Sitting here in the hotel room with the slow internet connection, I am still adjusting to all the new sights and smells of Pune. The cultural adaptation is not as apparent as I previous thought. This might be naivete speaking since it might be more prominent once I move in with my house family at the start of next week. Right now, I am adjusting within the moment.
It is still a surreal thought to know that I am in India now, and will reside in this country from the next five months. This time in India will be an experience in the fullest sense of the word. A country where I have no familiarity, knowing only a select group of people, slowly expanding from those few. To make the most of my time here, to truly have an experience, I want to interact, observe and connect with the vibrancy around me.
Today was the perfect introduction to the city. After the long flight here and the enjoyment of our first legal beers in the Frankfurt airport during our layover, we landed in Mumbai. Although it was not difficult to pass thru through the immigration and customs checkpoint. it was an interesting introduction, all the officials seemed in a rush, hurrying us thru as if we were cattle but it might this might have been distorted because of the intense jet lag. Exiting the Mumbai airport, the palpable humidity was more than apparent as we meet our ACM representatives. From there, we got in a car and began the three hour drive to Pune. Seeing Mumbai at night was an interesting sight with the juxtaposition of the newly-built, modern buildings to the more grimy apartments, even more contrasted against the light of dawn. The drive was initially disorientating not only because of driving on the opposite sides of the road, but all the construction around us. The roads around were tore up, full of loose bricks and stray dogs. Knowing that those same roads we were driving on would be severely congested within the span of a few hours created an interesting impression. At all other times of the day those roads would be full of honking cars, erratic motorcycles, and oversized trucks.
As we left Mumbai and crossed the bay, the lights of one of most densely populated cities in the world were nothing more than a distant horizon. From there, we began our trek up the mountain roads to Pune, stopping along the way at 4 in the morning at an Indian road stop. Seeing all the Westernized logos of Pepsi and McDonalds gave a familiar impression but the looks from the faces around indicated confusion and intrigue.
Walking around Pune today, we attempted to see a prominent Hindu temple, a place of which we could never find regardless of countless directions we asked for. Upon entering the market area of the city located on one of the busiest streets, we saw all the traditional vendors, the discounted clothing and accessories of which are commonplace in most American malls. In India, our perception as outsiders was acknowledged by faces of those around us, but it was not a look of disapproval or belittlement, but of interest. At the market, many vendors attempted to get our attentions, as with a couple of children asking us for money, but as we were told, we should not express much interest or emotion, which in the moment, is not the hardest thing to do. Our walking journey did not give me any sort of directional bearings but just revealed more of the city to me. We went to the river area, saw drums being made for the Day of Independence in India, and herds of cows grazing along with a few horses. It was interesting to observe all this animals as commonplace in such a populous city, but I guess it is just commonplace for the residents.
Now, it's off to our first dinner in Pune, then maybe some later festivities tonight. We'll see, it's all about living in the moment here, and experiencing! It's only been the first day, but I am only the more eager to see more!
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