"My Travel Diary" by Shreeya C

Tuesday, May 28, 2019
      Would you rather be rich and unhappy, or poor and happy? In Singapore, it seemed like
people were rich and happy. It was a place where you could buy happiness with designer handbags, Michelin Star cuisine, and luxury cars. When I entered Changi Airport, I was immediately taken aback by the attractions I saw at every corner: a butterfly garden by the bathroom, a classy spa near the food court, and an indoor market on the second floor.
     Three days in Singapore have flown by and as I enjoy my last bowl of laksa before heading back to the hotel to leave for India, I think about how I enjoyed my time in Singapore. Rather than indulge in the riches of the country, my family and I explored the diverse culture of the working class in Singapore. We tried Malay laksa, Indian dosas, and Chinese chicken rice all in one day.
     On the other hand, observing the lifestyles of the fortunate ones in this country has motivated me to do what I can to become like them. When I walked through the Gardens by the Bay, I saw seemingly accomplished women enjoying the scenery with their Birkin bags and Louboutins. They shined amongst the crowd of tourists. ​I want to be like them​, I thought, forgetting about the delicious foods and relaxing nights I had enjoyed the past few days. I want to visit Singapore once again with plenty of money to spend and enjoy the luxuries of the rich and happy people I saw around me. 

Saturday, June 1, 2019
      As I watch the crows fly through the cotton candy sky, my grandma calls my name, “hey
Cheelu, come sit and talk with us.” I walk down the cool marble steps onto the village road and sit next to her on the concrete ledge of our neighbor’s house. She continues her loud conversation with our neighbor and I try to understand what they’re talking about. “Wow, she’s grown so much. She looks exactly like her mother.” ​Never heard that before, ​I think to myself. I close my eyes and the world begins to slow down. The sounds around me are more clear; the sparrow’s song and the insect’s hum. I can smell the mangoes on the trees and the rain in the clouds. The humidity of the air surrounds me with a refreshing mist.
     When I open my eyes, I see a crowd of people I vaguely remember in front of me. “Is this really Shreeya?”, “Does she still speak Telugu?”, “How are you doing in school?”. Questions flow out of smiling faces, glad to see that the toddler they had raised had grown up into a teenager, identical to her mother.
     I had spent the past two days with my grandma. My parents went to the city to meet some friends, but I obviously love my grandma more than them so I decided to stay with her. We traveled the village by auto-rickshaw, stopping by tea stalls and bakeries to get our sugar fixes. We went shopping for clothes and jewelry in crowded bazaars. During these trips, I learned that my grandma and I share the same energy. We love interaction and conversation,

and although we had many arguments over trivial things such as which kulfi flavor to buy or which lehenga was prettier, my grandma and I also had many laughs.
     As I reflect on the time I spent with my grandma, I realize how important she is to me. “Yes, this is my granddaughter! Look at how pretty she is,” my grandma says proudly to the neighbors. The affluent women from Singapore dressed in designer attire do not seem as inspirational to me anymore. 

Wednesday, February 19, 2020
      I reminisce as I look back at these journal entries from my summer vacation. After going
back to India to visit my family after five years, I have learned a lot. There are many things I take for granted, my family being one. After this trip, I made sure to call my grandma every night. She still passes the phone around to all the neighbors and they continue to point out how much I’ve changed.   Looking back at my experiences, I miss the village life: the smell of the mangoes, the cotton candy sky, and the cute baby cows grazing the fields. Maybe it’s because I’m a Gemini, but I still can’t decide whether I prefer the extravagant life in Singapore or the calm village life in India. What do you prefer?