India??

I've been thinking about India for sometime... certainly this will sound amateur, but my favorite food is Indian, my favorite authors are Indian, my favorite customers when I was working were Indian... I WANT TO GO TO INDIA! Are those reasons enough? I already feel my connection, interest, and exposure to Indian culture runs deeper than with any other culture I've contemplated prior to landing in the country and experiencing it firsthand. Furthermore, I had no connection to Taiwan or Taiwanese culture before moving here... I've adjusted well without significant hitches.

On a recent trip around Taiwan I started rereading Elizabeth Gilmore's "Eat, Pray, Love" book. She's an American and at one point in her story she talks about living in Rome and running into an Aussie backpacker, a woman who's traveling around Europe. When Liz meets the backpacker, she feels jealous and thinks to herself something like, "how come I never get to travel?!" She then realizes how silly she's being since she's already traveling, she's IN Italy, outside the US, the daily grind, yet it also means she's become at home with where she is and no longer feels the adventure. I think I'm at a similar point now living in Taiwan.

There's a big break from school coming up for me from January through February. In December and the beginning of January, I plan to be in Chicago and Mexico for the holidays, then it's back to Taipei where I have over a month of free time to do what I feel like doing. Thing is, I know no one else right now with the burning desire or spare time to go to India. And frankly, I'll tell you the truth, I'm scared out of my mind to go by myself! Is it safe? Would I enjoy it alone? I was whining to my parents last night about how I wish I were more independent and ballsy. Do I dare do this? I think part of India's appeal is that it's not entirely safe. People might be conniving, savvy, creative, wanting to take advantage... Intelligence and danger like this perks things up, right? Could be more stimulating than the lethargic safeness and predictability of Taiwan. If I can survive in India by myself, I may be able to survive anywhere... a new freedom of sorts.

I remember running into a lone female traveler in Thailand and she was such a wreck... Sick, weary, she couldn't even carry her backpack. She looked like she just needed home and her mom. I was relieved to be traveling with friends when I saw her, but certainly I have more coping skills than that girl... having lived and survived in a new country by myself for over a year. But Taiwan is a safe haven. 48-hours in I stopped being scared. I walk anywhere here, day or night, could probably be topless if I felt like it and nothing bad would happen. People trust me too. Everyone trusts each other, walks too slowly, unconsciously ambling everywhere without any fear or shoulder-checking. Taiwanese people would also pick me up, a hitchhiker, without a second thought. This would never happen in the US. I don't believe India is even remotely in the same ballpark as my innocent, safe little island of Taiwan.

I had dinner with my friend Vanessa this evening and got her opinion on my traveling to India solo. Vanessa's from Honduras and therefore is not so sheltered as a girl from white America. She thinks my going to India alone would be a great choice. I should also mention Vanessa is super friendly, can talk to or befriend anyone, anything, anywhere and be at ease with herself... Of course she thinks it would be fine for me to go it alone!

Anyway, I'm building up the courage to do this. I think I can... and I want to. I just want to enjoy it and not be scared the whole time. I'm 50% confident that it's possible by myself. Would you go for it if you were me?