Things I Miss Most About Travel in India, Now That I Am Home–And The Things I Don’t Miss One Bit!
Yet another “Top Ten List”, or rather, several!
Things I Miss Most About Travel, (in no particular order)
1. I miss the kids. Not just the kids at the orphanage, but the kids I saw on the streets..I miss their genuine smiles and their playfulness and their delight when they saw me walking up their street. I miss their toothy grins and their street games and the way they held each other’s hands.
2. I miss the sense of adventure–constantly walking into one weird situation after another, getting lost, not quite knowing what I was doing but having it all, somehow, work out. Being back at home is an adventure, too–but of a different sort.
3. I miss the routine. Adventure and routine at the same time? yes, it’s possible. Volunteering everyday gave me a destination, a sense of where I was in a foreign land. Coming back home and having the doctor tell me (despite my protests!) to “take it easy for awhile” means I spend alot of time not doing much but thinking and resting. Which isn’t exactly a lifestyle filled with appointments or any sense of routine!
4. Getting to know perfect strangers who I would never have the chance to meet otherwise. This is something I really really miss. So many people enriched my life so profoundly, so deeply. I made so many friends on my trip that if I ever sign up to participate in couchsurfing my couch may never be empty. Actually, it’sa not just friends who were also travelers, but also locals. For example the extended Muslim family who adopted me in India, and treated me like one of their own. They taught me more about being loved and what that means than I thought I had the capacity to learn.
5. Weird food. Ok, so I’m kind of glad that I’m back at home and can eat familiar things again..but part of me misses that reaction, “You mean, I’m supposed to eat that?!” and going for it. I don’t miss eating bugs and worms and so on, but I miss having the chance to actually do it.
6. Real, honest to goodness, goodness. Realness.This might sound like an odd thing to include, but one thing I really miss is that, for me, travel was so real that it made me and those around me be very real with one another. Working with a bunch of volunteers on a site had it’s tough moments–like when something happened someone couldn’t handle–but what was wonderful was that people built such community based on who we were and what we were trying to do together. When you are in that kind of situation, you just get pretty frank and right to the point. There’s no sense in “beating around the bush.” You are who you are and as long as your heart is in the right place, you are accepted.
7. My sense of place. Coming back home, sometimes I feel like I’m just “treading water” barely able to keep up with societal expectations and so on. On the road, I knew who I was and where I was going. It was simple. Life back home=complex.
8. Not being tied to “stuff”. Living out of a single backpack means..you don’t have alot of stuff. Once coming back home, I already feel that attachement growing and I try my best to tame it but it can be difficult.
9. Feeling deep pain and sorrow. I know it sounds crazy, but being around things that were sad and difficult meant that I grew alot as a person in a very short time. I miss that intensity.
10. The love and warmth of the Bengali people and Indian culture in general–I was part of an extended family. Here at home people don’t even know their own next door neighbors. It’s pretty strange.
Ten things I don’t miss one bit!:
1. Computer keyboards that have all of the letters worn off.
2. Blackouts. Losing an entire blog entry due t the power going off. Traveling across town to email someone and having the power go out on the way there.
3. Lice. Enough said. I wil spare any details except to say it was a constant battle in India and they won alot of the time.
4. Dirty feet. Oh my God. I spent almost two years of my life washing my feet in a bucket . Occassionally I would slosh some disinfectant on them. That’s it.
5. Undrinkable tap water. Most of the world’s water is unpotable. I do not miss filling landfills with my plastic bottles from water I have had to buy. I do not miss being very thirsty and having to divide the water I had left, portioning it out to make it last. I do not miss drinking Fanta as that was all they had where ever I was.
6. A lack of toilets for women. Do third world women ever pee? I guess not. Perhaps they have bladders of steel. Once, I got on a train–a long distance train, one for the lower classes, the cheapie train..and discovered there was no bathroom. After 9 hours I thought I would die. I did not care if I ever made it to my final destination–all I cared about was that I would get to a toilet and get some relief soon! I got of the train and when i finally found a bathroom, it was so disgusting that I was sickened to have to even use it. No wonder some women stay at home. It’s just too much trouble to go anywhere.
7. Not being able to be alone. Women, in particular, visiting off the beaten track places often are encouraged to have a man with them. I would not say this is because people didn’t think they can’t do things are their own–I would say this is because men in the places they are visiting can make it very hard for them. Still, even with a male friends around, so many times I wanted to break out and run free!
8. Danger. I never liked putting myself at risk, but I did do that every once in awhile, usually because I did not know any better.
9. Poop in the streets. Yeah, this is a biggie. Coming home and seeing everything so tidy, with no piles of human excrement in the gutters..wow , it was a huge change. I was used to dodging poop in the streets and carefully looking where I was going at all times in India. Included in this category would be constantly averting my eyes from someone squatting in the streets doing their business, or men urinating willy nilly. Definitely don’t miss it or the assault on my olefactory senses…
10. Dust. Dust and dirt and filth covering everything, everywhere. Dust so bad that it covered all of the plants and leaves of trees making them look gray and dun- colored. Dust so bad that it covered everyhting in the hotel room when I propped a window open. Dust so bad that in the morning, I would wake up coughing black dust and my nose would be black.
And Top Ten Things I love About finally being Home:
1. I am a woman and I get to decide what my life is going to be. I get to live alone, drive a car, vote, talk to the people I want to.
2. Living in a capitalist culture instead of a failed socialist experiment(West Bengal).
3. Having my own computer and being able to be connected to the world in a fundamental way, whenever I want to be.
4. Having a dog and cat as companions. Chubby, happy companions..instead of seeing cats on the edge of starvation or pariah dogs eating trash in the street. It’s a big contrast.
5. Recycling. Um, India desn’t recycle anything. It just gets thrown away. Outside. on the grund. Maybe someone, a trash picker, will come along and collect it, maybe not. But recycling? Nope.
6. Refrigerators. You mean I can buy stuff, like cheese, for more than just today? Amazing.
7. Let’s face it, cheese needs to be on this list. Where would I be without cheese?
8. Public libraries. Anothier biggie. I simply can’t believe what we have available here in terms of media and resources. I have been visiting my local library at least three times a week since I got back. Why buy any books? It’s unbelievable!
9. Coffee. Coffee in India is like..milky colored water with coffee flavoring. I have decided this is why they have to drink so many cups of the stuff–there’s only a miniscule amount of coffee in the cup, so that transates to=no caffiene. Thank God for my local coffee shop, Steady Eddy’s. A great cup of Joe.
10. Solitude. Ah, silence. In India it did not exist except ever so briefly at 3 am. Here, I can wake up in the morning, hear no noises except a few crickets, take the dog for a early morning walk and hear nothing but the crunch of our feet in the gravel. Amazing. Pure bliss.
I guess it all balances out….
gigi
Tags: 1
illuminate.gigi
just beneath, are several completely not associated internet sites to ours, on the other hand, they may be certainly really worth going over
that is the finish of this article. Here you will come across some sites that we feel you will enjoy, just click the links over
that is the finish of this report. Right here you will discover some web pages that we believe you will enjoy, just click the links over
Wonderful story, reckoned we could combine a handful of unrelated data, nonetheless definitely really worth taking a search, whoa did 1 understand about Mid East has got extra problerms too
we like to honor many other net web sites on the internet, even if they aren’t linked to us, by linking to them. Below are some webpages really worth checking out
Wonderful story, reckoned we could combine a few unrelated information, nonetheless actually really worth taking a search, whoa did one particular learn about Mid East has got far more problerms as well
usually posts some incredibly intriguing stuff like this. If you are new to this site
hello there and thank you for your info – I’ve certainly picked up something new from right here. I did however expertise several technical issues using this website, as I experienced to reload the website lots of times previous to I could get it to load correctly. I had been wondering if your hosting is OK? Not that I’m complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will very frequently affect your placement in google and can damage your high-quality score if advertising and marketing with Adwords. Anyway I am adding this RSS to my email and could look out for a lot more of your respective intriguing content. Make sure you update this again very soon.|
Sites of interest we have a link to
always a big fan of linking to bloggers that I adore but do not get quite a bit of link love from
Utterly composed content material, appreciate it for information. “The earth was made round so we would not see too far down the road.” by Karen Blixen.
we came across a cool web page that you just may well love. Take a search in the event you want
we came across a cool web site that you might enjoy. Take a look in case you want
please pay a visit to the web-sites we comply with, which includes this a single, because it represents our picks from the web
Every once inside a even though we choose blogs that we read. Listed below are the most up-to-date web-sites that we decide on
Very interesting info!Perfect just what I was searching for!
I like this post, enjoyed this one appreciate it for posting. “The reward for conformity was that everyone liked you except yourself.” by Rita Mae Brown.
I just could not go away your web site prior to suggesting that I actually loved the usual info an individual supply for your guests? Is gonna be back often in order to investigate cross-check new posts.
always a significant fan of linking to bloggers that I really like but don’t get a good deal of link like from
the time to read or go to the subject material or websites we’ve linked to below the
here are some links to web pages that we link to since we feel they may be really worth visiting
the time to study or stop by the content material or web sites we have linked to beneath the
Hello, Neat post. There’s an issue along with your web site in web explorer, could check this… IE nonetheless is the market chief and a huge portion of people will miss your great writing because of this problem.
Here are a few of the web sites we suggest for our visitors
check below, are some completely unrelated sites to ours, nevertheless, they are most trustworthy sources that we use
one of our visitors not long ago encouraged the following website
below you’ll come across the link to some internet sites that we assume you should visit
Only a smiling visitant here to share the love (:, btw outstanding style. “Justice is always violent to the party offending, for every man is innocent in his own eyes.” by Daniel Defoe.
please visit the sites we stick to, like this 1, because it represents our picks in the web
Here is an excellent Blog You might Uncover Exciting that we Encourage You
check below, are some totally unrelated web sites to ours, having said that, they may be most trustworthy sources that we use
below you will come across the link to some sites that we think you’ll want to visit
I like this weblog so much, saved to bookmarks. “I don’t care what is written about me so long as it isn’t true.” by Dorothy Parker.
Every the moment inside a although we opt for blogs that we read. Listed below would be the most up-to-date sites that we decide on
please visit the web sites we stick to, which includes this a single, as it represents our picks through the web
Wonderful story, reckoned we could combine some unrelated information, nevertheless definitely worth taking a search, whoa did one particular understand about Mid East has got extra problerms at the same time
the time to read or take a look at the content or sites we’ve linked to beneath the
the time to study or go to the content or web sites we have linked to below the
here are some links to web sites that we link to since we feel they may be worth visiting
It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d without a doubt donate to this fantastic blog! I suppose for now i’ll settle for bookmarking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to fresh updates and will talk about this blog with my Facebook group. Chat soon!
I dugg some of you post as I thought they were very helpful extremely helpful
just beneath, are many entirely not associated websites to ours, nonetheless, they are certainly really worth going over
usually posts some really interesting stuff like this. If you’re new to this site
that will be the finish of this write-up. Here you will locate some websites that we consider you will enjoy, just click the hyperlinks over
Thank you for sharing excellent informations. Your web-site is so cool. I am impressed by the details that you’ve on this website. It reveals how nicely you understand this subject. Bookmarked this website page, will come back for extra articles. You, my pal, ROCK! I found simply the information I already searched everywhere and simply could not come across. What a great web site.
just beneath, are various totally not connected web-sites to ours, having said that, they may be certainly really worth going over
Here is a great Blog You might Come across Intriguing that we Encourage You
Every the moment inside a although we opt for blogs that we study. Listed below are the newest web pages that we decide on
I’ll immediately grab your rss as I can not to find your e-mail subscription hyperlink or newsletter service. Do you have any? Please allow me recognize so that I may subscribe. Thanks.
although internet websites we backlink to below are considerably not associated to ours, we really feel they are really worth a go as a result of, so have a look