As I was driving home tonight – or rather bring twisted and turned about in an auto rickshaw en route home I had this sudden realization. Mumbai is like Disneyland. In both places your senses are completely assaulted and over stimulated, sounds, smells, noise, laughter and tears (yes indeed there are tears in Disneyland as many a young child has been terrified by many a life size Disney character.) Sweet food and snacks are everywhere you turn. In fact in both places you can easily get your hands on drinks that are basically pure sugar water. You can also enjoy a donut or a jalabie. (being made in the video below). There are long lines to get anywhere like on Splash Mountain or the train to get to your office. You wonder constantly – where did all these people come from and how did all my money disappear so fast. There is a predictable storyline and a predetermined cast of characters found in the Bollywood stars and cartoon characters. Even in a city of 18 million people it can feel like a Small World After All. Last weekend I went to brunch with some new friends where I ran into a woman I had spoken with months back while searching for an apartment in Mumbai. It’s a small works after all we both said. If Dinseyland can hold the title of “The Happiest Place on Earth” Mumbai can claim the title of “The Realest Place on Earth.” Are happy and real the same thing? I think it depends on your view of things. But what I do know is each day in Mumbai feels like a total rollercoaster and the lights never seem to go off.
Gayatri Eassey is committed to making an impact and a difference in her community both in the United States and in India, both personally and professionally. She is passionate about education, democracy and women's empowerment. She enjoys traveling, taking pictures and spending time with friends and family. She is a dedicated advocate for educational equity and has worked for The College Success Foundation and as Associate Director for External Affairs for Seattle University's Career Services Office. She is the former Interim Executive Director for Career Services at Seattle University. Prior to working at Seattle University she served as Executive Director of City Year Seattle, and as special assistant for boards and commissions in the Office of Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire. She spent three years on the Seattle Community College Board of Trustees. She was the co-founder of the YWCA's Gen-Rising Committee, committed to engaging more young people in the critical work of the YWCA. Her additional experience includes work as a trainer for the National Democratic Institute in Amman, Jordan, preparing women to run for elective office. She has also served as political director for the Washington State Democrats. She recently completed a fellowship with the National Urban Fellows, America's Leaders of Change. She is a former board member for the Center for Women and Democracy, the Institute for a Democratic Future, and the Seattle Chamber of Commerce Young Professional Network. She was the Statewide President of the Young Democrats of Washington and a Fellow with the World Affairs Council of Seattle. She earned her MBA in 2012 and hopes to align her government and nonprofit background with her business education to support public private partnerships which provide mutual benefit and strengthen communities.
Gayatri Eassey is committed to making an impact and a difference in her community both in the United States and in India, both personally and professionally. She is passionate about education, democracy and women's empowerment. She enjoys traveling, taking pictures and spending time with friends and family. She is a dedicated advocate for educational equity and has worked for The College Success Foundation and as Associate Director for External Affairs for Seattle University's Career Services Office. She is the former Interim Executive Director for Career Services at Seattle University. Prior to working at Seattle University she served as Executive Director of City Year Seattle, and as special assistant for boards and commissions in the Office of Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire. She spent three years on the Seattle Community College Board of Trustees. She was the co-founder of the YWCA's Gen-Rising Committee, committed to engaging more young people in the critical work of the YWCA. Her additional experience includes work as a trainer for the National Democratic Institute in Amman, Jordan, preparing women to run for elective office. She has also served as political director for the Washington State Democrats. She recently completed a fellowship with the National Urban Fellows, America's Leaders of Change. She is a former board member for the Center for Women and Democracy, the Institute for a Democratic Future, and the Seattle Chamber of Commerce Young Professional Network. She was the Statewide President of the Young Democrats of Washington and a Fellow with the World Affairs Council of Seattle. She earned her MBA in 2012 and hopes to align her government and nonprofit background with her business education to support public private partnerships which provide mutual benefit and strengthen communities.
We use cookies and similar technologies to collect information and to personalize the site. By continuing to use this site, you consent to the placement of these cookies and similar technologies and to our privacy practices. Read our updated Privacy Notice to learn more.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate. Out of these, the cookies categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of the basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
