We reflected on our time in Agora a lot – during several conversations. These are some highlights:

Alex – “The work in the US and Agora are way different but there are ways to help each other.  In Agora, people help with everything from cooking to building a house.  What are the spaces in the daily routine back home where we can share ideas?”

Man – “I like the sense of community – how people care about lot about their family and friends and the community as a whole.”

Harrison – “The sense of kindness and hospitality and the informal presence of people really stuck with me.  The way people use things to the full extend and how I want to do that back in America.”

Jesse – “It was so interesting and heartwarming to see how welcoming the people were to us, complete strangers, and how eager they were to invite us into their homes and offer us chai.  Even without a lot of a resources, it felt like a bountiful place.  We left feeling like we had new friends and family.  There wasn’t room for selfishness because everyone impacts everyone else and are part of one system that makes Agora what it is.”

Lillian – “We as humans are so capable and even though we may not think that, when we push our limits and look at those around us pushing their limits, we see how much we are capable of.  We see how much we can do.  I learned as much about myself as I did about this place – and I learned a lot about this place.”

Joseph – “It doesn’t have the attractions of New Delhi or other sights but information and understanding was so accessible just by talking to people and observing.  It was more of a window into India than what most people see in the “big attractions.” Agora is a big attraction that I hope stays pure.”

Bugg – “I love how the community as a whole is so connected and they have each other’s backs no matter what the situation is.”

Barbara – “I was so interested in how the body language and the language itself is communicated.  Even though I couldn’t understand what they were saying, the body language and sounds were so clear that I could interpret what they were saying.  The people know how to really communicate.”