It's now been about a month that I've been home and over a month since I've posted. So much happened in those last weeks in India, between finishing the big paper, taking the 36 hour train ride back up North with Colleen, presentations, final banquets, seeing host families for the last time and the sadly starting to say good bye to everyone with whom I'd grown so close with. The last few weeks were emotionally and physically draining in every way, but also one of the most rewarding months I'd experienced in a long time. Hearing everyone's research and how they'd spent their month of independent research was amazing and just reinforced how strong and inspiring the other 24 people I'd spent this time with, are. We enjoyed our last weeks together, got dressed up in our finest Indian wear for the final banquet and then had all sorts of emotional bonding as we starting heading our separate ways. It was some of the hardest good byes I've ever said.
Now, here we are a month later. I was so worried about coming home, thinking about how difficult it would be to readjust to being home. For the first week I was home, I was incredibly jet-lagged and pretty sick as well. India got the final say by giving me a nasty case of something. I had the chance to go in and talk to my dad's world history students again about India. This was actually interesting, but most of them were interested in the experience in what I had to say. A couple of them even expressed an interest in wanting to go abroad. If I could get a couple of people to push themselves and go abroad in a country they wouldn't normally consider, that would make me incredibly happy.
Just as I was starting to feel better, and the boredom was starting to set in, a couple friends I studied abroad with in Morocco came to stay with me for a week. Having them come to stay with me, as the initial adjustment was really starting, was helpful. They had gone through the adjustment and understood what it was like coming back after living in a very, very different place. A lot of personal reflection happened as we went around exploring together. It was phenomenal to see them, and incredibly helpful to have them around while I was first getting used to being back home. It was still strange being home and seeing home after being gone for so long. We started moving into my apartment down near school and life here is really moving forward. I also got an internship working with the International Institute of Rhode Island, working in their refugee adjustment department. Providence takes in 120 refugees every year (that's a lot for such a small city). The majority are from Iraq, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nepal and Senegal, so I'll be working with a variety of people, which will help keep things interesting and exciting my senior year. Basically, just trying to keep as busy as possible in order to get used to routine again. I started work the day after my friends left from staying with me. Getting used to being at work again was interesting as well.
Currently, I'm visiting people on the West Coast, which is also helping to mix things up. Not only to I get to see friends I studied abroad with in both Morocco and India, but I get to explore a part of the country I've never seen before. I think it was the perfect time for a break from things at home. It was time to mix things up again.
Reflections and adjustments continue to happen, and I'm sure will continue to do that for a long time. Being home is going to continue to be difficult, especially when I'm back in the regular "school" routine. I think the internship, surrounding myself with new people at school, living on my own and really trying to push myself to continuing to do exciting and new things will help all of this. Some things are good about being home, but I definitely miss the excitement and craziness of being abroad. I also miss everyone so incredibly much. It's reinforcing how wonderful our group was and lucky I am that I got the chance to spend four months with them.
Thank you to everyone who encouraged me to go abroad for the year and to all of the people that were there along the way. It wouldn't have been them same with out all of you. It was the best experience thus far and I have learned so much more about life and the world than I could have ever done by staying in the comfort zone of school.
On a closing note, here are some pictures from our final banquet.
Now, here we are a month later. I was so worried about coming home, thinking about how difficult it would be to readjust to being home. For the first week I was home, I was incredibly jet-lagged and pretty sick as well. India got the final say by giving me a nasty case of something. I had the chance to go in and talk to my dad's world history students again about India. This was actually interesting, but most of them were interested in the experience in what I had to say. A couple of them even expressed an interest in wanting to go abroad. If I could get a couple of people to push themselves and go abroad in a country they wouldn't normally consider, that would make me incredibly happy.
Just as I was starting to feel better, and the boredom was starting to set in, a couple friends I studied abroad with in Morocco came to stay with me for a week. Having them come to stay with me, as the initial adjustment was really starting, was helpful. They had gone through the adjustment and understood what it was like coming back after living in a very, very different place. A lot of personal reflection happened as we went around exploring together. It was phenomenal to see them, and incredibly helpful to have them around while I was first getting used to being back home. It was still strange being home and seeing home after being gone for so long. We started moving into my apartment down near school and life here is really moving forward. I also got an internship working with the International Institute of Rhode Island, working in their refugee adjustment department. Providence takes in 120 refugees every year (that's a lot for such a small city). The majority are from Iraq, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nepal and Senegal, so I'll be working with a variety of people, which will help keep things interesting and exciting my senior year. Basically, just trying to keep as busy as possible in order to get used to routine again. I started work the day after my friends left from staying with me. Getting used to being at work again was interesting as well.
Currently, I'm visiting people on the West Coast, which is also helping to mix things up. Not only to I get to see friends I studied abroad with in both Morocco and India, but I get to explore a part of the country I've never seen before. I think it was the perfect time for a break from things at home. It was time to mix things up again.
Reflections and adjustments continue to happen, and I'm sure will continue to do that for a long time. Being home is going to continue to be difficult, especially when I'm back in the regular "school" routine. I think the internship, surrounding myself with new people at school, living on my own and really trying to push myself to continuing to do exciting and new things will help all of this. Some things are good about being home, but I definitely miss the excitement and craziness of being abroad. I also miss everyone so incredibly much. It's reinforcing how wonderful our group was and lucky I am that I got the chance to spend four months with them.
Thank you to everyone who encouraged me to go abroad for the year and to all of the people that were there along the way. It wouldn't have been them same with out all of you. It was the best experience thus far and I have learned so much more about life and the world than I could have ever done by staying in the comfort zone of school.
On a closing note, here are some pictures from our final banquet.
