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Writer's pictureYuvaan Ibanez

Paradise on Earth

Growing up in India is a fascinating tale; there is no constant, no consistency, and to some degree, no order, yet it's controlled chaos. However, I lived a different life than the conventional person in Pune; I have a mixture of a local and outsider viewing, growing up in a somewhat suburban area, a farm. Being an hour and a half away from the city meant quite limited interactions. I always had to commute; public transportation was never an option, seeing as though the buses and trains were almost like rust-filled coffins along with the tilting sides, as people would religiously hang off the vehicles. Because of this, I feel like I lacked the traditional 'Indian' experiences, riding on rickshaws, going to bazaars, celebrating religious festivities such as Ganpati and Holi on the streets, etc. In all honesty, it was not safe; being a fair-skinned privileged boy who could not speak the language roaming the roads did not sit well with my parents. I am someone with a lighter skin complexion; hence, being in public was strange, for lack of a better term. I was constantly stared at, judged, the subject of whispering, and asked to take photos with strangers like I was a celebrity; thus, these occurrences made it hard for me to assimilate into Pune. Howbeit, every time I ventured into this convoluted city, there was always something of shock value. I recall visiting the 'Conrad', at the heart of the city; I was stunned by the building and its sheer size. Boasting 100 ft tall ceilings with detailed/intricate glass chandeliers dripping in gold, along with its elegant and beautiful interiors, truly blew my mind. I say this because right outside the building, there were six elderly ladies with a child tapping on the door of my car, begging for 100 INR (1 USD). This juxtaposition was jarring on so many levels; having a behemoth of a building surrounded by slums is a widespread occurrence yet never ceases to amaze me. Moreover, the pure corruption I experienced was scaring; seeing people I care about being threatened by the police, people meant to protect, intimidating them for months worth of income to fill their own pockets was a disgusting and horrific sight. These are condensed reasons why I decided to leave at 16 and move to boarding school in Singapore.


Singapore completely contrasted how I thought one could live in a city, essentially going against everything I experienced in India. This city-state boasted clean roads, minimal litter, a safe, easy access public transportation system, a complete lack of corruption, and finally, just fun activities to indulge in with events and shows being advertised religiously. I could finally explore walking on the streets by myself without feeling watched or judged; the air felt heavenly contrasted to what I was acclimatized to. Consequently, I felt like I belonged simply by interacting with the city on a more intimate level. It was a feeling that I did not know I was missing living in India; it was highly isolating despite the large population. Although Covid heavily limited my complete immersion into Singapore life, I could still appreciate the variety of cultures, foods, architectural styles, and mindsets; it was like paradise on Earth.



Pune

Singapore

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