Mumbai - last days
Today the
group ventured to an enormously populous slum, Daharavi. The tour offered us an
interesting and at times troubling perspective. The living conditions were
tough and the work hours were long, which resulted in many of us feeling guilty
about our lives of extreme fortune. However, the tone of the day was not
negative. There was a surprising sense of pride emanating from the people of
the slum which came as a surprise and acted as an admirable feature of the day
that left the group with a positive note. The tour guides noted the common
misconception that people live in the slums because they have no money. They
explained that this was not true and the slums are not a bad option despite the
way they are portrayed in movies and talked about elsewhere. This tour provided
an interesting and positive spin on the expectations people have for what a
slum is. After the tour, we returned to the hotel and enjoyed several hours of
free time. The group split up into smaller groups and explored the lovely and
energetic city of Mumbai. This served as a refreshing and much appreciated
change of pace from the usual, tightly regimented but nonetheless enjoyable
time spent sightseeing or volunteering. We were seriously grateful for this and
are all very excited for tomorrow.
Composed by Ben and Dan
PS: Tomorrow will be our last day in India. After a
leisurely morning, we plan to visit an art museum with exhibits illustrating
India’s past. In the afternoon, some students are getting henna tattoos while
others enjoy one last chance to roam the streets of this vibrant city. We will
have one last Indian meal together before heading the airport for our long
journey home.
Thank you all for writing such interesting posts. Just having read them, it makes me proud of all of you. It's good to know that you can have so much empathy for others, and even at times put yourself in their shoes. That's a quality that will always serve you well.
ReplyDeleteYou all have wonderful, descriptive writing skills. Reading your post helped us to feel a little bit a part of your experience. Thank you for that.
Enjoy your last days in India. I hope that your travel goes quickly and everybody gets home safely to those of us, who are anxiously awaiting to see you!
I truly enjoyed reading your descriptive comments !! Looking forward to your return!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. They are all blessed to have this experience.
DeleteMana
India is place that everyone should visit once in their lives to get out of their comfort zones and get a different perspective on life. I enjoyed reading your post. Safe traveling!
ReplyDeleteNatalina