Imagination is one thing, perception is another.

If you talked to me a year ago, I was wild with the desire to travel, happily settled in Scotland for the semester. A year ago, I would have never thought I’d be sitting in India, hard at work, patiently waiting for the power to go back on.

Before, I could only see the preconceived notions of poverty, danger, and lack of health imminent on every corner. Now, I have entered a world that I could barely imagine, one with the most welcoming individuals imaginable, where the culture is rich and vibrant. The desire to help is stirred up, as is the guilt, with the exchange rate favoring the dollar to 1 to 60 rupees. I feel like a wealthy and poor student at the same time. The more time here, the more the little things matter to me.The importance of family, the luxury of fresh water, and clean air. I appreciate my life more, but realize that since they do not know any different, many people in India have the same appreciation regardless of their conditions. I’ve rarely met happier people compared to who I have found here.

India’s facade may be gritty, grimy, and rough around the edges, but it is beautiful on the inside in its own way. The colors are stunning, the clothing is beautiful, and the smiles from the local school children charm your heart. There are the sprawling fields in the countryside, and the winding roads through mountains and valleys, reminding you that though millions of people are in this country, there is still so much openness. So many people do not embrace the innovations and technologies visible in the U.S today, but then you remember that simple ways are sometimes the most effective.

Every day has been a new exploration, and though our time is dwindling, the learning shall continue beyond this. But for now, I will happily appreciate the regular power outages and soak up the sun as I sit here in this fascinating country.

-Marcelle Durrenberger