Today, the group crossed one of the most populated parts of India as we worked our way from the hustle and bustle of the capital city to Mussoorie, the Queen of the Hills, a beautiful colonial-era town perched on the first ridge of the Himalayas. The drive was epic, with something new to see at every corner. It was also a time to reflect and for the group to start developing habits of mind and action to help us all get the most out of this experience.
We gathered today on a bench installed by Mr. Alter’s great uncle and lovingly named after him. From the perch on the side of the Landour ridge, the blue Tehri mountains extend out as far as one can see. It’s an epic spot to stop, think, and share. Here are some things that feel worth sharing at this early point in our adventure:
When you get to New Delhi, it takes over your senses and the city becomes an experience more than a place. We all talked about how, whether you’re ready or not, New Delhi takes over. It takes over in the way it looks, smells, tastes on your tongue, sounds, and feels on a human level. For a newcomer, it feels like a powerful system that’s almost too intense to make sense of. Seeing local people make the most of the place and find a way to fit in is a startling contrast. We spent a lot of time trying to focus in on individuals and specific scenes to try to identify access points in to the system. Students noticed gender differences, hard work, kindness, trustworthiness, and connection.
After New Delhi, the Himalayas and Mussoorie in particular feel like a break, a time of rest. Where we are now is quiet in all senses – on the ears, in the muted colors, and in the vibe of the people. It’s a place that’s kind and restful and embracing. A place where people want to get to know you. If New Delhi was a punch (as Garrett put it), or an impenetrable force (as Ryan called it), or overwhelming (as many called it), then Mussoorie might as well be the opposite. As Izzy noted, it’s easy to picture living in Mussoorie even if you don’t understand the culture or the place.
Purpose has also been on our minds. What is our individual purpose? Does our purpose connect to the purpose(s) of others? What defines how we measure our success towards our purpose? Do the people of India have more common purposes? Do connections to others make us fulfilled?
The individual and intimate opportunities are to come. These first 48 hours in New Delhi (which is SURREAL to think about out loud since we’ve done so much), driving across the plains, and enjoying a few hours in Mussoorie have really set the stage. It is now time for the participants to have the chance to use their own interests, relationships, and energy to dig deeper. I am fully confident that they can break through.
Discomfort is a state of mind. We’ve eaten well, slept well (though not enough hours yet!), been treated well, and generally had time to embrace the experience. Still, this is a difficult place for those who don’t know it. So much of it is different. It’s easy when you’re tired to say that differences are uncomfortable. But we’ve seen on this trip that discomfort is a state of mind. People here show that we humans can tolerate heat, pollution, hard work, and much more. And we show ourselves the same thing. Do we really need the same things we want back home? Do we need so much time on our phones? We have learned for sure that we do not. A lot of discomfort is unavoidable and real and sometimes tragic but it is also often a state of mind that can be controlled.
There is so much more to come, including 4 blog posts from students who have already helped lead our experience. For now, a few photos!
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