With less than 4 days logged of a three-month immersion into Mumbai and specifically the dynamic, bustling, informal community of Dharavi, it is apparent that the media-dubbed title for this place - “Asia’s largest slum” - is simply inappropriate. Western connotations of slum often include a sea of beggars, drug addicts, and thieves; however, it is in our homes of New York City and Portland Oregon that these terms are more accurately brought to life. Although poverty and poor sanitation are prevalent, there is a profound sense of optimism, an industrial buzz around every corner, and perhaps most importantly a feeling of togetherness that transcends the hardships. Even to us outsiders, this place has quickly charmed us and already feels like a home.

Our mission during the next three months is to tap into and share with others this essence that defines Dharavi not as a slum but as a thriving community of people that rely upon each other and are diligently working to better themselves. To be here and experience this “social wealth” makes one believe in its existence; effectively communicating this sense of community may prove to be our hardest task. We have a lot of work ahead of us to make meaningful connections without coming off as another set of tourists gawking at lifestyle unimaginable to our friends back home. Indeed, to get to the guts of Dharavi and to the roots of its social wealth we must find a way to graduate from Outsiders to Friends.

To what extent can we really connect with this community given obvious language and culture barriers? Is art an appropriate medium to connect in the context of a fight for survival? Will we be taken seriously by the community leaders or shunned as exploitative profiteers? Why is it that individuals here seem so connected with each other while so many people in our communities back home seem isolated and lonely? Can we be assertive enough to conclude that this “slum” Dharavi holds lessons for young American and Western societies?

These are the questions that keep us awake at night as we adjust to the wonder that is India, the surprisingly laid back yet simultaneously chaotic scene that is Mumbai, and the reality that is slowing setting in that Dharavi is our home for the next three months.