When I first got here, a girl finishing her Fulbright in Pune told me that people love or hate India, that it is hard to not feel passionately one way or another about the country. At the time, I was worried. Everything was so new and I was unsure exactly what I was doing here. I didn’t love India. But I didn’t hate it either. We were still in the “getting to know you” phase of a relationship. I didn’t think about her words again until the other night.
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| Parvati Hill, Pune at sunset |
I was taking a rickshaw home after successfully haggling over the price to go to my neighborhood. On the way home, something happened on the road we were on. I wish I could remember exactly what it was. It may have been a cow in the street. Or driving on the wrong side of the road. Or passing a family on a motorbike and honking at them. Or all of the above at the same time. I smiled to myself and thought “I love India.” I smiled more when I remember the girl’s words. India isn’t always easy. But there is a beauty in it which can be mesmerizing.
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| Dhobi Ghat, Mumbai |
I've heard "you either love India or hate India" from every person who's been there, most notably your Aunt Martha. Invariably, it's the former.
ReplyDeleteThere are tourists and there are travelers and each has a different purpose for being there. Most often one is there to "see" and the other is there to "be."
I think we know which one you are.
MikethePike
It's so nice when the little things that tend to bother us in the US don't get you riled and actually make you smile. We did a lot of rickshaw riding in Vietnam. A great way to see the world! Hope you're having a blast!!!
ReplyDeleteSteve (MikethePike's brother)