:Good riddance:

It's extremely hot
It smells weird
There are numerous homeless people
The traffic is insanely chaotic
The pollution is out of control
The population is not in control either

And the list can go on, as to why India isn't the most ideal place for so many people...But there is another list that is often overlooked

People have high hopes
Even a homeless person has sparkling eyes
Multiple religions coexist in the same city and region
There are over twenty different languages with more than ninety dialects
A dollar to charity will go further here than in any other Western nation
There are more opportunities to benefit the greater good
Being here makes you realize the small idiosyncracies that make our life convenient are actually all unnecessary and just fringe benefits

I've been in India for about two months now, and I've had plenty of people ask me "why in the world would you move to India from the States?" It is very difficult for me to answer this question, mostly because it is going to be biased, and also because I don't want to do injustice to either of the two countries. However, one thing I will say is that even through the numerous inconveniences that exist with living in a third world country, there is a weird sense of 'homeness' and 'belongingness' that lacks in Western countries. Even though there are times when I get frustrated with the everyday annoyances, I have never questioned my decision to move to India on a permanent basis.
I have learned more about myself, people, life, relationships, culture here in the last two months than I have in all my years combined so far. Perhaps it is because I was too young or naive to realize this earlier, or maybe I have too much time on my hands here (ha), it has been a very interesting transition and has met all my expectations so far.
If you're reading this note and haven't ever stepped out of the Western cocoon, I really suggest you do so. Moving to another country is not necessary to learn these lessons, delving in it for a few weeks will suffice. It might change your life in bigger ways than you think. Seriously.
Cheers.

The Park Bench

Chilly winter evenings or warm summer nights, the combination of good conversation and a comfortable bench midst the breeze at a small park in the local suburban areas of Delhi is a common and familiar sight throughout the city. For thousands of citizens across town, an hour or so they spend each day in the company of old neighbors turned good friends is the one thing that defines normality in their everyday lives. Coming from an independent neighborhood outside of Chicago, this uniformity is truly fascinating. This is the guaranteed one on one interaction that whoever partakes in can use to exchange daily stories, get opinions on important decisions, gossip and exchange laughs. This is also a very simple phenomenon that distinguishes the feel of being part of a community versus an exclusive set of activities that is contained within just one’s home and closed doors.
It is a reminder that what you do, does in fact affect others around you and nothing you do goes unnoticed. Be it the recent wedding arrangement between neighbors, or the new girl in the block that every guy drools over, or the newly wedded bride in the neighborhood who dresses less than traditional. In communities where such an interaction is lacking, there is a sense of belongingness that is absent - the feeling that no matter how happy or dire my current circumstances are, there is nobody outside of the house to share that with.
For so many old retired couples that miss the presence of their loved ones in their homes, walks after dinner with their similar counterparts makes them feel less lonely. For the housewife who feels that she has to refrain from actually voicing her opinions at home, meeting with others in her situation makes her feel less burdened with her own secrets. Delhi is progressing rapidly, and new activities and places are coming up everyday, but the continued existence of parks and fenced gardens can never be replaced with anything more spectacular than the mere idea of their presence. In other parts of the world where an appointment is a pre-requisite to pay a visit and converse, these unsaid and customary meeting places are absent in their culture.
Some locals might view these daily meetings as mildly irritating and a breeding ground for gossip, but when scratched under the surface, they are a representation of the community enveloped lifestyle that is present throughout the country and what foreigners love about India the most. No matter how different we are from one another, there are common threads that bind us together for what we do and the culture we follow. Traditions such as park bench conversations and daily walks give an excuse to come out of your shell, make yourself feel vulnerable without being stripped, and openly understand what’s accepted and expected around you without always having to put yourself on a stage for everyone to judge.

Home is where the Heart is...

It's been over six weeks back in the motherland now. After much "soul" searching and passion hunting, I think I have figured out that this is where I want to be.

Looking around and being here is nostalgic. I can reminisce about my childhood memories, my first bike ride, my first best friends, my first crush, it could go on. As I've grown, though, coming back here is also eye opening. It's heart breaking to see so many people in poverty, so many children who may never go to school and receive the gift of education and knowledge, of women who have and will probably remain helpless for the rest of their lives.

But being in such a place and witnessing such times also provides the opportunity to make a difference. To leave a mark somewhere in someone's (or multiple people's, hopefully)life while I can quench my thirst for sharing, writing, contributing to the greater good of society would be incredibly satisfying. I'm not sure how, I just know that this is where I can do the most good with however little I have or want to give. Besides, how can I not sieze an opportunity to be a part of this dynamic craziness. The colorful people from several religions speaking multiple languages yet witnessing the same thing is beautiful. I feel like a part of something so much bigger than myself, yet so integral at the same time.

The route to my ultimate destination will be a scenic one, no doubt. My life back in the States and my new beginning here in India, when juxtaposed, might seem obscenely different, but really are quiet tightly knit with a common factor - my need and want to pursue my true passion and find my ultimate purpose.

Thank you for the warm welcome, New Delhi. Instead of just metaphorically though, I think it would be nice for a little bit warmer weather as well. These new few weeks until my return will be setting the mood for my future plans. Tasting this new yet familiar place is now officially in session and I shall record my progress here. Cheers!