I arrived at the hotel in a taxi, and people were asking for tips for everything: opening the door, bringing water to me, carrying my luggage, and I happily gave it out due to my exhilaration (even though Indian people do not usually give tips for these things). But when I saw my room, it was shabby, and the bathroom had centipedes and other insects lining the walls. I was shocked and little terrified. I was thinking about how I was going to sleep there without getting bombarded by these creatures. But anyways, my enthusiasm for seeing an Indian sunrise conquered this fear.

But positivity can change one’s outlook, as I was not so concerned about getting lost. I was a little upset that I was taken to a strange guru, but at the same time happy to be in India. The people at the ashram seemed like decent people, and after a phone call from their office to the music academy, my brother and my friend were informed about where I was. They said they would come to pick me up with one of the academy’s drivers. In the meantime, I was playing chess with one of the locals there, drinking masala chai tea, and enjoying realizing the reality of what I envisioned. From that day, I learned more than ever that attitude can make a sour experience a joyful one.

I woke up early the next morning, and talked to the hotel staff about arranging a car to the music academy. The driver said that he knew where it was without hesitation. The academy was in a town called Vaitarna, and I took the driver’s word that he knew where he was going. Little did I know that in India, people almost never say “no” and simply say something even if they are not knowledgeable about a certain subject. So, instead of the driver taking me to the music academy, he took me hours in the wrong direction to an ashram of a spiritual teacher, or guru.

So, when I arrived in Mumbai, I had a mix of feelings swirling through my body. I was excited to see the sun rise on the great land of India, but I also knew I was stranded in a country I did not know much about. I decided to book a hotel for the night, as it was late in the evening when I arrived. I figured I would pay a driver to take me to the music academy, which was about three hours away from Mumbai.