Frustration. Frustration with the heat. Frustration with the Internet not working. Frustration with eating daal everyday. Frustration with bathing out of a bucket. Most of all, frustration that I am getting frustrated by these things.
I have been to developing countries, I have lived without air conditioning through the 115 degree Italian summer, I have hitch-hiked in Costa Rica, and I have camped in a tent in Juarez for a week, so why are these subtleties bothering me so much now? Have I grown too accustom to the American life or am I just getting too old for this? I guess I need to step back and figure out how I want my time in India to be spent. Do I want to experience the best of India, or do I want to live the life of an Indian? It is unauthentic, in my opinion, to bring an American life to where you travel, as you should see a country in the viewpoint of those that live there. Yet, I sit here writing on my iPad, connecting to the world via Facebook,.... And complaining.
My mom made some comment yesterday about me sacrificing my comfort to help others. While I understand her intentions, I disagree. I am capable of helping the less fortunate in my apartment in Chicago. I can live in a luxury high rise and write a big check for some NGO. By coming here, I am sacrificing my comfort to help myself; to better understand the culture and strife of individuals across the globe. To see the world from their prospective. In the long run, I will go home a changed human being, but they will continue on the same.
Strangely, I'm not as frustrated anymore.
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