Goodbye India
21.01.2012
It is with a heavy heart but lots of new friends and incredible memories that I will leave India tomorrow.
This experience has been one that I never could have predicted or imagined. I have been probably the luckiest backpacker to ever stumble upon India. When I first decided to set off to Asia, I thought I would just start in Thailand and go from there. But Mallika told me to come with her to Goa and it turned into such an amazing adventure. I am so happy that I went to Goa because it put me on the path to 3 eventful exciting weeks in this country.
I can not get over how fortunate I have been. Every person I have met here has opened their heart, their home and their country to me. I have met so many people who I will never forget. I really got to experience Indian culture by living in the homes of these people, sleeping in their beds, eating their food, sharing their stories. I have never felt so welcome and accepted when traveling before, and I have traveled a lot! This has taught me a lot about myself and whether or not I am as good a person as those I have met. But I have been inspired by the hospitality of the people here and know that that is the type of person I want to be.
My experience here has been unbelievable. But it has also made me appreciate all the more that Canada is the country I call home. We are very fortunate in Canada to live in such a clean, safe country. In India I have felt very exposed as an outsider when I am touring which I guess is to be expected. At times I felt somewhat scared if I was out at night on my own or in an unknown place. And I always felt very vulnerable. Some days I just felt so frustrated and tired of people trying to rip me off and take advantage of the fact that I was in a foreign country. I feel fortunate that in Canada I can go out at night, get a cab at 3am, walk the streets on my own, and almost never have to worry about my safety.
India has been amazing and at times overwhelming. I am looking forward to moving on to the next part of my travels. But I also plan on returning in the future because of the amazing people I have met and the new friends I have made. And while I am happy to live in Canada, India will from now on hold a very special place in my heart.
So thank you thank you thank you to everyone who has made the Indian leg of my trip such a life-altering experience. I owe you! You are welcome in my home in Canada any time!
Bring on Nepal.
Posted by GillianArfin 07:31 Archived in India
