I feel obligated to tell you all some things about this fascinating, adventurous, sometimes frustratingly busy city I've been living in for almost a week now. It's hard, because no words come conveniently to mind to describe Delhi, nor do I even feel like I understand this place.
I will say that it is in many ways the most foreign place I've ever been: the languages are nothing I can make sense of, the food is all delicious and totally unrecognizable (and I've eaten a lot of Indian food in the States), and, walking around, non-Indians are somewhere between very rare and totally non-existent. Physically, the several thousand year-old city is a confusing jumble of streets, from the constantly-under-construction Outer Ring Road, where I'm living, the wide European avenues built by the English and now the seat of the Indian government, to the dark, narrow, winding alley ways of the old city, Shahjahanabad, lined with vendors, and traversed, rapidly, by motorbikes and rickshaws, weaving between a lot of people who stare at me wondering who I am and how I ever managed to get here.
There are very familiar aspects within this city, though I'll admit they are rarer and more isolated than I had expected. I'm staying now with an exceedingly kind Indian host family, who live in a nice, large home within the city, all speak English, and are in many ways familiar. I play XBox games with my host younger brother (10), and sit in Barista, a coffee shop down the road, with my host sister (16) and her friends as they exchange stories of bad teachers.
Long story short, Delhi is many, many things. It is a melting pot for India--many of the city's residents are from elsewhere in India, and follow their own regional traditions or blend them with increasing Westernization. No too people on the street where the same thing--some people look like they belong on the streets of New York or maybe Milan, others are much more traditional. Nothing about the city is just one thing, which is why I think I find it hard to describe.
2 comments:
WOW!!! What fun. You have the 10 year old brother you've always wanted. Great to hear from you and share some of your wonder at the marvel of it all. XO
The decorated TATA truck, the three wheeled auto rickshaw, colors, density....your words and photos bring lots o memories, as it was five years ago we relocated to India (departed US Labor Day).Just crossing a st was a adventure. Do keep posting...And, you are there for the holidays, both Hindi and Judaic coinsiding. Try to accompany Ganesha on the journey to the river. Have you heard of the green movement to make the statues more environmentlly friendly?
Post a Comment