travelled, or been away from home, and when this simple question is asked to them-- it really is hard to come up with that 3 second answer.
And so here it goes, I think I've figured out what my 3 second answer will be if I am again asked this question.
So how was India?
Humid, spicy, loud, I learned to bargain, truly incredible-- absolutely loved it!
However, since I've got more time right now, and this is a place where I can express my thoughts in more than a 3 second manner... I will feel free to elaborate.
Humid
As soon as we had stepped out of the airport in Bombay, the warm tropical air came over us. I think it was at that moment I knew I was in India. Especially now that I'm back in Toronto, and though it is also hot here with the summer weather, there is something about the tropical air that is so different.
The humidity, though at most times you just want to get away from it... it just added to the whole experience.
Spicy
I have to admit, the first few weeks in India, it was hard to get used to the food for the simple fact that I was not used to having so much spice in my meals. But I quickly adjusted, and I'm proud to say that I can definitely take in more spice.
Indians are very proud of their culture- I have said this before. The food is a great part of it for sure. I know I'm gonna miss it. And yes, I know that I can visit Indian restaurants here if I'm getting a craving, but really... it's not the same. I mean, restaurants here don't serve Pav Bhaji, Vada Pav, Chola Bathura, Pani Puri, dosas and idlies... Yup these are some foods that I have really come to love.
Loud
I think that at times this is certainly an understatement. There is definitely a lot of noise everywhere. If you're sitting in a rickshaw, the noise of the traffic surrounds you-- mostly it's the cars blaring their horns and the motorcycles and autorickshaws' motors revving up... When my sister picked me up from the airport, driving through the streets here, it was so quiet that I felt as though I had been put in a bubble. That's definitely one of the ways that I knew I was back.
Walking through a marketplace is another experience in India. We did most of our shopping in Delhi at Janpath Market and also Palika Bazaar. It is definitely quite an experience, especially if you're a foreigner, to walk through a marketplace in India. At times, it was actually very overwhelming-- but I certainly did enjoy it.
I learned to bargain!
Another thing that I have to admit... before I went to India, I dreaded the fact that I had to bargain at certain places. I had no clue at how to bargain, but certainly, one of the things that I learned on this trip was how to bargain. I was quite proud of myself. In Delhi, especially, we had to know how to bargain to even take a rickshaw.
Truly incredible!
India is truly incredible. I know that although we travelled through 5 different cities there, I barely scratched the surface in really trying to explore India. I already know that I would like to go back and do a full-on travelling through the country. Taking a scooter ride on the small roads of Goa being surrounded by the lush green mountain and fields was just incredible. I know that I want to explore more of this type of scenery in India.
I loved it!
What was not to love? The food, the cities, the wonderful scenery, the shopping-- all were just awesome. But definitely though, I would really have to say that I loved the people the most. Everyone that I met during this trip was just truly amazing, not only with the hospitality that we were greeted with, but they are just really amazing individuals who have really touched my heart.
To AIESEC India-- a million thank you's to those I met in Bombay, Pune, Bangalore, Delhi, my OC team-- and anyone else that I came in contact with. It is very difficult to really put into words what this journey has meant to me.
Thank you for the late night conversations about social issues, experiences we've had in AIESEC and life in general.
Thank you for letting us crash your EBMs, MTMs, GBMs, and OCMs. I have learned so much, you don't even know.
Thank you for the wonderful meals that we've had. Everyday was such an adventure getting to try so many varieties of foods.
Thank you for tea time-- chai with parle G-- dip dip yum!
Thank you for giving me a forum to speak in your GBMs about my international experience and what it has meant to me so far.
Thank you for letting me do sessions and simulations in your GBMs-- you don't know how much I enjoyed doing them.
Thank you for re-inspiring me and reminding me why I joined AIESEC in the first place. This CEED experience was definitely something new for me-- a new learning curve and it has made me re-learn AIESEC from a different perspective. Thank you for giving me that, a new perspective on what I can do and how I can contribute to this organization. I certainly needed it.
Thank you India! I really will miss you guys!
Saturday, July 08, 2006
2 more weeks
I really have to apologize for the lack of blogging. I really thought that I would be able to update my blog on a regular basis, but I guess either laziness or business kicked in :)
I cannot believe that I'm sitting here and blogging about the fact that only 2 more weeks of this wonderful adventure in India is left. I'm currently in Bangalore-- but we've got a couple more cities to visit before the trip is done.
Though I've tried to capture the feelings, sentiments and thoughts that I have experienced during this whole trip; I somewhat have this fear that all of this is but a dream-- That I had never left home and that I never visited India. I really hope that won't be the case. It probably won't be. But I guess it's still hard for me to believe that I have done it. That I have come to a whole different country, with a completely different language, food, culture etc.
I will blog more about all of this when I get back home. But I know that India has definitely touched my heart. The people that I have met here have been incredible. It's so hard to put into words my appreciation for them.
My adventure continues as we have yet to see the Taj Mahal.
I cannot believe that I'm sitting here and blogging about the fact that only 2 more weeks of this wonderful adventure in India is left. I'm currently in Bangalore-- but we've got a couple more cities to visit before the trip is done.
Though I've tried to capture the feelings, sentiments and thoughts that I have experienced during this whole trip; I somewhat have this fear that all of this is but a dream-- That I had never left home and that I never visited India. I really hope that won't be the case. It probably won't be. But I guess it's still hard for me to believe that I have done it. That I have come to a whole different country, with a completely different language, food, culture etc.
I will blog more about all of this when I get back home. But I know that India has definitely touched my heart. The people that I have met here have been incredible. It's so hard to put into words my appreciation for them.
My adventure continues as we have yet to see the Taj Mahal.
