I’m sitting in SeaTac waiting for my flight, but I still can’t believe I’m about to head off to Stanford for Global Launch. I had a lot of fun with my friends and family here in Seattle this summer, and I’m going to miss all of them very dearly. Leaving everyone you’re comfortable with is definitely both a little scary and a little sad; the next time I see most of them, after all, there will be a whole world of new experiences and new friends between us.
With that said, however, I’m also really excited for this trip, and determined to focus on the things that are in front of me rather than behind me. Even as I sit here having had 3 hours of sleep from last-minute packing all night, I feel strangely energetic and awake, almost as if experiencing an adrenaline rush for the day ahead of me. I’m most excited to meet all of the other fellows in the India cohort, to get to know my host family, and to see what experiences this apprenticeship with Teach for India will bring me. And to keep me connected with home, I’ve packed a few sentimental items, including my high school yearbook, pictures with friends, and my stuffed teddy bear. I’ve also brought many (and I mean many) of my favorite board games to play with others on the trip; I definitely don’t expect to play all of them while I’m overseas, but it’s comforting knowing that I have access to the same familiar hobbies that I do at home. I want to make the most of my time in India, and try my best to go out often and experience the city, the culture, the food, and the people. To be honest, I have absolutely no idea what it’s going to be like over there, but I’m super optimistic about the trip and I think the uncertainty is part of what makes this trip so exciting for me.
My view, as I write this post, of the plane that will be taking me away to a whole new world.
I don’t have much else to share beside that right now, but I’m aiming to keep this blog updated as much as possible. Not only does it let others see what’s going on with my life if they want to – there’ll be some exciting things to share over the next few months for sure – but I also plan on using it as a way to organize my thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
Stay tuned!
Andrew
