To be completely honest, I have yet to fully process this trip and everything that it meant to me and the people I was able to build relationships with. I feel like it will take me a lot longer until I can think back and identify clearly what parts were the best, where I experienced struggle, where I had the most growth, etc. Coming to India made me very self aware of the qualities I possess and naturally exude, but in the same token showed me things that I admired in other people that I felt like I could work on myself.
Before this trip, I would have categorized myself as an easy-going individual who is pleasant to be around all the time. However, the nature and hospitality I received from Indian citizens was second to none. In our western culture, individuality and self autonomy have become key to our disposition. A sense of compassion and empathy were two character traits I noticed that I was lacking in myself. Any time someone did something for me, it was without question, without spite or disrespect (even bargaining with pesky shop owners was done on an even level of understanding.) Nowadays, people don’t like to go the extra mile for others, but yet are quick to go to extreme lengths when their own interest is involved. It has become a “me” not “we” culture, which, to be fair – does have its advantages as well as its disadvantages. However in India, everything had a sense of family surrounding it. People were kind and went out of their way to make circumstances easier for the person they care about. This is not to say that social cues, gender roles, and cultural norms aren’t different – because they definitely are. But regardless of whether we were getting a tour, or eating dinner, or going to use a bathroom; there was always someone willing to help.
Going forward, I will return to India again. I believe in speaking for what you want in life, and as I reflect on my trip to India I think to myself that this cannot be the only time I get to spend here. I was interested in travel before, but never pursued it as my priorities were on different things that were important to me and other college kids/athletes around my age. However, after college I really see this as an experience to travel and broaden my sense of the world and how it works. I feel like I am a lot more in tune to things that I struggle with as a person in terms of qualities and identity. Being self-aware to the things that shine a negative light on us as a person is important because I would like to minimize as many negative qualities I show to others around me. Being a light and a comforting presence are traits most Indians naturally possess, and I feel like this only makes life easier for myself, but those around me as well.
It was truly a blessing being able to go to India for three weeks. I would go back again in a heartbeat. Words cannot express how much impact this had on my worldview, and I have become much more grateful of my material possessions and freedom that I experience in this country of America. All I have in mind when I think about India is ‘Thank you’ and I will strive to incorporate all of the things I saw and learned into my daily life back in America.
Addison's Blog 