The end of my trip to India

So, as I write this I'm waiting as a standby passenger on a flight from Newark, NJ to Florida, hoping to get home tonight and to be with the folks on Christmas.

I've been thinking alot since my departure of India has come along of what my impressions of India are. I feel they've about as diverse as India itself. My trip was, in turns, heartwarming, shocking, amazing, harrowing and sublime. Many of my co-workers showed me many kindnesses, and were really wonderful people. They really worked hard to make my feeling of being in Hyderabad and Mumbai special, and I was really appreciative. But then I would also run across people, mainly those how make their living plying the tourist trade, that were deceitful, aggressive, and sly. But then again, my hosts in both Agra and Jaipur were beyond any hint of reproach. They were honest, kind, generous, and extremely accommodating. They really made my last week enjoyable and safe. 

So, really, what I'm trying to say is that India provided many extremes of experience that seemed to change quickly from one to another. It's definitely a complex world with rules that may seem similar to the west in appearance, but aren't really. Also, to even refer to India as if it were one cohesive entity may not really be correct. It's such a diverse collection of states with such a wide variety of influences over the ages, that it's amazing they are able to maintain the unity they have. (And sometimes I thought it was hard for US to keep it together!)

However, if I were to make broad, perhaps largely baseless, generalizations of the Indian populace I met, I would say they tend to be kind. Often pure strangers, in passing, would exchange smiles easily. One of the many delightful moments was when two boys just started to speak to me from their scooter as they were motoring along side the tuk-tuk I was in. Just, really, to say hello and find out where I was from. The Indian populace seem to be, as a rule, friendlier and easier to interact with than many westerners can often be, especially if the westerners are from cities as densely compacted as Mumbai.

But, really, all my experiences are rather surface. It would take many more trips and much more time spent there to really get the feeling of the place. It's just that much more complex and different than our western-european cultures. But definitely an adventure!

Well, the plane here is about to board, I'd better get ready to go!

Comments

Anonymous said…
Welcome home Bob and hope to hear from you sometime soon. Thanks for your pictures and sharing your experiences.
Michelle (remember me?)
Mister Bob said…
Hey Shell, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Thanks for following my blog! :0)

Hugs,

Bob
Anonymous said…
Your welcome.
Have you ever seen the titanic museum? Do they have that prop necklace "The Heart of the Ocean" for sell there? Not the one made out of coal but the Russian crystal one. How much do they want for it and how can I get one for myselfish?
Thanks,
Michelle
PS: Mom says you haven't called her yet and she is a bit worried-so if you can give her a call and say you got in alright.
Do you have a nice flight home? What are you going to do in San Fran for New Years?
Anonymous said…
Hello? Hello? Still sleeping? Busy Bee time? Please answer my post. As for me I'm at work in the secretaries office as you can tell.
Thanks,
Michelle
Anonymous said…
Hello, Hello, busy, busy as a bee sleeping like a wee little baby craddled in love's arms but now sounds the alarm-ANSWER MY EMAIL or I'll send the fire men out to throw buckets of water on your bed and before it gets dry again you'll be dead.
Michelle
PS: Just kidding but write when you can and don't forget now!