Week 4 I New Delhi I Purabi

This week has been filled with lots of adventures and fun. Since we only had a few days left before McKenzie set off for the U.S., we made sure to make each day count. We went to Haldirams, a restaurant very popular for its food and sweets worldwide, to try aloo chaat and papri chaat (if my memory serves me correctly). Afterwards we did some last minute shopping at the local mall before having more Indian food at our favorite restaurant—Nathu’s.

On the upper left hand corner is papri chaat. The papri in papri chaat is made from crisp dough wafers. Along with this there are boiled potatoes, chick peas, chilis, and topped with yogurt and tamarind sauce. On the lower left is a type of aloo chaat, which is made with a potato patty and topped with a chickpea sauce and bits of onions.

Before it was time for McKenzie to go, she and I both visited the local home for children – Samarpan House. Samarpan House is an organization that created two homes for children in Delhi—a boy’s home and a girl’s home. Each and every time anyone of us went, the girls would just shower us with love and appreciation. If anything made this trip successful, it would have to be the joy these girls had every time we assisted them with their studies. I looked forward to going there each and everyday because not only was I able to become their English and math tutor, but I was also able to become a student and learn about them, their likes/dislikes, hobbies, etc. etc.

A few of the girls we worked with at Samarpan House.

After McKenzie left for the U.S., I began to pack my bags to visit family in Uttar Pradesh (North India).

Never in my life did I ever imagine I would have to run to catch a bus, car, or train. But there’s always a first for everything. Since I would be travelling alone, a family friend escorted me to the train station to ensure everything was what it was supposed to be. But because the traffic in Delhi refuses to clear in the evening, we had to catch two different local trains and run for about 10 or so minutes to even make the actual train. It was quite hilarious when I reminisce about the experience. Running full speed from one end of the terminal to the other so I can cross the street and enter the other train station, while seeing the faces of random pedestrians look at me as if I’ve gone completely insane makes me chuckle. But it was definitely something to remember!

Fast-forward 14 hours later in Uttar Pradesh, I finally meet my second cousin and spend some quality family time. They took me to the local temple and to the resting place of the Buddha. Both places were quite beautiful and am glad I was able to see both. Until my flight, I am excited to return to the children’s home and see a bit more of India.

Outside the Gaurakhanath Temple (clearly, this is my favorite outfit here).

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Purabi I New Delhi I Week 2 & 3

Just as the first week, my second week and third week here have been filled with adventures, fun, and lots of sight-seeing. Although I was not able to do much work here for various different reasons, I have been able to use this time to see India.

Apart from going to lots of shops and restaurants, the other interns and I went to Khajuraho, which is located in Madhya Pradesh (central India). We did not realize the trip was more travel than sight-seeing because it took us a good 4 hours by train and then another 4-4.5 hours by taxi. However, the temples there definitely made up for the long and exhausting trip. 

The following week, although we were not able to go to Sirohi as promised to us, we decided to go to Humayun’s Tomb on Eid. Since we went during Eid, the area was filled with people in colorful dresses and the air was filled with joy and happiness.

The outside of the tomb. It holds the tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayun. In the center, there is one tomb that symbolizes his grave, which is deep within the earth.

In addition to visiting this, I was finally able to the beauty of the Taj Mahal earlier this week. Words and pictures honestly do not do this building justice. I definitely encourage all to visit the Taj (and in the early morning when there aren’t too many people) because this edifice is a jaw-dropper. The way this building is built, the steps the architects took to ensure it is earthquake proof, flood proof, destruction proof makes you wonder what happened to that type of thinking in today’s society. I did not take any pictures of the Taj simply because the ones found on Google are better quality. Along with the Taj, we were able to visit Agra Fort, which is the palace Shah Jahan resided within. Shah Jahan was the Mughal Emperor who had the Taj Mahal built for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. However, Shah Jahan was also imprisoned within the Agra Fort after his second son became crazy for the throne. It is said that Shah Jahan was able to see the Taj Mahal everyday outside of his window and mourned for the building. Again, I did not take pictures of the Agra Fort simply because my phone camera quality is not the greatest.

This is the foundation of what was to be the black Taj Mahal. Before being imprisoned by his youngest son, Shah Jahan wanted to create a black Taj Mahal that would serve to be a shadow for the white one. This was to be his resting place. Since it is incomplete, the government of India has turned this into a nature conservation.

From that point forward, there has not been much activity. However, I am excited to see more of India, volunteer at the local orphanage, and have more authentic Indian food before returning back to the States.

Detroit –> New Delhi I Week 1 I Purabi Devi

Since it was a bit cheaper to fly the longer way through Los Angeles and China, I decided to do just that. I definitely regretted it once I was on the 14+ hour flight from Los Angeles to China because although it was a comfortable trip, sitting and trying to sleep for that long got old really fast. Fast forward to India: it is HOT. No, seriously it’s close to or over 100 degrees Fahrenheit! I hopped into a prepaid taxi and started the last leg of my journey. I thought New York traffic was bad but New York traffic is nothing compared to Delhi traffic. Cars, motorcycles, autorickshaws, regular rickshaws, people, and animals are all on the road trying to get to their destination. I found it hilarious that there were lanes panted on the ground because no one in New Delhi follows and if they do, then they are the owners of very expensive cars.

Anyways, it took about 1.5-2 hours to go from the airport to my new residence. I was welcomed in with loving arms and was fed amazing food on the spot. After unpacking a little and showering, I decided to take a quick nap – which actually turned into a 5-hour nap. From that day forward, I found myself going out each day to discover new things and meeting new people.

On July 5, I met with Gauri Agrawal and discussed my duties and responsibilities for the program. This included working with McKenzie to see what she had been working on and what I can do to further the work. Along with this, we met with the local university volunteers who were working with us on the handicrafts project. Our duties were to go from shop to shop and see what the local shopkeepers were interested in buying. By doing so, the volunteers were able to provide us with the necessary information to improve the planning of the handicrafts project.

On July 8, we decided to go to the Lotus Temple. The Lotus Temple to those who are not familiar with it is one of the seven edifices created around the world that allows people of all religions and races to come together to worship simultaneously. The lotus design was used as a symbol of purity since the lotus flower thrives in such murky water. There are nine pools around the temple that aid in cooling the temple down during the summers in India. Cameras, phones, and conversation aren’t allowed inside the temple because it might disturb others who are praying, meditating, and etc. There aren’t any distinct markers of a specific religion inside either as a way to welcome all people of faith and non-faith. I wish I could’ve taken a picture because the inside of the temple because words do not do it justice at all. It is definitely an escape from the busy, traffic-filled life of New Delhi.

The Lotus Temple, New Delhi

Since then, I have been doing lots of traveling and shopping (which I will discuss in next week’s blog). Until then, I hope you enjoy this blog.

Much love,

Purabi