My name is Olivia, and I am an excited social work student in India.
Before starting this trip, I had done quite a bit of research on where to go in Thailand, where to eat, sleep, and play. On the other hand, I did less research on these topics for India. My research for India consisted more of learning how to dress appropriately, how to respect cultural norms, how to navigate being an invited guest in another country, and how to approach my time here with humility and an open mind. Rather than researching tourist attractions, I found myself spending time thinking more about how I could show respect for the people, communities, and students I would be meeting.
Preparing for India also felt different because I was not coming here as a tourist. I was coming as a social work student, invited to learn alongside others and contribute to a project that is so meaningful to me. In the weeks leading up to the trip, I spent time thinking about how conversations around consent, healthy relationships, and communication might be understood in different cultures, and how I would navigate those things. I also reflected on my own assumptions and biases, recognizing that there is just as much for me to learn from the students here as there is for me to share, and I think that is important.
Being invited to India and having the ability to participate in this experience feels like such a privilege to me. I recognize that not everyone has the opportunity to travel across the world, engage with another culture, and learn directly from people with different life experiences. As someone studying social work, I feel grateful to be welcomed into this space. I think there is something quite exciting about stepping outside of what is familiar to me and realizing how much there is still to learn. Although I am here to help facilitate conversations through the Consent Cafe, I do not see myself as an expert arriving with all the right answers. Instead, I see this as an opportunity for me to learn as well. I hope to share more knowledge and experiences while also listening, learning, and building connections with more students whose perspectives may differ from my own. Already, being in India has reminded me of the importance of curiosity, adaptability, and openness.
Despite starting this trip with a bout of food poisoning and falling behind on my schoolwork, I am feeling incredibly thankful to be here. As I begin this experience, I am looking forward to learning more about India, connecting with the people I meet, and growing both personally and professionally through the conversations and experiences that lie ahead of me.