INDIA!

Yup I’m going to India. Technically it’s not my first visit for I recall a distant memory of a two year old me bursting into tears because of the big scary elephant that I involuntarily rode. This visit will be different; I’m not scared of elephants anymore (I think ..) and the purposes of the visit will not only be pleasure but also volunteer work.

When I told my friends that I was going to India I received varied reactions:

A)     “Uhuhh…. Well isn’t it like really dirty? Like, people eat there with their hands and you might get Aids and shit..”

B)      “ Can I come with you?! We could get totally high on Bhang Lassi and I could be your spiritual guide! (jk..)  “

C)    “ Wow that sounds amazing, India must really interesting! “

Taxi = Rickshaw

Bhang Lassi or for the unfamiliar: Yoghurt drink infused with Cannabis
DON'T MAKE THIS AT HOME!

I have to admit all three comments are fairly true, India is dirty and crowded,  the odd cow might cause a traffic jam Aaaaand yes- people do eat with their hands ( right for food- left for the toilet ), there are infectious diseases ( I have had 5 vaccinations and a travelling pharmacy to prove so! I’m so medical-term savvy that I could get into med school! Encephalitis, meningitis, MMR- mumps, measles and rubella…the list goes on). India is still abundant with your aging-hippies, neo-hippies, searchers and artisans but hey, diversity can be good for you!

The best advice I’ve heard about traveling India is to “work at India’s pace”, meaning travel and observe with an open mind and accept the culture the way it is. Arriving with a “Western” state of mind will only attract difficulties and nuisances. I think this piece of advice goes a long way; it can be applied to any situation where you are encountering something new, a new culture, new people. Be a proactive wallflower (ohh the irony.. )! Observe and interact without percolating what you encounter through your superficial and judgmental filters (trust me, everyone has a pair!).

Enjoy your summer!

Little Frames