India has brought multiplicity to my life. I have been pushed to think in ways I have never thought, I have seen things I never thought I would see, and I have lived in a way I never thought was possible. India has shaped my mind, modified my identity and has completely changed my life for the better. I live in a world where the days are slower, but there is such richness to them that it makes living that much more enjoyable.
As I have reached the halfway mark on my journey with only 43 days left, I look back at my entire experience thus far. I remember the girl who was crying her eyes out the first night terrified of the major changes that were about to take place in her life. Being in a new world that is unfamiliar with no family and friends is scary. It’s unrealistic for me to not admit that. But in wanting an experience like this, one must be willing to leave everything you know and let the fear be your only courage. The courage to experience something new, something beautiful that you will come to never regret.
My days in India have been spent to the fullest as I know this is not forever. I have attended classes that focus on India’s history, culture, religion and social issues. I have traveled to many places including Hampi, Goa, Varanassi, Kolkata, Bodh Gaya, Jaipur, and Coorg. I have celebrated many religious holidays like Ganesh Chaturthi, Durga Puja, and soon to celebrate one of the biggest holidays in India, Diwali. I have met incredible friends living in Bangalore, and have met other travelers along the way of my escapades that I will always remember.
While in Gaya, I was fortunate enough to visit a Buddhist temple in which the spiritual leader Buddha had resorted to after giving up his thrown. Buddha, formerly known as Siddhartha Gautama had been secluded to a life of perfection by his father the king. Before taking his role as king, Siddhartha had wanted to see his future kingdom and people for himself. While out, Siddhartha witnessed four sights; first an elderly person, a sick person, a corpse, and a person who renounced the world to find enlightenment. After Siddhartha witnessed for the first time old age, suffering, death, and enlightenment he decided his path in life was not to be a king, but to find the truths of the world and what it means to live. He resorted to Bodh Gaya and sat under the peepal tree which is where it is said he attained enlightenment and became Gautama Buddha.  
“The secret of health for both body and mind is not to mourn for the past, nor to worry about the future, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly.” This is a quote said by Buddha that really made an impact on me when seeing it at the temple. For me, this experience of living in India has been much more than a studying abroad trip. It has been the realization of the world around me and has shown me such a new perception of life and living. The journey has been an amazing one thus far, and I can only continue to live each of my days left here as it will be my last.