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Awarded by the Ministry of Education, I was sent the exotic land of India, where I spent five months, full of adventures fueled by love & adrenaline, while working as a writer. The present tale aims to mirror my experience and apprenticeship in an Asian country from an Occidental perspective. India is an agitated place, vibrant, full of people interacting in its crammed streets. Bustle has no cease, vehicles are driven in any manner possible, animals walk freely on the streets - reminiscent of a scene of Jumanji. These ingredients are all packaged in a many-hued landscape, pickled with tons of history, etched imperishable into stone & thousands of human tales. Served the dish, those hungry of lives far away from routine will love or hate the buffet of experiences. No half measures. Nevertheless, no accurate opinion can be given before living on the inside, staring at its bowels, not just looking at India from a distance with a muzzle of prejudices. Getting muddy from head to toe is the only way to know if the land is to your taste and liking. This is a land that, as a fresh fragrance, maintains its essence hermetic with the passage of time. Ears and noses have no rest in this kingdom of noises and smells, while eyes find it impossible to retain in their retina the number of events that take place in a juncture. Every breath comes with a peculiar scent; every wink captures a miscellaneous mix of colored nuances. No better representation of this phenomena than the glorious Holi festival, a day when colors are inhaled, permeating lungs with the soul of spring while bodies and cities and painted wholeheartedly. No chilli or curry stains the alabaster smiles the locals show for no apparent reason, externalizing an optimism that gleams more than the Great Mogul diamond. There is no better armour to face a naked reality that can become more hostile than desirable. Bright teeth stand out on toasted skin, shades that go from hazel to dark coffee; fruits dried by the sun as strongly as the Garuda. The contrast of tones is balanced thanks to a wide range of colorful clothes. The bands of the rainbow caught in fine threads of silk and cotton. Women show off their dresses - costumes that emulate wings of butterflies, and men - like lighthouses, add glossy colors to their heads covered by turbans. The origins of this ancient culture last in hoary temples built centuries ago in honor of strange gods. But Hinduism is not part of the past, a vestige reduced to a pile of rocks. Rather it is still deeply present in today’s India. Rituals and habits are transmitted down from generation to generation, resisting the oblivion time brings. No other country can boast of preserving its roots so well. They are preserved in a fruit that never dates and contains thousands of descendants: the beating heart of a nation. Therefore, India is found in its living; not in its abandoned, yet fascinating, constructions. Nobody can say: `I don’t like India at all´, because it is like a fruit salad, full of juicy diversity. Although some bits are not mature enough, you will be fond of some pieces for sure. Ironically, in consonance with the rule of attraction of opposites, many people find peace in the domain of eternal chaos. The reason boils down to a paradox: despite their problems, Indians live with no hurry enjoying life. And they know how to transmit this calm behavior, the habit of watching the world, to those who have been searching for it for long. This is why their day starts with an aromatic cup of tea, a slowly smoked cigarette or practicing yoga to stretch the body… It all comes down to finding an excuse to make the facial muscles work out when the sun rises behind India Gate. A smile may not help in understanding the environment, but it is the most useful luggage to carry with you. Indeed, it is likely the only prerequisite to enjoy the experience of visiting this quaint land. After all, who needs the key of happiness once the narrow doors of your mind are wide open? Jacobo Fe