Alright, time for business. I've already been in India for exactly 3 months and 1 day, not that I'm counting or anything. I first arrived on September 28th around 10pm in the Dum Dum airport in Kolkata and my, oh my, has it been an experience thus far. Never living outside the States for more than three weeks, I haven't gotten to really experience another way of life or broaden my horizons, so to speak. You can really only know how life in another country is if you stay for more than a holiday and become a live-in resident.
And with the modern effects of globalization, it seems like the Atlantic Ocean that is dauntingly standing between me and my home country, isn't really that gigantuan at all. Yes, it is big in proportion, but all I have to do is hop on a flight and wait about 24 hours, and here I am, in incredible India. Technology, I would like to thank you for allowing me to keep in touch with all my friends and loved ones back home, but you've also allowed western culture to seep into traditional Indian ways of life. I suppose it's better to learn from one another, but the West only seems to be giving in this one-sided relationship. Enough... I'll get off my pedestal now. This was my honors thesis topic so I could talk about this for hours and I don't want to bore you daisies!
I can look at this experience now after 3 months and differentiate between standard of life and quality of life. These phrases are most definitely not interchangeable. Simply because one might have a high standard of life and live in the lap of luxury does not equal quality of life, aka happiness. We might have TV's and air-conditioned salons, but are we really happy? Do we take time to enjoy life and all the beauty and love that surrounds us everyday? Some people here only have 2 or 3 pairs of clothes and 1 pair of shoes, but they are happy living without the material cares of our modern society. Turn your TV's off for a day and really listen to one another, that's my take.
As much as I love Indian culture and people, I feel a bit stifled living in the village, partly due to the fact that i need help to do everything since I don't speak the regional language, plus the fact that India is a developing country. I don't have the independance I so dearly cherish. Look out America, here I come, just two more months!
As a side-note: Life in West Bengal is like taking a step back in time. I love the old-school style of how the men dress for winter. Imagine sweater vests, slacks, button-up shirts and scarves- just like living in the Dick Van Dyke Show, minus the whole India part! And if you don't know who Dick Van Dyke is, you should, he's a wholesomely funny guy!
And with the modern effects of globalization, it seems like the Atlantic Ocean that is dauntingly standing between me and my home country, isn't really that gigantuan at all. Yes, it is big in proportion, but all I have to do is hop on a flight and wait about 24 hours, and here I am, in incredible India. Technology, I would like to thank you for allowing me to keep in touch with all my friends and loved ones back home, but you've also allowed western culture to seep into traditional Indian ways of life. I suppose it's better to learn from one another, but the West only seems to be giving in this one-sided relationship. Enough... I'll get off my pedestal now. This was my honors thesis topic so I could talk about this for hours and I don't want to bore you daisies!
I can look at this experience now after 3 months and differentiate between standard of life and quality of life. These phrases are most definitely not interchangeable. Simply because one might have a high standard of life and live in the lap of luxury does not equal quality of life, aka happiness. We might have TV's and air-conditioned salons, but are we really happy? Do we take time to enjoy life and all the beauty and love that surrounds us everyday? Some people here only have 2 or 3 pairs of clothes and 1 pair of shoes, but they are happy living without the material cares of our modern society. Turn your TV's off for a day and really listen to one another, that's my take.
As much as I love Indian culture and people, I feel a bit stifled living in the village, partly due to the fact that i need help to do everything since I don't speak the regional language, plus the fact that India is a developing country. I don't have the independance I so dearly cherish. Look out America, here I come, just two more months!
As a side-note: Life in West Bengal is like taking a step back in time. I love the old-school style of how the men dress for winter. Imagine sweater vests, slacks, button-up shirts and scarves- just like living in the Dick Van Dyke Show, minus the whole India part! And if you don't know who Dick Van Dyke is, you should, he's a wholesomely funny guy!
