Reflections About India

I have made it back to my wonderful, safe home in Shanghai. I must say after traveling 3 weeks in India. My body was ready for a not so hard bed and a couple warm showers. I was also ready for some peace and quiet, and yes, that can be quite hard to get for a teacher. However, my second graders don’t even come close to comparing to the loud sounds of the Indian streets. I must say teaching on Valentine’s Day this year has been easy. Well, it has been as easy as teaching can be. Those of you who are teachers you know what I mean. Valentine’s Day is always filled with students getting loads of balloons and flowers and not to even mention the cards!

Yes, Shanghai is a welcome.

India has left me with strong visions. I can close my eyes and I can feel the crowds pushing up against me. I can see the beautiful women wearing saris making their way through the street. I can hear the loud sounds echoing through my head. I can smell the aroma of incense and street food, and yes, of course the other smells that are so overwhelming. I can see the cows feasting on garbage and other food that is available, and at the same time I can see the skinny children begging for food, money, and attention.

India is an amazing country. It holds me in awe because of its beauty and because of its poverty. I got to go to a beautiful beach where the palms stretched to the skies. I got to sit on the back of a moped and cruise through streets that were lit with the sunlight. As we went around the corners and up the hills, each sight gave us a new vision. Each corner gave us a new experience. It was wonderful to welcome smells that made me go aaahhh . . . instead of UGGGHHH . . .

India will leave an impression on my life. I hope I will always be able to close my eyes and see the vision that still is within my reach.

The world is so big, but yet the world is so small. The world is so different, but yet, it is the same. The world holds so many hearts and so many souls. The world holds unimaginable things, but it also holds unimaginable treasure. I have only seen a small glimpse of the world. I can only imagine what our Creator sees as He looks down upon His canvas. I’m sure He sees beauty, and I’m sure He sees ugliness.

Life is beautiful and precious, but life is hard.