So we’ve been in India a year- 365 days of rickshaws, traveling, a few breakdowns, some stomach issues and a lot of home delivery! India is a place that will change you with or without your cooperation. There have been times in the past year when I thought I just couldn’t stand it anymore and then all of a sudden India shows her sweet side and makes me fall in love all over again.
When first moving to Mumbai I was amazed at how this city functioned. Cars, rickshaws, buses, motorbikes, bicycles and pedestrians move in an ebb and flow that does not make sense to the outsider. Even now as I sit in the neighborhood Starbucks, I look down on the street and can’t understand how it all works without disastrous accidents. People say that New York City is the city that never sleeps, but I would argue that Mumbai is the true city that never sleeps. Within our first week of arrival I had the bright idea to take an overnight bicycle tour through the heart of Mumbai. In that one night we saw people from 12-6 am constantly at work or out carrying on their normal lives.
On the list of things I love about India, the help has to be number one. We are so spoiled here! We have an amazing housekeeper who works for us five days a week and dog-sits on the weekends when we travel. She is absolutely amazing! Since I work from home, I spend an average of eight hours a day with her. She cooks, cleans, does laundry and everything else! Man, I am going to miss that so much when we leave. Isaac and I joke about how lazy I have become since hiring Sandhya. How will I ever be domesticated again after India? I have been spoiled and ruined! Second on my list of loves would be the FOOD! Oh my gosh Indian food is delicious, if you haven’t tried it… Go now! You can’t beat a bowl of butter chicken with naan or the juiciest tandoori chicken with paneer. Another amazing side of Mumbai is that you can get ANYTHING delivered straight to your door. Not just delivery food my friends, groceries, dog supplies, ice cream, cookies, clothing! In addition you can have guys come collect your bill payments and you can even have a masseuse or pedicurist come. You could become a complete hermit in Mumbai without issue!
Rickshaws and I have a love-hate relationship. Isaac has a vehicle that he uses for work purposes so that leaves me with the rickshaws of Mumbai. I take them multiple times daily. Some people are fortunate enough to have a rickshaw guy who they use exclusively. I have yet to create this kind of relationship. Some times I have the best luck and end up with a great driver who takes it easy and understands my broken Hindi. Other times, I end up swearing them off as they crazily drive in and out of traffic. Mostly I have honest guys who use their meter strictly, every now and then I have a guy who tries to charge me twice the price or “forgets” to use the meter. When that happens, I am very thankful for our building security guys. I hand the driver whatever I think the cost should be and then walk right into the building as they yell behind me. My building guys roll their eyes and move them along. This doesn’t happen very often though. Mostly I enjoy my little rides, I am grateful for them because it is always a full on India experience. I’m not hiding in the car like Isaac 🙂
I still can’t get over how much travel we have done this year. Some has been covered in this blog but not even close to all of it. In just 12 months we traveled to Thailand twice, spent two weeks in Italy, went home over the summer, and within India took six trips! The travel bug bit us and we haven’t been able to stop. I am so grateful for Isaac’s crazy hectic job that has given us all of these opportunities. I never thought that I would be able to see and experience so much. India has been a great place to discover. Every city/state that we travel to is so different from the first. They each have their own language, their own style of dressing and their own way of doing everything. Isaac and I laugh because even our tour guides have trouble traveling outside of Mumbai. The tour guides get lost, have trouble communicating or even ordering food. If it is difficult for Indians then imagine how difficult it is for foreigners! We were never group travelers before but now it’s a necessity. We can’t imagine trying to do it all on our own but some people love that challenge. It just stresses me out thinking about it!
I think one of the hardest parts of living in Mumbai is being faced with the immense poverty. Growing up in small town middle-class America shielded me from the reality of how people live around the world. I had seen homeless people before and seen families living in poverty in the states but nothing could have prepared me for what I would see. We have all seen Slumdog Millionaire and the scenes where the children are mutilated so that they earn more money begging. This is an unfortunate and true reality of what happens in developing countries. The poverty can overwhelm you and break your heart. Either you build up a wall and ignore the reality of what is happening around you or you try to make a difference. I knew coming to Mumbai that I wanted to volunteer and try to make a difference. During this, I have felt the most genuine love and appreciation from the sweet kiddos. I shared before, but at one school I would bring apples to give away after my tutoring sessions. Those kiddos eyes would light up like I had just given them an iPhone. It has been the most rewarding thing that I have ever done.
We are now on the countdown for our time left in India, who knows where we will go next. I will forever be grateful for all that India has taught me. It has made me a stronger more aware person. I look forward to the day that I can drive my own car, drive through a Chick-Fil-A or go to one supermarket for everything I need. Until then we will continue to travel, have a few stomach aches and try to revel in our remaining time here.
P.S. I still haven’t sent my Christmas cards so forgive me when you receive yours mid-May 🙂 Finding stamps has turned into quite the adventure!
wanderingwithpurpose 