52 Hours Later By Samantha Anderson

52 Hours Later

By: Samantha Anderson

“Knock. Knock. Wakey. Wakey.” Is what we all heard from Ashley at 7:30 a.m. this morning on our first day. For breakfast, we ate delicious bread with scrambled eggs. When we got here last night, it was very dark in Kullu. Looking up at the towering mountains, you could see all the lights of the humble abodes. It was so interesting because they looked like stars in the night sky. Where the lights met the stars, it looked almost interchangeable.

 

The culture is so rich here. Trucks filled with goods, burning smells, and warm food. The drivers are so skilled! The left side of the road is the norm, and the roads are so narrow, windy, and bumpy. I can’t even begin to explain the unmatchable beauty of the Himalayas we are nestled in. This morning, we took a bus ride to the three schools up a steep mountain. The roads were less than half the size of our roads, and we were probably a of a cliff the whole time. It was such a cool view of Kullu.

 

When we arrived at the school, all the kids were so cute. They sat in vertical lines, and took turns singing twinkle, twinkle little star, or counting. I am at the Bandal school. The ages of the kids ranges from 5-10 years old. They are keen listeners, and love to learn. It is amazing to me. We take so for granted our right and privilege for education. While I resent school sometimes, these kids are devoted, and so good. I can just see in their eyes love and curiosity. It is so pure.

 

After the bus ride down at the end of the school day, the girls headed to the market for pantsuits to wear when we get home. All around the alley there were colorful clothes, bustling people, bargaining boxes, smoke, and chaos. The silk of the fabric was soft and vibrant. We bought them for a range of 1200-3000 rupees. We always need to make sure we don’t wave at men in public. It was a life changing first