Completely Different Worlds

The first stop in our trip was Munich, Germany. Although we were only there for a layover, its organized and efficient nature stuck out to me as we prepared to land in Delhi, India. They are two completely different worlds.

With a population of more than 1.2 billion people, India’s crowded atmosphere is quite the opposite of Germany’s. The streets are filled with people, bicycles, rickshaws, cars and buses. The buildings are close together. Monkeys, stray dogs and other animals are found wandering the city. And people are everywhere.

It’s loud and a little intimidating. Honking horns, running engines, people calling on the streets, going about their business – the vast quantities of everything. We’ve been warned against drinking the tap water and going out alone at night. Growing up in a small town, this world is very different, but mostly it’s very exciting.

If India is anything, it is alive. There is always movement, and despite the warnings and the jetlag, I already feel like I’ve learned so much in less than two days.

Our group itself is very diverse – although many are already familiar with the business world, we come from a variety of places and backgrounds. I am excited to get to know everyone better as we travel around this beautiful country.

Today we each presented on books we read in preparation for the trip. Stories of yoga, meditation, Hinduism and Indian slums allowed us to reflect on the biases we came with to India as well as the spiritual aspects that play a strong role in larger Indian society.

After we concluded the presentations, we were given traditional Indian clothes to attempt to wear. Although complicated to wrap, once we figured it out, the colorful saris gave us a small insight into the current traditions of women throughout the country.

That exercise was followed with a lecture about the history and current state of Indian society. The government’s current Prime Minister Modi is a controversial figure – his conservative nature has gained him friends, enemies and much attention from the media world. Farmers, women, students and other activists are protesting on the streets.

Between the different religious groups, major economic gaps, gender disparities, changing climate and more, the many aspects of Indian society make it much more complicated to understand. As we begin this journey, I am excited for the many sights, sounds and smells we will experience and the vast amount of learning that will surely take place.