What India Meant to Me
January 29, 2019 | 12:00 PM
Alejandra de los Santos '19, Social Work Major
My favorite part of going to India was definitely being around the people who reside there. It was a one of a kind experience. Before I went, I did not expect to become so close to everyone. I was honestly a little scared because I had never been so far away from home. Eventually, it got to the point where that felt like home. The hospitality that we were exposed to was incredible. Everyone treats everyone so well and as if we are all part of the same family.
When I got back from India, I felt a little different almost as if I had returned home as a different person. I think that being there changed my way of being as well as my way of thinking. I hope to go back sometime soon, and to stay for a longer time in order to get even more exposure to the culture.
In just ten short days I was able to become really close with the people that I was around daily. This trip was a very good opportunity to get to know the rest of the students that went. We got to know each other’s different cultural backgrounds and personalities. I was able to get really close to some of them, and now it even feels weird when we do not talk every day. I also think that we became really good friends with the people we met in India and they are people that I will never forget. Even now that I am home, and everyone has continued to move on with their lives, I am getting daily messages from my friends from India. It is such a great feeling to know that I have friends in a different part of the world who are caring and interested in continuing a friendship.