Fill in the [Blank]

As our time in India is coming to an end, I have found myself frequently stating, “When I get back to the States, it’s going to be so weird to [blank]”. Such a comment embodies how I can’t help but think about the reverse culture shock of returning to life in America, a life that is so incredibly different than the one we have been living for the past two months. I find I fill in the blank of my phrase with things such as: there are no horns honking, I’m sleeping in my own bed, I’m showering with a shower curtain, I’m paying with dollars, I’m spending time not in the company of my eleven other group members, and the list goes on. While these are merely physical living differences, there are emotional aspects of culture shock that will impact us just as strongly. For instance, returning to a life of luxury and plenty while knowing that we have become friends with children who go to school hungry will weigh on my conscience, even though there is nothing that I can do to change their circumstances. It will take time to adjust to these new changes, and I have to admit that I am rather nervous about this.
I was talking with some of the group members about this very problem the other day, I asked what they thought about how DukeEngage has changed us and how these changes will affect the impact of reverse culture shock. Personally, I was having a hard time pinpointing exactly how I had changed. I was able to see that I have been pushed to think outside the box, be creative, and use every resource possible in order to face a challenge, that I am a better team player and a more experienced person. But beyond this, I was confused with how to answer my own question. When I mentioned this struggle to Anamika, she said to wait, making the point that we will be able to see more clearly the influence of our trip once we are home and can compare ourselves now with our past selves. I’m curious to see the differences that we notice in ourselves after a few weeks at home.