India – what I have learned?

You do not see a country completely if you only go there as a tourist, stay where they stay, eat where they eat, shop where they shop… If you do not talk with locals, visit a school, eat in a local place, feel the part of culture in your heart, it means you have only been to that country, but not in that country. That is what I am trying to do since the last years, not only visiting the country’s surface, but also trying to get more inside and embedded to it, feeling like someone from that country for a little while.

India was a good prospect for me to achieve that. After buying my tickets to India, where I was going to stay for 1,5 months, working as a teacher, I knew that this trip would mean much more to me than only sightseeing. It would mean much to my soul and mind.

When you see new places, new ideas and new doors open in your mind. When you go deeper into a new culture, you are able to go deeper in your own mind and soul.

When I left for India, everything seemed perfect about my life, that I won the school I wanted with afull scholarship, that I have a great girlfriend, a proud mother and friends. But of course, things are never how they seem like. On my way to India, my head was full of problems with my mother, some bad memories with friends, plans, worries etc…

After coming to India, trying to live the life like an Indian ( not with all aspects ), seeing the situation there and adapting to it, seeing how poor people are happy with how their lives are, I have learned many things.

First of all, I have learned that whatever I have in my mind and heart that bothers me, I should spill it out, and thats what I did.

I wrote to my ex-gf, to some friends whom I had problems in my past, to some people whom I do not care about at all but still their actions affected me and my mother, whom I had some communication problems. I wrote all my feelings and how I think, regarding to the problems I have/had with them. Most of them replied to me in a detailed and nice manner, and most of these problems were solved by communicating and courage from my side. This played a major role in me finding peace in my mind.

I saw once again in India that, luxury and comfort are not things that bring or sustain human happiness. When I m back home, I see many friends with no financial problems, making mountains out of molehills on little problems, such as a bad boyfriend, jealousy, pride etc… Those people never appreciate the comfort, the health they have. But many people in India, living in the poorest conditions possible, can be happy by a little smile, a little gift, or even just taking a photo with them.

When I was cleaning the school of handicapped kids with my friends, I have seen how terrible conditions there can be, while these students literally study amongst smell of piss. Of course this is not the case everywhere in India, but it is also the sad truth in some parts. I have seen how happy these kids became if you spare 10 minutes painting with them.

That is why I believe that us, who were the luckier ones born with health, wealth and support, do not have the luxury to live only for ourselves. Because there are too many people in need in this world, who needs help and support.

This is what India thought me…

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