India Continues to amaze

India has been eye opening. There are so many wonderful things to say, and so many surprises along the way. I have loved the interaction we have had between the people of this culture. Traveling from Mumbai to Coimbatore has shown us the varying differences within the culture of India as a whole. The women here seem to be much more reserved and pious. They are much more religious and the ways of the western world have not reached them yet.

I have one observation and theory based on what I have noticed thus far. Indian women are not allowed to interact much with men, limiting their chances to find love on their own. This makes the matchmaking and arranged marraige easier for them, as they do not know anything else. In their culture, to interact with a man in a more than friendly manner is unacceptable. They are not even allowed to go out with men in groups unless accompanied by an adult.

I have noticed that the interaction between women here is much more hands on. They hold hands and hold each other around the waist, much like a western couple might. I theorize that the women, in lack of male companionship, have attached themselves in a more than friendly way to other females. Even when we first met our "friends" from the University in Coimbatore, they grabbed hold of our hands and led us across the street, even through the halls and around campus. This open and close relationship and contact with women is reminicsent of what I might do with a male friend, or a boyfriend. On the flip side, even men have been seen holding hands and with arms around the shoulder, a sign of affection wich might be made fun of in the states.

My theory being said, I have had an amazing and eye opening time in India thus far. It has been humbling. For example, we went to the house of a women professor last night for dinner. I was so impressed by the hospitality they showed us, and the pride in their faces when they hosted us. We were given a tour of their home, a home which might be considered meager in our society. They were so proud of that home, and the pride portrayed was comfort enough for us to realize that, in this society, it is not what you have or what you are able to buy, but the way that you use your gifts to help others. As the founder of the University at Mumbai said... "give back to the community what you have been given, multifold."