It’s early morning here in Agora. Sunlight is starting to hit the ridge at the base of the valley. Adults have been slowly streaming by since first light – on their way to collect wood, or grass, or some other forage, or to tend to animals. The high-pitched sounds of children being bathed or fed their first meal are starting to echo through town. Women are shaking out bedspreads and mattresses and hanging them over smooth railings to catch the morning warmth. Teams of mules are being ushered by the guttural sounds of their herders toward piles of bags to be taken on treks to high mountain meadows or Dodital. It’s a beautiful common morning.

This will be our base for the next 10 days of this trip.

We’ll do a lot while we’re here. Those who want to will test their angling ability in some of the best trout fishing waters on earth. We’ll play games with little kids and learn from their exuberance. There is talk of night safaris with spotlights we brought from the US to try to spot leopards and bears on the road that leads out of town. We’ll eat so much fresh, organic, tasty food cooked by the people who grew it. Izzy is set on beating Mr. Goodrich’s record for the number of cups of chai consumed in a day. Ari is already working to capture the light and the angles. Brayden is learning to throw the cricket ball just right. Garrett is already calling himself “Gujjar Garrett.” Jesse is getting to see people taking care of us and using animals in ways that represent the history of this place. Lillian is sharing the joy of this happy culture. Joseph is asking important questions. Davis is leading the charge, the only returner in this group. Chase is considering adding a Nehru vest to his distinct style. Alex is quietly thinking and observing ALL THE TIME. Harrison is serving as the ultimate big brother to Rihan and Vedic. Massam is helping us understand the places he has lived and seen as comparisons to this one. Ryan is keeping his friends in check and staying positive. Reese is churning through big ideas and sharing quick insights. Barbara is recording everything she sees to create a real anthology of thought and observation. Pierson is no doubt thinking about future return trips. Mauricio is putting himself into the place, wanting to understand who he is through the experience of being in this place.

We’ll also spend time doing what seems like very little. There is so much to learn from just being in Agora. There is such wisdom shared in the smoky kitchens of our host families. We’ll make sure to take in and absorb as much as we can.

If you have questions about Agora, please send them our way! We spent one of our group discussions yesterday coming up with individual things people want to explore and understand why we’re here. I can assure you that this group of students has a lot they want to find answers or clues about. It’s a curious crew!

For now, the first cup of chai is calling.