Anticipation and Intention

Our wonderful group--clockwise, from top left: Nick Rosbrook, Andie Gemme, Mohamed Fofana, Liam Mahoney, Allison Cleary, Kelsey Pett, Tyler Rossmann, Cece Horbat (and Richard Watts--taking the photo)

May 2016
We sit, bellies full, hearts happy and anxious, excited for what our future in India holds for us.  It’s a stressful point in the semester; each of us preparing to tackle our final exams and papers, attending awards ceremonies, banquets, and celebrations of the academic year coming to a close.  For many of us, graduation looms over our heads as well.  But for all nine of us, India and our coming three weeks in Kolkata dominate our thoughts as we enjoy our last meeting together.

            A delicious Indian dinner cooked by our wonderful hosts in Hinesburg, Allison and Richard, marks the last time we will all be together before meeting at the security gate of Qatar Airways on May 18^th.  In less than two weeks we’ll be sitting around a table again eating dinner, but with much more sweat and noise.  I can’t speak for the whole group, but this last meeting together, looking out over the rolling hills and chasing chickens in the backyard, fills me the excitement and anticipation of being with and serving with this incredible, thoughtful, and kind group of people in Kolkata.  We are all so different and unique in wonderful ways and as diversity breeds strength and resilience, I know we are bound for an amazing trip. 

            As we sit and talk about how to help each other throughout this powerful journey, I feel lucky to be going back to Kolkata with this group of people.  The service we do will take us all on different journeys and though we will all experience India and our service and learning in Kolkata in different ways, the support system of our group allows us to share in all of our experiences together.  I’m exited to dive into the challenging service work and learning by opening myself up once again to the amazing people we will be working with and the beauty and chaos that is Kolkata.  As I sit outside writing this in 70 degree weather (that I think is far too hot), I am imagining the nine of us traipsing down the hectic Indian streets in much hotter weather and with much more sensory stimulation than what a sunny, Vermont afternoon offers.  I can’t wait for all of it, and it’s just a couple of finals, a graduation ceremony, and a few plane rides away.  

--Andie Gemme