Comfort Zones
I’ve experienced some of the bottom and some of the absolute top of the wealth spectrum in India in these last two months. My first month was in a village, eating rice and lentils for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with occasional watermelon, mango, and other goodies. The first week of my second month was in a huge tourist center in the Himalayas, trekking with a cook who made me gourmet dinners when I came back to camp. Then I stayed with family in Rajasthan who took care of me with absurd amounts of home made food and more A/C than I could ever want in a lifetime. Then I stayed in what was essentially a palace in Jaipur, with a dad’s friend, where the guest room was the size of two village homes alone.
I’ve served the poorest of the poor. I’ve had servants chauffeur me in luxury cars to VIP admission areas of museums and restaurants. I’ve had excess food handed to me on steel plates. I’ve helped make the food that I’ve eaten on plates made of leaves. I’ve sat first class and slept in beds on air conditioned buses and trains. I’ve stood in a train cart made for 50 and packed with 150 (not to mention that the 150 was sweaty and kind of smelly).
All of these things were initially extremely uncomfortable for me. The poor life was just new to me but I was willing to change. The rich life was just weird. I didn’t like being served. It made me feel like I have no friends because everyone around me was someone who was doing things for me. It increased the loneliness factor of the trip even though its purpose was the make things increasingly convenient for me.
Eventually though (and I’m still back and forth on this), I’ve realized that I have to just learn to be comfortable where I am. Occasionally, these things will all happen. I will have luxuries sometimes. I will have difficulties sometimes. The tough part is meeting all of these things eye-to-eye instead of being above or below what is presented in front of me.
I think one of my biggest takeaways from this experience has been learning how to mold to different socioeconomical situations a little better. I never even thought that would be something I’d have to deal with in my life, but it’s nice to know that when the challenges come, I’m grown slightly better prepared for them.
