Just another day in the bustling city of Bangalore, India, junior Tracy Woltemath accompanied by friends from her study abroad program, roamed the streets in search of a place to eat breakfast. On their way, they heard music coming from a church and decided to peek in the doorway before continuing on their way. They did not expect a young girl from inside the building to ask them to join her family and friends for breakfast and a game of cricket.
This is only one instance of the overwhelming hospitality and kindness that Tracy experienced during her 5-week stay in India. Through a USAC global studies program, she took four weeks of classes in Bangalore and then spent the rest of her stay traveling the northern part of the country.
Far from the Fayetteville, Arkansas campus, Tracy adjusted to a life very different from the one back home. She painted a picture of bustling streets, noisy traffic, stray animals, and a lot of litter. Despite all of this, she developed a great appreciation for the simplicity and hospitality of the culture. She was not bothered by the lack of normal amenities such as air conditioning or cell phones.
“I learned from my time there what I did and didn’t need,” Tracy said.
Outside of the classroom, she visited Jaipur, New and Old Dehli, Agra, Pondicherry, Mysore and even did a tour of the villages and slums. Tracy rode elephants down a mountain, saw the Taj Mahal, and became pretty good at henna; but one of her favorite experiences was playing with the kids in the villages and slums. She said the kids would warm up to you very quickly, if you let them play with your phone.
Back in the states, Tracy began her junior year at the University of Arkansas where she is studying industrial engineering. On campus, she is also a student ambassador and on the programs council of Zeta Tau Alpha. In the spring, she is planning on studying abroad in Reading, England, but what she learned from her stay in India has not left her.
“How you’ve been raised and how you know things isn’t the only, best, or right way to do things,” Tracy said.