Tolerance is Key

So last night I realized that I have grown on this trip, and it also reaffirmed how much I have  been learning. 

There are a lot of aspects about this country that completely amaze me, but that many others are very ignorant of. One aspect I'm specifically referring to is that in order to live and just be in this country, one must have a lot of tolerance. There are various discrepancies that occur here everyday, whether it's to a foreigner or a native Indian. The natives actually have to deal with even more I say. As a foreigner who prior to coming here knew a fair amount about this culture and who has deepened that knowledge since arrival, I see just how much tolerance I must have to spend 4-5 weeks here, and how much these people have to have in order to live here. Take for example the fact that there are people of various religions here. Now if you look into India's history, you would see why it is so strange that, generally speaking, many people here are able to live together and be friends with one another in peace (Of course I know there are extremists here and there, but I am talking about the majority, the overall picture) . The night before last we went out with these guys Dr. Mitra and the 2 girls from last year knew and they were a group made up of Muslims, Hindus, and a Sikh, but they all got a long just fine. Why is this something to note, because here religion is a part of their daily lives. It is engrained in their history, and is what shapes who they are. Besides having this kind of tolerance, I mean I could take just regular things that even happen to us. The level of traffic is unimaginable, especially in the metropolises like Delhi, and I assure you it is way worse than traffic in the U.S. all together- it took us 40 minutes to drive 2 miles one day. Normally people in the U.S. get angry and pissed, but here most of them that I have seen just take it, because they understand that is how things go here, and you just have to go with it. Oh and talk about accidents. Of course accidents happen, but people don't sue here. They can't, because nothing will happen. Do the majority seem to mind that? Not really. When an accident happens the drivers just get out and yell at each other then drive away, and that's it. And don't even let me get started with the corruption. Can't say any of that now. 

I don't have much time left, so I can't even go more into detail about how I have had to learn tolerance and other things, but essentially I am merely arguing/stating that tolerance here is important, and I just feel like a lot of Americans could really benefit from a real lesson on that- a.k.a. an immersion into a culture where one needs that. 

Well, time to get ready for the day. Peaces. 

A.M.B.

Taj Mahal and Delhi Metro 1

So we're back in Delhi! We have been since the day before yesterday. The day we were in Agra we went to the Taj Mahal at 5:30 AM. It was awesome. Couldn't have had a better experience. First of all it was raining, and at first I was not too happy about that, because I was wearing my sandals that had no gripping on the bottom, just straight flip- flops, and I knew what that would mean. "Somebody gonna get a hurt real bad," as Russell Peters' dad put it, and sure enough that somebody would be me. It was right when we passed through this overhead and out comes the Taj, even more marvelous than I thought it would be (and I hadn't really even put much thought into it at all). And as I starting walking, I suddenly just slipped, but thankfully I caught myself before I really fell. Smooth, I thought. Then, I started walking down the steps, and sure enough (it's always the steps) I slipped good and hard. Got cut, and hurt my left elbow real bad- couldn't move it for a good 30 minutes. Then after that I walked through the pouring monsoon rains with Erica and we trudged through to get to the Taj and go into it. It was beautiful. And the marble or whatever felt so smooth I just took off my darn sandals and walked around barefoot the whole place. It was such a great experience, and even though I fell and got my favorite outfit here super drenched, it was still one of the best experiences here, and I wouldn't want to have experienced it any other way. 

Today, rode the Delhi metro! It was also a lot of fun. And very clean. Like cleaner than all the metros I've been to in the U.S. (i.e. New York, Miami, Pitt, and Atlanta). I got lots of movies too, and Fannezha and I rode the metro back all by ourselves! Good time. Later we're thinking of going to the Hard Rock (Yes Hard Rock in India) so that should be fun.

A.M.B. 

A Touch of Jaipur

So today we drove from Jaipur to Agra. Jaipur was very interesting, because in Old Jaipur that was when we first saw majority of the signs in Hindi- and I was attempting to read all of them. It was tough though because we were driving and it's takes me a little while longer to read Hindi than it takes me to read English. Today we got to ride elephants! They weren't too big, and it was 2 people to one. We rode that all the way up Amber Fort, which was once apart of the Rajasthani, or Rajput Empire. It was an awesome ride, but I felt bad for the elephants because of the way many of the guys were controlling to elephants. They poked their heads with spears almost and used bamboo sticks. Dr. Mitra later explained to us that it's because elephants are not as sensitive as humans are so they have to use those things, but still... The fort was pretty cool though, I enjoyed looking at the architecture, it was pretty amazing. It was like City Palace, which was the center of the Rajput Empire in Jaipur. We also went to a temple with a bunch of monkeys playing in a big pond. I watched for a little while, but then went away- Mitra told us to stay away from those monkeys because they will attack you, so I was not playing any games.
Tomorrow we'll be leaving the hotel here at 5 AM to go to the Taj Mahal, and then driving back to Delhi. So that's it  for now. Bed time!

A.M.B. 

I Know I'm Late

Yes I know I am quite late. There really is no time to come online and continue my blog as I had planned. I didn't get Internet till the fourth day, and by then things were hectic. Then we went to a place called Ladakh in the Himalayas, which was awesome but we had no Internet access for 5 days. Now we're in Jaipur and I get a few minutes to quickly attempt to update this. Truthfully, this blog will not be finished by the time I leave. It will finish when I get back. There is truly no way to describe what I am experiencing. It's an experience unlike any other and there is so much that I am learning and taking in that I myself don't even understand all of it. But one thing us for sure, this trip has further affirmed my passion for this country. India truly is amazing, and you can only now and understand that if you come here. I am loving every minute here, and I would come back in a heartbeat. So that is all for now. We're going to a market in 5 minutes so I need to get ready. Tomorrow: off to Agra to ride an elephant, see the monkey temple, and go to the Taj Mahal. Deuces for now.

A.M.B.

Less Than 24 Hrs. To Go!

Well as one would expect, I've got many mixed feelings bubbling around inside. Little anxiety, little hesitation, but lots of excitement and lots of anticipation. All the packing, preparation, payments, confusion, stress, and fantasies are done. And now it is time. Tomorrow, the big day, the day I will say peace out to the USA, and say namaste Bharat! I know it's only 6 weeks, and I will OF COURSE be back, but it's still a big trip for me. It's my first time going out of the country on my own. My first time travelling to a country that's half-way around the world. And my first time immersing myself in a culture completely different from my own in various ways. I have no idea what to expect, and no idea what is going to happen. As I've said before, the thought of this frightens yet intrigues me all at the same time. I guess I just got to keep my head on straight, and enjoy myself to the utmost level. It's a chance of a lifetime, and I don't want to let anything pass me by. I got to grip this fear by the horns and just go with this. Whatever happens will happen, and I just have to try my best to stay healthy, stay smart, and stay happy. I just want to get there already!! Then everything will be fine. So...let's get the show on the road! Bharat, mai aaungi!! :DD

-A.M.B. 

Pre- Departure: Countdown Time

Well, here I am, less than 2 weeks to go until the big day. The day I fly off to the land of India. The land I have been so mesmerized and fascinated with for so long that it seems so unreal that this day is actually about to arrive. So many people are excited for me and awaiting for the day I go. It's really nice to see how many people are happy for me. Even if they all don't understand why or how this is so important to me, it's still feels good to have people rooting me on. 

As for myself, I am thoroughly excited. I'm anticipating many good and awesome things to happen to me on this trip. The mystery of what is in store for me makes me anxious and jittery. I cannot wait to see what is to come and what adventures await for me over there. It's going to be so different from here in almost every way possible. But I hope I can find some familiar feels wherever we end up traveling to- after all, they're people just like us. I'm nervous though too. Just thinking of all the things that could possibly go wrong makes me shudder with fear and hesitation. I don't even want to list it all because I know it'll only terrify me. Not to mention I'm worried about how well I will get along with the others on the trip. I really hope they're cool and chill. But even more importantly, I hope I will not try to change myself just to get them to like me. I know I have a tendency to do that... But I acknowledge that I must have confidence in myself and believe that I will stand strong in who I am. I just have to be unwavering and focus on that. Besides, I think I'm pretty easy to get along with, so all should be well. :)

My fears and worries are certainly real, but I can't let those things stop me from enjoying myself and milking this trip for what it's worth- which is A LOT. I'll be seeing SO much, it's unfathomable at this moment in time. I have to take it all in and soak in its glory while I can, because who knows when I will be back. I do admit, I have expectations for this trip. Epiphanies, realizations, etc. yea I hope I get a few of those here and there. But what I really want is to just learn. I hope that I'll learn more than I would ever gather from a textbook. I want to capture everything in my double lens and store it all in my system. I do hope that I can return to the States as a new person but with my core still intact. I want to come back with a better understanding of that side of the world, and hope to even learn more about people as a whole in the process. And to wrap it all up, I expect to have the time of my life up to this point. The chance to go abroad is not as easy to get as it is to find a tree in a forest. It's a rare, special moment that one must hold on to and enjoy every breath of that moment. I will be smiling and laughing and struck by awe and get my jaw stuck every day I spend over there. No frown will be caught on my glimmering face!

-A.M.B.