Everyone is home after a long few days of travel from Agra (Taj Mahal) to Delhi by bus, to Newark on a 15 hour flight and then onto our final flights home after some sad good-byes at the airport! Here are some photos from our last days in India:

This is our group mandala that we created as our final reflection project. The mandala included our favorite page from our sketchbooks, a painting we each did, our traveling temples, flowers, incense, camphor flames, and our combined group visual map and future goals. It took an entire day to put it all together!

It often takes months or even years to realize the full impact of a trip like this one. New perspectives on life and the world open new doors to future opportunities never dreamed of before. As part of our final reflection we asked the students to write down how they think this trip will or has changed their future goals in life. Here is what they wrote (anonymously):

“Going to India will open many door for me. It looks better on job apps and will gain me ultimate life experience that can’t be taught from a book.”

“I hope to come back to India with my familiy for a longer period of time.”

“I hope to come back and work at Home of Home or start donating.”

“From this trip I’m taking home a much more open mind to different cultures and practices. I’m also taking home the spirit of kindness that lives in India. From this trip I hope to explore the world and see/experience many more people and places. I feel that this trip has given me the courage and insight to do this.”

“To start writing my book.”

“To show people the difference between what they think of India and what it actually is.”

“Future studies in India”

“To travel around the world.”

“To explain problems of different cultures to my friends.”

“Going to India has made me want to travel more in the future.”

“I would like to see more of the world. India has opened my eyes. I plan on using this trip in college apps.”

On our way to Chennai we stopped in Mahabalipuram to see Krishna’s Butter ball and eat a delicious lunch on the Bay of Bengal. Not to worry, the students aren’t really holding up the rock…it has been sitting like that for thousands of years!