6-22-08
Thoughts of helping AIDS patients in India, building schools in Africa, and traveling the world as a volunteer were some of the thoughts that filled my mind when I decided to go to a highly ranked school. These are the kinds of people that change the world, right? Stories are always circulating about those individuals who merged their intellectual and altruistic sides into life changing projects. And not to sound like a prestige whore, but think about writing grad school essays on these things! Think about the experiences!
I also thought of Parthiv--how he backpacked around Europe, Africa and Asia; how he got a job as a menial worker in each country; how he absorbed the culture as an inhabitant and on the cheap; how that must have changed his whole outlook on life.
So when I heard about this magical Duke Engage program, you can imagine what I thought. How I'm going to change people's lives and live ascetically. How my own view on the world is going to change as a result of this asceticism. Even in post number one, I say that's one of the main reasons I wanted to go Duke Engage.
But I haven't felt that ascetic spirit yet. AC rooms, cable, and kids. Life is slow and easy. Dinner is two hours long. I get 7.5 hours of sleep per day. My fellow Engagers are engaging, interesting and fun. Am I getting the real Belizean experience? At least I'm living here for 2 months to find out.
Thoughts of helping AIDS patients in India, building schools in Africa, and traveling the world as a volunteer were some of the thoughts that filled my mind when I decided to go to a highly ranked school. These are the kinds of people that change the world, right? Stories are always circulating about those individuals who merged their intellectual and altruistic sides into life changing projects. And not to sound like a prestige whore, but think about writing grad school essays on these things! Think about the experiences!
I also thought of Parthiv--how he backpacked around Europe, Africa and Asia; how he got a job as a menial worker in each country; how he absorbed the culture as an inhabitant and on the cheap; how that must have changed his whole outlook on life.
So when I heard about this magical Duke Engage program, you can imagine what I thought. How I'm going to change people's lives and live ascetically. How my own view on the world is going to change as a result of this asceticism. Even in post number one, I say that's one of the main reasons I wanted to go Duke Engage.
But I haven't felt that ascetic spirit yet. AC rooms, cable, and kids. Life is slow and easy. Dinner is two hours long. I get 7.5 hours of sleep per day. My fellow Engagers are engaging, interesting and fun. Am I getting the real Belizean experience? At least I'm living here for 2 months to find out.
