Stephanie Downing, Exchange Student (Hawaii – USA)
Namaste! Although this is my 4th visit to India, this has been my first trip to Indore and my first time learning Hindi. I am half Indian but my familiarity with Indian culture, history, and the language is poor since I have lived in the US my entire life.
My first impression of India when I visited 12 years ago for the first time was the consistent honking of all the cars and auto rickshaws. In my hometown of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, very rarely do commuters blare their horn when driving and if they do, they are subjected to nasty looks and expressions from other divers.
Before arriving to Indore, I along with the other exchange students took a 14 hour train from New Delhi. This was my first time on an Indian sleeper train and it was truly an adventure to say the least.
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| At Mandu |
I was surprised to see how close the quarters were and how difficult it was to use the bathroom while moving 100 km per hour.
I was also amazed to see how much unoccupied land there was as the train travelled past the villages. Some of the villagers lived so isolated from society and probably had no access to supermarket, a hospital, or other modern day essentials. I wondered how these people were able to get by when extreme weather conditions occurred or if there was a medical emergency.
Throughout my visits to India, I have experienced on many accounts, the kindness and generosity of the Indian people. I have created some of the most meaningful relationships during my visits, which is always the best memory I have of every trip to India that I’ve had. These relationships have contributed to the acceptance and understanding of other cultures and beliefs around the world.
I look forward to spending another month here in Indore and feel very grateful to have this amazing cultural opportunity.
