The two things that surprised me most about India were (I can't say it enough times) how incredibly different it is, and how that difference doesn't bother me. The Netherlands seemed amazingly different, yet the difference between India and the US is thousands of times greater than that of the Netherlands. It's like I stepped into a fantastical story that is totally unreal. The differences are insane.
The frustrating thing is that I can't convey in pictures India as it seems in life. But here are these
The 70 AFS students from all over the world who are spending the year in India (9 of which including me are American) actually got to meet the European Union's ambassador to India. He told us about his wonderful gap year 32 years ago in India, but what stuck in my mind most was a story he told. When he first stepped out of the plane, he thought that the plane exhausts were aimed at him. That was the only explanation for the heat, humidity, and smoke. As he stepped down, he realized that that's just the way India feels like.
Looks like you're settling in nicely, Sterling! Love the photos and eager to see and hear more! Love, Katie
ReplyDelete