The hardest part of trying something new and different is getting over what is old and familiar. It is a long journey from the US to India but one that is well worth the jetlag, time zone differences, swollen ankles, and non- Western toilets. All six of us have arrived safely and are awaiting classes and field. We are staying off campus at a guesthouse of a family from the community. It is about a seven minute walk to and from campus and easy enough to navigate without fear of getting lost. We have another student in the house with us; she is in an MPH program in Michigan. There will be another lady moving in on Saturday who is also from Michigan so we have a very nice mix of people in the house. Jeremy, the only guy in our UMB group has to stay on campus in the men’s hostel; he is rooming with the third student from Michigan.

Juniata College has two undergraduate students and their professors visiting Rajagiri University for two weeks. They are from the Peace and Conflict Resolution program and have been kind enough to allow us to sit in on their seminars with the various presenters. They also graciously invited us into the city to go shopping at Fab India, a clothing store, where we were able to buy a couple of Indian outfits. If you want to see something hilarious get four female UMB students in clothing store to buy clothing that they are unfamiliar with; it was like the blind leading the blind. But in the end we managed to come away with some really nice outfits.

Rajagiri University is inspirational. Not only do they care about working to empower the community but they also do extensive work in developing new ways to protect and preserve the natural environment. The school makes great use of its land, materials, and the expertise of its faculty. I cannot wait to get started with classes and field. We are well fed with meals that are aromatic as well as flavorful…thank goodness for our daily walks to and from campus. There is so much more to say about this place but I cannot get beyond the following: breathtaking, awe-inspiring, beautiful, and serene.

Even with all the amazing sites, people, and food I cannot help but be reminded of all that I miss first and foremost being family and friends followed by all the little things I have taken for granted such as bathrooms, toilet paper, and shower curtains/doors…can you tell what my biggest hang up is? But even with all that I miss I am so thankful for this opportunity and look forward to my personal and professional growth.