This past winter, I had the chance to visit Punjab, India. It wasn’t my first time, but this experience was more meaningful. I was older, so I remembered and understood more. I’ve always heard stories about what it’s like from my parents and grandparents, but actually being there, seeing it with my own eyes, and spending time with family made everything feel so real.  

 

First off, the flight there was long. Like, really long. I watched way too many movies, couldn’t sleep, and ate questionable airplane food, but the second I stepped off the plane, all of that faded away. The air felt nice, the colors were brighter, and everything around me felt alive in a different way.  

 

One of the first things I noticed was how different everything looked. The roads were packed with cars, rickshaws, bikes, and sometimes even animals, like cows, just casually walking through traffic. Definitely nothing like what we see here, but it made everything feel so lively. The air smelled like spices and street food, and people were everywhere—shopping, talking, and just living their lives out in the open.  

 

What really stood out to me was the farming. Driving through the villages, we passed endless fields of wheat, sugarcane, and mustard. It was super green and peaceful. I kind of compared it to what parts of Bakersfield look like. In Punjab, farming feels like more than a job; it’s part of people’s identities and has been for generations.  

 

We also saw goats and cows all over the villages just chilling by the roadside or walking through open fields. A lot of families keep them right outside their homes, and it’s such a normal part of daily life there. You’ll see people feeding them in the morning or leading them through the village paths. It’s really different from the U.S., where you usually only see farm animals on actual farms or behind fences. In Punjab, it felt like they were just part of the community.  

 

One of the most special parts of the trip was getting to see the homes my grandparents grew up in. Standing in those spaces where they once played as kids or helped with chores was so cool to see. It gave me a new appreciation for all the stories they’ve told me over the years and made me realize just how far our family has come. 

  

We also visited the Golden Temple. It's the holiest place in Sikhism and was built in the 1500s by Guru Arjan Dev Ji. The temple has four entrances, one on each side, symbolizing that everyone is welcome, no matter their religion, background, or status. It represents openness, equality, and unity, which are core values in Sikhism. You don’t have to be Sikh to enter. You just come with respect and an open heart. There you can hear the calming sounds of prayers. There you can also see the community kitchen where volunteers cook and serve free meals to anyone who visits. The fact that thousands of people eat together, side by side, no matter their background, was such a powerful thing to witness. 

 

And the food, don’t even get me started. I tried so many new things: fresh sugarcane juice from roadside stands, golgappe (which are these crispy little balls filled with tangy water and potatoes), and lots of homemade dishes. Everything tasted fresher, spicier, and more flavorful than anything I’ve had here.  

 

But what I loved most was spending time with family. My cousins and I stayed up late playing cards. Even though we grew up in totally different places, we still found so much in common. There was a lot of laughter, good food, and moments that made me feel super connected to my roots.  

 

What also amazed me was how much I still don’t know about India. Even though I visited just one state, I realized how huge and diverse the country really is. Every state in India has its own language, food, clothing, and culture. It blew my mind to think that from one state to the next, it could feel like entering a whole new country. It made me want to go back and explore more, to learn about all the different cultures that exist within one country. 

  

India is also full of history. Everywhere you go, there’s something ancient and meaningful: temples, monuments, forts, and stories passed down through generations. I feel like I just scratched the surface, and there’s so much more I want to understand. From the history of Sikhism to India’s fight for independence, it’s the kind of learning that doesn’t happen in a classroom; it happens by being there, listening, and experiencing. 

  

Day-to-day life in Punjab is definitely slower and simpler. People spend more time outside, families live closer together, and neighbors actually know each other. Kids play together outside, fly kites. There’s something so peaceful about that. In Punjab, everything feels more community-based and grounded.  

 

The trip helped me appreciate my culture more deeply and reminded me how important it is to stay connected to where you come from. Even though I was born and raised in the U.S, I can still appreciate where my family came from.