Since arriving in New Delhi on August 18, I have been staying at the Oberoi Hotel with the other Fulbright-Nehru researchers. I cannot deny that my arrival in India has been very comfortable, especially after having traveled for almost thirty hours from Denver and while adjusting to the twelve-hour time difference. The grounds and the facilities of the Oberoi are stunning, and when I am not apartment hunting or registering with the FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Office), I am typically relaxing by the pool.
Nevertheless, it is a bit isolating, and I have yet to feel like I am truly back in India. Everyday, I hear the call to prayer from the mosque across the street, and it serves as a reminder of the multifaceted culture I will have a chance to explore throughout the next year. Don’t get me wrong, I am incredibly grateful for the ten days I have spent here at the Oberoi, but I am very excited to move into my apartment and begin my real life in India.
My first two days here consisted of orientation with the other Fulbright-Nehru researchers. In between formal meetings and discussions about safety, grant requirements, and Indian cultural norms, I had the opportunity to converse with the other ‘Fulbrighters.’ I have never been so impressed and inspired by a group of people in a single room. They are researching topics ranging from the United States’ use of jazz tours as a form of soft power in India during the Cold War, to the impact of polio immunization on routine health initiatives in rural India. I was not only able to learn about an extensive range of topics, but it also made me excited to delve into my own topic and explore various methods of research.
After the two days of orientation, the Fulbrighters who will be researching in cities outside of Delhi traveled to their respective locations. There are eleven of us remaining in Delhi, and we have stayed at the Oberoi for an additional seven days (until our apartments are finalized.) I am thrilled about the group of Fulbrighters who will be living in Delhi. They have already become great friends, and they will be a continuous resource for fascinating events and activities in Delhi throughout the year, as their research and interests encompass such a wide variety. For example, there is a musician in our group who plays the tabla (among other instruments) and is here to study ‘Hindustani rhythmic principles.’ On Sunday night, he invited us to an event at the Indian Habitat Center, at which a sarod player, named Anupam Joshi, performed (accompanied by an incredible tabla player whose name I cannot remember, go to 1:06 in the second video.) If you are interested, I have included a link to the videos I recorded at the event:
My first two days here consisted of orientation with the other Fulbright-Nehru researchers. In between formal meetings and discussions about safety, grant requirements, and Indian cultural norms, I had the opportunity to converse with the other ‘Fulbrighters.’ I have never been so impressed and inspired by a group of people in a single room. They are researching topics ranging from the United States’ use of jazz tours as a form of soft power in India during the Cold War, to the impact of polio immunization on routine health initiatives in rural India. I was not only able to learn about an extensive range of topics, but it also made me excited to delve into my own topic and explore various methods of research.
After the two days of orientation, the Fulbrighters who will be researching in cities outside of Delhi traveled to their respective locations. There are eleven of us remaining in Delhi, and we have stayed at the Oberoi for an additional seven days (until our apartments are finalized.) I am thrilled about the group of Fulbrighters who will be living in Delhi. They have already become great friends, and they will be a continuous resource for fascinating events and activities in Delhi throughout the year, as their research and interests encompass such a wide variety. For example, there is a musician in our group who plays the tabla (among other instruments) and is here to study ‘Hindustani rhythmic principles.’ On Sunday night, he invited us to an event at the Indian Habitat Center, at which a sarod player, named Anupam Joshi, performed (accompanied by an incredible tabla player whose name I cannot remember, go to 1:06 in the second video.) If you are interested, I have included a link to the videos I recorded at the event:
During one of the discussions at orientation, a researcher described India as a “country of contradictions” and another described it as “the country where we will have the best days of our lives as well as the worst days.” I am making an effort to remember both of these descriptions throughout my yearlong journey, beginning tomorrow as I prepare to move out of the Oberoi and into my new apartment. I know there will be moments when the chaos of India will overwhelm me and I will yearn for the simplicity of America; yet I have to remind myself that the fascinating culture, passionate people, and exciting lifestyle could make tomorrow the best day of my life. |