by Taryn Farr

I have now been back for a few weeks and had time to settle back into life in New Zealand. We packed so much into the six weeks we were in India; it is difficult to summarise the highlights and challenges of such a hectic time but I will attempt to do so.

Highlights

New friends

Throughout our trip, we visited a number of universities. It was cool getting to meet students of the same age and getting to compare our lives. Many of us developed good friendships with the students we met; after our visit to Maitreyi College, I met up with some of the people I met at their favourite cafe in Delhi. Later, another new friend from the college came to a market with us and helped us to barter (She was really good). I am still in touch with a few students via social media and I feel like I now have a small network in India.

Markets

In every city, there were markets and they were always busy and colourful. It was a unique experience to go to these markets and not know what to expect or what I would find. I am usually not a huge shopper but I bought a copious amount of scarves, perfumes and jewellery on this trip.

The natural environment

We saw countless beautiful landscapes during our time in India. In particular, it was a special experience to be in the foothills of the Himalayas and watch the Ganges flow as the sun rose. On one of our last days, we went on a short hike through these foothills and ended with lunch at a rooftop restaurant overlooking the Ganges; it was pretty surreal.

Personal growth

It would be difficult to spend six weeks in India and not take something meaningful from it – I gained confidence, travel experience, knowledge of India, open-mindedness and so many stories.

Challenges

Burn-out

Six weeks is a fairly long amount of time to be in a foreign country and be on a very busy schedule. I learnt quite quickly that when travelling for a lengthy period, it is important to strike a balance between making the most of being in a new place and resting.

Culture shock

It was uncomfortable at first adapting to the customs and lifestyle in a different country – different food, the climate, the roads, the scale of everything and new people were just some of the things we had to adapt to. While this was challenging, having all these new experiences was also one of the best parts of the trip.

Confronting experiences

During our trip, we saw a lot of poverty and visited several slums. It was confronting to visit these places and then walk away at the end of the day and go back to a hotel where all our needs were catered for.

What I have learned

India is so diverse

We visited 11 cities and each city was so unique in its own way. Across the country, there are so many different languages, religions, traditions, laws, landscapes and history.

Perspective

Being in India was an opportunity to understand a new culture, as well as my own culture, better. It is very easy to assume that the way that you live is normal but being in a country so different to my own was a strong reminder that my normal is subjective. In India, I discovered an appreciation for new things – the hospitality of the Indian people we met, the busyness, the palaces, having chai everywhere we went and a lot more. I also found myself coming back to New Zealand with a new appreciation for things I took for granted – being able to drink tap water, the rolling hills and my friends and family. Gaining this kind of perspective has made me want to travel more and experience other “normals.”