A Place Steeped with Rich History
For me, college is all about gaining new experiences. I love to explore different subjects, learn about different cultures, and meet different people. And now, I have the opportunity to go to a very different place: India, a place steeped with a rich history, beautiful landscapes, and a very diverse group of people.
Over the five weeks of the program, my classmates and I will be travelling to eight different cities, exploring the social statuses of women within Indian society and building solutions and business models for social enterprises in India. It will be intense and challenging, but I expect to learn so much about Indian culture, social entrepreneurship and myself.
In particular, I am excited to learn about the different religions and customs within Indian society. As the birthplace of Hinduism, one of the oldest religions of the world, I hope to observe and learn from the Hindu temples we visit and the religious people we meet. I also hope to speak with local people about how their faith plays a role in their life to further understand how Indian society is shaped by religion.
I am also excited to learn about the women of India. We will be meeting with many women social entrepreneurs throughout the program, and through listening to their stories and advice, I hope to better understand the roles women play both in the business world as well as in Indian society.
Through my excitement, I am nervous about travelling to a place with a very different climate and a language I do not know. In contrast to Boston’s harsh winter, I know India tends to get extremely hot in the summertime, and I am a little worried about overheating and getting sunburned.
But as I prepare my suitcase with my hat and sunscreen, I know to leave my mind open and stomach empty. I look forward to trying lots of new food and learning about different ways of life. And upon return, I hope to bring back many new stories, some social entrepreneurship skills and a better understanding of my place in the world.
