Back to India. This time during monsoon season.
(As if I don't already have enough reasons to stay in my hotel...)
I was surprised to actually see the sun when my plane landed in Mumbai. The humidity hit me like a brick wall as soon as I stepped outside the airport, but it was nice that I did not have to battle pouring rains.
The blue skies continued over the next few days and I noticed more conversations about the weather, although the tone included a sense of concern rather than a sense of relief. Apparently, the monsoon generally arrives on the same day each year, so the delay was causing a lot of uncertainty.
There were articles in the newspaper which stated that the prices of food staples (potato, onion) were already increasing, based purely on the speculation of a lower-than-average monsoon. It's amazing how quickly people start to react to a few days of dry weather - especially since most meteorologists in the United States can barely forecast rain for the next day, let alone an entire season.
And then, suddenly, the monsoon arrived.
Rain poured down in buckets and the view from my window became downright spooky. It's times like this that I really appreciate being inside. Driving in Mumbai is an adventure, even in perfect weather. Flooded roads add yet another dimension to the mayhem.
The next day, I talked to some of my local colleagues about whether they get annoyed with the rain. Without exception, they all said that it is a beautiful and much-anticipated time of year. There was a sense of nostalgia, as they recalled the many times that they waded through the knee-high puddles, enjoyed an "earthy" scent in the air, and returned home completely soaked.
As someone who despises rain, I could not associate with the things they were saying. There have been a few select occasions when I was forced to run in the rain and actually started to appreciate it (only after I was already soaking wet). However, aside from a handful of fun memories, I don't understand the beauty or the appeal of non-stop, heavy rains.
My (American) colleague arrived at the hotel during another three-day period without rain and exclaimed how nice it was that the skies were clear. I shook my head in agreement. Then, our local consultant said something that I will never forget. His response was: "I'm glad you enjoy the nice views from your window. Meanwhile, we will have no food."
At that moment, I started understanding why Indians genuinely appreciate the beauty of the rain. To them, it is a necessary part of the year that brings the most basic of all necessities to many people around the country. It is also a break from the oppressive heat that makes living conditions more difficult during the summer months that precede the monsoon. With so many people working outside or living in non air-conditioned homes, the heat impacts life in a negative way.
Sometimes, I fail to realize that my perspectives of the world come from my upbringing in a first-world country. I dislike the rain because it prevents me from running outdoors or seeing blue skies in my pictures, but I never think about any potential impact on my food supply or living conditions. If the price of produce increases in my local grocery store, I usually don't even notice. My favorite foods are always available - even if they have to be imported from another country.
India is an exotic place in every sense of the word. I have always recognized the vast differences in food, clothing, cultural traditions, family dynamics, and so many other elements of life. However, it was not until this monsoon season that I realized just how much a person's upbringing can impact his or her perspective on something as simple as rain.
(As if I don't already have enough reasons to stay in my hotel...)
I was surprised to actually see the sun when my plane landed in Mumbai. The humidity hit me like a brick wall as soon as I stepped outside the airport, but it was nice that I did not have to battle pouring rains.
The blue skies continued over the next few days and I noticed more conversations about the weather, although the tone included a sense of concern rather than a sense of relief. Apparently, the monsoon generally arrives on the same day each year, so the delay was causing a lot of uncertainty.
There were articles in the newspaper which stated that the prices of food staples (potato, onion) were already increasing, based purely on the speculation of a lower-than-average monsoon. It's amazing how quickly people start to react to a few days of dry weather - especially since most meteorologists in the United States can barely forecast rain for the next day, let alone an entire season.
And then, suddenly, the monsoon arrived.
 |
| Monsoon view from my window |
Rain poured down in buckets and the view from my window became downright spooky. It's times like this that I really appreciate being inside. Driving in Mumbai is an adventure, even in perfect weather. Flooded roads add yet another dimension to the mayhem.
The next day, I talked to some of my local colleagues about whether they get annoyed with the rain. Without exception, they all said that it is a beautiful and much-anticipated time of year. There was a sense of nostalgia, as they recalled the many times that they waded through the knee-high puddles, enjoyed an "earthy" scent in the air, and returned home completely soaked.
As someone who despises rain, I could not associate with the things they were saying. There have been a few select occasions when I was forced to run in the rain and actually started to appreciate it (only after I was already soaking wet). However, aside from a handful of fun memories, I don't understand the beauty or the appeal of non-stop, heavy rains.
My (American) colleague arrived at the hotel during another three-day period without rain and exclaimed how nice it was that the skies were clear. I shook my head in agreement. Then, our local consultant said something that I will never forget. His response was: "I'm glad you enjoy the nice views from your window. Meanwhile, we will have no food."
At that moment, I started understanding why Indians genuinely appreciate the beauty of the rain. To them, it is a necessary part of the year that brings the most basic of all necessities to many people around the country. It is also a break from the oppressive heat that makes living conditions more difficult during the summer months that precede the monsoon. With so many people working outside or living in non air-conditioned homes, the heat impacts life in a negative way.
Sometimes, I fail to realize that my perspectives of the world come from my upbringing in a first-world country. I dislike the rain because it prevents me from running outdoors or seeing blue skies in my pictures, but I never think about any potential impact on my food supply or living conditions. If the price of produce increases in my local grocery store, I usually don't even notice. My favorite foods are always available - even if they have to be imported from another country.
India is an exotic place in every sense of the word. I have always recognized the vast differences in food, clothing, cultural traditions, family dynamics, and so many other elements of life. However, it was not until this monsoon season that I realized just how much a person's upbringing can impact his or her perspective on something as simple as rain.
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