Tigers in India: Service & Sightseeing, an Unforgettable Experience
Natalie Collins | June 28, 2013 | 83 views
As we prepare to board the plane on the long flight home, I find that the highlight of these past two weeks has been serving at Sulabh Public School.
Many of these students come from the "untouchable" class and others come from the upper or middle class, but I could never tell the difference between the students. Every single student was smiling constantly and even as our science group challenged them, they wanted to try each activity and never gave up. The students never complained and were very respectful all the time, even with the sun beating on these hot summer days! Not only was I inspired by their motivated and willing attitudes toward each new activity, but as I scanned the classroom on the first day, I noticed the advanced math they were learning at only age 12. No wonder India is so far ahead in math and science!
The sightseeing and tourism were also quite the experience. My eyes were wide open after visiting Alwar, Agra, Jaipur, and home base -- Delhi. Each place brought new memories that I will forever cherish -- from late night eating on the floor out of mud cups and leaf plates, to riding atop an elephant up to Amber Fort in the Pink City. Beautiful and intricate clothing covered the busy streets as the group went market shopping and we tested our bargaining skills. In Alwar, we got henna tattoos and worked with amazing women who possessed many talents as well as a drive to train to work even after coming from a background where they were known as scavengers and carried human waste on their heads.
One of the most unforgettable experiences of this trip and in my life was visiting the beautiful Taj Mahal in Agra -- a breathtaking palace that I have only seen before in history books. The view was surreal and the detail of the precious stones embedded in the marble was truly unbelievable.
Delhi was where we spent most of our time, and the aggressive driving was most definitely a culture shock. It seemed crazy to see women in fancy sarees riding side saddle on bikes when we took our first bus ride from the airport; however, as the weeks progressed, the style of driving became normal as we traveled for hours and hours to different cities. The hotels and accommodations were up to par, but I will say the Le Meridien hotel in Jaipur stuck out as my all-time favorite. The view from the balcony in our room was gorgeous as it overlooked the pool and the plants and flowers that are unique to India.
Visiting a modern mall and seeing a movie was also very interesting. The seats were huge, suede lounge chairs that stretched all the way back and even had a foot rest! They brought our dinner during the movie and the experience was comparable to seeing an IMAX film in the United States. The mall had many stores that displayed Indian fashion, which was cool to compare with the typical American style. I definitely felt like a foreigner then!
Food also seemed like an adventure every day. Over the course of two weeks, I have tried more different types of food than I have in my entire life -- from spicy, hot chicken (which was subsequently followed by lots of water!) to our feast at the Great Kebab Factory on our last night in India.
The memories I have made are unforgettable and I can't wait to share them with family and friends. This trip will definitely go down as one of the best of my life! Thank you to all of the chaperones and to everyone who made this once-in-a-lifetime experience happen.
