Welcome back to This is India! I always have funny/weird stories about India to share with friends or family when I talk to them. This is just meant to be an honest portrayal about my life in India through short anecdotes. I also share here what I’ve been up to online outside Hippie in Heels.
What I was up to other than here:
- Day to Day: Goa, India on Paper Planes. I shared what a typical day is like for me as an expat here.
- I also was so happy to be included in the Top India Travel Blogs chosen by Myoksha
Now your story,
I never thought I would experience reverse culture shock and really, I haven’t much at all. I figure if I’ve been in the U.S. for 22 years on and off and in India only 2, then really America is pretty engrained in me.
India and the US are polar opposites, yet I don’t really get hit by it at all. I went back to the US for a month in May.
There was one thing that kind of made me go WOW I’m back in the US now…
I fly domestically in India really often; most times out of Bombay and see this view below a lot. You can see the mumbai slums; some of my Indian friends say you can smell them when you get off the plane but actually I’ve never noticed this. The houses are uneven, almost on top of each other and there are more satellite dishes than you can count.
When I landed in NJ after a year in India, looking down at this was so strange!
One thing that most travelers love about India is the chaos and crowds, the smells and colors. I have never toured the slums because I get a weird feeling when I think about doing it- like I’m exploiting people if I do. Comparing these two images really puts things into perspective!
This is India!
I do want to ask though, when I’m in Bombay is a post about what the slum life is like something you’d like to see? Through Viator and just friends and touts I could go into them and write about it, but I’m not sure if that’s ethical. What do you think?
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I’m really loving this series! I would like to know about your experiences with the slums of India, since this must be a very real part of the country too. But if it doesn’t feel natural or ethical to you, how about a collection of stories through your friends?
That’s a great idea Michelle! Thanks.
What a contrast!
I know what you mean about that ‘weird feeling’ by the way – I get it sometimes when I’m walking around some place that’s really local and remote, especially if I cannot speak the language. I don’t like looking around too much because I feel like I’m treating the place like some sort of museum!
That’s a good point! and I hate to feel like that as well.. especially when I’m just curious but I don’t want to offend anyone. In India I get stared at alike crazy, so I think its ok I stare back a little bit :)
From where you are taking those photos, it sure feels like looking at the other end of the spectrum. :(
Strangely I have never noticed these slums in Mumbai. I have only seen them in the movies. Yes, Mumbai is a pretty dirty city. There’s a dark side behind the glitz and glamor.
Really!? If you take off in the day time you’ll see them out the window but maybe it depends which terminal you are at.
I was just reading a post on Tammy and Chris on the Move where they took a tour of a favela in Brazil. It was really informative but I really appreciated the fact that they chose a company that was reputable and gave back to the community. So I would love to hear about your experiences in India’s slums. But I think that doing it as ethically and non-exploitatively as possible is so important…Good luck! I would love to hear about it!
Thanks Justine, It seems people do want me to do this tour, actually I hate that it’s called a “tour” but I suppose that’s what it is! I’ll have to look into it more and find a company I agree with!
Hi, it’s me again! I know exactly how you feel about wanting to visit the slums but also not wanting to exploit them. If you’re ever in Bombay, you should check out Reality Tours’ Dharavi tour. They have been working in Dharavi for a number of years now, so they have a good relationship with many people in the area, and 80% of the proceeds from their tours – they also offer sunrise cycling tours in south Bombay as well as a street food tour – go directly back into the community. Reality’s sister charity, Reality Gives, operates a community centre that teaches English, interview skills, computer classes, art classes, etc., and they also sponsor a cricket team and a girls’ football team. In the spirit of full disclosure, one of my good friends is the CEO of the tour company, but I had heard about them long before she took that position. Let me know if you’re interested and when you might be in Bombay next, and I can put you in touch with her. I know she’s coming to the States for 2 weeks in September, but otherwise she’s usually around, and I’m sure she would love to have you feature them on here. Their website is realitytoursandtravel.com, and you can check out their reviews on TripAdvisor as well. Let me know how it works out for you!
xx
You’re the second person who has mentioned Reality tours, so I think I need to really look into that. I would love to get her information and chat with her about a visit. If you want to give her my e-mail you can!
I don’t know if you would consider this as much of a logical way to approach this subject but I don’t think you should write about slums or anything which is below your own economic standing until and unless you are comfortable with knowing and accepting that they are not expecting pity. That living in a slum is as much a part of their reality as being an American is yours. And also you should I guess only do it when you are doing it to find out about that life – you know out of curiosity.
Thanks for your input Neetole!
I really enjoy reading your series.Please keep on writing.
Cheers
Vaidehi
thank you!
Hey girl, I completely understand why you are asking about writing about the slums. I hate when people are like “ooh look at at all these poor people..ok glad I’m not one of them, here’s a few intrusive and offensive photos and off I go” which I know YOU would not be like and that’s why you have reservations about doing the post. I agree with what other commenters said about writing about slums. You have to do it in a way that feels ethical and right to you- e.g if you visited with a local person who knows that area well or with an ethical company/charity. Do what feels right for you. Also, wow the difference between landing in Bombay and back in the US is crazy- I can completely imagine my brain being slightly confused at that!
Thanks Joella, I think you’re right. I hope I can find a company I like and want to work with that can help people too.
Reverse cultural shock is something we all experience at some point :). Great story from India Rachel. How long are you gonna stay in India? By the way, I’m very interested in what the slum life is like in Bombay so go for it!
Ahhh how long?! that’s the big question haha… for a long time I think :)
Hello! Love the pics from the plane- I remember when I flew into Mumbai and seeing the slums and just thinking ‘uh oh..we’re in India!!’ .. Similarly landing in Miami recently was a bit of a shock- it was so planned and perfect compared to what we’re used to in the UK/Europe!
I actually took a slum tour when in Mumbai, and recently wrote about the experience. I completely understand your reservations as I felt the same before going but eventually curiosity won. In the end, I was mostly very impressed with the way it was carried out (by Reality Tours) as it felt like the main purpose of the trip was for education. It’s obviously a massively personal decision though!
My post is here- http://teaandcakeplease.com/2014/08/01/slum-tour-mumbai-dhavari-reflections
Yes the US has a very planned out look from above compared to even the UK! Thanks for sharing your post. I’m going to look at it now. and I’ll check out your tour company too. Thanks for sharing!
This definitely reminds me of my first thoughts of flying into Cambodia. It was my first time in Asia and the view from my plane window was starkly different from the places I’ve flown into in the US: NYC, Miami, Boston.
I bet! It’s very telling!
I know what you mean about feeling “wrong”. I felt that way in certain parts of aboriginal Australia. I suppose it would have to be a tour that was giving back in some way to the community. You’d have to see whether or not the people that live there really want to be sharing their lives and experiences with outsiders as well.
You’re right. I’ll need to do some research first to make sure!
Is there a way for you to do some voluntary work in the slums? I was thinking that might be different, and very interesting to read about.
That’s a good idea, I just don’t know how much time I’d have up there & it’s sometimes bad to do short term volunteering and hurts more than it helps! I’ll look into it. Thanks!
You should go tour the slums. Looks like the reality tours company puts the profits back in helping the people there. I do not see how it can be morally wrong. If your intentions were to understand what kind of life they live, that is a step in the right direction.
You’re right. I’d like to go and see what it’s like there.
Yes, I think this would be an excellent topic for post(s).
Thanks Michelle! I’m planning on it after so much positive feedback.