P90X Hot Hot India Style

P90X in the quad starts at 9 a.m. With quite a loyal following and a passion to burn time, it should be easy to work off those 5-star Trident buffets. Today is our 17th session of Research Methodology. It seems far, but keep in mind that three sessions are knocked out in one day, leaving this to be only our 6th day of class. With 6 more to go, Mumbai keeps inching closer. In good news, another page of my itinerary is almost dunzo.

To those infamous Nike shorts.

Been Longer than I Have Left

As I sit in my hostel pondering what to do with my free day in Ahmedabad, I realize that I have been here for more days than I have left to come. Before embarking on this trip, I would wish ahead to Day 16 or Day 17 and think that if I can make it there, to mid-trip, then I can make it to the bittersweet August 4. Yesterday was Day 19.

Unfortunate airport delays and sleepiness made me put Swashpawan Singh's inspiring presentation on hold--until now. Singh, the former ambassador of India, graced us with his strong presence at the end of our stay in Delhi. Uplifting was the only word that encompasses that small hour with him. He eloquently summed up India in its entirety, from government and culture to youth as a confident motivator of change and even a bit on bottled water, we walked away grasping onto any and all things Indian.

Opening the presentation with, "India, a huge assault on all your senses," focused all of our crazy pieces of Indian adventures into one solid piece. In every respect, India has given charge to taste, touch, sound, smell and physical feelings. These senses may not stay forever in my mind, as memories seem to escape over time; however I will never forget how it felt to have a little girl, around 7, maybe 8, fiercely grab  my arm while crossing the street begging and begging for food. Tapping on her mouth with innocent, tiny hands immediately signals her need, her every-lasting search for food in a scary world. Singh assured us that as India is changing, it will continue to find its own rhythm in this forgiving world. Through our slow understanding of fragments of the culture here whether it be religion, god worship, customs and family, India has also peacefully assaulted our minds, hearts and perspective in hopes of inspiring others to view it, trust it and take part of its ever-growing, ever-changing future.

"The greatest gift of our generation is mobility."

-Swashpawan Singh

Mid-Trip Moods

If I were to tell you that an Indonesian woman was climbing all over my back this morning, would you believe me?

Ansana spa's soothing back massage at the Trident in Delhi was the perfect end to a wonderful week tour of the golden triangle (Jaipur, Agra, Delhi). Following the massage, mani/pedis were top priority before re-exposing our feet to the bug infested, sandy floors of all that is MICA.

Leave Trident. Back to reality. Arrived at the airport on time only to find out that our flight to Ahmedabad is experiencing a 3-hour delay.

What was an amazing day has been compromised by a few hours at the Delhi airport. More to come on our last day in Delhi when my feet are on the ground with spirits lifted.

Calm, cool and collected, the SMU crew landed in Ahmedabad for the second time, gathered our belongings and hopped into the tiger bus. (The name our MICA bus touts due to the infamous tiger sticker strategically placed on a side view mirror). 3:30 a.m. arrival at the glorious campus. Greeted by meowing peacocks.

I unpacked as soon as we walked through the door due to my OCD-esque personality, skyped some people I love and ahhhh...I can finally breathe.

Until tomorrow.

New Delhi: Take Two

Agency Pics
Day two of agency visits in Delhi: DDB Mudra and IMRB.

Just some things I've learned along the way...

Culture Shock: Part Deux

• Power failures that no one notices but us, Americans at agency visits, class, restaurants and even during turndown service.
• Instead of receiving change for a purchase, coins may be subbed for chewing gum.
• It is believed by many traditional Indian families that fathers who take money from their daughters, at any age, will not be a human in the next life.
• Head nods are opposite, meaning yes is a horizontal, bobbing movement, leaving us all lost in confusion after ordering ice cream only to get back an American signal for "no." 
• No problem means it's not really my problem, but I will see what I can do.
• It is illegal for a doctor to notify parents of the sex of an unborn child.
• Dowry.
• 35 percent of the Indian population is illiterate.
• Women hold hands down the street in friendship, as do men of all ages (Believe it or not, these men are not homosexual, but simply affectionate). In some pictures, I have tried to capture some of these moments because it's one of the most amazing acts of humanity I've ever seen. Whether it be teenage boys walking home from school with arms on each other's shoulders or grown men holding hands on their way to work. It's a beautiful thing to see, and while I know American men (Kyle...Dave...Daddy) reading this will not understand, but it really is remarkable. 
• On a similar note, in South India, applications have recently began including a third gender leaving gender options to be M, F, and T (transgender).
• Truckers sleep outside on cots when they need to pull over for a night's rest
• 30 percent of teachers are absent for their own classes, most work two or more jobs and are attending priority positions instead of teaching the youth. (Note: There is 1 teacher for every 441 students).
• There are 11 million new people looking for work each year in India.
• 40 percent of Indians live on less than $2 a day.
• Population 1.3 billion with 50 percent of that population under the age of 25.
• 330 million gods
• Only 1/3 of India has irrigation, leaving rural areas and food almost totally dependent on rain.
• Less than 1 percent of the population has insurance!
• Only 1 percent penetration of PC, yet it is the software capital of the world. 
• "Anything you say about India is true--and so is the opposite"

To an infinite of unknowns and the beauty of knowledge.

Enjoy.

Love and miss you all so much.

18 days.

Social Responsibility is Real

Advertising in a nation whose poverty runs so deep, at such a tremendous level that is unbelievable until actually experienced seems like a paradox wrapped up in a pretty little box. And yet, our itinerary is full of day tours to international ad agencies whose advertising efforts are successful, award winning and revolutionizing India as a brand. After meeting with Wieden + Kennedy, Delhi offices, I have a deeper and rich understanding of what is taking place in the Indian market place and how it is impacting the entirety of the population and the world.

As our presentation at W+K ensued, a collective ambition and the passion of advertising as an institution to help the good of all India radiated through the speaker. He reminded us that as we were sitting in an air-conditioned conference room clutching our over-sized coffee mugs, there were starving children, begging mothers and an entire nation lacking proper infrastructure and basic human needs such as shelter, clean water and hygiene. However, he assured us that each and everyday there are people who are aware of the bleeding situation and advertising has the social capability to assist and address this situation through a new wave of social responsibility--from agencies to CSR and sponsorships for local parks, school and restoration, it is a ground up operation. 

And yet, another inspiring day.

More Delhi Pics

Survived.

Train from Agra to Delhi. Survived. Barely held on without the impending breakdown. I'm sure that will come after landing in Dallas. Imagine a child with only one leg, scooting and hopping along the outdoor train station. Staring Indian men, women and children wondering who you are and what you're doing in their county. Once on the train, you try to make eye contact with no one, but somehow it happens again, and again. Thank God for Alvey and her maternal ways, creating a safe haven for first-time Indian travelers during times of overwhelming uncertainty. Mass chaos and an indescribable fear that is not, or rarely found in America.

Arrive in Delhi at the amazing Trident resort. Dinner. Wine. Sleep. Breakfast. Tour. Pictures to come.

Sleepy with an early side of morning. First Delhi agency visit begins at 8 a.m.

To novel experiences and humble appreciation.

Taj Mahal

At sunrise, I visited the most beautiful man-made structure in all of its glory. Arriving at the Taj Mahal at 5:30 a.m. was incredible. At first glimpse of the Taj, my eyes start to moisten because of the pure beauty that is and behind the meaning of the mausoleum. Many do not know, and I myself included until today, that the Taj Mahal is a mausoleum for the former king's wife. After bearing him many children, 14 to be exact, she died in childbirth as her husband promised to build her a structure so exquisite that it would never be surpassed by any other man-made figure. It is made entirely of marble with hints of color that are actually semi-precious stones, not paint.

As you approach the entrance of the Taj, you can see the middle of the structure waiting for you to share its enormous amount of energy. Walk even closer and the entire temple is exposed, leaving you to wonder, "Is this real?" It's beauty is so immense, so uncapturable, I hope these pictures do it some justice. Sunrise illuminated the Taj so that beams bounded off the marble, picking up hints of gold, yellow, pink and even the purest of whites.

Inspiration. Immeasurable beauty. A new perspective.

Enjoy.

Taj Mahal Pictures