March 2, 2023
Thank you, next
So, it’s finally my last blog post. Time sure flies. I could spend hours recounting all the nuances I experienced on this trip, but with this final post I’d like to share the heart of my journey here in Bangalore. It’s going to be raw and honest and a little on the longer side, so bear with me.
I came to India with an intention. My goal was to give a solid attempt at tackling a grand challenge, learn from trying, and expand my worldview in the process. I can already confidently say that I succeeded at all of that, though definitely not in the way I had initially expected.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been eager to build new things. As a child, I was obsessed with DIY crafts and transformed half of my pencil supply into mini crossbows, much to the annoyance of my parents. Later on, I started building more challenging, intangible things, like an education nonprofit with some of my high school friends. I enjoyed computer science as a major because it allowed me to build even more things, even faster. I built countless apps and services and even a startup. So when I began the GCIL program, I expected to quickly build something again; that was just the way I was used to operating. So as you can imagine, when I found out we wouldn’t be building anything the first three weeks of GCIL, I was shocked. I would have to learn and adjust to a new way of approaching problems, one that required time and thoughtful observation.
At first, I was not happy with this new way of operating. I didn’t want to go tour another organization; I just wanted to work on something. On top of that, the anxiety of being in a new place made me even more afraid to change my mindset. I experienced treatment based on my race and gender that I was not used to while growing up in the US, and this made me even more anxious. But gradually, the people I met helped me see things in a new light. The organizations we toured were genuinely incredible. I loved hearing Arun from Rise Bionics overflow with passion for using his prosthetic technology to empower others. I got to visit snapshots of the city I would never have experienced on my own, such as the inside of a silk factory or a slum family home. I got to hear interesting lectures on design thinking and meet some of the funniest, most hardworking local students. Perhaps, three weeks of thoughtful observation was not that bad.
The middle of my GCIL experience was marked by three crucial places that I would not be the same without: the Parikrma office, the hostel balcony, and Third Wave Coffee. These three places made me feel at home and grounded in my daily work routine. Showing up to the Parikrma office, petting the school dogs, playing with the energetic children and saying ‘hi’ to the friendly staff would always refresh my spirits and remind me of why I was here in the first place. In our car rides to and from the office, my partner Aditya and I would often encourage each other, share our learnings for the day, and come up with the next master plan. Coming home, I could chill on the hostel balcony and relax with the evening breeze while gazing at the colorful streets below me. The balcony was truly my safe space; I did way too much there: intense workouts, emotional phone calls, singing sessions— you name it. Finally, Third Wave Coffee on a Saturday morning just brought me pure joy. The rich, flavorful coffees and freshly baked goods reminded me of home but also had an Indian twist on them that made the whole experience even more memorable. It may seem small, but having a favorite local spot like Third Wave made me feel like I belonged here in Bangalore.
As we’re nearing the end of the program, after all the ups and downs, all the comforts and discomforts, I realize one thing hasn’t changed: there is still much to do. Do I expect to build a fully-functioning business out of our GCIL project in the next week? Definitely not. But with all of the learning and observation we’ve had, I’m confident we can run some thoughtful experiments and write a strong report. I’m confident we can gift a repository of resources to our organization before we leave. Do I agree with the overall approach of the GCIL program? I’m not sure. But I’m glad I got to go through the process, and for better or for worse, I’m going to enjoy my final days in Bangalore. With that, here’s a dump of some key lessons I learned!
1. Don’t be afraid to experiment and fail over and over again. Things don’t work out the way you expect, and the world is far more complex than in theory, so go out there and try things!
2. Collaboration across different cultures is hard but absolutely necessary in these global-scale issues. There are many communication styles and ways to reach out.
3. Taking care of yourself is NOT optional. It’s crucial for working sustainably and honoring the experience.
4. Finally, grand challenges must be approached with grand efforts. A nuanced understanding of interconnected problems, coordinated community efforts, and lots and lots of time must be invested.
Looking back, things really have not gone as planned. But perhaps that’s what made this an adventure. Still, my journey in tackling grand challenges has only begun. I can’t wait to see what I work on next, knowing that all these memories are now inside me.
By Rachel