I wish I knew now what I knew then....

Sept. 10, 2009

We have been in India about a week and if it's possible I feel like I know less than when I got here. I've read a lot of travel books that India will flip the world as you know it upside down and leave you scrambling for something to hold onto. Add about 18 million people, beeping horns, crazy humidity, and an interesting array of smells, and you've got my first few days in Delhi.

The calmness that people exude is contradicted by the insane pace of the streets and constant noise. The noise is echoed by the constant presence of people asking for money or food, and so begins the constant struggle of what is the right thing to do. Our guides tell us of the many schemes and organized bosses that force people to beg and then take the money. All of a sudden we are powerful more than we know and looked upon as influential. Wrapping my head around this is something that will last long after I'm back in the US. The unbelievable poverty (and we haven't seen the worst) shakes you to your core. Just from that, I doubt I will ever be the same again. Sensory and emotional overload would be putting it mildly. Factor in the sleep deprivation and jet lag, and you can imagine what a fun bunch we were to be around!

Unfortunately, I also spent two days in Delhi holed up in our hotel praying to the gods to please release my stomach in exchange for my first born child. Eventually someone listened and my stomach was released, but my welcome to India definitely flipped me inside out in more ways than one.

Julie Balasalle