Interesting Hindu Traditions in India
India is home to many religions, Hinduism is the largest percentage, around 80%, followed by Islam ( only 14% of the population, but with almost 200,000,000 adherents, it is the country with the second largest Muslim population after Indonesia), as well as smaller percentages of Christians, Sikhs, Jains, Buddists, Baha’i’s, and many more. Hinduism has over a million gods and goddesses, most of whom are manifestations of...
Being back in the United States
Being abroad has changed me, and it was for the better. I loved every minute of it, even though some parts were hard. I have been back in the United States for about a month now. Sometimes I still finding myself doing things that I was used to in Japan such as taking off my shoes before entering a house or standing to one side of an escalator. I also miss a lot of the food that I had there. American food is great, but I find a lot of...
Exhausted Expedition (STEM Path Abroad in India)
The reverse culture shock was real. After spending over twenty-four hours in the air and only twelve hours having gone by on my watch, I was finally walking back onto American soil. The smells, sights, and sounds were all familiar to me. It was hard to look back on my experiences right away. It was almost like I needed time for them to soak in before I could honestly reflect on my experiences and expeditions. India is truly a special...
Tribal Time (STEM Study Abroad in India)
Imagine a country that has roughly three times the population of the United States in about half the total area of land. Now open your eyes…that country is India. I can honestly say that India is unlike any other place that I have traveled. The amount of people, cars, and trash is overwhelming. Your eyes are filled with the honk of horns, people talking, and vendors trying to make a deal. Your nose is filled with a distinct smell of...
How to Bargain in India
You may think you’re good at bargaining, but even the most savvy, budget-conscious, stubborn negotiator can learn some valuable skills from the average corner shop owner in India. They are masters of their art, sizing you up from the moment you walk in their store filled with tapestries, goblets, textiles, you name it, you can find it. They make friends with you, speaking multiple languages to discover which one you speak, maybe...
Reminiscing
Previously, I wrote a post about how homesick I was; now, I am homesick for the country that was temporarily my home. It has been exactly 38 days since I have returned to Alabama, but the experience of studying abroad in France still weighs heavily on my mind. I long for the days where I could walk to a “boulangerie” in order to get a “pain au chocolat” which is basically a chocolat croissant before going to...