When I first arrived at the volunteer house, both the culture shock and the exhaustion of the 48 hour flight immediately struck me. I had never traveled alone before, and the first night I got there was definitely the hardest. But each day got progressively better aty the Teaching and Community Work in Goa project.
The introduction week was so fun and very busy, so I didn’t have much time to think about home. Teaching in the slum was very rewarding, but it also required hard work. All of the students are split into groups, and there are kids from 3-22, so usually they are in a group with kids on the same level as them. I ended up teaching two 11 year old girls, and by the end of the trip, we had become very close.
I think 3 weeks, the amount of time I stayed in India, is a really good amount of time, especially if you are new to solo traveling. The first two weeks I had a bit of homesickness, but by the third week I almost didn’t want to leave. As chaotic and somewhat scary India can be, it is also magical.I also had the opportunity to travel to New Delhi with two other girls from the volunteer house, and we had an amazing time seeing different temples and visiting the Taj Mahal and immersing ourselves in the Indian culture.
I am so glad that I went on this trip, and I highly recommend a volunteer trip of some sort to everyone. I also highly recommend doing it alone. Even though I had wished I had someone with me during the first few days, I’m glad I didn’t now because I got to meet so many amazing people and I got to make new friends that I probably wouldn’t have made if I had gone with a friend or family member. Overall, I am so happy I went on this trip and it has definitely changed my perspective towards the future.
