Hello Wonderful Students,
We hope you are recovered from your culture shock by now, and feel immersed back into your home culture. Stop a moment and reflect: how has India affected you? How has it made you better?
We miss your compassion, kindness and incredible openness that each of you displayed during the program. The care each of you gave one another when you were sick, Anais cooking and sharing Italian food with all of you like a big family, and dancing the night away to Bollywood music, are just a few of the great memories you all gave us. Each of you was a part of this experience and we are grateful.
India has the tendency to change people. You may not feel it when you are here, but it is an experience you carry with you. What changes have you noticed?
Things in Dharamsala are moving along. The community of Gamru is a bit quieter without the loud morning wake up calls, music playing and night time roof chats. Tourists are still flocking to McCleodGanj and the mountains still reign over the beautiful green landscape. MoMos are still amazing to eat. Life is vibrant and beautiful, albeit a tad disorganized to the Western eye.
Your experience may be over, but it lives on through the pictures you have taken and the stories you tell. You have to power to greatly affect this community, simply by sharing your photos, your words, your stories. Use this power with respect, care and mindfulness- your actions always affect others. In this sense, your “service through the lens” continues well past the program dates. Perhaps a better name for the program should be “Leaders through the Lens”.
All experiences are ultimately shaped by us. We have our own lens that we see the world through. We hope that this experience challenged you and helped you grow- now and in the future.
We wish only the best for you and hope you keep in touch.
Warmly,
Laura, Kaitlyn, Priyanka, Kapil, Sachin, Vinay & Ishan
Feeling nostalgic? You can experience that same sense of friendship and adventure abroad again! Check out all our new destinations for Summer 2018, or enroll now.
