To take you through my trip I'm going to be re-producing some of the entries from the diary I kept while in India alongside some other random comments I might want to add now. No apologies for rambling/vague emo poetry/ stroppy mood-swings or excessive use of adjectives.
17/8/13
Hesitation over the date 'cos I've been travelling for too long now across too many timezones for timespace to have any sense of meaning. In Mumbai. Finally.
Humidity like you wouldn't believe. The 27° temperatures seemed like a welcome respite after all the 32°+ forecasts, but it's the humidity that's the killer. Air thick enough to eat with a fork.
It all seems a big dazzling shambles. Brand new skyscrapers, ancient temples, glinting mosques, violet scaffolding, colours and colours and colours everywhere.
Hesitation over the date 'cos I've been travelling for too long now across too many timezones for timespace to have any sense of meaning. In Mumbai. Finally.
Humidity like you wouldn't believe. The 27° temperatures seemed like a welcome respite after all the 32°+ forecasts, but it's the humidity that's the killer. Air thick enough to eat with a fork.
It all seems a big dazzling shambles. Brand new skyscrapers, ancient temples, glinting mosques, violet scaffolding, colours and colours and colours everywhere.
Our room is clean, airy; it has a gorgeous (if tiny) balcony. Loads of storage. Air con.... And no water, apparently most of the time.
All I want is a shower, right now. I've been wearing these clothes for 26 hours. My hair needs washed. I smell. I want to brush my teeth. But no water. How can a whole city have a water shortage permanently? .
All I want is a shower, right now. I've been wearing these clothes for 26 hours. My hair needs washed. I smell. I want to brush my teeth. But no water. How can a whole city have a water shortage permanently? .
...Just got a call from Amy, reminding us to bring our Disrupted book to the first meeting. 'Disrupted' is how we're meant to feel isn't it? That's why we're doing this. To live, to experience; and to understand and change.
Was thinking about Doctor Who earlier. Can hardly help it can I? But anyway, was thinking about when Donna meets the Doctor again, and she tells him of how she tried, how it meant something for a while and she had all this passion and all these plans:
Was thinking about Doctor Who earlier. Can hardly help it can I? But anyway, was thinking about when Donna meets the Doctor again, and she tells him of how she tried, how it meant something for a while and she had all this passion and all these plans:
"...I went to Egypt. I was gonna go barefoot and everything, but then it's all bus tours and guidebooks and 'don't drink the water' and two weeks later you're back home."
Why does it go back to normal? Because oftentimes we don't let ourselves get disrupted. Even the most daring journeys we can plan in infinitesimal detail. And even if we didn't, if it's an experience purely geared around us, can we really be changed by that? I guess, in my head, we need to let someone else be in charge of the whole thing. Like when the Doctor 'randomly' shows up on a planet and there's a war kicking off; or going where Jesus sends you even though you're scared out of your head and all you want in the world is a hot shower.
Then you are disrupted; then you change. By giving up control.
It's only by living it you ever feel the passion to make a difference, isn't it? That's one reason why I dislike individualism. When we can't see through our neighbour's eyes-- when we don't even know who our neighbour is-- how can we make a difference to their lives? To this world, and even our own tiny bit of it? We need to start with people where they are, and walk with them. Dad always says 'look after number 1', and that's all well and good, until you trip and fall, and you need someone to help you up. What if no-one ever did?
Then you are disrupted; then you change. By giving up control.
It's only by living it you ever feel the passion to make a difference, isn't it? That's one reason why I dislike individualism. When we can't see through our neighbour's eyes-- when we don't even know who our neighbour is-- how can we make a difference to their lives? To this world, and even our own tiny bit of it? We need to start with people where they are, and walk with them. Dad always says 'look after number 1', and that's all well and good, until you trip and fall, and you need someone to help you up. What if no-one ever did?
...We have water! Turns out it was just us stupid British girls all along not knowing how to work the taps (the taps that work the taps; they have double taps for everything; 'cos there always a water shortage. Gah.)
After the first meeting I feel overwhelmed and scared and weirdly hopeful, all at once. I'll feel better once we're actually doing something. At the moment it's just waiting, in a city I don't know. I am very scared of the city. It's huge and endlessly moving. Fast. And I'm really tired, and really slow on the uptake.
I feel alone though. Everyone else seems to know each other already. There are plenty of opportunities for me to feel alone on the outside.
So don't take them.
After the first meeting I feel overwhelmed and scared and weirdly hopeful, all at once. I'll feel better once we're actually doing something. At the moment it's just waiting, in a city I don't know. I am very scared of the city. It's huge and endlessly moving. Fast. And I'm really tired, and really slow on the uptake.
I feel alone though. Everyone else seems to know each other already. There are plenty of opportunities for me to feel alone on the outside.
So don't take them.