A state of contrast - Bihar, India

Upon arriving not just in the poorest state in India, but the poorest city, it was evident that the next two weeks spent here were going to be incredibly different from my past experiences living, working, and travelling for numerous years in Germany, Denmark, England, Sweden, and Australia.

For me, not just meeting but developing connections with locals is at the forefront of being a true expat, traveller, or even tourist. Amidst the chaos of Bihar state, and particularly the city of Patna in India’s Northwest, there was a palpable sense of poverty, a lack of optimism, and a soul-destroying disparity between classes. My first thought – how can this be changed?

I have the task of contributing to the development of a new school in this area of India – one with a truly international feel, and this is where the change starts. Gender equality, bridging class divides, and moving away from typical Indian education are where my initial connections are made. I see slaves, workers, children in despair, and women cleaning floors.

My local connections ranged from the finance minister, the land minister, and educational professionals at a conference where I gave a speech, to middle-aged women living in isolated villages, showing me their houses, how they cook, how they live, and how they survive without any medical support. I also connected with young university students wanting change, some hope. Their politeness and advanced social skills astounded me. These people need opportunities.

Connecting with locals in India involves eating their food, drinking their tea, becoming a part of their family, but most importantly, listening, showing respect, and helping to minimise problems, even if it may be in a very small way. These people, with beautiful smiles, drink water they're not supposed to, feed numerous children without any regard for their own needs, and sleep in one room. They don't expect much.

Along the way, I may have been sick, nervous, gone without typical showers and foods; my mind was racing from the chaos and information I was trying to process. In the larger scheme of things, I'm glad I could connect with all the locals I met. I refused to sit down when someone offered me their seat – my first response was always ‘it’s your seat, I don't need any special attention.’ A smile always ensued. It was worth it.