A Week in the Life

Although I am staying very present in the moment and soaking up my time here in India fully, I cannot believe that I am already in the midst of my third week here! This past week was filled with new knowledge, endless laughs, wonderful company and memorable experiences. While in Delhi I have been on a constant endorphin high; very happy and overstimulated. I am feeling much more comfortable than when I initially arrived and feel a small sense of pride in myself and my peers on how smoothly we have navigated and negotiated our surroundings. Here is a little glimpse into what this past week was like for me:

Tuesday, Feb 14

DIY Day! Do It Yourself. My classmates and I had the day off from class to wander and explore. A few girls and I decided on spending the day at Suraj Cun Mela; a crafts fair on the outskirts of the city. Over 300 vendors from all over India come to this annual fair to sell beautiful Indian goods. The fair was similar to many things I have seen here in Delhi; it was colorful, extremely dense with people, loud and overwhelming. I haggled for a few treats here; a scarf, bracelet, ring and skirt! While In Suraj Cun, it was very interesting to note how many people asked (or didn’t ask) to take pictures of me and my girlfriends while we walked through the fair. We were constantly being snapped, I was confused by this and it felt rather invasive. Was it because we looked different? White? Female? Dressed differently than the Indian women around us? These questions continue to swarm in my head as this has been a reoccurring situation for us in Delhi.

After a full day of exploration in Suraj Cun, Sam and I came home to yet another lovely meal and conversation with Auntie and our homestay sister, Annie. We discuss a variety of topics during dinner but a continuous theme is how similar our lives are in relation to Auntie and her family. “We’re the same, you and me,” Auntie says across the kitchen table. Prior to this abroad experience, I completely “otherized” India and felt as though the people here were entirely different and exotic compared to me. What I have uncovered is that culturally there can be many differences, but at the end of the day, we are all truly very similar- we all strive to provide for ourselves and families, create a happy home, stay healthy and gain new knowledge. This revelation really struck me, I almost felt silly for thinking the way I did previously. Whether you are from India, Senegal, Argentina or America, we’re all people, it’s really that simple.

P.S. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Wednesday, Feb 15

Class all day! Wednesday we had our Culture and Society course as well as Politics and Development (and our daily tea and lunch break!) In class, we discussed the theme of citizenship and who in a city feels a sense of belonging or membership. Do all people have the right to the city? Does the city exploit some in the hopes of becoming a serious player on the global scale? Do given cities have one definition of citizenship?  These and other questions filled our class discussion as we bounced ideas off each other and stimulated our minds with new concepts.

After class, a group of us headed to a rooftop hookah bar nearby to sit in the warm sun and get to know one another better. We have only known each other for about a month now, but already we have become extremely close; we've shared inside jokes, deep talks and everything else in between.  IHP’s learning community is more like a family, and I feel so fortunate to be a part of it.

Thursday, Feb 16

Market Day! On Thursday, our class broke out into several groups to explore different types of markets in the city and get a sense of the economic activity in Delhi. We observed the differences between informal and formal activity, the use of private and public space as well as how individual workers are socially enabled to go to work. In Gole Market, I interviewed a number of businesses owners (predominately men) who told me that they were able to come to work because their wives were “housewives,” taking care of the children at home. There is major gender inequality here in Delhi and I have been so struck by this numerous times. Women simply do not receive the same opportunities as men and there is an expectation for them to be kept covered by both staying inside the home and wearing conservative clothing. The Delhi metro even has a car exclusively for women because of complaints of feeling unsafe and harassed. We have debated in class whether this is a solution to the problem or whether it is feeding the issue further by isolating women to a separate section. 

After our excursion through the market, a few girls and I went to a café in my neighborhood for coffee and conversation. On our way out of the café heading home for dinner, the bright lights of an orange and red tent across the street caught my eye. A smile began to pour out of my mouth as I motioned to girls to follow me towards the tent. A tent like that is a sign of an Indian wedding, a dream of mine has always been to attend one, so without hesitation I peeped my head through the draped doors. The wedding had not started yet but the food was set on the buffet tables, a Bollywood music band was setting up their instruments and henna artist were unpacking their station. It was beautiful! The colors, lights, fabrics—I was blown away. What was even more breathtaking was how kind and generous the groom and his family were! They invited us in for drinks, henna and dancing before the guests arrived! Indian hospitality brings generosity to a new level; I have seen it here through the warmth of this particularly family, Auntie and the Singh’s.

Although we could not stay for the wedding because we had to get home to our host families for dinner, my friends and I had the best time at the “pre-party.” Uncontrollable smiles beamed from all our faces. It was a spontaneous and exciting adventure, a great memory for the books.

Henna at the wedding!

Aly and I

Groom's family and friends!

Friday, Feb 17

Class again! We gave presentations on our Market Day excursions through a mapping exercise.  Julia and Cebe joined me, Sam, Annie and Auntie for dinner!

Saturday and Sunday, Feb 18 and 19

A weekend in Chandigarh! On Saturday, five friends and I traded in the busy city of Delhi for the planned, peaceful city of Chandigarh, just 3.5 hours north by train. Thanks to our dear friend Manu, we were invited to stay at his guest house and were given a very special opportunity to explore and compare this city in relation to Delhi. We did everything from boating on the lake, to visiting the famous rock and rose gardens, to camel riding, to museum visits, to nightlife excursions! It was a truly exceptional weekend filled with endless laughter and memorable moments. Although Chandigarh itself is a green, planned, tranquil place with rich history, one thing I learned this weekend that no museum visit could have taught me is that it’s not necessarily about where you’re going but who you’re with that really matters.

"If you think about it, your favorite memories, the most important moments in your life... were you alone? Life's better with company." - Up in the Air

A few pictures from the weekend below!

Lunch when we arrived

Swan Boats!

Camel Ride

Group at the Rock Garden

Rock Garden

Rock Garden

Dinner...yum!

Rose Garden

Max, Julia, Me, Sam, Cebe

Namaste.

Lots of Love,

Rachel