Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Beethovens Life and Music After Napoleon Essay - 581 Words

Beethoven was a political composer. He stubbornly dedicated his art to the problems of human freedom, justice, progress, and community. The Third Symphony, probably Beethovens most influential work, centers around a funeral march provoking patriotic ceremonies from the French Revolution. Beethoven was a long time admirer of Napoleon Bonaparte. So he dedicated the symphony to Napoleon, but when Napoleon was proclaimed the Emperor of France, he scratched the dedication to Napoleon. This Symphony is cited as the marking end of Beethovens classical era and the beginning of musical Romanticism. But what of Beethoven after Napoleon? Beethovens life and music became worse after the Third Symphony was composed because of his reaction to†¦show more content†¦It is said by critics that the political content of Beethovens works after this only shows a negative relationship to the outer world. Theodor Adorno, one of those critics, interpreted Beethovens withdrawal from the affir mative manner of his heroic style as a negation of false promises of the Enlightenment and Revolution: The musical experience of the late Beethoven must have been mistrustful of the unity of subjectivity and objectivity, the roundness of the symphonic success, the totality emerging from the movement of all of the parts; in short, of everything that gave authenticity up to now to the works of his middle period.1 Napoleon becoming the Emperor was not the only reason he did not dedicate the Third Symphony to him. Beethoven was disappointed in Napoleons turn towards imperialism. Beethoven had a repressive, anti-liberal attitude that drove him into an inner emigration. Beethoven already started to lose his hearing way before his dedication to Napoleon. Becoming deaf made his life miserable, but he tried to come to terms with his condition. The most likely reason for his loss of hearing is probably because of lead poisoning. There were high amounts of lead found in his hair. Beethoven was often irascible and may have suffered from bipolar disorder and irritability brought on by chronic abdominal pain that has been attributed to possible lead poisoning Over time his hearing lossShow MoreRelatedLudwig Van Beethoven s Influence On The Classical Era938 Words   |  4 Pagesvan Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany in 1770. Beethoven’s talent was noticed at a young age and he soon became a pioneer in the world of music for breaking the traditional bounds of style and form. Over the course of his life, Beethoven produced nine symphonies, seven concertos, and a total of forty-two sonatas. Although these numbers are few when compared to other composers such as Joseph Haydn, his work was very substantial. Ludwig van Beethoven’s compositions were greatly influenced by the changesRead MoreThe Romantic Era Of Beethoven1709 Words   |  7 Pagesdreadful childhood in his music. At the age of twelve, Ludwig had symphonies imbedded in his mind and soul. He was a gifted composer who supported his family with his talent, he taught music and performed. Music was not enough to protect Ludwig from his abusive home life, his mother died and his father’s drinking grew worse. At nineteen years old Ludwig took over the family household. Ludwig van Beethoven was the most profound, incredible composer who lived in his music, endured endless sufferingRead MoreThe Symp hony Of Beethoven Symphony1556 Words   |  7 PagesBeethoven’s Seventh Symphony showed the world not only what a nearly perfect musical composition sounds like, but also the sheer relevance and absolute importance of historical context in the perception of music. Written from 1811 to 1812, the piece has to this day remained one of Beethoven’s greatest works. Beethoven dedicated the symphony to Count Moritz von Fries, an aristocrat that frequently hosted Beethoven in his more than accommodating home. The premiere for the symphony was on December 8thRead MoreThe Greatest Composer Of All Time1393 Words   |  6 Pageshis hometown Bonn, he studied a wide variety of compositions and played the piano and viola. Beethoven withdrew from school at the young age of ten to study music full time with Christian Gottlob Neefe who was the musical director of the national theatre in Bonn. Neefe was not only Beethoven’s first real teacher but he also became Beethoven’ s mentor by showing him new advances of his century (Iulian Munteanu, Onesti, Romania). In his twenties, he moved to Vienna where he would live until his deathRead MoreLudwig Van Beethoven, Pianist And Composer1197 Words   |  5 Pageswho, surprisingly, was better known for his intense alcoholism rather than his musical talent. Kapellmeister Ludwig van Beethoven, Beethoven’s grandfather, was Bonn’s most prominent musician and the source of pride for young Beethoven. Beethoven’s father began teaching music to Ludwig at a young age with extreme brutality that affected Ludwig for the rest of his life. Neighbors often spoke of hearing a small, weeping boy playing the clavier, while his father beat him whenever he as so much hesitatedRead MoreThe Death Of Beethoven And His Music1349 Words   |  6 Pagesworld we live in today. It’s been over two hundred years since the birth of Beethoven and his music still speaks to us today as he originally expressed and composed it. Ludwig Van Beethoven was born in the city of Bonn Germany on December 16th 1770 and has since been one of the most influential composers known to man. A common theme of early age learning and mastering seems to emerge in Beethoven’s life because while living in a musical family as a child, his father taught him how to play the pianoRead MoreBeethoven, Symphony No 3 ( Eroica )1447 Words   |  6 Pageshe became the legal guardian of both of his younger brothers, after the death of his mother and dismissal of his father from the court choir because of alcoholism. By this team Beethoven was also a court organist, violinist and responsible for composing and performing. In 1972, Beethoven left Bonn to work with Haydn in Vienna. Beethoven often thought about seeking out another teacher because Haydn often missed errors in Beethoven’s exercises. Through his first seven years in Vienna he displayedRead MoreAn Analysis Of Mike Norton Hits Spot On Beethoven s Character And His Person1893 Words   |  8 Pagesyourself; we are all students in this life, and there is always something more to learn.† – Mike Norton. This quote by Mike Norton hits spot on Beethoven’s character and his person in general. Unlike other musicians of his time, Beethoven had several unique characteristics about his compositions. In his time, he was called a revolutionary. In his later years, Beethoven became deaf and could not always verbally show his emotion, he portrayed his feelings in his music. Although considering the mattersRead MoreMusic: Ludwig Van Beethoven1670 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿ Music is might not be the universal language but it pla ys an important role in human culture as well as the society. Music is not only provide entertainment but it is also a tool for a composer and listeners to release emotion. The best well-known for his inspiring power and expressiveness music is Ludwig van Beethoven. He was a musical genius whose composed some of the most influential pieces of music ever written. During the Classical period, Beethoven’s compositions were the expression as oneRead MoreLudwig Van Beethoven : Composing A Legacy2575 Words   |  11 Pageshad no effect on the maestro. Deaf and dying, Ludwig van Beethoven was oblivious to his greatest moment of triumph. Beethoven’s situation was filled with irony. The fact that arguably the best composer of all time became deaf seems to be a cruel joke. However, deafness did not stop the creative genius of Beethoven, if anything it seemed to accelerate it. Throughout Beethoven’s composing career he composed 9 symphonies, 32 piano sonatas, one opera, five piano concertos, and 16 string quartets, all

Monday, December 16, 2019

Indias Potential As An Investment Goldmine Economics Essay Free Essays

string(54) " in the Asia Pacific part in the following decennary\." India is poised in the universe scenario as a strong emerging market in all Fieldss. It being a strong emerging market besides contributes to the fact that it is a moneymaking market for investings. For the past few old ages India has been accomplishing a steady growing which is due to the huge potency it has for development in every sector. We will write a custom essay sample on Indias Potential As An Investment Goldmine Economics Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now Investings in India have been on a steady rise. The aim of this paper is to foreground the factors that can assist do India the Global Investment Hub in the close hereafter. Every sector in the state has a figure of chances for investings that offer profitable returns. Therefore India is on its manner to go the preferable market for planetary investors to put in the hereafter. India: The Future Investing Hub Introduction For the last decennary India has created its grade in the universe fiscal markets as a stable and emerging market for puting. Right from positive marks such as the upward tendency of the stock exchanges, addition in foreign direct investings, lifting GDP, increasing gold monetary values to lifting real property values. India is traveling up on the list of topographic points most desired by investors. There are many favourable factors lending to this scenario. The ordinances regulating investings by aliens have been relaxed and the procedure for doing investings have been simplified. With a big country and the range for many new and on-going undertakings India is poised at place to offer huge chances to investors while offering moneymaking returns on their investings. Sectors such as cars, banking, instruction, IT, substructure, oil and gas, power, existent estate, and telecom are active in the state with many on-going undertakings and with a range for farther investings. Over the past 5 old ages, India has been systematically accomplishing and mean growing rate of 8 per centum and has made its topographic point in the fastest turning economic systems in the universe. Figure: India ‘s GDP Growth Rate The economic lag that had its clasp on the whole universe had lesser impact on India owing majorly to its strong fiscal basicss and authorities intercession. The strong growing has been propelled by certain factors such as dining domestic market, foreign exchange militias which have been steadily turning, increasing exports, and FDI. These factors have led investors to believe and set their trust into India for puting intents. The GDP estimation for the current twelvemonth stoping March 2010, had declined to 7.5 per centum after the impact of the lag, but India on its manner to recovery still has the possible to accomplish its targeted 8 per centum growing. India has the 3rd largest stock of foreign militias among the emerging economic systems, foregrounding the fact that the economic system is on a steady way of growing. Figure: Foreign Exchange Reserves Figure: FDI Inflows in India India is likely to see the largest growing in its portion of foreign investing and go the universe leader for investing in fabrication in the following 5 old ages ( Beginning: KPMG Worldwide Survey, 2008 ) In the capital markets India has been a preferable emerging market for foreign capital influxs. Foreign Institutional Investors made a record investing in the Indian equity markets of the melody of USD 17.2 billion[ 1 ]in 2007. The Indian stock market has emerged as an of import index all around the universe and has many investors keen due to the high returns it offers. Over the last 5 old ages the Sensex has offered returns of over 19 per centum. Figure: Returns – Sensex V. Global Indexs Profitable Sectors for Investing in India The image of India has changed from merely being a pool of cheap labour to a beginning of high quality human potency. Along with this image what has besides changed are the houses and investors willing to put in India. This rush in undertakings and investings into assorted sectors of the Indian economic system has led to their rapid growing. Despite of this fact these sectors still hold a immense potency of development and offering returns. Therefore there are still a batch of chances of investing into these sectors on a big every bit good as little graduated table. These sectors have the possible to portrait India as a major investing hub. Let us now look at some of these sectors, their investing attraction and the concern potency they possess. Car and Auto Parts Sector India is one of the largest markets in the universe for two Wheelers and commercial vehicles, therefore being such a big universe market India already has a big figure of foreign participants runing in the state. Slowly more and more participants are happening it moneymaking to put up their ain fabrication workss in India or to come in the Indian markets through a Joint Venture ( JV ) to acquire a portion of the pie. For illustration, Renault the celebrated Gallic car shaper has entered into JV with Mahindra to acquire its autos into India, Fiat has entered into a JV with TATA to acquire its ain autos into the state. Fiat and Mercedes are besides sing the option of puting up a fabrication works in India to give a encouragement to its operations. The growing of the car sector will besides give a push to the car parts market in India which presently has 500 organized participants and over 5000 unorganised participants who operate and depend on the car industry. With the car sector on a rise over the past few old ages and India traversing the grade of 10 million vehicles in 2006-07, the hereafter of puting in this sector is profitable. In the on-going auto-expo in New Delhi, Audi, the German Car maker was quoted as stating ‘India does non hold big volumes, but it is the market for the hereafter and is bound to emerge as a major growing Centre in the Asia Pacific part in the following decennary. You read "Indias Potential As An Investment Goldmine Economics Essay" in category "Essay examples" ‘[ 2 ] There are many factors which are lending to the growing of this sector: Easy funding in the signifier of loans and growing in buying power is driving the rider auto market. Change in the mentality of consumers i.e. consumers believe that autos should be replaced in a few old ages has led to the decrease in replacing rhythm therefore driving the gross revenues of rider autos. Global sourcing of constituents from India is expected to travel up to USD 20 billion by 2016.[ 3 ] The automotive industry is expected to increase to a size of USD 120-159 billion by 2016. It is expected to offer a Compound Annual Growth Rate ( CAGR ) of 13 per centum, which will pull a batch of investings. Information Technology Sector The information engineering sector has evolved unusually over the past decennary. Its portion of part in the Indian GDP has risen to 5.5 per centum in 2008-09. The package and services sector has generated big employment chances. It has risen direct employment from degrees of 0.19 million in FY 98 to 2 million in FY 08. The Indirect occupation creative activity by this sector is estimated to be around 8 million. India ‘s exports account for over 64 per centum of the overall IT gross, it is expected to increase farther to degrees of 40.8 billion in FY 09.[ 4 ] The IT sector is estimated to value about USD 75 billion in 2010. It offers a CAGR to the melody of 23.2 per centum, therefore supplying benefits for investing. Many foreign participants in this section have already made their move in the Indian market to harvest the benefits of the rampant development. Global participants such as Microsoft, IBM, Cap Gemini, Accenture, Oracle and SAP have set up their offices in India and have put in heavy investings. Along with planetary participants many Indian big leagues such as Infosys, TCS are successfully taking the market. Investing is being to a great extent carried out in invention and research and development. Many companies are puting up dedicated research installations to fuel newer research and develop better and efficient merchandises. India ‘s extended pool of attorneies experienced in paralegal services and patents besides add to the advantage of development in this sector. India is besides the favorite market for outsourcing in this sector. The current market in this field is estimated to be USD 26 – 28 Billion worldwide. India is expected to hold a portion of about USD 13 – 15 Billion by 2013. Infrastructure Significant investings are being made in the substructure sector. Many building companies are dining in India. Development undertakings such as airdrome buildings, development for Commonwealth Games 2010, building of overpasss, metro rail undertaking, monorail, industries, and other development undertakings have made India a major investing hub in substructure. The Planning Commission in its 11th five twelvemonth program from 2007 – 2012, has proposed an outgo of USD 507 billion on infrastructural activities in India. The private sector is expected to lend 25 per centum of this outgo. The outgo in the 11th five twelvemonth program on substructure has risen 125 per centum as compared to the 10th five twelvemonth program. Foreign participants such as Widmann AG, Mitsubishi Corporation, Siemens, Alstom etc. hold already made their grade in India. With such high marks of investing India is an attractive finish for puting in substructure in the close hereafter with huge growing and return possible. The authorities of India is stressing on Public Private Partnerships ( PPP ) in order to portion the brunt of the monolithic outgo, but this in a manner has opened up big possible investing chances for companies to put in India. Large substructure investings are being carried out in the undermentioned Fieldss: Electricity coevals: 70,000 MW of coevals capacity is to be added, a batch of investing is being put into non conventional beginnings of energy. Roadss: new national main roads, rural roads are being constructed. New stamps are being raised for the same and undertakings on Build Operate Transfer ( BOT ) footing are being introduced. Airports: building of 35 non tube airdromes, and universe category airdromes in metro metropoliss. Oil and Gas Sector 100 per centum FDI topic to sectorial policy ordinance except in refineries owned by national oil companies.Constitutes 15 per centum of India ‘s GDP.[ 5 ] Caters to 45 per centum of India ‘s energy demand. India is one of the largest petroleum importers and consumers in the universe. This sector is wholly unfastened for planetary participants to come in, therefore showing a huge potency for investing. Foreign participants who are already present in the Indian market include British Petroleum, Shell, BG Group, Chevron and Total. Many new undertakings are in the grapevine and are waiting for the sufficient investing to come in. For illustration, the HPCL started refinery in Punjab could non continue work because of deficiency of enterprises, as non much investing was being put in. The undertaking picked up gait one time LN Mittal led Mittal Energy Pvt. Ltd. decided to put in the refinery. Undertakings such as bing refinery enlargements new refinery buildings puting up of new retail mercantile establishments for crude oil sale laying of cross state grapevines for gas and crude oil transit keep big potency for investing. Power Investings ( Xth program ) USD 72 billion Investings ( XIth program ) Estimate USD 150 billion Transmission Network Capacity ( XIth program ) Estimate 37,150 MW Regulatory 100 per centum FDI allowed in all sections including trading Outstanding participants NTPC, Powergrid, ABB, Alstom, Siemens, GMR, Adani Group Foreign participants BP, BG Group, Shell, Chevron, Total The power sector offers a batch of chances for investing. Major alterations are being adopted for power coevals, as investing is being made into hydro power coevals, natural gas based workss, and old existing workss are being redeveloped to accommodate the modern times. The authorities aims at illuming up the whole state, i.e. supplying electricity to all by 2015 therefore the transmittal web is being extended to supply for rural electrification.[ 6 ] Besides denationalization of electricity distribution in many parts of the state has led to heavy investings by private sector houses. Rural electrification provides a big range for investing as less than 50 per centum of rural families receive electricity. Retail Sector India is the 2nd most attractive retail finish worldwide.[ 7 ] Current FDI policies allow 100 per centum foreign investing merely in sweeping cash-n-carry and 51 per centum in single-brand retailingRetail industry was estimated at USD 330 billion in FY07. The unorganised market in retail is far greater in India, but the portion of the organized market is lifting and is expected to lift to 9.6 per centum by FY12. India is the fifth largest retail finish worldwide. The retail industry is expected to lift to an estimated degree of USD 618 billion in FY12. It provides for an attractive CAGR of 13 per centum. Foreign participants such as Levis Strauss, Wal-mart, Nike, Marks and Spencers etc. have set up their shops in India and see it as a primary market for their operations. Further chances Opportunity: Retail franchises have being turning at over 60 per centum over the past 3 old ages, and are expected to turn further. Growth in hypermarkets and supermarkets in India is estimated at 50 per centum CAGR and 30 per centum for convenience shops in the period of 2006-11E. The retail roar is get downing to make the smaller towns. As the growing of the retail sector seeps down to the smaller towns the part of this sector will lift and lend to the overall development of the part. Real Estate The existent estate in India has been on a steady rise with belongings and land rates increasing of all time steadily. India offers many puting options to foreigner and local investors. The real property sector contributes about 5 – 6 per centum to the GDP. The factors lending to the rush in the real property sector can be classified as: Turning population Rising income degrees Urbanization Rapid growing in the IT sector The sector is expected to increase from USD 57 billion in 2007 to USD 105 billion in FY 12. The investings in this sector offer a CAGR of 12.8 per centum. The planetary participants runing in the Indian market are Emmar, Rakeen, Dishman Spires etc. Opportunity in the sector: Residential: lifting population and urbanisation will take to a demand for newer lodging. Commercial: the demand for commercial infinite is lifting led by newer companies in the IT and Banking sector. Retail: newer shopping promenades and retail mercantile establishments will besides drive the real property monetary values. SEZs: Particular Economic Zones are coming up and pulling farther investings. Travel and Tourism The travel and touristry industry of any state has an of import function to play, providing to the tourers who come to see the state. India has been ranked among the top five tourer finishs out of 167 states. Tourism contributes 2.3 per centum to India ‘s GDP i.e. 28.1 billion.[ 8 ] India is expected to hold about 10 million tourers in 2010. Investings of about USD 11.41 billion are expected in the cordial reception sector in the following 2 old ages. 40 major hotel trade names have their presence in India. The industry is expected to turn up to USD 60.5 billion by 2018, offering a CAGR of 8 per centum. Major hotel trade names present in India are Shangri-La, Emaar MGF, Starwood Hotels, Hilton, Park Hotels, Accor. Opportunity for Investing: The budget allocated for touristry has been increased. The authorities provides for five twelvemonth revenue enhancement vacation for two, three and four star hotels in the National Capital Region ( NCR ) . Commonwealth games in NCR provide a great chance for investings in the cordial reception sector. Increased domestic travel has created a high demand for mid section budget hotels. Medical attention bundles that combine stay with yoga and spas attract tourers and have become a extremely profitable investing. Banking and Financial Services The banking sector has grown multi creases in India pulling many world-wide Bankss to setup their subdivisions in India. Many Indian Bankss have besides ridden on the success narrative of the banking sector. The recent economic lag which led to the prostration of many Bankss worldwide did non impact the banking scene of India to a great extent because of the strong basicss. The recognition extended by Indian Bankss grew 25.3 per centum at the terminal of FY 08.[ 9 ] Common Fund industry at the terminal of 2008 valued USD 130 billion. India stands as one of the fastest life insurance markets in the universe with a growing of 36 per centum in 2008. Opportunities in the Sector Entire banking assets to increase to USD 1 Trillion. SME Finance, Agri and Rural Finance, Institutional Finance and Project Finance offer a great chance for puting. Life insurance market is expected to turn with a CAGR of 35 per centum over the following 3 old ages to USD 80 – 100 billion.[ 10 ] Health, motor, and unit linked insurance besides offer a great potency. Private Equity, Venture Capital, Structured Finance, Real Estate Finance, Leveraged Finance are other emerging option for puting. Education Education in India holds a great potency to develop as an investing chance. The move towards denationalization of instruction has led to heavy investings in this field. Government outgo on instruction has grown at a CAGR of 11.6 per centum to UDS 29.5 billion in FY07. Merely 2 per centum of schools in India are IT enabled, therefore supplying an investing chance to follow information communicating engineering in schools. Opportunity in the Sector Regulatory Framework for Foreign Direct Investment[ 11 ] Figure: Regulatory Framework for Foreign Direct Investment The automatic path requires no anterior blessing from any regulative organic structure prior to registering but merely after, it needs interaction with the RBI though an authorised trader or banker. FDI in sectors necessitating anterior blessing by the Government is categorized under Approval path. The blessing is granted by the Government of India, Ministry of Finance, and Foreign Investment Promotion Board ( FIPB ) . Portfolio Investment for FIIs FIIs and NRIs registered with SEBI can put through portfolio strategies. FIIs can buy/sell securities on stock exchanges in those sectors which are non restricted. They can put up to 30 per centum of its portfolio in debt instruments. If a FII declares itself to be a 100 per centum debt FII it can do its full investing in debt or other eligible instruments. Tax Incentives that Drive Investment in India SEZs A unit puting up operations in SEZ can bask income revenue enhancement vacation for a period of 15 old ages from the poin in clip it begins to fabricate its merchandise or starts operations. Export Oriented Units ( EOUs ) Enterprises in Export Processing Zones ( EPZ ) or Free Trade Zones ( FTZ ) or Software Technology Park ( STP ) are eligible to 100 per centum tax write-off on the net incomes from exports for 10 back-to-back old ages. Commercial Production or Refining of Mineral Oil 100 percent revenue enhancement vacation for projects engaged in commercial production of mineral oil for the first 7 old ages. In House Research and Development A tax write-off of one and a half clip of the outgo incurred on the scientific research. Tax Holidays for Infrastructure Projects Undertakings engaged in substructure undertakings are entitled to a 10 twelvemonth revenue enhancement vacation. Tax Holidays for Power Undertakings Firms engaged with power undertakings are entitled to a revenue enhancement vacation of 10 old ages. These revenue enhancement inducements pull heavy investings in these sectors as they prove to be good. These revenue enhancement inducements provide higher returns for the houses engaged in the undertakings. They prove to be good for the authorities every bit good, as they help in the puting up of industries in backward countries and aid in their development. Decision India has a huge potency to pull investings from assorted beginnings in different sectors. The conditions present in India such as revenue enhancement inducements, authorities enterprises have a positive impact on investings. The stableness that India has shown in the clip of economic lag has raised the trust of the investors in the Indian economic system. With many undertakings in the grapevine India has to offer a big range for investings. Foreign influxs have over the old ages brought in big sums of hard currency militias in the state and the favourable conditions are expected to raise the degrees even more. Therefore India over the following few old ages has the possible to pull major investings and go a planetary investing hub. Its trusty image and invariably lifting GDP besides contribute to the procedure of India going a moneymaking market for investing. How to cite Indias Potential As An Investment Goldmine Economics Essay, Essay examples

Sunday, December 8, 2019

A Plane Really free essay sample

The distinctive Indian bus horn, a mix of a high-pitched elephant and a trumpet, assaulted my eardrums again. It was four in the morning and the monsoon was in full force. I was in a trans-Atlantic flight-induced fog and would have done anything to get this last leg, from Mumbai to Cochin, over with. Our bus from the international to the domestic terminal was halted by something, and the driver seemed annoyed by it. As the horn squawked again, I slowly began to see what was blocking our way. From between the darkness and sheets of rain, languidly came the form of a†¦ 747. Our tiny airport bus was yelling at a jumbo jet. The jet was not listening. At this point, I normally would have started to fume over the wasted time, the incompetence of airport officials, the absurdity of telling a plane to get off of a runway for a bus, and so on. We will write a custom essay sample on A Plane? Really? or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This time, I just leaned back and smiled. What brought about this startling transformation? I cannot cite a specific â€Å"Aha!† moment or a life-changing event. Instead, what I can say is that life in India gradually ground down my exaggerated sense of importance and impatience. That my opinion here in America is, at the very least, respected, made my ego grow just a little. I am not saying that I became a self-enamored maniac, but I did begin to offer my opinion on most everything that crossed my path. As expected, this annoyed friends and family. In India, however, it’s a different story. The staggeringly large amount of opinions in the world’s largest democracy makes it quite easy for your voice to get lost amidst the general cacophony. This can have a very humbling effect. When my opinion became one of an unending stream of opinions, I began to see the contrast between my pretension and everyone else’s pragmatism. For example, I went with my grandm other, my parents, and my aunt and cousins to a local mall to buy a birthday gift for my little cousin. The mall was okay, but the bathrooms were not the cleanest I had ever seen. I walked up to the manager to tell him this. In retrospect, I should have realized exactly why my entire family was about to burst out laughing. But no, I strode up to him and informed him of my complaints. â€Å"So get a mop.† That’s it. End of story. Even my parents were surprised at the brusqueness of the manager, but that’s life in India. I’m still smarting from that blow, but in a good way. I never thought that my unsolicited opinions were always loved, but I never really thought that they were that annoying either. This experience didn’t cause that revelation immediately, but it did plant some doubt in my mind. I began to keep my mouth shut more often and noticed how nobody proclaimed that they missed my opinions. This set off a slow chain of thoughts about my othe r habits, ones that I had never thought of as particularly in need of change but could be grating to others, especially my family members. So, while in India, I tried not to complain about the two mile trips that took three-quarters of an hour or the roads that looked like the surface of the moon. Instead, I finally found best part of those trips, their raison d’etre. This allowed me to digest the whole experience of living in India, both the great and the horrible.