My experience in India has not been easy, but rather very difficult and I most definitely have struggled. I know I have made a lot of mistakes and have been far from perfect, especially when exhausted, dehydrated, and uncomfortable. But it was without a doubt that I can say that these past four weeks have been of the best in my life, challenging me in ways that I never could have anticipated in all of my months of preparation, resulting in a level of happiness that has left me devoid of words that will allow for an adequate description in writing. The happiness I feel from my time here comes from times of sadness, when I broke down hysterically sobbing, overtaken by the pain experienced by so many here, worry that I may have offended someone with my ignorance, concern of falling ill or being harmed, frustration with sanitation, and my continual efforts to understand why God brought me here and what He wants me to do with all I have learned. It comes from times filled with laughter, often in moments that were entirely inappropriate, so loud and tear-filled that I probably appeared insane, which can only be rationally explained as a tickle from the Holy Spirit to help me stay on the side of hope over despair. It comes from times filled with so much joy, when seeing brown water turn clear in my hotel after a difficult experience on an overnight train, when tasting new flavors with each different type of food I tried, and when seeing the smiling faces of all my Indian students, their teachers, and their families who welcomed me into their schools and homes, making me feel more than just a guest, but rather another part of their families and communities. It was from all the lessons that came from the moments filled with sadness, laughter, and joy, and the grace of the many special people I encountered along the way, that I found happiness. In India, the love I felt was palpable; I was home. I am so extremely grateful for every single part of this journey, for my International Field Experience thanks to the U.S. State Department’s IREX Teachers for Global Classrooms Program, alongside my 11 co-fellows and all our coordinators, for my International Field Experience enrichment thanks to my Intrepid Travel tour alongside my 11 co-travellers and our tour leader, and for all the people of India who let me experience their homes with open doors and hearts, giving me the most authentic learning opportunity I may ever have in my life time, all while making me a part of their family with sincerity, kindness, and love. I hope to take everything I’ve learned and the happiness and love I’ve gained here with me back to my home in America to my family and into my classroom with my students and colleagues, who have been with me in my mind and heart each day throughout my journey, and hope I have also left some happiness and love behind. Although this post concludes my blog and I will soon be wrapping up my Global Education Guide, this journey is far from over. There’s much I’m still trying to understand from what I’ve experienced, and in many ways, despite how rich my experiences were here, I still feel as though I’ve only scratched the surface. As I continue on with my reflections and endlessly seek to understand the connections and complexities of humanity and the world around us, a pursuit of happiness if you will, I can only hope I’m carrying out God’s work and that I am able to share His love, directly and indirectly, with all I do, returning the happiness gained in my pursuits unto others. In conclusion, with all I have experienced with my time here, I leave with a new found respect for my greatest role model, St. Mother Teresa, although my experience extensively pales in comparison to hers; her unrelenting commitment to not just serve but to be one of the poorest of the poor is of a mystery beyond conception. I can now defend with confidence that her courage, humility, strength, cheerfulness, and unconditional love exhibited through her work exemplify the superior human qualities deserving of sainthood. Thank you to all who beared through my blog posts, many of which long and filled with typos and grammatical errors. I did my best to capture my journey as I went along, no matter how tired or overwhelmed I felt; I wanted this blog to be real, the truth as I’ve experienced it. And as I get ready to board the plane in the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi on my way to my home in the U.S.A., my journey carries on! May God bless you all, wherever you are in the world! <3 MP :-)
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Mary Patricia PavicicAurora High School Science Teacher and IREX Teachers for Global Classrooms Fellow 2017-2018. ArchivesNo Archives Categories |