2008 Woodie Awards
It's been an emotional merry-go-round in India
Blog dispatch from students in India
Brittany Eddings
Issue: 7/14/08 Section: summer in india
Posted August 22, 2008
On our first day in India, journalist Jerry Pinto spoke of the many ironies that coexist in all aspects of Indian life. While the striking connections between opposing traditions, ideas and personas were apparent from the beginning, the paradoxical journey of twists and turns that has taken place within myself has been far more surprising in the end.
In the past 72 hours, I have experienced an intense swirl of countless emotions. I have felt joy and pain, excitement and exasperation, anxiety and tranquility, discomfort and contentment all at the same time. I wouldn't call it your traditional "rollercoaster of emotions" because that would be both cliché and inaccurate. Instead it has been more like a high-speed merry-go-round that is spinning so fast my emotions begin to blur and blend around me.
Our visit to the Taj Mahal was the perfect example of this phenomenon. As I absorbed the beauty of this magnificent monument constructed out of an emperor's love for his dying wife, I was filled with awe. At the same time my insides were wrought with contempt and disgust for the leering young men making lewd gestures in our direction. Who knew I would learn more about the struggles of life as a woman in India at the Taj Mahal than I did from a film about domestic violence in India.
I would not trade any of these mind-boggling experiences for the world. Those poignant moments have restored my faith in the good, enhanced my perspective of the bad and increased my understanding of the ugly. Now, as my Indian merry-go-round ride is coming to an end, I find myself staggering awkwardly back to reality as my world continues to spin. Eventually things will slow to a more familiar pace, but inside I will never be the same--none of us will.
On our first day in India, journalist Jerry Pinto spoke of the many ironies that coexist in all aspects of Indian life. While the striking connections between opposing traditions, ideas and personas were apparent from the beginning, the paradoxical journey of twists and turns that has taken place within myself has been far more surprising in the end.
In the past 72 hours, I have experienced an intense swirl of countless emotions. I have felt joy and pain, excitement and exasperation, anxiety and tranquility, discomfort and contentment all at the same time. I wouldn't call it your traditional "rollercoaster of emotions" because that would be both cliché and inaccurate. Instead it has been more like a high-speed merry-go-round that is spinning so fast my emotions begin to blur and blend around me.
Our visit to the Taj Mahal was the perfect example of this phenomenon. As I absorbed the beauty of this magnificent monument constructed out of an emperor's love for his dying wife, I was filled with awe. At the same time my insides were wrought with contempt and disgust for the leering young men making lewd gestures in our direction. Who knew I would learn more about the struggles of life as a woman in India at the Taj Mahal than I did from a film about domestic violence in India.
I would not trade any of these mind-boggling experiences for the world. Those poignant moments have restored my faith in the good, enhanced my perspective of the bad and increased my understanding of the ugly. Now, as my Indian merry-go-round ride is coming to an end, I find myself staggering awkwardly back to reality as my world continues to spin. Eventually things will slow to a more familiar pace, but inside I will never be the same--none of us will.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 11
Melissa Heintz
posted 8/24/08 @ 8:59 AM PST
Good post Brittany. I like how you pointed out that you felt two different emotions at the Taj Mahal: awe and disgust. I felt the same way and I was constantly covering my face so I wouldn't get my photo taken. (Continued…)
Laurel Saito
posted 8/24/08 @ 1:22 PM PST
I agree. Only now that we are back home do I realize how many emotions were running through my head in India. I had extreme ups and equally powerful upset moments. (Continued…)
Danica Blanca Iglopas
posted 8/24/08 @ 3:50 PM PST
Good post Brittnay. I too feel that I won't ever be the same after coming back from India. I just don't know for sure what has changed since being in the chaos of India. (Continued…)
Erica Webster
posted 8/25/08 @ 1:36 PM PST
You're definitely right about us all having changed as a result of this trip. I wish i could figure out what is different about myself, besides my increased awareness of wasting water, but i feel like ive just consumed the experience. (Continued…)
Jessica Miller
posted 8/25/08 @ 4:48 PM PST
I also had a really hard time taking in the Taj while trying to avoid random "eveteasing". To me, it was really hard to adjust (and I never did completely) to the leering and little sounds that the men made there to get your attention in India. (Continued…)
Jordan Belmonte
posted 8/26/08 @ 6:47 AM PST
I think for me the multiple realities were the most central theme of the entire India trip, and the treatment of women is something that has certainly made me think a lot, especially reflecting on what sectors of our own society objectify women similarily. (Continued…)
Rand Lutomski
posted 8/27/08 @ 6:10 PM PST
A merry go round! You are so right, everything can change just so fast. I too felt my emotions blending into one another as fast as the smells changed on the streets. (Continued…)
Veronica martin
posted 8/28/08 @ 8:19 PM PST
now that we are home, the intensity of what we experienced has hit me harder than ever. I realized it in India during certain moments, like at the Taj as you describe, but I wasn't prepared for the exhaustion that relaxing once again brought. (Continued…)
lostintranslation
Kassi
posted 8/29/08 @ 3:15 PM PST
I'm really glad that you mentioned the fact that there were two different aspects of Taj Mahal. I feel like I had to learn so much more about myself as a woman being in India. (Continued…)
Joshua Treybig
posted 8/30/08 @ 11:19 AM PST
I like your description of the merry-go-round, thats a really great characterization of my emotions of the trip as well--pissed off, sad, elated, contemplative, all happening so quickly and in random sequences. (Continued…)
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