Last Day of Work

It is that time of summer-time for the final goodbye to the wonderful Maitri Team. It is my last, bittersweet day of work today and I am astonished at how much I have changed this summer, and I know that I won’t realize the depth of change until I’ve arrived in Salt Lake City and get back to “real life.” Already though, I have started to notice my life blending into the Indian way-of-life. No longer am I blatantly aware of the poverty and living conditions of my neighbors or those who come to beg at my car window. I no longer register that I am on the streets of Delhi; rather it seems to be the streets of a place called home. Everything is strikingly familiar, and yet, so temporary to me. I leave on Tuesday, and won’t be waking up to the racket of the pigeons outside of my bedroom window. I won’t be squishing into the tiny, antique rickshaw that inches me through Delhi pollution and traffic to get to work. I won’t be blasted with the most blissful wall of air conditioning as I walk through the doors of the Maitri office. I won’t be greeted in the high pitch, whining voices of the students “GOODMORNINGMA’AM”. Nope. Instead, at this time next week, I’ll be somewhere unknown again-somewhere that I become blatantly familiar of each new thing, and where I feel like an outsider looking in. My routine is going to shift drastically, and instead of focusing on work-related issues, and becoming accustomed to new living conditions, I will be sightseeing as a bona fide tourist. Upon arrival from Africa I experienced reverse culture shock, and similarly I worry that I will go through the same feelings. Only, instead of being in the comfort of my home, I will be among strangers and on the road (or in the sky, or in a river). So, how will I cope with reverse culture shock while simultaneously coping with regular culture shock?

What an amazing experience this has been! This India place sure is intoxicating. I caught glimpses of my love for India throughout the trip. Sometimes, the glimpse even lasted a couple days, or a week. But you never realize the extent to which you love something until you don’t have it. And I am realizing, while packing up all of my belongings and wrapping goodbye presents, that this is one of those places that I’m going to reminisce forever.

Stay tuned folks for another country another day!
Peace.