#andy archer

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butter that one because it’s TOAST

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            For the past few days I’ve been doing some soul-searching and struggling a bit in my conversations with my peers. I’ve adjusted really well to my surroundings – the food, the bugs, the people, the language barrier, I don’t mind. I’m trying to immerse myself in the culture of my program and the city around me as much as I can, one step at a time. But, once every got past the initial getting-to-know-you thing, people’s true colors began to show. Issues of race began popping up left and right, especially in relation to the inhabitants of Bangalore. I’ve listened to many comments over the past few days that had I heard them at home I would have agreed with my friends were racist, but here are permitted because most of those in my programs are of a similar ideology (not necessarily a racist ideology), and because of the cultural differences. I’m finding it hard to answer questions like “Why did I come to India?” when I am thrust back into very basic conversations of equality. Of course everyone is born with equal value, I honestly don’t understand how some people can go into volunteering without believing this intrinsic fact. I wonder if sometimes it is because I spent some time alone in India before hand and went through a serious culture shock of my own when I saw the poverty and living conditions, I don’t think this gives me a leg up on anyone, but it was important to be on my own because I’ve been pampered since getting to my program. I guess that’s what I was looking for, something comfortable to ease me into learning about the culture of India. I don’t know. I need to find more of an outlet to talk about my experiences in regards to gender and sexuality, perhaps that’s what this blog will become. That’s what I’m really trying to explore here, and I need to keep my eye on the prize.