Embracing the Indian Experience
Despite being unused to being ogled at, to being asked intrusive questions, the maddening traffic and everything that leaves her completely unprepared, Anne Marij de Koning finds herself falling in love with India…. The temples, the temple elephant, the food…. And well, even being more open and accepting of the natural curiosity of Indians, says Anne
The flower market in the Meenakshi temple
Before going to India, I tried to prepare myself by reading, reading and reading. But can you prepare yourself for a country such as India, which is so different from your home country? You can read about it as much as you want, you can have your own imagination about it, but you can’t really prepare. You can’t prepare yourself for the chaotic traffic, where people honk loudly and constantly. I was really amazed the moment I saw the ‘horn’ traffic sign on the road, and when I read signs at the back of cars and buses, which say, ‘Please sound horn’ .
Curiosity seems to be another common trait among Indians. It’s a habit I both liked and disliked from the moment I arrived here. The curiosity of Indians can be really uncomfortable when people stare at you the whole time, or when they ask how much you paid for the clothes you’re wearing! But at the same time, I really do like the curiosity of Indians when they like to know where you come from and why you’re visiting India. What impresses me is that Indians have a collective mindset and not individualistic, like most European countries.
The inside of the temple in Thiruparankundram close to Madurai
The moment I really fell in love with India, was when I entered a temple for the first time in my life. I love the colours, the atmosphere, I even love the fact that you have to walk bare foot and I love watching people doing their Hindu rituals. But honestly, what I love the most at the temple is the temple elephant. It really makes me happy to see the elephant and I love the way they paint beautiful decorations on its head.
Unfortunately, I can only visit the beautiful temples for the next three months. But I can adopt the lovely and tasty food served here. I can try to be more sociable and open, to be even more curious than I am already. And maybe, I can even get used to the chaotic, messy and noisy traffic in a while!
