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
Hometown: Santa Fe
Tell us about your favorite book: My favorite book recently has been the monkey wrench gang by Edward abbey. He’s a great writer, and I can sympathize with the characters for sure. It’s also just enjoyable.
Give one random fact about you: I didn’t go to school until 7th grade.
In class, what kind of character are you?: Depends on the class/teacher.
If you were a fruit, what would it be?: mango
What do you think will be surprising about India?: The architecture
In what ways do you feel that India will be challenging for you?: I’m curious to learn about Hindu religion. I’d like to have my belief system challenged, I need a bit more of that.
How do you hope to be changed by this trip to India?: I’m sure it will be eye opening. I hope to be more independent and ready to travel after this trip, and I’m ready to learn as much as I can from a culture that is different from what I grew up around.
Hometown: Bronx
Tell us about your favorite book: My favorite book is The Outsiders by S.E Hinton. I read this book for the first time back in 6th grade and I still love it!
Give one random fact about you: I am a shy person when you first get to know me, it takes me a while to open up.
In class, what kind of character are you?: In class I am a hardworking, supportive and open minded person.
If you were a fruit, what would it be?: If I was a fruit I would be strawberry because it is my favorite.
What do you think will be surprising about India?: I think it will be surprising how much people there is in India.
In what ways do you feel that India will be challenging for you?: What will be challenging is how different India’s culture is from my culture.
How do you hope to be changed by this trip to India?: I hope that this trip to India helps me break out of my shell so I can be more social.
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Tell us about your favorite book: My favorite book would have to be the entire Hunger Game series. The series speaks volumes and critiques their society a lot. I feel that those books also reflects and reinforces a lot of the societal issues they have with what is happening in the U.S at the time.
Give one random fact about you: My ring finger’s nail fell off as a result of a bacterial infection this year.
In class, what kind of character are you?: I pay attention in class and don’t disrupt the lesson. However, I do laugh and sometimes chat on the side or day dream.
If you were a fruit, what would it be?: I’d be a limonsillo because I love the summer and you have to hassle with the fruit before you’re done with it in which shows the challenge of it.
What do you think will be surprising about India?: Probably the streets. I think the streets in the cities speak a lot about the country and will be interesting to see what the street vendors are selling.
In what ways do you feel that India will be challenging for you?: The conservatism will definitely be a challenge. I’m so use to wearing whatever I want, so it’ll be interesting to see how things work over there.
How do you hope to be changed by this trip to India?: I hope that my desire to travel and explore will continue to flourish.