Day 1 - Fear to Optimism

Lying down on a hot bed, I always tend to think what I did wrong that the universe has conspired to put me on it. Losing ₹60 to an unknown egoistic recharge guy early in the morning at the Pune railway station is not really a good start to the day! It probably is a warning sign.

As I started to the railway station from home, the fear of the unknown haunted me. No knowledge of what lay ahead, the people I would meet, the sheer number of opinions I would have to absorb. I was optimistic nevertheless. When you have staked your entire life on something and set out on the path, there is no turning back. Entertaining second thoughts is absolutely out of the question.

I was looking to connect with another person who was attending the Teach for India training, to maybe get some closure and it is not often that you meet someone who shares the same wavelength as you. But, the fellow with who I travelled in train met me halfway and I believe we had an amazing time together. She has inevitably become my go to person here, and I know I will not regret it.

The first step when you reach the Institute is to take a shower. Because otherwise you're no different from the million dogs that you will find on the campus (no, that's not offensive)! Soon after, registration begins. By the time I was done, there was only one thing I could ask for in the entire world, lunch.

Finally, after a lot of hullabaloo, the Hyderabad team met. Excited to get to know everyone who I will work with for the next two years, I spoke to them individually, cracked weird jokes that I wouldn't have laughed at myself and then regretted it. Nevertheless, it was a simple informal meet and so everything fell into place. By the end of the day, it was nothing more than extreme hardcore socializing.

Finding common ground with each other is not very easy and I try to solve the issue by raising absolutely random issues. From chocolates to trains to politics to food to stereotypical jokes, anything to initiate a healthy conversation. Sometimes this makes me come off as a warmongering snob but I guess that's just collateral and a very unfortunate one at that. I must find a way to change that perception and sooner than possible.

Still afraid, at the fag end of the day, I start to realize that this is what I want to do in life, this is my dream, my future and there is no room for doubt. Because if I falter now, I take down with me the future of over 50 kids, deny them a chance at a better life and all this for no mistake of theirs. Everyday I am going to be challenged, physically and mentally. I am going to have to fight for my space, my opinions but most importantly, I will need to create bonds that will last long. And to this end, I have to be hopeful and careful not to tread because at the end of the day, it's about building a future, together!