Our last day in Mumbai was mostly spent on the tour bus. Since Mumbai traffic prevents speedy excursions, everywhere we wanted to go today took a good two hours. I didn't mind as I was able to snap photos of everyday city life. Looking at women with their children walking home to their shack from school with hands linked and shopkeepers working barefoot out of their huts on the highway was a humbling experience. To see how the other side of the world lives, works, provides and survives in their environment is an amazing parallel to our life as Americans. Universal aspects of daily life occur around each and every corner. Women walking their children to school, a group of kids kicking around a ball, a texting while driving billboard, environmental efforts and even car dealerships are all present in this world, our world. Yet, we don't think of these commonalities and these precious lives in India--life is here, and it's amazing to me that I didn't even know I didn't know. Does that make sense? Until you see these people and their daily routine, even in so much as a superficial level like watching out the window of a bus, I was unaware of the "commonality" of it all.
As I looked out the window, I also noticed the simplicity of this nation, specifically its people. Friends sitting on Marine Drive watching the waves roll in, a man sitting on a bench pondering who knows what creates this calmness in a city full of chaos. No one runs. No one yells. No one rushes in this life, leaving patience as the guiding principle of day-to-day activities.
Just to note, I wasn't just staring at these people like a creeper, but taking in the entire city. A few individuals even happily acknowledged our presence with a smile and a wave.
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