A
big smile twitched the corners of my lips when an elevator version of
“Memory” from Cats
started playing as I waited those long moments to see if they would
approve of my documents and let me into the country. At first I
thought of the smile as one of amusement at hearing such a song so
far away. As some of you may know, though, musical theater sings to
my heart…and the real reason for the smile was that this song
captured the moment perfectly--my senses, my cognitions, my emotions,
my spirit. I was standing immersed in memories. This is my first
time to Mumbai, and to be sure it is a unique city with enough people
to dwarf many countries. It is a place wholly different from my
second home in Kerala. Yet, the rain, the humidity, the food smells,
the press of people, the car horns, and even the gigantic billboards
for once-familiar products call out to me.
The
journey from the airport to the TATA Institute of Social Sciences at
2:00am was at once serene and shocking. The gracious driver who
picked me up flew through traffic, missing other cars, people, and
dogs by mere centimeters. A part of me urged to scream in fear and
exhilaration. Another part, though, knew from memory that all would
be well. My prayer is that I can maintain this tension healthily
throughout my time in Mumbai--exhilaration at new (and close!)
encounters and peace in the feeling of being in a place that sings to
my heart.
I
am here in Mumbai as part of my social work studies with the
University of Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration. I
will be in the city for four weeks studying community practice and
response to poverty and marginalization through class work and field
work. Afterwards I will spend some time visiting my Kerala family.
Stay tuned for more as I process the experiences to come!
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