So, it's roughly been 4.5 months of re-Americanization... that's as long as I was in India.
A day before I left, we took all the Aksharavani kids to the Hyderabad zoo with the money my mom and Impact World Hunger raised for them! I have never seen such amazed children. It was wonderful.
After rolling around in pain and nausea my second week at home, doctors figured out I had a parasite and I was sick for a month. I named him Carl. In June, I moved to Lincoln and the rest of the summer was full of weight loss and gain, long car rides, work, and an obscene amount of sleeping. I got to see Erin, while on a family vacation and that was AWESOME.
The whole summer was hard. I had trouble feeling like anything I did actually mattered or bettered the world. I realized that India had changed me. Once home, I started eating food according to the expiration date (so I didn't waste any), I slept on the floor (because my bed's softness hurt my back), and I got bored. In June, I wrote in my journal how easy everything was:
"I'm hungry----I get a snack out of the cupboard and eat it. I'm hot-----I turn on the AC.----- I want something-----I drive my car to the store and get it... etc." The adventure of everyday life had disappeared.
My Nana asked me what the most important thing I learned from India was; I contemplated this a long time. Finally, I decided, the most important lesson I learned abroad was: one has power over their own happiness. She mentioned something about her doctor (from India) saying that Americans are not as happy as Indians... I thought about this statement for a while and decided it is all about expectations, attitude, and one's control over their own, personal, happiness.
Examples: If one calls a taxi in America, one will get a taxi: on time, clean, and with air-conditioning. When one calls a taxi in India, maybe one will get a taxi: hopefully within the hour scheduled, hopefully clean-ish, and windows that rolled down. Now, imagine one called a taxi (in America): it's late, dirty, and hot. One would be upset right? My whole day would be ruined. Now, imagine one called a taxi (in India): it's on time, the driver is friendly, the cab is relatively clean, and wait..... AIR-CONDITIONING! One's whole day has been made! Why? Because one's expectations were not too high, one's attitude appreciated the little things, and they had control to let this happiness envelop them the rest of the day.
Happiness is guided by attitude, and that is the biggest lesson I have taken from India.
A few weeks ago, I printed out a bunch of India pictures and pinned them on a bulletin board in my room. It sits across from my bed and I look at it every night before I fall asleep. Remember the post, My love affair with India, from March? Well, everything about it is true: I wrote that leaving India would be a bitter sweet affair; well sometimes, my whole body yearns for India. Not a day goes by that I don't dream about her. Other times, India seems like a dream, unclear and distant.
Now that school has started, I am back in my groove. I really love my school and what I study. I live in a fabulous little house with wonderful roommates. I get to see my best friend/boyfriend everyday and it's good to be back with friends and family, they've all been really understanding. Billy has been awesome: when I am upset or day-dreaming or throwing a fit he understands that he doesn't really understand and just listens and supports. He is joining the United States Marine Corps, so hopefully this can give me my adventure fix!
I love America but India has stolen part of my heart. I will go back someday, but until then, I guess I'll just look at those photographs on my wall: my girls, my dogs, my students, trips, etc. My first blog entry, in November 2011, stated, "I'm going to India because of the multitude of colors...." Now, almost a year later, I know that those colors will never leave me.
A day before I left, we took all the Aksharavani kids to the Hyderabad zoo with the money my mom and Impact World Hunger raised for them! I have never seen such amazed children. It was wonderful.
On the way to the zoo! |
Awe. |
Buddy-System :) |
Posing |
Me and some students. |
Emily and Sarah |
Everyone outside the zoo! |
Fellow Aksharavani teachers. |
After rolling around in pain and nausea my second week at home, doctors figured out I had a parasite and I was sick for a month. I named him Carl. In June, I moved to Lincoln and the rest of the summer was full of weight loss and gain, long car rides, work, and an obscene amount of sleeping. I got to see Erin, while on a family vacation and that was AWESOME.
Yay! |
The whole summer was hard. I had trouble feeling like anything I did actually mattered or bettered the world. I realized that India had changed me. Once home, I started eating food according to the expiration date (so I didn't waste any), I slept on the floor (because my bed's softness hurt my back), and I got bored. In June, I wrote in my journal how easy everything was:
"I'm hungry----I get a snack out of the cupboard and eat it. I'm hot-----I turn on the AC.----- I want something-----I drive my car to the store and get it... etc." The adventure of everyday life had disappeared.
My Nana asked me what the most important thing I learned from India was; I contemplated this a long time. Finally, I decided, the most important lesson I learned abroad was: one has power over their own happiness. She mentioned something about her doctor (from India) saying that Americans are not as happy as Indians... I thought about this statement for a while and decided it is all about expectations, attitude, and one's control over their own, personal, happiness.
Examples: If one calls a taxi in America, one will get a taxi: on time, clean, and with air-conditioning. When one calls a taxi in India, maybe one will get a taxi: hopefully within the hour scheduled, hopefully clean-ish, and windows that rolled down. Now, imagine one called a taxi (in America): it's late, dirty, and hot. One would be upset right? My whole day would be ruined. Now, imagine one called a taxi (in India): it's on time, the driver is friendly, the cab is relatively clean, and wait..... AIR-CONDITIONING! One's whole day has been made! Why? Because one's expectations were not too high, one's attitude appreciated the little things, and they had control to let this happiness envelop them the rest of the day.
Happiness is guided by attitude, and that is the biggest lesson I have taken from India.
A few weeks ago, I printed out a bunch of India pictures and pinned them on a bulletin board in my room. It sits across from my bed and I look at it every night before I fall asleep. Remember the post, My love affair with India, from March? Well, everything about it is true: I wrote that leaving India would be a bitter sweet affair; well sometimes, my whole body yearns for India. Not a day goes by that I don't dream about her. Other times, India seems like a dream, unclear and distant.
Now that school has started, I am back in my groove. I really love my school and what I study. I live in a fabulous little house with wonderful roommates. I get to see my best friend/boyfriend everyday and it's good to be back with friends and family, they've all been really understanding. Billy has been awesome: when I am upset or day-dreaming or throwing a fit he understands that he doesn't really understand and just listens and supports. He is joining the United States Marine Corps, so hopefully this can give me my adventure fix!
Happier then ever. |
After running the Warrior Dash. |
Aren't they cute!? Yellowstone and Family... YAY America! |
I love America but India has stolen part of my heart. I will go back someday, but until then, I guess I'll just look at those photographs on my wall: my girls, my dogs, my students, trips, etc. My first blog entry, in November 2011, stated, "I'm going to India because of the multitude of colors...." Now, almost a year later, I know that those colors will never leave me.