Time may fly but it can also be a precious gift when processing such big experiences (and places) as India.
You should be proud of yourselves. We’re sure your friends and families are. And amazed!
*Special shout-out to Alison as our gal from a super small town with no travel experience for making it through like a boss!
Looking back, can you believe that we stayed with royalty in the clouds with moments full of monsoon storms, all the while with monkeys landing on our rooftops? Or that we got to make a real impact on those kids, their families and the teachers we worked with?
At the time, it didn’t feel so big, did it? We were pushed our of out comfort zones in ways that included all those mountain roads with their steep incline/declines, conditions of the homeless dogs and people we’re not used to and some of the biggest spiders many of us had ever seen. Not to mention the trash everywhere, moist everything and smells we’re all happy to forget. Facing constant challenges, inspiration and fun moments such as shopping at McLeod Ganj and creating bonds organically during our free time, such as experience was just…big. It felt like rolling with the punches at times but what an impact it made on who we are and who we want to be.
We could have chosen an easier and smoother program/country but we didn’t want that. We wanted India and all that comes with. Well, we got it and that will forever impact us. So will the people we bonded with, even if just for those moments. That’s the travelers life and, dare we say, even the Buddhist way. To live, love and be forever impacted in the moment without any expectation of the future. Time to shake up our sand mandalas, kiddos.
You are all at such a magical place of not only being both a new adult and child all at once, you are also at a time in your lives that the platform of who you will forever become is built. You have given those of us lucky enough to be a part of that a peek of whimsical transport back into our moments of life when being the most alive and leave us with humbled gratitude for the gift of being a part of yours. Take what you have learned into your worlds, our little GLAers, and let yourselves be the light that others grow from.
We would tell you to make us proud but you already have. Even by only knowing you for a couple short weeks, we also already know that you always will.
Some special moments from our trip:
Getting out saris and suits made.
Teddy!
Shopping at McLeod Ganj…three times.
Mentor groups – Story of Self
Taking in the wonders of Dalai Lama’s temple and learning about the Tibetans flee to India and peaceful fight against China.
PJ Sessions, lessons and all the great photos we took.
Seeing what it’s like to live off the grid at Priyanka’s family farm.
DAR – Darmashala Animal Rescue – helping all those pups we see out on the street.
Yummy dinner hosted by, and dancing with, the king.
Surviving the heat at the Golden Temple.
Enjoying the romance (and cooler weather) of the Taj Mahal in the rain.
So now we say one last namaste,
Mentor Robin, Director Tim and the STL India Crew
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