August 10, 2026
Today is August 10th, and we completed another Consent Café workshop, this time at the Salvation Army Mission College with nursing students. Out of the workshops we have taught so far, I think this one was the most challenging for me. I am not entirely sure whether this was because of the group itself, my own energy level, or simply how the space was set up.
The workshop took place in a church building, so instead of being able to sit together in circles or groups like we have during earlier workshops, the students were seated in rows. I did not realize how much the physical setup of a space could influence engagement until today. As mentors, many of us had to get up and move between the rows to check in with the students rather than sitting at the same level and having a conversation together. It felt like there was more of a separation between us and the students than there had been at the other schools. I do not know for certain if the setup contributed to the engagement level, but it made me think more about how important the environment can be when facilitating conversations, especially conversations about topics like consent.
Once again, I somehow ended up with one of the quieter groups. At this point, I feel like quiet groups just keep finding me. Honestly, though, I was okay with it today because my own energy was lower than usual. I think I am simply tired after everything we have been doing over the last two weeks. Even though my group was quiet when speaking directly with me, they were discussing the content amongst themselves. A couple of students would answer when I asked questions, which reassured me that they understood what we were discussing. It was also encouraging to see them connecting with each other and talking about the material, even within the relatively short amount of time we had together.
This experience reminded me that engagement does not always look the way I expect it to. Someone does not necessarily have to be speaking to the entire group or constantly answering questions to be learning or participating. Sometimes engagement happens quietly through conversations with the person sitting beside you, listening, observing, or thinking about what is being discussed. As a future social worker, I think this is something that will be important for me to remember. I cannot expect every person I work with to communicate or engage in the same way, and it will be my responsibility to adapt rather than assuming that someone is uninterested simply because they are quiet.
Outside of the Consent Café workshops, we have also had a busy few days. On Saturday, we travelled to Amritsar and visited a temple, although I cannot remember the name of it. It was not the Golden Temple, which we are supposed to visit tomorrow. We did not accomplish everything in Amritsar that we had originally planned, but sometimes life happens and plans change. The day was definitely longer than I expected, but I am also learning that flexibility is a pretty important part of travelling and taking part in an International Field School.
Yesterday, we had a more relaxed day and did some shopping around the area. We visited a market and finished getting our outfits for August 12th at the Nursing School. It was fun to have some time to shop and experience another part of being here that was not directly connected to our workshops or school activities.
Overall, the last few days have been really good, although I am definitely starting to feel tired. A part of me is ready to go home. I would not describe myself as homesick; I think I am just ready for familiar places, familiar foods, familiar routines, and familiar culture. After spending two weeks here, I think it is reasonable to start missing some of those things. At this point, I would love a salad with cucumbers and fresh vegetables from home, and some beef would also be pretty great. At the same time, I am still enjoying being here and am grateful for the experience I am having, especially working alongside my classmates, and facilitating the Consent Café workshops together.
Looking at the experience from a social work perspective, I do not think my ideas about the kind of practitioner I want to become have necessarily changed dramatically. Instead, I think this experience continues to add layers to those ideas. I want to be a social worker who is open and willing to learn from others rather than assuming that I am always the person who knows best. I want to be able to adapt to different environments, situations, cultures, and ways of communicating. This trip has also reinforced the importance of building genuine connections with people, even when I only have a short amount of time with them.
Teaching consent in another cultural context has especially reminded me that social work cannot be about walking into a space with predetermined ideas about what people need or how they should engage. I need to pay attention to the people in front of me, the environment I am working within, and what they are communicating. Even when that communication looks different from what I am used to. Being adaptable does not mean abandoning what I know; it means being willing to recognize that my knowledge is only one part of the conversation.
Tomorrow, we are heading back to Amritsar, where we will be visiting another school and seeing the Golden Temple. I know it is going to be a long day, but I am looking forward to it. Soon enough, I will probably be sitting on my flight home wishing I were still in India. For now, I want to continue taking in as much of this experience as I can. That includes the challenging, tiring, and unexpected parts, because I think all of them are contributing to the social worker I eventually want to become.