"After I have seen several developing countries before this was still something entirely new to me.
I felt the bias between the traditional, religious values and modern influences is even greater than e.g. in China. I had a hard time understanding how these issues can ever be solved. Wherever you go you see a baby starving to death and someone with an injured leg begging for money.
The poverty is so real that it is almost unbearable as a Westerner and hard to grasp. At the same time I felt a certain numbness towards this after a while, which scared me. I think this explains also why some Indians do not see poverty partly as drastically as we do: In a way one can get used to it. I loved the colourful society with all its different sights, people, customs and dresses. I have never seen such a diversity and happiness and thankfulness in people before. I think this one of the important lessons learnt for myself: It doesn’t take much to be happy, and surely not material things.
The interaction with the students was a great opportunity to see more than a usual tourist does. Especially the nights at the girl’s dormitory when the Indian girls started talking about their boyfriends and ideas on how they want to live their lives and shape the future will stay in my mind.
Overall this trip was a great experience, and I would love to go back to India at any point in time to see more of this beautiful colourful country. Thank you for the opportunity to get a first glimpse."
