Going to a different country comes with all sorts of challenges, however, each challenge brings its own reward.
I learned a lot about myself in India, and I think everyone in the group learned a little bit about each other. It's hard to live in a foreign country with a large group of people. I think it is more than likely that all of us experienced some degree of culture shock. However, despite it all I think we all became amazing friends.
I didn't think it would be so hard to sit without crossing my legs, but there I was at every meeting shuffling in my seat because it felt so uncomfortable to not cross my legs.
Being culturally sensitive was both the easiest and hardest thing to do on the trip. While, it was easy to understand the concept, it was sometimes hard to follow in practice, especially when it is something so commonly done in your own culture. For example, crossing your legs... That was one of the biggest challenges I faced on the trip. I got yelled at at least a few times for subconsciously crossing my legs.
Growth
Overall, I felt that by the end of the trip I had become a different person from when I started. I was still full of wanderlust and idealism, but I had come to realize that the world is full of many hardships and that our experiences are not universal. I came to truly appreciate everything my family had done for me and provided me with, because I had met many people who had overcome struggles I had never even dreamed of facing.
I also learned to really let go and engage with strangers. While I would have never called myself shy before, I did find it difficult to just start up conversation with a stranger, much less dance with them. Despite that, there I was, dancing with a group of Indian college students! We had no idea who the other was, and we could barely communicate, but I learned that dance really has no language barrier.
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