sad goodbye...

I just got back from seeing Janice off at the train station. She leaves to go back to Mumbai on the 21st and last week I changed my ticket for the middle of July. I broke down bawling as she fought her way onto the train which of course shocked the crowds around me. Which then made me laugh...:( I will definitley miss Janice as we have had an incredible time travelling and I would love to be able to travel the rest of India. But at the same time I'm anxious to get to Hyderabad and start at the NGO. While India is a great teacher, being constantly on the move only really gives you a glimpse at life here. Though I am so thankful I travelled before the internship so I am more comfortable and know how things work (transport, food etc.).

Here's a few more observations:

Married women (Hindus at least) put red paint on their forehead where their part starts and also wear toe rings. Unknowingly, I bought a toe ring at the beginning of the trip and it has gained a lot of attention! So many people have told me what it means and a few old ladies point exitedly at it and laugh. I don't know if they just think it's funny, that I've married an Indian or perhaps they're just happy I'm married in general (vs. all the shoulder sluts they see..hehe). It has also come in handy when men ask if I'm married. I just give them an exasperated look, point at my toes and say "of course." Which they totally accept. (What a stupid question, I AM 23) :)

India seems to have such a pull between "modern" and "tradition." Some examples are: a fancy SUV stuck behind an oxen pulled cart; a satellite dish attached to a hand drawn well; a business man feeding his lunch to the cows in the street etc. While these are also examples of the gap between rich and poor I think they are more significant considering the stronghold Hinduism has on the culture. Hinduisms customs and superstitions can be seen wherever you go. Another good example is the prime minister, who is an avid devotee of Amma (the "Hugging Mother") who is considered a reincarnation of the God Krishna...

In saying that, their is a lot less modernization in the form of "Americanization" as I guessed. India is very Indian! People listen to Indian music, watch Indian movies and eat Indian food. And as I've already said, they are very patriotic.

While we haven't really come into contact with any rich Indians, we did see a bar with a cover charge of 1000 rps!! That is equivalent of $35 Canadian! And to put that into perspective, that could also be a months wages seeing as minimum wage is about $1.25 Canadian...

I saw what looked like a dowry burning the other day, which was really awful. The poor women's face, neck and arms looked totally melted. The situation for Women in India seem to be a big paradox. On one hand there are dowry burnings, sati, female infantacide, sex selective abortions etc. And then the other hand Indira Gandhi was prime minister for almost 2 decades and there is a large percentage of women in government. And religiously, there are goddesses such as Devi, Durga and Saraswati (whoop) who are just as worshipped as Krishna and Vishnu (gods).

A few people have asked me what I find challenging or don't like. I definitley hate the pollution and lack of garbage system; the hot, crowded, multi-stopped buses going insanely fast on tiny windy, bumpy roads are never fun and dumbfounded yet intensely concentrated staring is annoying. Besides my family and friends, I miss fresh air, salads, peanut butter and just overall cleanliness.

While this blog has told stories of our adventures, no words or pictures can explain the sensory overload that is India. So, before Jan left we made a list:

India sounds like: horns blaring, flem hawking (seems to be a group activity), "chayaaa" from wallahs selling chai, Bollywood/Hindi music blaring, temple music blaring (all music seems to be put at the max volume both in the streets, buses etc.), market sellers and rickshaw drivers (the most optimistic people ever, often lagging behind us for 10 minutes..argh), cows lowing.

India smells like: insense, sewage, urine (yes there needs to be a distinction made), jasmine hair garlands, spices, burning garbage.

India tastes like: masala, chai, spices (so many kinds!), tropical fruit.

India looks like: beaches, mountains, jungles, deserts, rivers, lakes, oceans, rice paddies, banana/coconut fields, cities, villages.

India feels like: everything...

We have been in the rural areas for the last week (and I still am) where the internet is slow. I will upload some photos once I get to Hyderabad in a few days.