Two weeks have passed since touching down at Auckland Airport. Returning to New Zealand after six weeks of immersion in India’s daily life has been an enormous reverse culture shock.
I no longer take for granted what was once trivial. Living in a developing country has made me more aware of how fortunate I am to have grown up in New Zealand. Clean, drinkable water is accessible everywhere; I don’t need to carry bottled water or request that ice be left out of my drinks, cautious of waterborne diseases. Skies are blue, unobstructed by smog. Auckland’s 5 o’clock rush is incomparable to India’s public transport system – I don’t need to fight my way to merely get on to the train, or listen to the constant shrill of horns filling the air. I even live in a free-standing house (a sign of luxury in Mumbai, where high rises dominate the city).
On the other hand, I find the quiet in New Zealand almost eerie – I have grown accustomed to being constantly surrounded by people; the hustle and bustle of a lively city was a comfort. By comparison, the calmness of life in Aotearoa is almost unnerving and will be my biggest adjustment back home.
Despite the challenges the country is working to eliminate, India is a beautifully diverse country, and I feel privileged to have spent six weeks there. Undoubtedly, one of the highlights was seeing one of the Seven Wonders of the World. After escaping a stampede, we turned a corner, stepped through the archway, and saw the Taj Mahal. I’ll never forget seeing the immense marble structure, overwhelmed by the sheer scale and beautifully crafted architecture.
We were also fortunate to spend one day in Rishikesh, a city located at the foothills of the Himalayas, with the sacred Ganges river running alongside it. Our 24 hours in Rishikesh were packed; we watched the Ganga Aarti ceremony, a spiritual ritual performed at dusk every evening to thank the goddess Ganga and acknowledge the relationship between nature and humans. We witnessed the ringing of bells, lamps being lit, incense diffusing through the air, and mantras being chanted. Taking part in this process, as we let our flower candles float down the Ganges was an incredibly special experience.
The serenity of this sacred event can be contrasted with our next activity; white-water rafting down the Ganges! Our guides even encouraged us to jump into the rapids, letting the current steer us down the river. I don’t think I stopped smiling the entire 24 hours in Rishikesh!
Apart from travel, another incredible aspect of PMSA was my internship. Researching sex-trafficking prevention was an intense yet rewarding area of work which has solidified my desire to aid vulnerable people in navigating the justice system. Exposure to India’s legal system through District Court and High Court proceedings, alongside reading numerous case studies and discussing prevention initiatives with my colleagues was both confronting and educational. It opened my eyes to the immense work that organisations such as Vipla are taking to combat trafficking.
Ultimately, my time in India was a rich experience which exposed me to another way of life and career paths. If you’re contemplating applying for the Prime Minister’s Scholarship, I have just one piece of advice…do it!
It’s one of the best ways to step outside your comfort zone and view the world from a fresh lens, learning more about both other cultures and yourself. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions – I’d be more than happy to chat about PMSA!