Letters from Sikkim

Post date: May 04, 2015 10:11:51 PM

Rachel accompanied her advisor, Heather Hayton, to Sikkim, a state in the Himalayan mountains in the north of India, during the Summer of 2013. Rachel and her 7 classmates spent a couple of days in New Delhi and the remainder of the 33-day long trip in Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, and in Dzongu, which is a reserve for the native people of Sikkim, the Lepcha.

They explored the local area and met numerous people who shared their thoughts and hearts with the Guilford group. The goal of the trip was to explore the ethnically and culturally diverse area of Sikkim and the interactions of its people. They visited some local monasteries, schools, the Teesta River, and even a farm to learn about farming practices of the area.

To help the students assimilate the rich experience they were immersed in, Heather asked them to write periodic blog posts. The posts explore a number of different aspects of the trip from the perspective of individual students. You can click on the photos to view Rachel's posts (5 in total). Each photo corresponds to a different post. Titles and dates of the posts are included underneath the images.

"Sikkim: Land of Peace & Hospitality" - July 7, 2013

"The Downside of Hospitality" - July 16, 2013

"Is Responsible Tourism Possible?" - July 27, 2013

"Best & Worst of Sikkim: Learning Experiences" - August 4, 2013

"Quiet Reflections in a Busy World" - August 5, 2013

I highly recommend reading through these posts for some insight into a trip that meant so much to Rachel. Her posts truly showcase her engaged thoughtfulness.

If you would like to know more about the trip, through the eyes and words of Rachel's friends who travelled with her to India, you can click on the Archives for July 2013 and August 2013.