I have finally arrived in the city of Madurai, India.Since my trip began, last Sunday, music has played an important role in my journey thus far. Music has this amazing ability to allow communication that goes beyond cultures, religions, and even language. I have just begun to understand the eternal limits of music. Here are some musical stories from my travels:
Being Alive is Jumping - As I waved farewell to my sister and mother at the Toronto, Airport, I did not feel an immediate flood of emotion. I was excited for my journey and I felt ready. However, as I sat in the airport awaiting the boarding of my flight, I was caught off-guard by a little boy who asked me "Why are you travelling alone? Doesn't anyone love you?". This statement was not meant to be harmful; however, his words seemed to remind me of the challenges ahead. After we had boarded the plain, I continued to think about the truth that was found in this little boy's question. I was travelling alone, to a country that I had never been to before, with a family I had never met, with food I had never eaten, with a culture I was not used to...and the list goes on and on. I decided to put in my ipod and attempt to drown out these fears through the comfort of music. The first song that randomly began was a song sung by one of my best friends. When I heard her voice, tears immediately began to stream down my face. The song that she was singing is called "Alive" and it talks about the beautiful joy and heartbreak that met her in Ecuador. The words not only helped me to feel a piece of home, but they also provided me with great excitement for the coming days. (check out her website: http://www.myspace.com/katelynerin). This song reminded me that being alive does not mean being comfortable; rather it means the opposite. It means jumping into the unknown, it means not being afraid to make mistakes. Being alive means to jump, with fear and excitement, into uncomfortable waters.
Being Alive is Dancing - I arrived in Chennai, India at around 1:00 am on Monday morning. On my flight to Chennai I had met three people who were travelling Asia together, two were from America and one was from France. My professor had suggested I find a hotel to get a couple hours of sleep and a shower when I arrived in Chennai because my next flight was not until 7:00 am; however, I often choose to make my own way so I decided against her advice. One of the girls I had met on my flight played the guitar and another had a banjo, so I pulled out my harmonica and we began playing in the streets of Chennai at 1:00 in the morning. Before I knew it, there were Indian children and women circling us and dancing the night away. (People also started giving us money; however, we attempted to explain it was just for fun). At one point, a little boy grabbed my hand and began twirling beneath it. At that moment, I truly felt the universal power of music. I could not communicate with this child through words, our worlds were completely different; but we were brought together in beautiful unity by the sweet melody of music.
Being Alive is Feeling - I am living in a house with Roopa, who is a professor at a nearby college, her husband Ravi, and Ravi's mother, Fennella (but we call her "Achee" which means grandmother). In addition, a home nurse lives in the house, her name is Sugunthi and a cook named Parvathi who have become my very good friends. Achee, Ravi's mother, is quite old and is unable to communicate through words; however, when the piano is brought out and she hears a song she recognizes, her memory seems to be reignited. It is near impossible to talk with Fenella or to understand what she is attempting to convey. But when she hears the words of "Amazing Grace", she lifts her head, closes her eyes and seems to feel the music within her soul. Music not only has the ability to cross through cultural divides, but also it can surpass the limits that come with age.
Those are just a few stories from my adventures here in India so far. It is an amazing experience. It is challenging and easy, chaotic and peaceful, diffferent and the same . It is nothing that I expected but also, it is everything that I expected. I know that those things might seem like opposities, but that is life..its beauty can be found in the fact that it is complex within its simplicity. My advice for those of you who are reading this while facing your own challenges is to be alive. You must jump, you must dance, and you must feel.
Being Alive is Jumping - As I waved farewell to my sister and mother at the Toronto, Airport, I did not feel an immediate flood of emotion. I was excited for my journey and I felt ready. However, as I sat in the airport awaiting the boarding of my flight, I was caught off-guard by a little boy who asked me "Why are you travelling alone? Doesn't anyone love you?". This statement was not meant to be harmful; however, his words seemed to remind me of the challenges ahead. After we had boarded the plain, I continued to think about the truth that was found in this little boy's question. I was travelling alone, to a country that I had never been to before, with a family I had never met, with food I had never eaten, with a culture I was not used to...and the list goes on and on. I decided to put in my ipod and attempt to drown out these fears through the comfort of music. The first song that randomly began was a song sung by one of my best friends. When I heard her voice, tears immediately began to stream down my face. The song that she was singing is called "Alive" and it talks about the beautiful joy and heartbreak that met her in Ecuador. The words not only helped me to feel a piece of home, but they also provided me with great excitement for the coming days. (check out her website: http://www.myspace.com/katelynerin). This song reminded me that being alive does not mean being comfortable; rather it means the opposite. It means jumping into the unknown, it means not being afraid to make mistakes. Being alive means to jump, with fear and excitement, into uncomfortable waters.
Being Alive is Dancing - I arrived in Chennai, India at around 1:00 am on Monday morning. On my flight to Chennai I had met three people who were travelling Asia together, two were from America and one was from France. My professor had suggested I find a hotel to get a couple hours of sleep and a shower when I arrived in Chennai because my next flight was not until 7:00 am; however, I often choose to make my own way so I decided against her advice. One of the girls I had met on my flight played the guitar and another had a banjo, so I pulled out my harmonica and we began playing in the streets of Chennai at 1:00 in the morning. Before I knew it, there were Indian children and women circling us and dancing the night away. (People also started giving us money; however, we attempted to explain it was just for fun). At one point, a little boy grabbed my hand and began twirling beneath it. At that moment, I truly felt the universal power of music. I could not communicate with this child through words, our worlds were completely different; but we were brought together in beautiful unity by the sweet melody of music.
Being Alive is Feeling - I am living in a house with Roopa, who is a professor at a nearby college, her husband Ravi, and Ravi's mother, Fennella (but we call her "Achee" which means grandmother). In addition, a home nurse lives in the house, her name is Sugunthi and a cook named Parvathi who have become my very good friends. Achee, Ravi's mother, is quite old and is unable to communicate through words; however, when the piano is brought out and she hears a song she recognizes, her memory seems to be reignited. It is near impossible to talk with Fenella or to understand what she is attempting to convey. But when she hears the words of "Amazing Grace", she lifts her head, closes her eyes and seems to feel the music within her soul. Music not only has the ability to cross through cultural divides, but also it can surpass the limits that come with age.
Those are just a few stories from my adventures here in India so far. It is an amazing experience. It is challenging and easy, chaotic and peaceful, diffferent and the same . It is nothing that I expected but also, it is everything that I expected. I know that those things might seem like opposities, but that is life..its beauty can be found in the fact that it is complex within its simplicity. My advice for those of you who are reading this while facing your own challenges is to be alive. You must jump, you must dance, and you must feel.
you have such a beautiful spirit <3 i'm glad you are already finding joy in things. i love all the parallels with music :)
ReplyDelete:) my heart smiles as i read your experiences and how God is showing you His beauty in the little things and the seemingly insignificant moments that fill your day, and smiles even bigger that you have the eyes and ears to see the beauty that He is presenting. :)i cannot wait to hear more of your journey!
ReplyDeleteblessings