First Solo International Trip to India

Hey everyone, it's me again! So, today something happened at the Global Youth Leadership Program. I have finally reached a point where I will be following Sid’s footsteps to visit India all alone, with few strange volunteers to do a bit of my part for the society. There is a Hindi word as they say in India, "PARAMPARA," which means tradition. Mom and dad thought it would be awesome for me to join too, especially since Sid's been raving about how it changed his whole view of the world. So I joined this program few years back and now as once Sid left for India and spent few weeks there with the kids and the local villagers, now its my turn to follow the, “Parampara”. 

I always wonder why we have to write down everything we do. Mom says it's because writing can capture feelings better than a photo. A photo freezes a moment, but a blog keeps it alive with all the emotions. It's kind of like magic, but with words!

In GYLP, we do all sorts of volunteer stuff. We set up booths, hand out flyers, and do fundraisers. Sid says it's been life-changing for him. I really wanted to see what he meant, so guess what? Today's the day I get to go on my own adventure to India with other GYLP volunteers!

It wasn't easy getting here though. Hundreds of kids apply, but only a lucky few, like me, get picked. We're going to this village called Manjukudi. Our job? To create fun lessons for the kids at the local school. It could be math, science, or anything cool that they might not learn about otherwise. I can't wait to meet my teacher partner and help out in class!

I admit, I'm super excited about the trip itself. But some times I feel guilty about being too excited about travelling to a foreign country. I spoke to dad about it and Dad says that's okay because if I'm excited to travel, I'll be just as excited to help out too, because those who love to explore, would never want their trip to go sour. I think he's right! The next few months leading up to the trip are gonna be epic!

So, imagine this: flying across the world to a place, that’s too all alone. I've been reading up about India—its culture, food, and all the amazing things I'll get to see. Manjukudi seems like a quiet village tucked away in the hills. I wonder what the kids there are like. Will they be curious about me? I hope they like my lesson plans!

I've been brainstorming ideas with some of the other volunteers. One of them, Mia, suggested we make a solar-powered toy car for a science project. How cool is that? We could teach the kids about clean energy and engineering while having a blast building it together.

Mom bought me a journal to write down everything I see and feel. She said it'll be like my own adventure book, where I can capture all the funny moments and the times when things get a bit challenging. I'm definitely gonna write about the food too. Dad says Indian food is the best. I can't wait to try everything, from spicy curries to sweet desserts!

Sid keeps telling me how volunteering isn't just about helping others; it's also about learning and growing yourself. I think I get it now. Being part of something bigger than myself feels pretty awesome. And who knows? Maybe I'll discover something about myself too. Maybe I'll realize I'm really good at teaching or maybe I'll just learn to appreciate things more.

I'll make sure to share more about my journey as it unfolds. For now, I'm counting down the days till I board that plane to India. It's gonna be an adventure of a lifetime!