Fabulous India

Had a really enjoyable day today with the group. We had some sessions in the morning, ate lunch in the ashram…our lunch location is really quite beautiful. We sit on what is essentially a stage, where Gandhi used to sit and lecture – overlooking a large patch of green. We eat with our hands and behind us sits Gandhiji himself, as a lifesize painting, sitting cross-legged eyes closed, head titled, humbled. After lunch today we had a session with Sunitaji, who has become a mother to us all here. She was supposed to give a lecture on how to dress in India – what to where on what occasions, etc. Instead, we ended up dressing up in all the samples she brought with her. She lovingly, patiently wrapped each one of us in a sari. “This one is from Benares,” she explained to the men, showing us off one by one as we walked through the door.” “Here is Katie, she is wearing a sari from Assam.” After all the women modeled each type of traditional dress, the entire group got together for a photo shoot – which Sunitaji loved, and proceeded to talk about for the rest of the day.

Later we took autorickshaws to FabIndia, where everyone bought new clothes for our work placements. Again, we took turns modeling for one and other, giving each other tips on how to put together the perfect Indian outfit. After purchasing our new Indian wardrobes, we went out for Gujarati thali (Thali is a giant plate with a small sampling of every traditional dish) and finally made our way back to the ashram.

Throughout the day I couldn’t help but feel totally content and satisfied. This group of people is quite distinct from all the others and being among them, I recognize that I am experiencing India differently. Everyone is so happy together, things are simple, we are here in India and so far, we are just living in it, taking it in. This feels distinct from last time I was here, and even the time before, where I was with a group that was very much focused on trying to understand our role as westerners – the detriment that we caused the local culture, the impact that we had and should try to control, what we represented and stood for and all that we brought with us to this somehow ‘untouched’ place – but we are not doing that here. We are letting ourselves exist as who we are and don’t recognize boundaries where we stop ourselves from crossing. And I’ve noticed, this attitude has lead to more interaction from local people, more willingness to connect, and just a simpler, less confusing way of being in a place. And it makes me wonder if all these questions and critiques we have ourselves are a. important to ask and point out b. helping us to be more reflective, or c. even real at all. To some degree, I think trying to be culturally appropriate to an extent where everyone judges each other, worries about acting normally, and hesitates before even engaging – is totally detrimental.

So, before I turn off the light, I’d like to say I am looking forward to living in India with this new approach. It feels free-ing in some way, I feel that I can relax, but with India herself and with the others here as well. Goodnight to all who are now eating lunch, goodnight to India and the rickshaw drivers still buzzing and beeping outside my window, and goodnight to all the little ants crawling up my walls, please don’t come into my bed.