Mumbai Moments

"Wow. What a view to wake up to. Our hotel is pretty amazing. I'm surprised at how energy efficient they are here (switches by the power plugs). It struck me instantly how the standards seem high, but attention to detail is not like in the states (like dirty corners of floors). This is interesting because I thought instantly to be critical (not that I care about dirt, but simply being aware) of those details- we have a culture of "rating" cleanliness and whatnot so we're kind of conditioned to criticize."

"Do those impoverished know that they are so impoverished? As in, since they may not really know how the rest of the world lives, they may not understand- in terms of comparison- how deeply "deprived" from certain resources they are... But perhaps ignorance is bliss... Or hinduism is bliss?"

"...Honestly there didn't seem to be an 'end goal.' They kind of just seem to be living. There's a quality to that, for they do seem content with their present state, but they also don't seem to have a lot of planning on their minds... This is much different from the states because we are much more often looking to the future and planning long-term strategy. In what ways is 'our way' better? In what ways is 'our way' worse?"

"Those children were so beautifully elegant and special, each one. Their joy was wonderful and contagious, but I did notice that they have a sense of reservation about them... In working with children at home, they are usually silly and crazy, but these children, while yes, playful and sweet, were more like observers. They seemed to be watching and thinking... It did seem like a cultural thing where children may be expected to be more serious. It wasn't like a maturity thing, or an unhappiness thing, but simply more solemnly reserved..."

"Hearing things in your language from non-native speakers is awesome because you hear the same phrases in different words- their way of saying it is a fresh take; a new perspective."

"Is it bad (or does it invalidate it) that the driving force for one to convert to Christianity here may be to escape the caste system? We may say that may be what brings them to it, but they will grow to understand their faith as much more, but will it?? Their culture simply won't cultivate the same perception of God's love and their motivations... Yet isn't that why all of us are driven toward God? Redemption? I suppose for me, even in America I question of whether it's okay that we're driven toward our faith due to our desperation and need for something to believe in..."