I have had the privilege of spending the last six weeks in India, and here are my key takeaways to get the most out of this life-changing opportunity.
- OBJECTIVE
- Establish and write down the reason/s you are going and your goal/s. Hold yourself accountable and remind yourself of these objectives when necessary.
- Remember not to judge yourself by the wrong goal.
- Remember this is a personal journey to be the best version of yourself you can be.
- HEALTH
- Take care of both your mental and physical health.
- Have coping/grounding strategies in place. Travel can worsen symptoms in people with and without existing mental illness.
- Enhance immunity before and during travel. Nourish your body, sleep well and maintain proper hygiene. At the first sign of illness, take care of your body.
- Listen to your body. Don’t burn yourself out trying to ‘keep up’ with the group. Rest when you can and don’t miss the important activities because you participated in optional activities.
- Prioritise time to be alone and for self-care.
- JOURNAL
- Reflecting on your experience is crucial for learning. Journaling helps process thoughts and emotions and track progress. Bullet-point if you are struggling with time and energy.
- CONNECT
- There is a 7.5-hour time difference between New Zealand and India. This creates challenges in staying connected to home. Utilise photos, Face-time and voice notes. Remind yourself these short six weeks will fly by.
- Talk to locals, make friends and don’t be afraid to ask questions or for help. Indian people are some of the most generous and kindest people I have met.
- BE KIND
- To yourself and others. Other people are/have/will likely be experiencing challenges. You are not alone, reach out to fellow students and the team.
- Small acts of kindness might make someone else’s day.
- Good energy attracts.
- Don’t haggle simply for the experience (to see if you can), if the item is a fair price, or if you have no intention to purchase.
- BE UNCOMFORTABLE
- Put yourself in uncomfortable situations and try everything – personal growth comes from being outside your comfort zone.
- Find peace with the loss of control (planning your day etc) and learn to go with the flow.
- Question your positioning and be prepared for your beliefs to be challenged, reset and recalibrated.
- If you are religious, it may be challenging to navigate the substantial amount of spirituality. Don’t let this become a barrier, instead, allow opportunities to strengthen your faith. You can appreciate and learn about other beliefs, practices and religions without participating.
Our main form of travel (bus)
Waving Goodbye at the Airport
