The End

When I said I would really write two blog posts, what I meant is that I would procrastinate and only end up having time to write one. The blog post that was supposed to precede this wouldn’t have contained much, anyway. The national trip consisted of beaches, elephants, and my stark realization that fish isn’t as bad as I always thought it was. That’s about it.

I write this blog post on the train ride to Delhi, after saying goodbye. Naturally, emotions are high. The next few paragraphs will focus on my feelings; you have been warned.

I wrote in my midterm blog reflection that I was not totally happy with the extent of my exchange. I am happy to say I don’t feel the same way anymore. This exchange, even though I did face some personal struggles in the mid months, has been the most justifying endeavor that I have ever experienced. In the past ten months, I have accomplished a lot that I am proud of. From adjusting to a new community to becoming a teacher, I have had quite a few challenges I’ve had to conquer. Of course, there are still plenty of things that I failed at, like keeping up with this blog (lol). But most of all, I am proud of how I have changed as a person, and the new values I have adopted. I look at myself ten months ago, and I see myself doing things that I would never consider now. I think I have found my path as a human and I now know where I want to go in the future.

Of course, there is a downside to every situation. Having created a life that I love in India, it makes it all that much harder to say goodbye. Ahmedabad is now my home, and I predict that readjusting to Colchester will be more challenging than adjusting to India was. Having changed as a person, I doubt that I will want to spend my time, both with people and interests, in the same ways I have in the past. I want to emphasize the fact that I am not the same person that left 10 months ago (be warned).

In the days before my goodbye, I tried to thank people that had impacted me. But in fact, every relation I had in India had some impact, so if I missed you, thank you. In the beginning of this blog I said that a major theme would be “goodbye”. This theme has carried through, and my goodbyes have been sadder than I expected or wanted them to be. If I was given the option, I would stay in India for a much longer time. I love my new friends, family, and the people that surrounded me. Don’t interpret this as me not wanting to return, because I look forward to seeing my family and friends again…. if only I could live in two places at once.

YES abroad has not only changed me now, but it has opened opportunities for my future, many of which have dramatically impacted the path on which I will take my life. For any of my readers considering exchange, my advice is to do it, apply even if you don’t think you have a chance (like I did). The chances of getting accepted to a program are worth the few hours that would be put in an application, and there are many opportunities for exchange, all it takes is one google search.

(I will post once again about the struggles of readjustment.) Welp, here it is. This is the end now. I would like to thank all for reading this blog, it has been a useful tool for me to vent my feelings, as well as share my experiences. To India, Goodbye, I will come visit as soon as I can. To Colchester, you better still have decent pizza restaurants.

-Maxwell Bolles

YES Abroad India 18-19

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