Where is Roberg?

Thank You… and Sorry for Not Posting Sooner

First, let me thank all of you who have been such supportive and enthusiastic readers of this blog. I can’t tell you how rewarding it has been to hear from so many of you. When I first set up the blog, I feared that very few people would read it. In fact, I wondered if anyone would read it!

Initially, I set up the blog primarily for students, but hoped that family and friends may check it periodically also. I found, to my surprise, that some people checked in quite regularly. In fact, I was thoroughly impressed to find some remarkably perceptive comments and questions from students, friends, family, and some wonderful people I still have not had the chance to meet.

Consequently, I have felt neglectful due to the fact that I haven’t posted anything of my own (Flat Kat posted some wonderful pictures you should check out if you haven’t had the chance yet) since I’ve returned. Looking back at the last three weeks, I must admit that it is not entirely due to being ‘too busy’. I have had time, and I have had access to the internet. So why have I failed to post something?

The Difficult Task of Reflecting on India

I have actually sat down and written drafts of this post twice before in the last few weeks, but I found it difficult to organize my thoughts. I realize now that I was in the throes of something I believe anthropologists (people who study different cultures) refer to as culture shock. Believe it or not, it was quite shocking to return home and reacclimatize (readjust) myself to American culture.

Although I was thrilled to be home (boy, did that first hamburger taste good!), I was struck repeatedly by things we all take for granted: a plush and comfortable bed, familiar food choices, a hot shower in a “real” shower, etc. I was also struck very deeply by the expansive wealth of the United States. Reflecting upon my experiences in India and putting them into a context that wouldn’t be misinterpreted while I readjusted to being home seemed daunting at best, impossible at worst.

Further complicating the situation was the fact that I was going to be relating my own personal experiences, which were limited to only 30 days, and only 8 northern cities. As a western man of Scandinavian descent, I undoubtedly had different experiences than a Japanese-American woman on a religious pilgrimage, or a first generation Indian-American visiting extended family would have had.

In short, I am only one person with one set of experiences. Regardless of the care I take when I put together my blog, a presentation, or simply tell a story, I am acting as a filter: choosing which pictures, experiences, or observations I think will be most interesting or educational to my audience. (It was interesting to have a former student of mine, who immigrated to the U.S. from India last year, come to my presentation today about India! I can’t wait to compare my experiences with his.) Given these limitations, I’d like to caution you about judging other cultures too harshly

How can I explain the awe I felt at the utter poverty I encountered without turning you off to all of the wonderful and fascinating country that is India? How can I share the amazement I feel about the incredible wealth we are surrounded by every day of our lives without sounding condescending? How can I reflect on 30 days of once-in-a-lifetime experiences in one short and readable post? (speaking of readable, are you still with me?! )

The Truth about India (from my limited experience): A Land of Contrasts

The answer, as usual, is to tell the truth.

The truth is that India is very complicated, just like America. There are rich, middle class, and poor people. India is incredibly diverse (they have 22 official languages and hundreds of other languages and dialects). Their written history is over 4,000 years old and contains vast cultural achievements as well as periods of backwardness or repression. Indians are intensely proud of their heritage and their country. (If you didn’t get a chance to read my post about visiting the Pakistan-India border, give it a read – it was one of my most popular posts to date).

And yet, even though we have a lot in common (our diversity, democracy, patriotism, and drive to become more modernized), from an American viewpoint, India seemed to be a land of contrasts. They constantly swept, but everything still seemed dirty. The internet was fast, cheap (between 30 cents and $1 per hour), and easily accessible, but the electricity went out with striking irregularity. Religion was very public, but relationships were private. At times I was treated with more respect because I was a foreigner, but at others I was targeted or treated differently. Touts seemed to have no problem trying to take advantage of me just because I was a westerner, and I had to pay 750 rupees (almost $20) to get into the Taj Mahal even though an Indian national only had to pay 20 rupees (50 cents). On the other hand, I had many conversations with people who were very excited to practice their English and told me that it was their dream to someday visit America.

The Rewards Outweighed the Challenges

As I expected, traveling through India was very challenging (though far less challenging than I secretly feared). It was tiring to constantly be on guard while I was alone, or trying to be my charming self when I met other travelers. Although I didn’t set up an overly grueling schedule, I traveled over 1,500 miles by train and hundreds more by bus, taxi, auto rickshaw, cycle rickshaw, and on foot. I persistently tried as many kinds of Indian food as I could, even though it wasn’t my favorite. To top it off, it seemed as though I was worlds away from my friends and family, with whom I wanted to share all of the good and bad experiences.

However, the rewards definitely outweighed the challenges. This was a once-in-a-lifetime trip that most people will never create for themselves. I have now seen the Taj Majal, the Golden Temple, the Mahabodhi Temple, the Victoria Memorial, and the ghats along the Ganges River in holy city of Varanasi. I’ve seen and participated in Hindu, Buddhist, and Sikh religious rituals. I met hundreds of “real” Indians, and made some friends with people from all over the world.

If life is made up experiences, I had a lifetime of experiences in India. I encourage you to do the same.

The only way to truly appreciate other cultures is by really giving them a chance.

Filed under: India, Travel