The wonder of traveling in india

I have other catch-up posts to make, but I just wanted to say something about my travel experience yesterday. It is never a good thing to travel while you are sick. And I now repent of all the times I cursed (in my head) a person for coughing on the plane and spreading germs. Now I was the guilty party! I prayed the whole way that no one would suffer on my account.

But traveling while sick, you are bound to do a few foolish things. Well I did a couple. First I dropped my ticket and passport. But someone immediately told me. Second, when I had to take my computer out of my bag in security, I forgot to pick it up. So after I was contentedly sitting playing Suduko to pass the time, a security guard came to tell me i need to pick up my computer. Now it helps that I was the only white woman in the airport, so they remembered who was the absent minded one. Third, while waiting for the baXeroxg at baggage claim I was getting very tired standing and waiting. So I saw one guy sitting on a baggage cart waiting for his bag, so I thought I would do the same. OK, fyi you need to be aware of basic balance. the whole thing toppled over and I was on the floor. Immediately a muslim woman came running to my rescue then a man litteraly pulled me back up onto my feet. Another man returned to me my glasses that had gone flying. And then others held the cart so I could sit down balanced. A woman kept returning to me to make sure I wan't hurt. 

I don't know how this falling incident would have played out in America, but I really don't think so many people would have come to my rescue. I won't idealise this place over any other, for there are preditors and theaves everywhere, and I must admit I had to double check that I still had my wallet and phone. But I take note that there is a strong feeling of empathy. If something bad happens to someone there is a compulsion to help that person. At the very least if they are in the same status or higher status of you. Yes, caste and classism is very strong here. There is not an ounce of sympathy for those "beneath" you. 

In Ranchi another similar incident happened. There was a conference being held for training village women in family health. They would then return to their villages to teach others. The village women came with their children. It was so beautiful seeing them everyday dressed in the most colorful saris. After the initial shock of finding a white woman staying at the guest house with them, they basically ignored me. Until one morning I dropped a tea cup. Karab kismat! Bad luck! For the rest of the time they looked at me with such sympathy and friendliness. "Poor old lady, she now will have a bad day!" But I didn't. Unless of course this cold is a result of a broken cup.

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