In my visit at age 12, I took my role as self-appointed travel journalist for my 6th grade teacher, my friends, and father quite seriously. My letters to them are filled with rich details and descriptions of farm life, wedding ceremonies, holidays, and rituals. Many of the things I experienced were so new, and extra exciting.

During this visit there was a Hindu ceremony at my aunt’s house. In one letter I wrote, “When the ceremony started, not many people were here (five hundred people were expected). A branch with leaves was placed in the right hand corner of the courtyard, a torch was lit, and red rice was made with limestone and turmeric. A man started making dough from the flour that Chithi (my aunt) ground. Some leaves were in a basket nearby…..The dough was wrapped in a red cloth and put into a pot. Another man applied turmeric, ashes, and a red powder on the pot. Puliar (Hershey kiss-like patties made from cow dung), coconuts, and bananas were placed near (the pot). We all had to pray….”.

In another letter I wrote, “I have learned to string the flowers that we wear in our hair, how to weave coconut boughs, how to make bricks, how to sew a sack-full of eggplants, and how to grind rice in a stone grinder”.

My writings also show an emerging social consciousness: “We really want to help the poor boys and girls that help on the farm. So far, we have given them old clothes, and I have taken pictures of some of them. We also hope to buy them each something.” I noticed that while these children had very little in material goods, they compensated with unbelievable cheer and spirit, which started making me wonder about what brings true happiness.

There is another memory, more a feeling, of coming back from India and suddenly feeling quite alone, after being surrounded by extremely loving grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins for weeks. Other people have told me how they and their children have felt this too, and how their children’s social skills and language skills have improved immensely after being around so many doting relatives in India.

Have you visited another country where the sights and sounds are so different from your own?

Have you experienced a big contrast in material wealth when you visited another country? Do you wonder about how and whether a difference can be made to improve people’s lives?

Have you experienced this sense of loneliness after you’ve returned from a cross-cultural trip? How did you deal with that feeling? Did you share it with anyone?