Experiences mean so many different things depending on our age. A lot of times, we get into the mindset that once we've experienced something, that's the end-all-be-all. We've seen it, it was awesome (or maybe not), and we move onto the next thing. However, my recent trip to India has helped me discover that experiencing the same trip twice is akin to watching a movie or reading a book twice; the first time we read/watch something we might only get from it the most superficial of meanings. But then the second, or even third time we delve in, we're able to discover the true meaning behind the story. I spent my past winter break in India, traveling around, visiting family, and sight-seeing. I went on a similar trip exactly six years prior, when I was 12 years old. While the experiences I had both trips were alike, the lessons I took away from each were vastly different.
When I was 12, India was the last place I wanted to visit. I didn't know much about the country, but what I did know was that it was very different from the U.S. I was scared to travel there; in my mind it was a recipe for contracting a weird disease or getting kidnapped. Because of my childish ignorance, I did not go into the trip with a very open mind. A basic recap of that trip (through the eyes of a 12-year-old): I saw a bunch of old temples, forts, and palaces, ate some Indian food, and bought a bunch of super cute bangles for my friends. I met a lot of relatives, which was overwhelming and frustrating for me. There were way too many to keep their names straight and I didn't know what to talk to them about, since I was still a child and couldn't find a way to connect with all of these seemingly boring adults. I came home from that trip with a nice tan and a much greater appreciation for the clean tap water in my house. That was pretty much it.
Fast forward six years: I hear the news that one of my relatives (one of the ones I actually remembered from my first trip) was going to get married in December and my grandparents, who live in the U.S. just a town over from me, were thinking of going for the wedding. I begged them to take me. It was perfect; I would be out of school on winter break, and since my university gave us a month off, I had plenty of time to spend in India.
I wanted to go back for several reasons, the main one being that I felt it important to travel to India at least once more with my grandparents. I'm very close to them and it's becoming increasingly more difficult for them to travel because of their age. This was the perfect opportunity to spend quality time with them back in the country of our roots. This reason in itself was one of the major ways I've grown over the past six years; back then I would never have gone voluntarily to India, especially because this trip meant I would miss Christmas and New Years with my family and friends. I also wanted to go simply because I love to travel. That's another thing I've learned about myself these past few years. When opportunities to see the world come knocking, the obvious answer is to take them.
The trip was amazing. That's not to say I didn't feel overwhelmed at times, or that I didn't miss home, but the fact that I was in India made up for that. We first went to Mumbai for the wedding, which was a multi-day affair. I've got to say that my favorite part was having my mehendi (aka henna) done. This is a huge tradition during Indian weddings and I was thrilled to get to be a part of it. It opened my eyes to the fact that mehendi has real meaning in India, whereas in the U.S. girls often use henna has a trendy fashion statement, without understanding its cultural roots.
After the wedding, we flew done south to visit family and vacation in the gorgeous state of Kerala. Everything was so beautiful and warm, and the entire time I was making mental notes of the specific places I would return to the next time I come to India.
The major thing I took away from this trip was the connections I made to the relatives I met. I had actually met the majority of them the first time I visited India, but being that I was 12 years old, I couldn't keep their names or faces straight. This time it was much different; I was able to hold conversations with the relatives I met and talk to them at a more mature, adult level. These people no longer just blurred together into The Boring Adult. I found so many surprising similarities between myself and many of my relatives, despite the fact we live half a world away from each other. I came home from this trip with such a great feeling inside of me; I felt proud to be related to all the wonderful people I met. Thanks to technology, I'm able to stay in touch with everyone, which is a huge blessing. I'm a firm believer in being as close as possible with relatives, even the more distant ones. It's sad to think that if I hadn't gone on this trip I wouldn't even have known that most of these people existed, let alone how cool they all are.
When we experience things like this at a younger age, no matter if it's a trip to the grocery store or a vacation halfway across the world, we take it for what it is in the most superficial way. When I was 12 I felt everything in the moment, and then forgot about it the minute I went back to my real life. Doing it all over again at 18 was like rereading a novel you used to like when you were younger. I understood everything at a much deeper level this time. I was able to appreciate how welcoming and kind everyone was, and how beautiful India is, despite its imperfections. Visiting old temples and palaces no longer seemed like a boring pit-stop on our way to somewhere better; the history of these places fascinated me. And the best part was the time I got to spend with my grandparents. Seeing how happy my grandfather was when he was chatting with his cousins and how comforted my grandmother was when we landed in the place where she grew up made the trip invaluable.
I'm not saying I now know all there is to know about India and my family there. There is so much more to learn, and I'm positive that the next time I return, whether it's in five years, or ten years, I will discover even more than I did this time.
