My grandad once told me,
“Imati prijatelje u svakom gradu… to znači imati kuću u svakom gradu,” which translates to “Have friends in every city; this will mean you’ll have a home in every city.”
I’ve felt this in several places, but nothing quite compares with the friendships formed within our first five days in India. Together, we started our days with 6 a.m. yoga and Bollywood dance classes on a balcony as the sun rises in the city of Pondicherry. There’s something about aspiring to reach our yoga instructor, Suzie’s, unwithering flexibility, and twenty-four people posing as happy cobras that really bonds you.
Soon after, the A-team—consisting of Aria, Ani, and myself—blasted some Mariah Carey in our room as we scrambled to get all our things together and walked downstairs for breakfast. Gathering with everyone, we enjoyed a cup of black coffee or tea and some food. A few dropped forks and talks about the weather later, and the group heads down to load onto the bus, excited about our day ahead. We travelled to several historical sights, including Arjuna’s Presence, or the descent of the Ganges in Mahabalipuram on the Coromandel Coast. These stone carvings are symbolic of the descent of the sacred river Ganges to the earth from the heavens, and the waters were thought to have supernatural abilities. What surprised me was hearing that in 7th-century India, these stone carvings would have been vibrant and lively with their colours.
Some days passed, and a visit to the conscious clothing brand, Upasana, proved to be enlightening with the founder – Umma’s, informed understanding of the industry, coupled with her nonchalant and charismatic sense of humour. The power of Upasana lies in improving the livelihoods of “farmers, spinners, weavers, printers, tailors, designers, and many more who have invisibly woven their souls into what we wear.” Through this message, and deep discussions with Umma and her team, the importance of their work was emphasised. Indeed, bringing to light the necessity for slower, more conscious work to better the environment.
As we moved away from Pondicherry, we headed west to Coimbatore, driving into Isha Yoga Centre at a time when the spiritual guru, Sadhguru, was present.
Rolling out of bed at 6 a.m. the next day felt like a comedy sketch in the making. The group had this grand plan for a bike ride, and there I was, losing my balance, stumbling and nearly crashing at the grand age of 21. As we rolled through the ashram, my attempt at gracefulness during pedalling was, let’s say, subject to interpretation. Nonetheless, the cohort rode along, getting ready for a dip in the sacred baths of Teerthkunds.
Later in the day, our visit to a rural high school nearby was a genuinely heartwarming experience. Three gracious schoolgirls took on the roles of our tour guides, taking us through the school and sharing their world with us. Their openness and kindness provided a meaningful connection, and they introduced us to the game of “Coco,” ending our time with them with a sense of shared joy.
These genuine moments of connection in another city make me feel not just at home but incredibly grateful for the people I’ve met so far. Feeling a sense of home and belonging in each city so far, I can’t wait to see how the rest of our journey unfolds.