After spending two weeks in India at the foothills of the Himalayas I thought the best way for me to summarise my trip is in 10 words. It was nothing short of adventurous and I have gained many sustainable and long-term skills and views.
1.Educating
There were many instances where the locals of Uttarakhand had more to teach me than I had to teach them. Introducing me to traditional games like Carrom (a game in which players flick discs, attempting to knock them to the corners of the board). Or sharing their deep-rooted knowledge of sustainable farming. I came away not only with new skills, but a new appreciation for the convenience of an office coffee machine.
2.Colourful
India showed me just how colourful life can be, far beyond the bright clothes or painted houses. But the laughter of the kids at the school playing cricket, the paddy fields stretching across the mountain, and in the daily festivals that brought villagers together. It reminded me that colour isn’t just something we see, but something we can feel, inspiring me to find small ways to bring more energy using colour back at my desk.
3.Poor
In Uttarakhand, I met people who, by many standards, would be considered poor. Their homes modest, their incomes minimal. But spending time with them challenged my definition of the word. They were rich in knowledge, community, and generosity. They welcomed me without hesitation, shared what they had, and lived with a quiet dignity that didn’t depend on material wealth. It made me reflect on how often, in the UK, we measure success by salaries, titles, or by the clothes we wear. But out there, I saw a different kind of wealth one that doesn’t show up on spreadsheets but stays with you long after.
4.innovative
Before I went to India, I associated the word ‘innovative’ with big tech companies and robotics. But in the hills of the Himalayas, I saw innovation in its most raw form. From farmers clever irrigation systems using water and gravity to stone and wood water mills using the cliffs natural water formation. It was a reminder that innovation isn’t just about the next big thing; but it’s about adapting and solving with what you got. Back at home it made me rethink in solving problems, not by adding more, but thinking smarter with less.
5.Welcoming
Out there in the hills, strangers invited us into their homes without hesitation, offered us food and places to sit, offered us opportunities to diversify ourselves into their culture and families. It was genuine and unspoken. In contrast to back in the professional world the term welcoming is often treated as a policy. But out there its about being present, eye contact and warmth. It showed me that to be welcoming it’s not something you say, but it’s something you show.
6.Cultural
If the word culture was a dial, it was turned to a thousand out in India. The word took on a new depth. It wasn’t just about the festivals and food though, it was the way people lived, the way people moved and spoke. Culture wasn’t just a term out there; it was woven into everyday life. It made me think: what would our workspaces look like if culture wasn’t just something we designed, but something we genuinely practiced?
7.Chaotic
At first glance, Life in India felt chaotic. Markets were buzzing, roads unpredictable, and plans constantly shifting. However, as I settled, I saw a different kind of order within. People didn’t move with a tight schedule but with trust. It was a sort of flow that I wasn’t used to, however speed is often mistaken with progress. But India taught me that even when the world moves quickly, YOU don’t have to.
8.Dirty
It’s no secret that India is dirty. Dust on your clothes, dirt on your shoes, and smoke stuck to your skin. There was something grounding about it all “dirty” didn’t mean careless, it meant involved – not just observing but getting stuck in. Back at the office, everything is clean, digital, and distanced. But out there, I learned that sometimes the best things in life leave a mark, and the mess is proof you showed up fully.
9.Green
Uttarakhand was green in many ways, not just the dense forests or the vibrant parrots, but the way people lived. Living resourceful and in tune with the environment. Back in the office, “green” means switching off your monitor at night or recycling paper in a labelled bin. But out there, I saw that true sustainability isn’t a checkbox. It’s a quiet, constant choice, a way of living that doesn’t shout, but lasts.
10.Alive
India made me feel alive in a way I hadn’t realised I’d been missing. Not the kind of alive that comes from adrenaline or action, but something quieter, a quick escape, a deeper presence in the smallest moments. Whether it was the hum of early morning crickets, the pulse of footsteps on uneven roads, or the warmth of rising sun behind the mountain, everything had weight. Back home, in the fluorescent blur of office hours and auto-replies, it’s easy to go numb to the day. But India reminded me that being alive isn’t just about movement, it’s about noticing.
In just two weeks, India gave me more than I ever expected. I arrived thinking I’d observe and perhaps teach, but instead, I was the one who was taught. I witnessed a different rhythm of life. One grounded in connection. The people, the landscapes, the chaos, and even the dust all came together to offer lessons I never knew I needed. India didn’t just show me another way of living, it woke something up in me. And as I walk back into routine life, I carry with me life long memories and a deeper sense of what it means to truly be alive.
