If countries were rated by dancing...

...India would win. No competition.

To kick off the Festival of JustPeace there was an inaugural ceremony which included a large crowd of people entering the grounds following a group of children playing instruments, balloons, symbolic freeing of doves, poetry, speeches and lots of dancing. Sometimes I forgot how much I love dancing, in any and all capacities. There is so much life in dancing. There was a group of Indian teachers there to help out for the day that led the energetic masses in what could only be described as rambunctious flailing--throwing arms and legs about with no inhibitions. As the parade made its way through the campus, the dancing stayed right in the center, cleverly manoeuvring the flailing through jumps and twirls so as to continue with the group.

If I believed in love at first sight, I might claim that I met my soulmate in India. He was the most spirited of all, rousing even the bashful with dancing enthusiasm. His long limbs and nerdy glasses led the pack until what was left of the inauguration parade consisted only of the remaining dancers and dancing supporters. If I lived in India I would be pretty sure that he and I were destined to be together forever...

Too bad I don't live in India....

We also got to watch a traditional dance performance that was phenomenal. With full skirts and bells on their ankles, the performers dazzled the audience with three different routines. No offense to Vietnam, but slowly walking while gracefully changing the position of your wrists simply cannot compare.

Dancing aside, !ndia was an incredible experience (do they play Incredible !ndia commercials in the states to entice tourists to come?). It was at times an overwhelming week, filled with lessons of global conflicts, heartbreaking stories that somehow ended in life and hope, and then ending with travelling through the airport with new Muslim friends and experiencing a small taste of what it is like to not only not fit in, but to be suspect because of it. On the other hand, it felt a little like high school summer camp: relaxing in a beautiful place, far enough away from the city that you could see the bright blue sky and stars at night, remembering how the world felt before I moved to what must be the most humid city in existence, being eaten alive by mosquitos, eating a lot of delightful cookies (and of course other delicious things as well) and being surrounded by incredibly welcoming and friendly people.

On returning home, I am realizing the significance of the week. Maybe it was inspired by something as frivolous as my love of dancing or maybe by the stories that I just can't seem to get out of my head, but I think my 9 days in India with SOP might become one of those experiences that stick with you. You know the ones I mean, right?! The ones that could change how you see the world, the people around you and your role within it? I'm not quite sure how yet. And maybe I'm just being a tad over-dramatic. I guess we'll see...

All that to say, I loved my time in India.