This never loaded last week so here it is now! It's from my last day in India.
Today ends my time in India. I have been living in India for six weeks now. Throughout my time I have been challenged, grown, learned and experienced. I just want to reflect on my time here and my experiences.
1. Everything in India is a 50/50 chance. Whether it be the taxi you called arriving on time, if a restaurant has your first choice of food or if your food comes in a reasonable time and how/what you ordered.
2. I have never sweat as much as I have here in India. Some days I would be shivering in the lab because the AC was so cold but as soon as I step outside I would be sweating. My body has adjusted though because the last few weeks I did not sweat as much as the first week. Either way it will be nice to return to Michigan weather
3. My research
The research I did here was definitely a learning experience for me. It was my first time doing research and it was not quite what I expected. Coming to India I was really excited about the project I was going to work on. I wanted to get results and come out feeling like I accomplished something but I slowly lost that motivation as I spent time in the lab. There were productive moments but I felt like I did a lot of waiting and not productive things too. I wish I could say I accomplished our project, we had some unexpected hold ups during our project but I have left the lab and left an unfinished project. Even though we did not finish our project, I still learned a lot in the lab and learned about myself too.
4. Security in India is very different than at home. Here they have metal detectors at the entrance of a majority of restaurants and hotels. Often times they are not on or even if they beep everyone still enters. Even the airport was lenient. I was able to get an open bottle of water, large tube of sunblock and a butter knife through security. At home they do not allow anything compared to here.
5. We have been celebrities on various occasions. People will come up and ask for a photo with us or awkwardly stand next to us and take a picture of us. One time I charged a guy ten rupees for a photo with me!
6. Even though I have lived here for six weeks, I still do not feel like I have a good grasp on the Indian culture. I still have a lot of unanswered questions.
7. Cows, Monkeys and Dogs Oh my!! There are cows chilling on the side and middle of the road everywhere. Most are skinny and their bones stick out. Some are tied to things but most are just roaming. Monkeys are not always cute and nice. They can be vicious and steal things and were all over IIT Campus. There were also deer all over campus. The streets are full of stray dogs. They lay and run all over. They eat the trash off the streets and sometimes bark and fight with each other. It is sad to see so many animals abandoned.
8. Living in a hotel gets old after awhile. There is limited space and with no kitchen or anything you have to order food all the time. I am very excited to back in my house in Clarkston and eat my mom's food! And then move into my house in East Lansing!
9. Traveling in India has been my favorite part of this trip. I enjoyed seeing how the culture and people were different in each city. I liked visiting the forts in each city. We don't really have really old forts at home.
4. Security in India is very different than at home. Here they have metal detectors at the entrance of a majority of restaurants and hotels. Often times they are not on or even if they beep everyone still enters. Even the airport was lenient. I was able to get an open bottle of water, large tube of sunblock and a butter knife through security. At home they do not allow anything compared to here.
5. We have been celebrities on various occasions. People will come up and ask for a photo with us or awkwardly stand next to us and take a picture of us. One time I charged a guy ten rupees for a photo with me!
6. Even though I have lived here for six weeks, I still do not feel like I have a good grasp on the Indian culture. I still have a lot of unanswered questions.
7. Cows, Monkeys and Dogs Oh my!! There are cows chilling on the side and middle of the road everywhere. Most are skinny and their bones stick out. Some are tied to things but most are just roaming. Monkeys are not always cute and nice. They can be vicious and steal things and were all over IIT Campus. There were also deer all over campus. The streets are full of stray dogs. They lay and run all over. They eat the trash off the streets and sometimes bark and fight with each other. It is sad to see so many animals abandoned.
8. Living in a hotel gets old after awhile. There is limited space and with no kitchen or anything you have to order food all the time. I am very excited to back in my house in Clarkston and eat my mom's food! And then move into my house in East Lansing!
9. Traveling in India has been my favorite part of this trip. I enjoyed seeing how the culture and people were different in each city. I liked visiting the forts in each city. We don't really have really old forts at home.
10. Every place has its beauty. There is beauty all around the world. It is different everywhere and different to every viewer. I am so grateful that I have had this opportunity to experience and see the beauty in India.
Overall I have enjoyed my time here in India. I have experienced and learned so many things. From here my trip continues in Europe. I am doing a ten day European Tour. I am meeting my group in Paris and traveling from there. I am beyond excited to be back in Europe.
Goodbye from Chennai. Next stop is Paris!!
Overall I have enjoyed my time here in India. I have experienced and learned so many things. From here my trip continues in Europe. I am doing a ten day European Tour. I am meeting my group in Paris and traveling from there. I am beyond excited to be back in Europe.
Goodbye from Chennai. Next stop is Paris!!
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