Gina Salacki
Sociology Alumna
One early morning in Dharamsala, India, I woke up just as the sun was rising. I looked out my window and saw the foothills of the Himalayas, cows mooing and roaming the streets and taxi drivers getting ready for their day. I was thousands of miles from home and had never felt such a grand sense of wonder. Making the decision to go on Loyola’s one-month summer program in India was less of a decision and more of a calling. I wanted to learn about Buddhism and Hinduism, be outdoors and go hiking, and I wanted to drink chai all day, every day. I got all of these and more.
Studying in India made me a better person and student. Spending time in a country with extreme poverty and very little sanitation control awakened my sense of mindfulness for the earth and for myself. Seeing these under-resourced communities of Northern India firsthand led me to appreciate where I come from and the privileges I have each and every day.
I was told by a local man in India that my name means “to be alive.” And that’s just it. The experiences one will have while abroad will make you feel alive, open to new experiences and ready to learn more. In a way, my time abroad was an escape from everyday life, a chance to focus on a culture and location completely different from what I was used to. Every college student should find a way to gain international experience, not only to see the world but to have precious insight into the lives of people with values unlike your own. No matter where you go in the world, remember to keep an open mind and an open heart. Oh, and drink lots of chai.
