After preparing for a couple days before all the students arrived, the South Asian students presented on their cultures for the international students. You can read more here, and see a few student interviews here, beginning with Olga!
Monica
Mohammad
Rohini
Kultwisiso
Shilpi
We were in the clouds while on our hike! It was the most amazing experience I have ever had. On our way down it started pouring with rain but it was actually really beautiful it felt as if i was one with nature. Such a beautiful day.
Such beauty India is. Every view leaves me with the doubt that this is not a dream. Rain is so beautiful especially being surrounded by even more nature.
Deep bonds and special memories are being made with every step taken here on this trip. I’ve begun to love the way my new friends look out into the distance just to admire the views. This feels like a new family, so much happiness is being spread when I’m with them I feel at home wherever.
Homestays were by far my best experience here in India. Despite the huge language barrier we all made the best effort to communicate and it worked out really well. The family was so welcoming and warm hearted I felt at home. Although, it did make me miss my family and my home a bit… I feel really thankful because of their love and open arms, I miss them so much I wish I could see them again. They even taught me some words in Hindi which has inspired me to want to learn the language!
Dharmsala beauty.
The way the rain drops from the clouds making the leaves shimmer
Leaving us speechless…
Loving the trees and so many other things.
First of all thank you for bringing me to this trip. I would have met this precious gift from God with in me. India has been a challenging place for me, first their traffic then their food and most of all their toilets. I felt alone the first-time I came here. I thought I was dreaming but it was not a dream. I spoke to no one and it was bad because I needed to open up, I needed to be me and feel free not be an insider like always at school. Basically everyone on this trip felt like this I’m glad they did because it took some time to actually so your fellow mate around you who you are and how they would appreciate you for being you no matter how crazy you are, how annoying you can get. You should always no. That a place like this you not alone their is someone that feels the same like you are feeling but they scared of the peoples perspective about you
Just be you and forget you don’t. Let anyone change you unless they change themselves.
This image represent a happy family. All the tough time we had to go through and the struggle we had to actually get to where we are now was challenging itself but we made it we reached the limit. Yes there were complains from many of us but we made it as a team. And a team work make a dream work.
India has been the most phenomenal place I have ever been to. I mean, my community back home is where my heart remains, but if I had an ongoing list, India would be my favorite runner up. I am just in love with everything here. From the majestic mountains to the small flowers placed in front of that one temple in one of India’s small villages.
The way India stands tall, even on her worst days reminds me of my mother back home. Their ability to shine bright despite being plagued by hardships and burdens is the reason I find some sort of resilience in myself.
I am going to be extremely sad when I have to leave this next-to-paradise kind of place, but my mother will be a reminder of the beauty within chaos, just like India has always been.
(I believe this photo is the perfect epitome of what I am trying to convey here. The trash in front of the flower painting speaks to the adversity, the wall crumbling down on the side holds truth to the burdens. The yellow background and flower is both India and my mother, both delightful and resilient in a world of chaos).