My first month is in east India, in a region called Manipur. We’re living among the Hmar people, a group that more closely resembles the Nepalese than the average Indian. Our entire squad of over 50 is together this month in a local Christian’s home, which is more like a community in itself.
I’ve decided to write a blog each month with my feelings on the five senses of that country. I hope it helps you understand what my month looks like a little better.
Sight
We’re enclosed in trees while in the compound we’re living in. Sitting inside of the open tent that was made to be our common area, the sight of all of the surrounding trees reminds me of a valley I often walk through near my house. But as soon as we walk outside of the compound walls high mountains that encircle the city welcome us. The beauty of the peaks distracts me from the dirt road and dust in the air. They’re covered in more green trees that look like little bushes from the distance. Somehow the different heights of the mountains cast shadows on each other of different shades of blue. It’s a beauty that I can’t manage to capture in a picture.
Sound
It’s strange how the sounds here can change in a matter of minutes. From the morning sounds of roosters and dogs in the area to the high pitched honking of scooters and cars there’s always music in the air. Yet, through the noise there’s a sense of peace – a consistency that reminds me of just where I am.
Touch
We begin the day in layers to keep warm. But by noon the high sun takes away all thoughts of cold and we feel the sun heating the back of our neck as we work. Of course, as soon as the sun goes down the cold is back and so are our layers. Despite the quick temperature change I enjoy the weather here.
Smells
The smells here are memorable. Our tent is filled with smells that make your stomach rumble and your mouth water. The kitchen is filled with spices that range from sweet to hot. But when we leave our compound smells change from minute to minute.
Unfortunately some of the smells come in wisps and bring the putrid scent of open sewage with them, that remind me of the squatty potties and latrines. But it leaves as quickly as it comes trailed by the scent of spices from a house. The constant switches confuses my nose and I’m still not sure what to make of it.
Taste
The flavours in our food are always bold and enchanting. Vegetables picked fresh from the garden, fruit plucked from the backyard tree, and eggs from the chicken that run around the yard infuse each meal with enhanced flavours. Grapefruit are sweeter, onions stronger, chicken more tender. It makes me think this is how food is supposed to taste.
We start our morning with fresh chai and cookies and end with a different dessert, usually a rice pudding filled with sliced coconut and cardamom. Each meal between is different, but delicious. Our hosts try to create a sense of home by mixing American foods in with their traditional meals, but even those are more tantalizing than what we’d expect back home.
I wish I could better capture the beauty here in Manipur. But I hope that’s given you a feel of our first month.
