Be Thankful for What You Got

So today is the last day abroad and I have had a wonderful experience. India has opened new doors, helped me create new friendships, be a business major for 10 days and experience a beautiful eastern country. The past 2 weeks have been action packed, full of fun and memorable. The relationships I have made will definitely be long lasting and I am thankful for all that. Professor Gupta and Professor Kahai are wonderful men who have taken so much time to allow me and my fellow peers to learn, experience, explore and much more. Now that I got all that mushy-gushy stuff out of the way, let me tell you what I have reflected on, especially within the past few hours.

In the past 2 weeks I have learned about India. I have learned about its religions, culture, business market, economy, poor infrastructure, the education system that is in dire need of improvement and much more. But this stuff I was expecting to learn, it’s just part of the curriculum. What I learned that I think will be more beneficial to me is to be thankful for what I have. You hear that expression all the time. I grew up hearing it in Italian, Sicilian and English from EVERYONE…family, friends, relatives…the whole gang. But you never truly understand it until you experience something different. I am extremely thankful for living in a country that has options. I have options 24/7, 365 days, and 32 weeks of the year….

I have the option of education. Some children in India (and even in America) do not have this option. I have the option of driving to work or school without feeling unsafe. I have the option of FOOD VARIETY! The amount of food accessible in the States is honestly incredible. Now don’t get me wrong….India has food variety as well, yet the prices differ, the locations aren’t as easy to access and much more, especially us as students only here for a short time. Meat is extremely rare to obtain. Granted, I came to India knowing that beef would be impossible to have, but I was not expecting to basically become a vegetarian for 10 days…although most of the meals were delicious (and spicy). I’m thankful for my parents who are hard-working, have provided a roof over my head, and food on the table. They have never given me a shortage of anything. They have taught me to work for what I want. The streets of India are full of poor innocent children who’s parents do not have the option to work, who cannot provide food for their children out of their own pocket and who do not have a safe roof over their head. This was what I found extremely disturbing. The value my parents put on my education is tremendous and when talking to some of the beggar children they simply state they do not want to attend school. This showed me that their parents never expressed to them the importance and advantages of having and education. Lastly, I am thankful for constant electricity, wi-fi and hot water WHENEVER I WANT. Our American society has become too dependent on internet and I am a victim. I feel disconnected from my family and friends and waiting for an internet password and hoping the internet works when we get home late to the hotel just doesn’t cut it anymore. The power goes out daily and many times. It’s actually a bit comical. One E-buddy actually said “It wouldn’t be India if the power was always on.” OH and the hot water thing…..well I am writing this blog because I can’t shower in cold water.

I am also thankful for my new business professors. Professor Gupta and Professor Kahai have been extremely understanding, helpful and have answered all our questions. If it wasn’t for them I probably wouldn’t have made it the  past 10 days without buying a ticket home. I’m not only saying this because they are probably going to read the blog, but because it’s the truth. Thank you both and I hope to continue our friendship back in the states…who knows….maybe I’ll become a real business student.

 

“Unity in Diversity”

A country like India that is rich in culture and heritage has few phrases to describe it and I believe “Unity in Diversity” is the best I have come across. In the few days that I have been here, it is amazing the amount I have learned. We have experienced all aspects and worlds that a country could encompass. India is a perfect example of a country that may not be ethnically diverse, yet holds so many different spheres and environments.

No one can say that they have truly experienced a country without visiting various parts, villages and social settings. In order for us students to try and have a little glimpse of all this, we have done our fair share of traveling. Professor Gupta obviously has taken us to visit the corporate world. We have interacted and created networks with these individuals who are high on the corporate ladder. From visiting well established businesses like PWC to new up and coming businesses like Oxigen. We have also come in contact with students and individuals our age learning about how the young generation feels about India and also Americans. Our e-buddies have taught me that they love Americans. They are eager to learn from us. It is extremely common and becoming part of our everyday living in India for individuals to come up to us and ask for a picture with us. It is also common where they want to strike up conversation asking about America, where we are from and what we are doing in India. At first, I was a little uncomfortable with all this attention, but then I realized that we are just as interesting and different to them as they are to us. Visually, our group of students is so diverse that it must be visually stimulating to see in comparison to such a homogeneous population. Everyone has roughly the same physical features in India. Our small group of American students does not. We vary in hair color. Some of us are brunettes and dark complexions, while others are red-heads or blondes with a fair complexion. Our heights vary from 5 feet all the way to 6 foot 5 inches. Our group also encompasses various nationalities; from American to European and even Asian. It is only human nature to be curious. Professor Gupta and Professor Kahai have also thought it necessary to expose us also to the rural areas as well as bustling streets of Delhi. We experienced a farm and farm living. We took part in mud baths, learned about aloe vera plants, water systems in rural and farm areas, as well as took part in various fun farm activities and games. That same day, we were taken to one of the most busiest parts of the city Old Delhi, Chandni Chowk. A place like no other for sure. Busy street life that incorporated rich individuals, middle class and even the poor beggars and children living in the streets. Imagine…in one day visiting rural and city life in a new country is extremely shocking….especially in India!

Apart from the attention, India has shown me that is shares “unity in diversity” when it comes to religion. Prior to my travels, I was not completely aware of how diverse India was in religion. I knew about Hinduism and Islam being prominent religions, yet I was unaware of how many other religions are part of India. I learned that Sikhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Baha’i, as well as numerous other religions that make up the country. Each live relatively peaceful and are tolerante of each other. People often say that America is religiously tolerant. Yes, I do agree with that statement, but I must say that I see more of a religious tolerance here in India than in America. Everyone is welcomed into these elaborate and beautiful temples. As long as you remove your shoes, you are part of the wonderful world the temple opens to individuals.

The fact that I have been able to visit so many facets of India in such a short time and in such a small span of space teaches me that there is much more to the world than Binghamton. I have grown up traveling my entire life, yet this experience has been a complete eye opener. Although I have seen little of India in comparison to the entire country, I can honestly say I have experienced it as closely as I could possibly have from a locals perspective, and that of course is thanks to both Professor Gupta and Professor Kahai.

Taking It All In

The idea of the India trip was first introduced to me at my kitchen table; my sister was sitting at her computer and looks at me and the rest of my family and says “I’m going to India to see the Taj Mahal!” Of course I said respond back with some smart-ass remark along the lines of “Just go to Atlantic City”. She then explained the trip and I was totally on board! Being that we both have studied abroad during our years in college, we are in a semi-competition going on between us to see who travels the most places. If she was really going to India there was no way I was going to let her gain a country on me, especially a place like India! So I did my research and found out that the trip was also open to non School of Management students. I applied, got in and the rest is history. To be completely honest, I never thought that I would have really come. I was totally up for the idea in the beginning, but then I began getting hesitant about the whole thing. India: a non western civilization where toilet paper is not what considered a necessity. Now that I am here I couldn’t be any happier. Apart from the poverty, the poor infrastructure and beggars on the streets, the hospitality this country has shown is like no other I have been in. Every Indian I have personally come in contact treats each and everyone of us with the upmost respect. The most interesting thing that I experienced the  first day was the official greeting ceremony held for us where each of us personally received a flower garland and traditional welcoming. I found it absolutely amazing the amount of time these people have taken to prepare for our visits when in America we have no memorable greeting that makes an individual feel as special as I have these past few days. I can’t wait to see what the rest of the trip has to offer me!