Teen looks to challenge herself by through experiencing different culture, and having time to travel.
By LISA CALCASOLA
Think of how many beds you’ve slept in this past year. One? Three? Five? Now think of how many beds you’ve slept in your entire life. Eight? Ten? Maybe 12?
I’ve slept consistently (defined here as meaning “for longer than two weeks”) in three beds my whole life: my bed at home, my bed at college, and my bed at camp. In five days I will be sleeping in my fourth bed, a bed on the other side of the globe, for four months.
For the first time in 15 years, I will not be returning to school this fall with my fellow classmates. This August, while hordes of students across the country return to their respective campuses, I will be on a plane to India. This is not a study abroad program; I am taking a semester off to volunteer abroad. This will be my first time outside of North America.
The first question people always ask is, “Why?” Why aren’t you going back to college in the fall? Why aren’t you getting school credit for volunteering? Why are you leaving for so long? And, most of all, why India?
Countless people, dating back to the earliest explorers and even before that, have broken physical and emotional and societal barriers to cross over into a world that was previously unknown to them. They have encountered worldly treasures, cultures, peoples and cuisines. They have discovered more about the world than I ever will.
It took me a long time to realize that even though everything that’s happened to me, has happened before, my experiences still matter. Discoveries of the past in no way discredit new revelations of the future.
I’ve always been interested in volunteering abroad, but never thought it’d be possible because of the cost. And then India happened. Or, should I say, Peter happened. In my global studies class last fall, I met a boy named Peter who introduced me to the grand possibilities of international volunteering--four months for a less than a quarter of a semester’s tuition. I knew if I didn’t grab this opportunity I’d regret it for the rest of my life.
This opportunity was made possible by a small organization named Sankalp (http://www.volunteersindia.org/). Like many volunteer organizations, Sankalp offers a variety of programs to choose from, including teaching English, work with orphans, or with women on empowerment issues. The thing that appealed most to me was how customizable everything was: I could choose my program, location, and how long I’d like to stay (1 week minimum, 1 year max).
I chose the beautiful city of Jaipur, known as “the Pink City”. My work consists of teaching English and helping in orphanages with disabled children. My meals and housing arrangements are taken care of through the organization. I am traveling alone.
I also signed up for a separate program that allows me to travel when I am not doing volunteer work. Some weekends I will be traveling to deserts, mountains, villages and cities. I will visit temples and zoos and the architectural miracle that is the Taj Mahal.
I recognize traveling abroad is an extremely expensive and time-consuming endeavor. There are items on the to-do list like planning and packing, visas, passports and non-refundable plane tickets,and vaccinations, malaria pills and indigestion pills. There is food to buy and places to stay, and after thinking about it for too long, the whole thing seems more like a hassle than an adventure.
But at the end of a trip, it’s not about the money you spend. It’s about the memories.
This may sound overly idealistic, but one thing I wished on my birthday this year was to challenge myself in every aspect of my life, because that’s the only way to grow. The thing I want most out of this trip is absolute, extreme culture shock. I want a change in perspective. I want to see how other people live. I want to hear how other people talk and taste what other people eat. I want to see a new normal from the other side of the globe.
On the other hand, I don’t want to idealize India nor generalize it. India is the second most populous country on Earth, meaning it is as diverse as any place with more than one billion people can possibly be. I caution the reader to remember this as they imagine my journey, and most of all, to have respect. Respect, compassion and appreciation for other lifestyles can truly change the world. Only when we recognize our differences can we come together and celebrate the similarities inherent in all of us, and in human nature.
I know I’m young. I know that – hopefully – I have years ahead of me. But just because I’m young doesn’t mean I necessarily have time. I figure now’s as good a time as any to truly push myself out of my comfort zone, challenge myself and break boundaries. How else can you know what you’re capable of?
While I frequently criticize the post2k time period as "the age of oversharing," I will be hypocritical and contribute to such insanity by keeping a consistent weekly blog. I write not to impress, but to express. Namaste. You can read more at:
www.passthepaneer.blogspot.com
Lisa Calcasola, of Longmeadow, has been a dean's list at Ithaca (N.Y.) College. A 2013 graduate of Longmeadow High, she was two-time champion in the Western Massachusetts Girls Individual High School Golf Championships, and was also a member of Longmeadow High's girls tennis team. She played in the 2014 NCAA Division III Women’s Golf Championships, and wrote about her love of golf for the UNlisted teen section of The Republican, after placing second in the 2012 PGA Pro- Junior Invitational Tournament at The Course at Yale University in New Haven, Conn. She left for India on Aug. 22.