Over the course of the past month, almost every conversation with friends/co-workers has drifted to one subject...home. Like everyone here, I, too, desire to get the eff out of here and begin a life not fraught with classroom training and at least one test per week. Thankfully, come Wednesday, I will be finished with training and become of part of "production", a status held only by employees who have completed their training. Production, in my eyes, is my ticket home. Once I receive a client and join a project(we are a consulting company), I am picking a date departure date (preferably before Christmas) and peacing out. I'm ready.
Granted, my stay in India has not been horrible but the past four months were not what I expected. I tend to romanticize things and figured India would be a magical land I could easily explore on the weekend. I was dead wrong. India challenges you at every step. Seemingly simple tasks are systematically made complex. Something that should take an hour takes three. You get the run-around from Indians more often than an honest answer (probably what annoys me the most about India). The list goes on and on, but, above all, I was not prepare for the inefficiencies of the Sub Continent once I arrived. I am currently reading the book
Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts (its about Mumbai, India), and, within its pages, there is a quote that is essentially necessary for all foreigners visiting India:
Sometimes, in India, you have to surrender before you win.Unfortunately, it is true. For me, I realized this very early on and consciously decided to just go with the flow and not allow India to bother me. Up until now, I have lived contently but I think now is the time to move on.
By next week, I should have an idea when I am leaving (hopefully). Cross your fingers.
Due to the fact I haven't posted in some time, I might as well turn this entry into a mega post detailing my trip to Delhi and Agra (site of the Taj Mahal). Two weekends ago, I headed to Delhi with some friends to experience both North India and one of the Man Made Wonders of the World.
According to everyone you speak to, South India (where I am currently living), is slightly conservative and almost like a different country than up North. I guess some things are true all over the world (take that Southern states). In the South, women always wear traditional sari's and are never caught in the midst of a public display of affection with their boyfriends/husbands (arranged marriages?). In the North, Western ideals have become acceptable and seeing a female wearing low cut Western attire is commonplace as is, to quote a friend, "dancing in clubs with other dudes while bumping and grinding...just like back home!". You see, in the South, at clubs, dudes dance with other dudes and women chill on the sideline...weird. Anyways, it was a pleasant to visit Delhi and witness a more progressive India. Also, Delhi had order and wide streets something also absent in the South.
On the third day of our trip, we made the 250 KM trip to Agra to see the Taj Mahal. After navigating our way through the crowded streets of Agra, we finally made it to the nondescript South Gate entrance to the Taj.
We paid our 750 rupees and entered the red block courtyard of the gate and did not see the Taj as we were surrounded by huge red block walls. After slowly making our way through the gate, a huge white object popped out of the earth while contrasting starkly with the bland redness of its immediate environs. It was truly an amazing experience. Once we made our way into the courtyard, the entire Taj was in view. Due to its location and the hazy skies, the monument appeared to float on the horizon appearing, for me at least, even more awesome than I even imagined.
I took about one hundred photographs of the Taj (most of which do not do the Taj justice) and used AutoStitch to make a panoramic photo of the monument site.
After Agra, we visited a fort and finally made the long journey back to Delhi. Despite the fact the drive took 6 hours each way, India always provides great scenery so the time flew much like our time in Delhi. I think this was the first time I did not want to return to campus while traveling in India...definitely a tell tale sign that I need to bounce.
Thanks for reading.
