It’s really hard to believe that it’s already time to say goodbye to India. When I think back to how nervous I was before coming here, it feels crazy how quickly this experience has gone by. I came into this trip not really knowing what to expect, and now leaving feels much harder than I thought it would.
One of the biggest things I will take away from this experience is how welcomed we were everywhere we went. From the very beginning, people made us feel like they were genuinely excited to have us there. At every school we visited, we were welcomed and celebrated in ways I wasn’t expecting. Whether it was ceremonies, food, gifts, photos, or just how excited people were to meet and talk with us, there was so much effort put into making us feel special. There were honestly times when the welcomes felt overwhelming because I couldn’t believe how much people were doing for us.
The goodbyes have made me realize just how many connections we made in such a short amount of time. We came here to learn and share through the Consent Cafés, but I feel like we received just as much, if not more, from the people we met. Everyone was so willing to share their culture, experiences, and lives with us. I think that is something I will remember much more than any specific activity we did.
I’ve also been thinking a lot about how different I feel compared to when I first arrived. At the beginning of this trip, I was proud of myself just for making it here on my own. Since then, I’ve been pushed outside of my comfort zone in so many different ways. There were amazing moments and there were difficult ones, but I got through all of them. I’m leaving feeling much more confident in myself and really proud of everything I’ve experienced.
From a social work perspective, this trip has reinforced for me how important relationships and connection are. We came from completely different places and backgrounds than many of the people we met, but that didn’t stop us from connecting with each other. I learned that you don’t always need to have the same experiences as someone to listen to them, learn from them, laugh with them, or make them feel valued. I think I’ll carry that with me into my future practice.
Saying goodbye feels really bittersweet. I’m excited to go home and see the people I’ve missed, but I’m also sad to leave a place that has made me feel so welcomed and celebrated. India will always be connected to so many memories for me now, and I’m incredibly grateful for the people who made this experience what it was. I don’t think I’ll ever forget how welcomed we were from the moment we arrived until the moment we had to say goodbye.