Bangalore, India– Why India?! The infamous question that seemed to be on everyone’s mind as I shared with family, friends and peers the news that I would be studying abroad in India.
For four months I would be living in the city of Bangalore and attending Christ University as I would be completing my minor in Sociology. As I found myself questioning the crazy decision of moving out for the first time ever across the world I thought, “Why not, go big or go home right?!”
Well as soon as I boarded my plane in San Francisco on Aug. 23, I knew there was no turning back and at that point I was completely ready to embark on one of the biggest adventures of my life. I am now going on to week two of living in Bangalore and describing the culture as just “different” is a complete understatement. As different as Indian culture is though, I feel strongly that the perceptions of this culture have been inaccurate to its reality and I am here to let you walk in the shoes of someone who is not only learning but experiencing first-hand the culture of my new newly beloved home, India.
Bangalore is known as the Silicon Valley as it is the tech capital of India, but is also referred to as the Garden City, filled with the most beautiful and exotic plants and trees I have ever seen. As I have once described this city as “chaotically beautiful”, Bangalore is one of the biggest and most crowded cities I have ever experienced. As there is never five seconds that go by without hearing a car, motorbike, or rickshaw horn, the streets are filled with hundreds of vehicles and people who play this cat and mouse game as to see who will pass first. Usually the vehicles win, but if you’re lucky and cross the streets with a big crowd of people you usually can cross with no worries of getting hit, or almost hit by crazy drivers.
You can always just take a chance and run like I have seen some locals do, but they usually end up stuck in the middle of the street with cars racing past them not giving them an opportunity to cross all the way. I have yet to take my chances with that method of crossing because I still enjoy living.
Walking along the streets my first day here I realized it was going to be difficult getting around since I couldn’t even look around to see where I was due to the sidewalks being completely uneven making it very difficult to walk, unless I wanted to trip and fall every five steps taken! The more and more familiar I am becoming with the streets is making walking with my head up a lot easier, but I still catch myself looking down to make sure there is no chance of falling.
It is very much known that India is a third-world country and its poverty levels are extremely high due to the large population and low amount of resources to accommodate every individual. The reality of this is very obvious in Bangalore since the poverty is mixed into the urban life. For instance, when walking down a street you look left and see this beautiful newly built mall with people drinking coffee and walking out with huge shopping bags. Then you look right, and see people begging for money by piles and piles of trash.
This image can be hard to imagine, but it’s the reality of India and as I am exploring this city more I am realizing that this has become the norm of this city. Although this is sad to see especially for the first time, India is showing me that there is more to this culture then just poverty. The people here are the most kind and generous people I have ever met and they look forward to just living a great and happy life whether they are rich or poor. To them living is such a gift and it is never taken for granted.
The culture and traditions of India are nothing like I have ever seen before, and being able to experience and be a part of this lifestyle has been one of the most amazing things that has ever happened to me. Within the two weeks of being here I have learned so much and I have such a different perspective of life which has given me much more appreciation of the life I live. India has taught me to appreciate the small things, live life with a slower pace so you are able to enjoy more of it and to constantly smile!