After leaving my heart in Aotearoa, my body and soul boarded a plane to begin a new adventure in Mumbai! With the feeling of nervousness, excitement, and perhaps dread for the unknown, nothing would have ever prepared me for what was in store.
Noise, heat, and colour are only a few words to describe the bustling city of Bombay. With a population of 20 million individuals packed into one city, it’s not surprising that the only way to build – is up! It was such a stark difference from the quiet comfort of Aotearoa, and if you think Auckland CBD traffic is bad – try being in India.
The first challenge was getting used to the heat and humidity. I’ve never sweat so much during the winter season! The air is thick, and cars seem to have minds of their own; however, after a week of living here, I’ve gotten used to crossing the road at odd times.
The second challenge was figuring out the local train system, which was completely different from your usual tagging on your AT hop card. The train doors are always open, letting a nice breeze in, but getting caught in that 5:30 pm rush hour was something else. Thankfully, Naveen and Shwetha were a huge help and guided each student to their exact stop for work the next day.
When morning came, all the PMSA birdies left the nest and were put to the real test – finding our own way to work. The experience was definitely jarring. High-rise buildings, fancy malls, and nice restaurants are stationed right beside narrow streets with tiny housing and run-down shops. I think this really stuck with me about what Mumbai being the City of Dreams really means – making a living.
Hearing stories from those in my cohort who come back from working in the slums and comparing them to others, like myself, who work in corporate jobs, reminds me to check my privilege coming from Aotearoa. The gap between the rich and the impoverished in Mumbai has been nothing short of a culture shock. I’ve come to realise that complaining about slow wifi or a booked out restaurant is nothing compared to needing to repair a pair of shoes. One thing I’m extremely grateful for landing this amazing internship is the ability to live a life so different from my own back home.
I’ve only spent one week in India, but my life has definitely been changed forever. I can’t wait to see what’s in store and to hopefully come back with something new and insightful to share with my friends and whanau back home. Kia Ora!
