Wow! I can’t believe we have been in India for two-and-a-half weeks already. At this time three weeks ago, I was taking a final in Mass Transport and Separation Principles, and today I gave a presentation on my final project in India. To reflect on the past few weeks, I thought I would talk about some of my favorite moments of the trip!
One excursion that I will never forget about is trekking up a mountain in Sakleshpur. From the top of the mountain, you couldn’t see any roads or houses or any signs of civilization. The breathtaking views made scaling up wet rocks on all fours worth it! Also, there was an adorable puppy at the coffee plantation we stayed at in Sakleshpur. Can’t forget about that!
All of the community visits we conducted on our stay were a highlight. While staying at Navadarshanam Farm, we went into the local village and played hopscotch with the children. My group went to a train station in Bangalore, and somehow we ended up in the police office there taking pictures with all of the officers. During another excursion, my group showed up early and we accidentally invited ourselves into someone’s yard where we thought we were supposed to meet. Plot twist: we were actually supposed to meet to meet across the street. The owners of the house were super welcoming, so we thought nothing of it at the time!
My favorite moments from this trip have been meeting so many wonderful humans. Without my new local friends, I wouldn’t even have survived crossing the street. My project group (go Team Trash!) made going up and talking to strangers on the street a lot more bearable. Our instructors and mentors made adjusting to a new culture a breeze. From group workouts to climbing 600 stairs, my classmates have made every aspect of this trip memorable.
-Lucy S.
