Submitted by Sage Schwer on the 2016 winter session program in India sponsored by the Department of English…
Continental airlines flight 82. I was about to embark on the journey of a lifetime. To many, the idea of traveling to India is unsettling, unappealing and to some even scary. But I, was ready for what was to come. Upon arriving at the Indira Gandhi airport, I could see, but not feel the difference of being halfway across the world. The signs, smell and people were all different. However, it still hadn’t hit me. We walked through the airport to get our visas checked and to pick up our luggage. We were our way to go through customs when I noticed tall sliding doors to another area. I assumed it was customs, but once I got closer, I realized it was outside. I could see ahead the massive amount of people waiting behind a barrier to meet their clients, friends and loved ones. That was when it first hit me. I was with a group of five girls who were just as shocked as I was. Standing outside, seeing the people interact, looking to the sky and breathing in the air, I could finally feel the difference. We were all so shocked that we lost our group. Standing there panicking surrounded by the mass amount of people; we were all intimidated. Finally, we found our group and on our bus ride home everyone was pretty silent staring and observing in awe.
Things are quite different in New Delhi, India. The weather is warm, yet no one wears shorts. Women go through separate security checks, and are taken into a shielded room for modesty. Being begged for money by women and men of all ages is something you have to get used to. The sky is full of smog and no one drives in the lanes on the road. Being in New Delhi was so exciting, yet at times overwhelming.
Observing women and their culture in New Delhi is very intriguing. I have found that there are more middle- aged women begging on the streets versus men. Women carry their children in their arms for sympathy and to let you know that she needs the money to care for someone other than herself. You cannot help but feel horrible saying “no” to someone like that. They are not your average beggar. Women begging for money in New Delhi may have a much different reason for being where they are versus someone begging for money in NYC. One reason they might beg for money is because they don’t have the means of climbing up the social ladder. Although the caste system is now illegal, it is still very prevalent in society. Being born into a lower caste is extremely limiting. These types of people will only be accepted to certain jobs and the jobs they are able to receive provide a low pay. I cannot help but wonder what their stories are. Women have specifically stuck out to me because I have noticed their begging the most. While walking through the streets of New Delhi, one woman specifically stood out to me. She carried her baby around with her and asked for money not only for herself but for her child as well. She held out the little girl’s hand, begging for rupees. Her face was full of sorrow and desperation. She followed our group for the next few blocks walking next to us and asking for money for her child. I had never experienced something like that before. I wanted to help, but I knew if I took out my wallet I would be swarmed with other people asking for money. It broke my heart walking away from her and her child. I wanted to know her story. I know I cannot make the same judgments as I would in America because India is such a different country and the social norms are not the same. If I can find someone on the street that is willing to talk to me about their story and how they ended up where they are today, I will. I hope to learn more about these types of people before going back home.