India

“ Surviving is accident” is what professor A.K. Ray had to say about Indian driving in his lecture today. The professor that I got to see lecture was scheduled to speak about India politics, but couldn’t help himself from going off on India’s people. What he had to say about driving was so true and as I took a rickshaw back to my apartment I came up with a theory about why they drive as such. America’s dive careful, honk when mad, and get really upset with someone doesn’t follow the agreed upon rules, whereas Indians, drive like they are in a video game, honk often, and never seem to be upset. I feel that they don’t get upset because the person who is cutting them off, tailgating, or whatever is driving exactly like they are.  It’s like all people drive crazy so that if there is an accident then everyone is to blame.

Another big factor in their daring driving is trust. The people of India have so much trust for one another. People know cars will stop, people will pay money that is due, and children will be taken care of by neighbors.  It is truly amazing. A few of us did an experiment where we made ten sandwiches for strangers. We set out to hand these sandwiches out to the first people we saw in exchange for nothing. Within no time all ten strangers were eating ten sandwiches from people they had never met. Can you imagine that happening anywhere else?

Along with this deep trust for one another comes a huge curiosity for those who are part of this ancient bond. Indians have been trusting and helping one another out for hundreds of years, so what happens when I new person comes in. Surprisingly it is just extended to that person. Other things are extended to though, like prices! If you are white and want to come to India do not expect to pay the local price. Indians don’t try to hide the fact that they are raising prices either. Today we went to the national museum and there was a sign that listed the prices. It was 30 rupees for Indian citizens and 300 rupees for foreigners.

The madness at the museum didn’t stop there though! As me and a few others walked into the main lobby a group of about 200 high school aged kids walked by. After awkward walking by twice, they decided to hang out with us. Stand all around, pointing, and taking photos of us. In true movie star fashion we put on our sunglasses and walked through the crowd to the next room, dodging hand shakes and shouts. After only a minute in this room though the crowd started to come through the door, yet again huddling around us like we were famous. There was a period of confusion while we thought of ways to loose the crowd. Eventually, though it got so out of hand security came in and ushered the crowd out closing the door behind them. Now we were movie stars, our own private exhibit viewing while our fans waited outside for one last look at the mysterious white man.

My most common form of transportation.