Journal 3

Dear Journal,

I think our group is slowly getting used to our daily routine – getting up for Yoga at 7 a.m., Have breakfast at 8 a.m., check e-mails, read or do other things until class, which are all before lunch, have lunch at 1p.m., and after lunch we usually go on little excursions.

Today we went to the Charminar…the “symbol” of Hyderabad. I think the most interesting part of this was the part around the Charminar, which is like a huge bazaar where you can buy fabric and jewelry and lots of other things. We were of course observed by many and it sometimes feels like when we are looking at “tourist attractions” WE are the real attraction to the locals…kind of like we look at tourist attractions and we are their “local attraction,” I don’t know, but to me this attention is very odd. Again, this is something “Indian” (What is Indian…?) It is part of their culture to look when they see a foreign person…it is something “western” not to stare…”Don’t stare at people!” is what our parents teach us. But is it our culture…or more so is it “me?” I am not sure. The view from the Charminar was amazing…to me looking down from tall buildings or being in airplanes always makes me realize how small we are….but then looking at the huge Mosque right next to the Charminar also makes me realize what humans are capable of and how unbelievable some of the things that make us human are.

These are all kind of random thoughts but they are all results of my observations and impressions from today…you could say it is still all part of my reaction to the “culture shock.” To me, this is exciting. I am enjoying every bit about this, observing people, even being observed (well, in a way), the different smells, the different tastes, and the different customs…I like people and I enjoy observing people.

I had talked about the differences and similarities in people from different cultures in one of my earlier entries and I always find this very obvious in children. When we were walking to the mosque we were followed by a group of very poor children probably wanting some money or water. They spoke a different language, they live in a completely different environment, have different customs and different ideas of what the world looks like….yet they are kids….kids like very other one in the world. They laugh and play they run around and play catch. Kids are kids no matter where you are. This is who they are, they are all human, all kids…

There are certain things that make us human. Considering India’s struggle to find an identity, I have come to the conclusion that this should be the first -- the main—characteristic that describes any person in the world. A person can be an Indian or an American, a Hindu or a Christian, a woman or a man, but mostly we are all human.
I am a Human-European-American…the person next to me might be a Human-Indian-Muslim-middle-aged-man…etc We are all human, that I am certain of!