A Love-Hate Relationship

It would be unfair and pretentious of me to say I know India, but in the past month I have felt it. To me, India is the head nod. Yes. No. Maybe. Hell no. For sure. What? India is the chai guy. Always there, on time. Always 4 rupees. Just like India, always on time, always the same price. Yeah right!! I love what I hate about this place and I hate what I love about it.

India is a country of unbelievable colors: stunning sari clothed women all in their traditional style, bright flowers decorating the shrines in the temple, and a collage of different fruit feeding the streets. But it is also a country of grays: the soot-colored faces of the beggar children, the ragged clothes of the rickshaw drivers, and the layer of pollution in all the cities.

It is a country that makes me want to say, "I wanna come back." Even though I can't give you a good reason why. It's just so...intriguing. And perhaps...confusing.

It is a country that leaves me angry: Why are so many people living in abject poverty when the economy is growing 10% each year? Why does it seem that people don't respect the public spaces? Are there any functional systems? Why does it have to be like this?

But the chaos warms the place, and adds the not-so-subtle charm that made me want to come here in the first place. The charm that inspires me to travel, learn, experience, live, and hope.

The charm that makes me love India.