On our way out of green and beautiful Coorg, we stopped at an elephant park, where dozens of elephants were bathing in the river, snacking on hay, melons, and cucumbers, and lounging amongst tourists. I was surprised and excited about the close interaction we were able to have with the monstrous animals.
Back on the bus en-route to Bangalore, we were all jolted by a loud bang, followed by a concerning wobble of the bus. We blew two tires on our bus.
Unfortunately, our drivers only had one spare tire and seemed a bit confused about the proper use of a jack. All in all, a two-hour "side trip" made for a few great lessons in rural communities, sanitary facilities, how to eat an entire Indian meal without silverware, and how to take everything with a grain of salt.
It has officially been one week in India for our group. As I reflect on this experience, I have learned so much about social entrepreneurship, waste systems, sanitation, and the many different communities that live here. I am excited about this new place that has such a strong sense of culture so different from our own.
It is easy to think about fixes to global problems while you are at home, but until you experience these problems first-hand and begin to understand how and why they affect certain people, you can never be completely successful. It has been eye-opening to say the least, and I am looking forward to the weeks ahead!
