While attending Syracuse University to pursue my Masters I learned a lot about Indians at Syracuse. I learned about their culture, their values, their interests, and how incredible their food tastes. During that time, I knew I wanted to travel to India to experience this microcosm at a larger scale. A couple of years after graduation, I was talking to my buddy Fenil who was in my “batch”. I was hanging out with Fenil in the East Village walking from one bar to another. I shared with him that I was thinking of going to India and if he would be interested in going. (I really was only interested in traveling with a native from India.) He said, that his sister was actually getting married in October and that I should attend. And that’s how it happened…

We planned our trip around the wedding. We started in Delhi then Agra to see the Taj Mahal then Varanasi to bathe in the Ganges (just kidding) then off to Mumbai for the wedding and to conclude our trip in relaxing Kerala. It was an exhausting, amazing and cultural experience. Oddly enough, when I arrived I felt in my element — as if I never left Syracuse (without the cold, of course.)

I wanted to document my journey and write this article to showcase what it is like as an American traveling to India.

Driving

Driving in India is unique. Sure, they drive on the left side which takes a few days to get used to, but it’s seriously the craziest drivers in the world. They drive holding their horns to weave through lanes, nearly hitting one another each minute. The driving is chaotic once you get near a crowded market, but by that point, it makes more sense to walk or just drive by scooter.

In a Rickshaw

Peaceful

Unlike in most European countries and the rest of the world where you have to be extremely mindful of your belongings, that feeling did not occur for me in India. Maybe I was lucky, but there was definitely less pickpocketing and crime than in other countries I’ve traveled to. I find most Indians prefer to keep to themselves or in their group of friends. I did get the occasional offer for drugs in Mumbai and a handful of beggars in every city I went to, but overall I felt really safe even when I traveled without Fenil on a couple of days.

Staring

I have never felt so foreign in my life. Everywhere I went, eyes wandered. A few people did approach me, but it was more so a smile or a wave. This was especially true during the wedding where I was the only Caucasian out of 1,000 people! I’ll get to the wedding in a bit….

Food

The food was amazing. I tried chaat, dosas, sweets, and even the many wonderful curry dishes. Whenever I had leftover gravy on the plate, the waiter would ask if I would like more naan or roti. I’ve never eaten so many carbs in my life. I gained about 8 pounds in 2 ½ weeks.

Overweight

I was surprised to see how many Indians were overweight. They weren’t obese like the United States population but rather had big bellies especially when they hit around 40. It obvious that they eat way too much carbohydrate and sugar. It is especially tough to break this habit and go carb free. People would be confused and disappointed when you refuse naan or roti with your dish and opt for a spoon instead.

Poverty

I heard the poverty was really bad before I arrived and it was. According to The World Bank, 1 in 5 Indians is poor. That is 270 million people! But what hit me the most was the number of poor children on the streets begging who had deformities. Many Indians cannot afford proper healthcare.

The Markets

The smells and sounds of Chandni Chowk will forever remain in my mind. I felt like I was in a movie and when I truly felt I was in another country.

The Local Train Ride

Fenil and I first ran across the tracks and onto the train, instead of making the proper walk across to the other side. Afterward, I hung out the door of the moving train. On the way back I tried to blend in with the crowd. I came out sweaty and in need of a shower.

Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal was more beautiful than I could have imagined. Seeing the Taj was worth going to India. It was that incredible.

Dating

Dating was hard and so different than Western culture. I went on 2 dates while I was there. At the club, I tried to meet women but was flat out rejected. I was actually pretty disappointed in the dating scene. Most of the women danced with their friends and had no interest. The 2 dates were unmemorable, with one resulting in a kiss which she said would never happen if I was an Indian. I know Indians take it REALLY SLOW — sometimes as long as 4 months even for a single kiss. I left India with an understanding that Western culture is extremely different than Eastern culture — whether that is “good” or “bad” is up to you to decide.

The Wedding

During the wedding, I was approached by many families asking whether I was a doctor, lawyer or in Information Technology (IT). I told them IT and they seemed so glad to know an American “software developer”. Even though I’m not a developer, I didn’t bother explaining what I do. Many Indians had shared with me that expressing your interest in the arts is looked down upon. It is my understanding that Indian parents truly care whether their son or daughter is doing well financially, so they can proudly share AKA brag what you are doing. Perception is highly valued in India, but on the other hand, it’s unfortunate that so many Indians get pigeonholed and are dissuaded to pursue their career in the arts.