A Day on the Town

July 24, 2011

As I start my last week in India I realize I have neglected to keep up my journal as well as I should have.  Afer spending the week in Rishikesh I am again in Dehradun for my final week.  This weekend we spent relaxing around the homestay and hanging out with the local coordinator named Mayank.  Even though he’s 32 we’ve developed a really good relationship and he’s a friend instead of a coordinator now.

Friday night Chris, Navi, Mayank and I went out on the town for a meal and to just hang out.  Mayank took us to a bar/restaurant where we shared some brews and shared stories over our amazing Indian meal.  I’ve really started liking Indian food… guess that’s what happens when you eat it for two months. 

Me, Chris, Navi, Mayank toasting to India.

Saturday morning Chris and I slept in, and then Mayank came and picked us up to go to India’s National Forrest Institute Museum.  It was really pretty and fun to explore the different rooms.  All the wood on display had the same distinct smell I remember from my grandpa’s garage in Montrose, CO.  Mayank and I grew restless looking at all the plant diseases in each room and started goofing around taking funny pictures.  Chris on the other hand was enthralled by all of the information.  It was fun to watch Mayank give Chris a hard time for going through the museum so slowly.  Afterwards Mayank took us to one of his favorite hole-in-the-wall cafes where we ordered 3 meals and 4 desserts for under 6 dollars total (those US dollars sure go  long way in India J)  Then we went and bought a kilogram of mangos from a fruit stand because we hadn’t had mangos all week in Rishikesh.  So I need to inform everyone about mangoes in India.  I don’t think I’ve explained their deliciousness yet.

Mayank and I goofing around at the museum.

So there are fruit stands absolutely everywhere selling every type of fruit under the sun.  The fruit that outshines all the others is the mango.  THEY ARE SO GOOD!  You can peel them super quick, hold this giant juicy piece of almost pure fruit in your hand, and take large bites out of it until it’s gone.  The juices running over your fingers and down your chin.  The taste is sweeter than candy, and it almost melts in your mouth.  They aren’t stringy like the ones in the US.  Some days I’ve been known to eat 5 or 6 as dessert at a meal.  Because of my limited self-discipline when it comes to mangos or chai tea, I justify my indulgences by telling myself I only have such luxuries for a limited time.  Mangoes are probably the number one thing I will miss the most from India., second is chai tea. Haha.

Guard at the museum let me switch hats for
a picture.  Twins represent!

After mango shopping Chris, Navi and I went souvenir shopping in the markets.  By the time we returned home, Chris and Navi both had bags of new merchandise.  I couldn’t find anything that I really wanted because I had already bought most of my souvenirs in Mumbai.

Shopping for mangos.  I'm holding a papaya and a coconut.
Mangos are the ones in front.

Sunday (today) has been spent with me sleeping in till 10, having porridge and chia for breakfast, quiet time with C.S Lewis and now I’m listening to music and writing this entry.

I know it sounds kind of cliche to say I’ve changed a lot in two months, but I think I have changed in some regards. 

1. Self-confidence and independence is way higher (feel like I can kinda do anything on my own or at least survive in a new area and don’t define myself quite as much on how others value me)

2.  Understand homeopathy, naturopathy, reiki, acupressure, and some of the reasoning behind their invention.

3. Understand India allopathic medicine is DIFFERENT from US allopathic medicine no matter what someone says… they’re different.

4. Struggled with how horrible the poverty problems are here (this one was tough).

5. Understand that most strangers are really nice and anyone is a potential friend.

6. Realized that LANGUAGE is the hands-down most important tool in this type of environment

7. Most importantly: Felt like I’ve grown in a deeper, richer, one-on-one relationship with God and I’m way less “by myself” or lonely because God really is always there.  He’s the best best-friend, big brother, dad, and KING imaginable.
 

I’ve probably learned more, but these are just some of the highlights.  It’s impossible to describe everything I’ve experienced and even really hard to flesh out in tangible ways how I’ve grown.  Again, I’ve only been here two months, which isn’t that much time.  I’ve grown a little bit but I’m not like the hobbits of Lord of the Rings leaving the Shire as weaklings and returning transformed as warriors.