By: Louie

When first arriving in India, I honestly didn’t know what to expect. But throughout this trip, I have been able to adjust and I started thinking about the differences between my life in the US and daily life in India.

Yesterday, we went to a small village in Corbett National Park. There, we had a discussion about people’s daily needs. It really made me think about how my daily needs in America are so different than someone in the village. For example, when I wake up in the morning at school, I think things like: do I have my phone? I need to go sign into breakfast. I need to go to class. I need to call my mom. I need to go to co curricular. But someone’s needs in this village we went to are completely different. For example, they might be: do i have food for the day? Do I have water for the day? I need to feed the animals. They don’t wake up in the morning and wonder where their AirPods are, but their needs are more about being able to survive and get through the day.

When we were talking about the village, Parveen asked me “what makes these communities healthy?” And after thinking about this question, I realized that, despite the fact that these people’s lives and needs are different than mine back at home, it’s still relatively easy living and they aren’t struggling to survive. It works for them. What at first appears to be a hard daily living in my eyes, these people live very easily and happily.

This trip has opened my eyes to what’s going on with other people around the world and how their experiences can be completely different than mine. Honestly, I’m not sure how my life in America will be changed by this experience. But, it will always be in the back of my mind and I will never forget how life is here in India.

Overall this trip has been awesome so far and I am very excited for what is still to come!