I'm Back!

SoulSearcher · Jun 27th, 2004, 04:34

Namaste India Junkies:
I'm back from my first (almost: first time: went when I was very young) trip to India. I just spent four months in the State of Gujarat. For me it was a working trip and not a vacation. I spent the whole time in the city of Ahmedabad (pronounced Amdavaad by locals) conducting my dissertation research. Was so nervous before I left I lost a lot of weight (good thing).

What a great exciting place India is! I marveled at the images and people and different scenes that welcomed me. Just walking down the street was an adventure with plenty to look at. My work focused on development of poor women so I spent most of my time with poor people and in the slums. Was treated with so much love and respect I felt I was part of everyone's family. Dressed in Indian clothes the whole time to try an fit into the cultural norms and show respect.

Cut down on my expenses after a few weeks when I got "savvy" about living like an "Indian". Actually, my parents were born in India but I was born in Kenya so speak Gujarati which was great fun. Could talk to all locals and spoke Hindi too so it was no problem. Loved the fresly cooked Gujarati veggie meals. After a while did not miss meat at all because of the variety. Began by spending about 70-90 Rs per day on lunch, and then got a daily tiffin delivered to my hotel, for only 20Rs (about 50 cents) when I had to spend all day indoors typing up my notes etc.

Got to see few places in and around town like Gandhiji's Ashram on the Sabarmati River where he spent many years working on his Quit India campaign. Learned much from his teachings about living the simple life and from watching my contacts in the slums who have to survive on so little. When I arrived in India tired and afraid at the airport I felt alone. When I left, my hotel room was packed with friends who came to say goodbye. I cried when I left because I will miss them all and don't know when I will get back. I have to work hard analyzing and writing my dissertation now but I miss India every day. India taught me more than I expected to learn especially about humanity and compassion. Hope I can get back some day.

Also my husband (who had to stay behind and keep working) has enjoyed tasting my new Indian receipes I learned. I realize now how we own too much, buy too much, and complain too much, here and we should cut down on our extravagance.

Peace,

butterball · Jun 27th, 2004, 14:08

What a nice post !

Nice to hear you had such a rewarding time..

... and please, if you can tempt me back to Ahmedebad, I'd be very interested as I had a miserable couple of days there !

SoulSearcher · Jun 27th, 2004, 20:07

Hello:
Sorry you had a bad time in Ahmedabad. What happened? I only met a couple of "bad apples" there but focused on the majority of people who are very friendly and helpful to stangers. Taking a camera with you is a great idea. Made so many friends just by taking photos (for my research). People crowded around me asking me if I was a journalist and "will my photo be in the paper tomorrow?" If you take a digital camera it only costs 5 Rs to make prints at a local photo shop on Ashram Road. I gave some to people there and they were so happy. On the annual kite festival I climbed on top of the Teen Darwaza (Three Gates) in the city and gave several kites to local children and enjoyed watching them flying kites. They were thrilled and I have some great photos. Take lots of miniature chocolates (Hershey's assorted were a big hit) and give them out to children in the street who come begging. I refused to give cash but gave them candy instead. I became famous around my hotel and sometimes bought them ice-cream on really hot afternoons. The office staff too enjoyed them and begged for more long after I had run out. Fill your suitacase with them. Indians have a sweet tooth and have an amazing appetite for sweets. Loved to chitchat with everyone so much it always took me ages to walk anywhere cause I kept stopping along the way

I recommend you stay at the Golden Plaza hotel opposite the Town Hall. Tell them I recommended it (say I was a lady researcher from Chicago who stayed there from Jan-May this year and they will all remember me). They will take great care of you and treat you well. It is a clean hotel and they have AC rooms. Costs about 895 Rs per day. I paid 700 Rs per day as I was staying long term. Clean rooms and great security, right in center of town. Along with laundry and occasional meals in the hotel I averaged about $17 per day. There are cheaper hotels but security and cleanliness is not comparable. I'm fussy about these as I was a single woman living alone and people always notice this.

Not a lot for tourists to see in this city but a great place to research about true Indian life as they don't meet too many international visitors. Very traditional Hindu and Muslim customs so dress modestly (long pants, no shorts) etc. Smile a lot and learn some Hindi and Gujarati words/phrases and they will be so happy.

I'm trying to sponsor my research assistant's daughter from there to come and study at a local college here. She is a bright young girl and eager to travel and study.

Good luck

cyberhippie · Jun 27th, 2004, 20:16

Yeah soulsearcher thats India, he said wiping the tears from his eyes.
What a wonderfully warm post.
It must have been fantastic being able to communicate in the local language!!

vinayverma · Jun 28th, 2004, 02:15

Hey Kem Cho Soulsearcher,
nice post....badu saru che.....
welcome back to IM and pls stay here....and next time..come to North of India...its bit different from Gujrat. and you'll love it.

Jun 27th, 2004, 04:34	#1
SoulSearcher Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 22	I'm Back! Namaste India Junkies: I'm back from my first (almost: first time: went when I was very young) trip to India. I just spent four months in the State of Gujarat. For me it was a working trip and not a vacation. I spent the whole time in the city of Ahmedabad (pronounced Amdavaad by locals) conducting my dissertation research. Was so nervous before I left I lost a lot of weight (good thing). What a great exciting place India is! I marveled at the images and people and different scenes that welcomed me. Just walking down the street was an adventure with plenty to look at. My work focused on development of poor women so I spent most of my time with poor people and in the slums. Was treated with so much love and respect I felt I was part of everyone's family. Dressed in Indian clothes the whole time to try an fit into the cultural norms and show respect. Cut down on my expenses after a few weeks when I got "savvy" about living like an "Indian". Actually, my parents were born in India but I was born in Kenya so speak Gujarati which was great fun. Could talk to all locals and spoke Hindi too so it was no problem. Loved the fresly cooked Gujarati veggie meals. After a while did not miss meat at all because of the variety. Began by spending about 70-90 Rs per day on lunch, and then got a daily tiffin delivered to my hotel, for only 20Rs (about 50 cents) when I had to spend all day indoors typing up my notes etc. Got to see few places in and around town like Gandhiji's Ashram on the Sabarmati River where he spent many years working on his Quit India campaign. Learned much from his teachings about living the simple life and from watching my contacts in the slums who have to survive on so little. When I arrived in India tired and afraid at the airport I felt alone. When I left, my hotel room was packed with friends who came to say goodbye. I cried when I left because I will miss them all and don't know when I will get back. I have to work hard analyzing and writing my dissertation now but I miss India every day. India taught me more than I expected to learn especially about humanity and compassion. Hope I can get back some day. Also my husband (who had to stay behind and keep working) has enjoyed tasting my new Indian receipes I learned. I realize now how we own too much, buy too much, and complain too much, here and we should cut down on our extravagance. Peace,

Jun 28th, 2004, 02:15	#5
vinayverma Maha Infrequent Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 1,289	Hey Kem Cho Soulsearcher, nice post....badu saru che..... welcome back to IM and pls stay here....and next time..come to North of India...its bit different from Gujrat. and you'll love it. __________________ If Life is a journey....travel on...and on..on..on.....

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Jun 27th, 2004, 14:08	#2
butterball Mine's a Haywoods... Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: London.. sometimes.. Posts: 685	What a nice post ! Nice to hear you had such a rewarding time.. ... and please, if you can tempt me back to Ahmedebad, I'd be very interested as I had a miserable couple of days there !

Jun 27th, 2004, 20:07	#3
SoulSearcher Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 22	Hello: Sorry you had a bad time in Ahmedabad. What happened? I only met a couple of "bad apples" there but focused on the majority of people who are very friendly and helpful to stangers. Taking a camera with you is a great idea. Made so many friends just by taking photos (for my research). People crowded around me asking me if I was a journalist and "will my photo be in the paper tomorrow?" If you take a digital camera it only costs 5 Rs to make prints at a local photo shop on Ashram Road. I gave some to people there and they were so happy. On the annual kite festival I climbed on top of the Teen Darwaza (Three Gates) in the city and gave several kites to local children and enjoyed watching them flying kites. They were thrilled and I have some great photos. Take lots of miniature chocolates (Hershey's assorted were a big hit) and give them out to children in the street who come begging. I refused to give cash but gave them candy instead. I became famous around my hotel and sometimes bought them ice-cream on really hot afternoons. The office staff too enjoyed them and begged for more long after I had run out. Fill your suitacase with them. Indians have a sweet tooth and have an amazing appetite for sweets. Loved to chitchat with everyone so much it always took me ages to walk anywhere cause I kept stopping along the way I recommend you stay at the Golden Plaza hotel opposite the Town Hall. Tell them I recommended it (say I was a lady researcher from Chicago who stayed there from Jan-May this year and they will all remember me). They will take great care of you and treat you well. It is a clean hotel and they have AC rooms. Costs about 895 Rs per day. I paid 700 Rs per day as I was staying long term. Clean rooms and great security, right in center of town. Along with laundry and occasional meals in the hotel I averaged about $17 per day. There are cheaper hotels but security and cleanliness is not comparable. I'm fussy about these as I was a single woman living alone and people always notice this. Not a lot for tourists to see in this city but a great place to research about true Indian life as they don't meet too many international visitors. Very traditional Hindu and Muslim customs so dress modestly (long pants, no shorts) etc. Smile a lot and learn some Hindi and Gujarati words/phrases and they will be so happy. I'm trying to sponsor my research assistant's daughter from there to come and study at a local college here. She is a bright young girl and eager to travel and study. Good luck

Jun 27th, 2004, 20:16	#4
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,012	Yeah soulsearcher thats India, he said wiping the tears from his eyes. What a wonderfully warm post. It must have been fantastic being able to communicate in the local language!!

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