Since I’ve been here for almost two weeks, I want to dedicate this post to what India is like on the senses. I now understand why people say that it is exhausting being here: every sense is constantly in use. Let me start with the bad to get it out of the way:
TOUCH- You will never feel truly clean in India. Yes, a shower feels amazing and you swear that it is the best shower that you have ever taken, but less than ten minutes later you are sweating again and already begging for another shower. Grime and dust cling to you and wearing sunglasses on a tuk tuk is a must, or else the dirt will fly in your eyes. No, the touch is not the best part on a daily basis, but I think the rest more than makes up for it.
SMELL- This one is two-fold. On one hand you get the best smells imaginable- curry, spices, incense, etc. and your nose doesn’t know what to smell first. But then you get some whiffs of some truly terrible smells, human smells that you should not be smelling, and it hits you like a brick wall. Most of the time, it only lasts for a minute before the smell of curry and coriander overtake your sense of smell again.
TASTE- How can I even describe the taste? As you all should know, I am obsessed with Indian food. It is like heaven to me to be here- the spices are fresh and the dishes are delicious and I eat paneer at least once a day. The spice hasn’t been exactly as high as I would like it, but my host mom now knows that I like spicy, so each day it is getting better and better. They take simple ingredients and vegetables and create these great dishes with rice, roti, naan, sauces, and gravies. Whoever said that I will lose weight in India was wrong because I cannot get enough of the food. Plus I haven’t been sick yet, so knock on wood.
HEAR- Horns. Horns everywhere. Stuck in gridlock traffic and the horns are blaring. Turning left onto a street, honk to make sure no one is there. It has become a part of the soundtrack to India, I would be worried now if I didn’t hear horns. It’s how they can maneuver these crazy lanes without any accidents- it’s how they let me know that they think it’s strange to see a white person- it’s how they can drive into opposing traffic successfully.
SEE- My eyes are exhausted after a ride in van/tuk tuk/ metro, but I am never bored because there is so much to see. The people and colors are amazing enough. The buildings may be dilapidated and the slum may be depressing, but then you see these children with kohl enhanced eyes wearing bright yellows, blues, and reds just playing and smiling and it somehow makes it better. The women all wear such beautiful clothes, either saris or Punjabis with such intricate details and accessories, matching their bindi and bracelets to what color they are wearing that day. There are cows everywhere (which terrifies me) and everyone is so interesting and colorful- the pictures can’t even do it justice. And the traffic. As I said, traffic here is a bit intense, but somehow they manage to do it. As I like to think, there are things in life that are just impossible to do. India, however, laughs at those beliefs and makes it happen anyway. Fit eight lanes of traffic when there should be four? Impossible! (They do it.) Squeeze 13 people into a tiny tuk tuk? No way! (It can be done.)
Yes, India is overwhelming at times, but India is so fascinating. I feel like I could just sit and watch/smell (sometimes)/listen/taste and never get bored or know what will come next. And at the end of the day, I have my homestay to come back to with it’s AC, wireless, beds, and shower, so really, there is no room to complain.
So while I’m here I am going to challenge myself, because as I said, India can make the impossible possible (while laughing and honking their horn of course).
TOUCH- You will never feel truly clean in India. Yes, a shower feels amazing and you swear that it is the best shower that you have ever taken, but less than ten minutes later you are sweating again and already begging for another shower. Grime and dust cling to you and wearing sunglasses on a tuk tuk is a must, or else the dirt will fly in your eyes. No, the touch is not the best part on a daily basis, but I think the rest more than makes up for it.
SMELL- This one is two-fold. On one hand you get the best smells imaginable- curry, spices, incense, etc. and your nose doesn’t know what to smell first. But then you get some whiffs of some truly terrible smells, human smells that you should not be smelling, and it hits you like a brick wall. Most of the time, it only lasts for a minute before the smell of curry and coriander overtake your sense of smell again.
TASTE- How can I even describe the taste? As you all should know, I am obsessed with Indian food. It is like heaven to me to be here- the spices are fresh and the dishes are delicious and I eat paneer at least once a day. The spice hasn’t been exactly as high as I would like it, but my host mom now knows that I like spicy, so each day it is getting better and better. They take simple ingredients and vegetables and create these great dishes with rice, roti, naan, sauces, and gravies. Whoever said that I will lose weight in India was wrong because I cannot get enough of the food. Plus I haven’t been sick yet, so knock on wood.
HEAR- Horns. Horns everywhere. Stuck in gridlock traffic and the horns are blaring. Turning left onto a street, honk to make sure no one is there. It has become a part of the soundtrack to India, I would be worried now if I didn’t hear horns. It’s how they can maneuver these crazy lanes without any accidents- it’s how they let me know that they think it’s strange to see a white person- it’s how they can drive into opposing traffic successfully.
SEE- My eyes are exhausted after a ride in van/tuk tuk/ metro, but I am never bored because there is so much to see. The people and colors are amazing enough. The buildings may be dilapidated and the slum may be depressing, but then you see these children with kohl enhanced eyes wearing bright yellows, blues, and reds just playing and smiling and it somehow makes it better. The women all wear such beautiful clothes, either saris or Punjabis with such intricate details and accessories, matching their bindi and bracelets to what color they are wearing that day. There are cows everywhere (which terrifies me) and everyone is so interesting and colorful- the pictures can’t even do it justice. And the traffic. As I said, traffic here is a bit intense, but somehow they manage to do it. As I like to think, there are things in life that are just impossible to do. India, however, laughs at those beliefs and makes it happen anyway. Fit eight lanes of traffic when there should be four? Impossible! (They do it.) Squeeze 13 people into a tiny tuk tuk? No way! (It can be done.)
Yes, India is overwhelming at times, but India is so fascinating. I feel like I could just sit and watch/smell (sometimes)/listen/taste and never get bored or know what will come next. And at the end of the day, I have my homestay to come back to with it’s AC, wireless, beds, and shower, so really, there is no room to complain.
So while I’m here I am going to challenge myself, because as I said, India can make the impossible possible (while laughing and honking their horn of course).