Today when we arrived at the YWCA in Delhi, I realized how much my perspective has shifted since I arrived at this same hotel 4 weeks ago. On May 2nd when I first got to the YWCA, I was nervous to see the quality of the accommodations, worried about bugs, and hoping for a warm shower. Today my desires are much simpler, a bed to stay on and filtered water. After spending a total of 10 nights outside and treating my water each morning, I can say that the small things mean a lot more to me after the trek.
I feel like the trek allowed me an opportunity to reveal how grateful I am for the life that I have back home in the United States, but also that other styles have just as much joy just in a different way. Although I love waking up in an air-conditioned room with a big comfy bed and a coffee machine, I find that I am already missing waking up with the sun and enjoying instant coffee from boiled snow water with my tent mates. I would not have labeled myself as being an “outdoors” person when I started the trek, but I think that I better understand how someone could find themselves becoming an “outdoors” person.
The train ride today was a once in a lifetime experience. It honestly reminded me a lot of a NJ transit train as opposed to a traditional long-distance train like the Intercity Express in Germany or an Amtrak Acela train on the Northeast Corridor. The experience was slightly more physically comfortable than taking a coach bus, but it was a lot harder to relax. At each stop there would always be some sort of commotion and rush, even when it was entirely unnecessary. Also in a strange occurrence, a 5-year-old hit me over the head with his iPad and then pretended to fall asleep. This certainly made me keep my guard up and reminded me of my high schools’ days when I would babysit kids around the same age. Thankfully the little troublemaker didn’t do any such shenanigans again.
One thing that I am really looking forward to about going back to America is being able to blend in again. Except for my time at Woodstock and Hanifl, I find that our presence here is almost seen as a special occasion. It wasn’t uncommon for a small crowd to form around us at times during the trek and we had some curious people looking at us on the train. Some people will come and say hi but others would rather watch from a distance. This has given me a new perspective on how I will treat outsiders I see in my local communities. I truly feel like most people here have good intentions, but just keep their distance as opposed to vocalizing their curiosity. This distance has made me feel uncomfortable at times so in the future I would like to be a more active host. Obviously it is easier said than done, but I see myself having a similar instinct when approaching a new comer to my community.