Where to begin? My first week in Mumbai has been such a whirlwind of adventure that it’s hard to sum up in just a few hundred words. I embarked on this journey to push myself out of my comfort zone and discover more about who I am. What better way to grow than by throwing…Continue Reading Mastering Mumbai, one street at a time šŗ
Itās beautiful how the stories we tell can come full circle. Recently, I spoke to my congregation about seeing the face of God in the least among us. To illustrate this point, I shared a story about a woman who receives this letter from God: “I will be coming over for dinner tonight. Please prepare…Continue Reading The Face of God in Mumbai
What an incredible first week in Mumbai! It’s hard to describe the mix of emotions I’ve experienced so far. I have never quite felt the way I did on Tuesday on the way to my internship for the first time. The nerves and excitement that rushed through my body were incredible – being that much…Continue Reading My Arrival in Mumbaišš®š³
“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all” – Helen Keller Iām writing this as I sit at Kochi Airport in Kerala, three hours early for my flight back to Mumbai. Itās the perfect time to reflect on what has been an incredible, whirlwind week. Honestly, it feels like Iāve lived 900 different…Continue Reading From Smog to Spice and many Surprises!Ā
On the first day of our internships, I faced a 3 hour commute, on local trains, with no knowledge of the language, all alone. It was petrifying. After the first few stops, a young girl, no older than 11 perched herself beside me. She was in tears, begging her mum to stay, despite clearly needing…Continue Reading “The Girl On The Train”
After leaving my heart in Aotearoa, my body and soul boarded a plane to begin a new adventure in Mumbai! With the feeling of nervousness, excitement, and perhaps dread for the unknown, nothing would have ever prepared me for what was in store. Noise, heat, and colour are only a few words to describe the…Continue Reading Big City, Bigger Dreams: Navigating the Mumbai Madness
It all began a week ago when all seventeen of us gathered at Auckland Airport for our 1 am departure time. After a 10-hour flight to Singapore and a blissful sleep in the middle seat between Sarah and Brooke, it was just a 5-hour hop over to Mumbai. Our first adrenaline rush in India, as…Continue Reading First week in India!
Before arriving in Mumbai, I had some preconceptions about what India is like. This was influenced by how the country is portrayed online through social media, the dense population, the pollution, and potentially being an unsafe country. Getting ready to gear up for 15+ hours of flying and being away for 6 weeks wasn’t easy….Continue Reading My Haerenga ki Mumbai (Navigating Culture Shock)
Landing in Mumbai for the first time was like stepping into a completely different worldāloud, colourful (with a tint of yellow), and full of life. As a Chinese-Korean-Kiwi who grew up in New Zealand, I was amazed by how seamlessly the city blends so many cultures and traditions. Everywhere I looked, something interesting was happeningāstreets…Continue Reading Chaos, Culture, and Curry
And so, the date was nearingāthe 11th of January. The air was a little tense late into the night before flying out. Everyone was laughing at my jokes more than usual, I got an extra serving on my plate during dinner, and I could feel the āIām going to miss you so muchā tears coming…Continue Reading From Manurewa to Mumbai: Maaori ki Te Ao