January 27, 2025

Water Water Everywhere

For anyone reading this who is considering taking part in future GCIL years – you should know Julian and Co. are only slightly exaggerating the description of the program as a boot camp. They’re mountains of good memories and opportunities for experiences during the first three weeks. Still, proper free days are not only very limited in quantity but also usually confined to the concrete jungle of Bengaluru. That was true until the weekend between the third and fourth weeks of the program – our first proper personal expeditions into the country.

While all of us spent a day or two in Mysore before this; that was more a happy coincidence of official GCIL events taking place nearby. For once, it was completely on us to plan this weekend. Some chose to take it easy and spend the weekend exploring the more niche holes in the wall of our familiar city. Others chased thrills and excitement in Goa, which I will have to deal with the FOMO from not attending. Personally, there was only one thing I wanted to do this weekend: water.

There is no strong reasoning or connection I have to the sea; but I always have felt antsy when away from natural waters for too long. The last month or so obviously made this slightly awkward for me, as besides the schedule – we are pretty landlocked. With the first proper chance I and 8 others got, we made the decision to make the expedition to Pondicherry. After cutting our departure a little too close to the end of the official GCIL day, we had a long 6-hour TT ahead of us. I apologize to everyone else I was on the vehicle with if I was giving crazy eyes; the trip was slightly brutal. But eventually, after arrival and spending a night in a slightly mosquito-infested room, we had our anticipated beach day.

The world is often cynical and easy to lose your reasoning in. But MAN: getting in the water truly just unlocked a part of my soul I did not realize got sealed away in the hustle and bustle of student and work life. India obviously is incredibly different from the US and there are many experiences that are unique to and only possible here. But I do have a confession for this blog. While the day wasn’t perfect (there was a certain creep who, when his phone fell into the water in hindsight, I should have let it drift away), I think my favorite memory of the program so far is just spending that day on the beach with some of my favorite people and becoming one with the waves. It’s a warm feeling that simple positive feelings like this are possible anywhere, even in such a faraway place, with everyone giving their all to their work. A reminder of what being human really is – and is true no matter where you are in the world.

By,
Simon