Madurai 

For the past 8 days, my group and I have been living and experiencing everything there is here in Madurai. From the beautiful luxurious JC hotel to the saddening and eye opening poverty. To seeing  the biggest/smallest boniest dogs in my life, to visiting Beautiful and unbelievable temples. Along with having sweat and tears rolling down my face everytime I ate the food because of how spicy everything was, to staying with my host family and shopping for Kurta’s/Sari’s has been such an unforgettable experience I’ll cherish forever. I’ve learned the values of having an Education as well as the importance of gratitude and self determination. 

One day at our home stay, my roommate & I each wanted to take a shower late in the afternoon.  to our surprise the water had stopped working. we were unable to shower, unable to use the bathroom and unable to wash our hands or face.  it was over 102° that night and we were really bummed. Yet what we realized was that we were only there for 4 days, but our host family have been living there their whole lives . “How do they live like this ?” we thought.

so many times in the US we take things for granted like simple essentials like water and electricity.  we assume that it’s a right to be able to have those things but to be quite honest, it’s a privilege we do not deserve. Too many people do not realize that because your power stops for a few minutes it is not the end of the world. people from all over live like this daily, and have learned to deal with it. They aren’t sad or suffering, they are thriving with the resources that are there for them and the hope that better things will come. Truly, it has been an inspiration to be able to be a part of this impressive culture, where the people not only are thriving but are together in unity because they know that they’re all in this together.