India My Native Country

679 Words3 Pages
My parents made the decision to emigrate from India over twenty-five years ago in order to seek a better future. During the summer of 2002, I went to pay homage to my native land. I was completely astonished by how different this country was to the United States. Numerous stray animals ranging from dogs to even pigs roaming the streets seemed to be the norm. Cows, the most sacred animals in India, were also seen everywhere. The Indian culture is entirely unlike ours. Learning about a third world country just does not compare to actually experiencing the lifestyle in a third world country. My trip to India has taught me to appreciate even the little things in life, made me more determined to help the less fortunate, and taught me to always have respect for others no matter what. It truly was a humbling experience. Setting foot on India soon made me realize just how spoiled I truly was. The average temperature in India during June is 86 degrees Fahrenheit, while in Florida it is 81. Doesn t seem like a significant difference, right? The difference is that air conditioning is not available to most Indians. Also, India is not even nearly as sanitary as the United States. Most cities in India lack underground plumbing, and paved roads. Running water is not available everywhere and facilities are not usually hygienic. I also had to carefully monitor the food and drinks I consumed because like most tourists, I could not handle the Indian cuisine. I also saw many people suffering from illnesses due to poor economic conditions. Although the caste system has been outlawed, it is still eminent in the mentality of people. People labeled as untouchables are seen as the lowest form of humans. They have been segregated from the rest of the population and hold the worst and least sanitary jobs in India. They are not even allowed to drink water in the same places as other
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