I take for granted:
- Clean water
- Easy access to an amazing variety of consumer goods
- Access to education for all – including girls
- Clean water
- Order
- Efficiency
- Access to health care
- Clean water
- Garbage collection systems
- Sewage systems
- Having a career as a women
- Clean water
What I long for that India offers:
- Abundant fresh fruits and vegetables – locally grown
- The food – spicy, spirited, varied
- The ability to create beauty with simple things
- The sense of community in local villages
- Value of family
- The people – respectful, polite, warm
- Vibrant local commerce, and entrepreneurs/merchants aplenty
- Colors – in buildings, clothing, plants, everywhere you look
- Pungent & fragrant smells
- Beautiful textiles and women’s clothing
2 Responses
Welcome back, Kris. Culture shock goes both ways, doesn’t it! We are jolted when we arrive back on familiar soil, as well as when we are suddenly immersed in another land — new sounds, strange language, unfamiliar customs. Just when you feel like you’re getting used to it all, it’s time to come home .Hope you can post some more pictures. I loved you and the elephant!
Welcome back, Kris. Grant just returned from living in Zanzibar for 9 weeks and he said he missed clean and running water. He felt the biggest shock was taking a “shower” with two buckets of water and using the dirty bath water to “flush” the toilet. Otherwise he said the kindness, joy, community and lack of stress over “things” was so refreshing. It seems you found much of the same joy in India. Looking forward to hearing more stories of your experience.