By Lillian Williams

This is my 6th Global Education Trip, so naturally I found myself reflecting on these past three years and what they have meant to me. Using this time to reflect, I kept circling back to this one question: “Why do I travel?” Is it because I get to fill my shelves with mementos that show those who visit me my impressive collection of little worldwide knick-knacks? Is it so that whenever I meet others, I get to brag about my “extraordinary tales” and ravish them with the details of the nice hotels or luxury experiences I was able to indulge in? Or was it so that I could break the record of most global ed trips ever gone on by a single student? I never really took these questions seriously. I thought that because I was so well-traveled, that this way of living was normal for me, I didn’t need to reflect and understand why I’m doing what I’m doing on both these global ed trips, but also in life as a journey in general. Then I was faced with the reality that my time at Christchurch was coming to an end, and I knew I had to come on one last trip to spend time reflecting and understanding myself better as a person in the past, present, and most importantly, future. So here are my thoughts. 

6 global ed trips. 1 to Spain, 1 to Guatemala, 2 to Senegal, and now, 2 to India. Whenever I speak of these experiences, I am met with the question: “What trip is your favorite?” I always brush that question aside and neglect the true thought and reflection that is required to fully answer this curiosity. I respond with: “They’re way too different to compare.” The truth is, they are all very different, but once you unpack the meaning and thoughtfulness behind these trips, you can realize that they really aren’t all that different. Sure, they all have the glorious Mr. Aaron Alter in them, but that’s not what I’m talking about. The true connection is community and a sense of belonging. Even though these countries are thousands of miles apart, they all hold meaning, connection, and community. 

I would like to use a very specific example to truly describe what I mean. After over 40 hours of travel, we arrived in New Delhi at the beginning of this trip, and I was greeted by Suman. Even though it had been 2 years since I had seen him last, the hug he gave me made it feel like I had never left his side. We immediately went back to joking around like we used to, and a hole that had once been in my heart had been filled. Now, how does this connect to my other experiences? In Senegal, going back to see Kekuta and his wonderful family made me feel a warm and joyful sensation. The smile that covered his face was unlike any other, and I couldn’t help but feel calm and at ease walking into a place that felt like home. These two people have had significant impacts on my life, but in completely different areas of the world. However, when I see the smile of Suman, I am reminded of the warm embrace of Kekuta. The smells, the sights, the sounds, they are all connected, because they all bring me immense joy. Not the type of joy you get from opening the Christmas present that was at the top of your list, but the type of joy you get when you feel you truly belong in a place. For this feeling, I am very grateful, and I hope to pursue this happiness for the rest of my life. 

Reflecting on my feelings, I believe that those I have carried with me, the happiness, the comfort level, hold something more significant that some might not realize. I know I sure didn’t until I experienced it first hand. The warm embrace of the community around me, whether it be my teachers, peers, or new faces I meet along the way, have encouraged me to grow and shape into a person that four years ago, would not have existed in the tiniest bit. I am thankful for the opportunities I was given, but I’m proud of myself for taking them in the moment. Siezing those opportunities because I felt the support and wind underneath my wings to truly express who I am and show to those around me how much I care about them. These questions I reflect on, these moments that I cherished, the person I am today, none of these would exist without that feeling of belonging Global Education has given me. Without the soothing comfort of the mentors and friends I have gained and lost throughout my journey here and all over the world, I believe that I wouldn’t be standing here today. Comfortable in my skin as a world traveler, and understanding the importance of connections through many different views and lenses. 

So, looking back on my time here, I believe that the ones that surrounded me along the way, the ones who stuck by me when times were difficult, and the ones who supported me in every way were the ones that actually made this experience the reason why I love to travel. During this last trip, I went through something very personal and even heartbreaking. I felt myself not in the state I usually am on these trips. I wanted to go home. I wanted the world to just stop moving because I had experienced a type of loss in my life. I had this mindset for about the first week of the trip. The torture of trying to hide my emotions and pain was tearing me apart, and when things in my personal life snapped, it all came rushing out into a weary and sloppy mess of tears and confusion. I had hit my lowest on the trip. It felt like there was no meaning to where I was anymore; I was focused on the situation at home rather than focusing on the beautiful surroundings around me. Slowly, one by one, the adults on this trip comforted me; they made me feel seen. However, I still felt as if something was missing. Suman came up to me, saw how much of a mess I was, and just hugged me. It was in that moment that the memories of Kekuta welcoming me back into his home with a smile, the memories of climbing up a Volcano with the group from Guatemala, the memories of grocery shopping with Mrs. Kiland in Spain at 10:00 pm, the memories of messing around with Suman in years prior, all came flooding back to me. 

The overwhelming nostalgia and happiness overtook me. I realized that what I had been harping over for the past week didn’t matter. Sure, it hurt in the moment, but I looked around at the mountains soaring into the clouds, I listened to the sound of the birds and other wildlife surrounding me, I touched the cool dirt beneath my hands, I grounded myself to the place where I was, not focusing on the things that had hurt me thousands of miles away. The world is so big, yet the little things are what truly impact us. The small moments, like a hug or a smile, are the ones that solidify in our minds. In times of hurt or hardship, I will look back on these moments. Realizing that I am so much more capable than just sitting around feeling sorry for myself, I will take that leap. I encourage those who follow in future global ed trips to look around. Ground yourself in the environment and people around you. It may not seem like it, but these connections and places are only temporary. For them to fully reach you, whether it be in another lifetime or far across the world, you have to work towards it, not away from it. I plan to use my time in life to work towards it. This may be my last global ed trip as a student of Christchurch School, but it’s a new beginning in the saga of a new era: Lillian’s CCS Alum Experience. So, thank you, Global Ed. For taking me both far from home, but giving me a new definition of that word. For taking me outside of my comfort zone while showing me a new version of comfort. For helping me build new connections that I hope will last a lifetime. For giving me a passion that will never die out. For making me, me.