Touching ground at the airport of Cochin filled me with a rather interesting blend of ambivalent feelings. A healthy dose of euphoric uncertainty, but with an aftertaste of tentativeness. I have had enough experiences to build up a radar for ‘world-view changing experiences’, but also enough experiences to know to ‘expect the unexpected’. The sixth sense inside of me whispers to me that spending 6 weeks in Kerala will most certainly not leave me as I came, yet in what shape and form? She does not know.
Yet I have been blessed with the loveliest group of five other scholars (Alba, Paris, Erin, Abi, and Lorelai). They have grounded me in the belief that we will be moulded together. Already, I have seen just a glimpse into the complexity and nuance of each of the girls’ lives, and feel a sense of joy that they have shared it with me.
Each morning, I wake up with in eager anticipation to actively witness the changing of our very beings. With only a few days in, I heard the material preaching of how a simple two days has already planted seeds into rethinking of one’s values. “Take the Mic” are fortnightly sessions for the scholars to not just practice their public speaking skills, but to form new connections through reflective storytelling.
Not one day looks the same in Kerala, India. From family-like feasts to intensive upskilling workshops, I have been dancing back and forth with such intense emotions. Yet it is really in the moments that aren’t made for explicit learning, where the richest knowledge is sourced. During a free day, we visited the backwaters of Kerala (backwaters meaning the river leads back to the sea). Through this experience, our tour guide Miram shared the wonders of the coconut tree. It was only appropriate considering that Kerala means the Land of the Coconuts! We witnessed the leaves being woven into intricate sheets of art that could be used as mats and roofing, sap being tapped out for alcohol (toddy), and tasted the full explosion of flavour from coconut curries in a traditional Kerala meal on a banana leaf. It clicked to me that this was true sustainability.
As I embark on my first consulting project with Forest Post, an organisation dedicated to empowering indigenous people through their natural talents and skills of forestry, I strive to have an open heart and mind. Still unsure of the direction of my own personal project, I know these rich experiences will surely guide me into something fruitful.