''So, how is India?''

36000 feet up, somewhere above Ukraine.

8:40 PM, Mumbai time.

Three hours left of the Mumbai-London flight. Then, a ‘hope-I’ll-make-it-on-time’ connection at Heathrow, and the final journey from London to Lyon.

It feels so strange to be heading back, especially as it feels like I only just arrived in India. I don’t dare imagine what it’ll be like in a year and a half, when this chapter of our lives will close and ‘goodbyes’ will be more significant.

But for now, I’m choosing to look back on this first term, enjoy the memories (and try not to think about how fast the whole thing is going.) J

So. As the title of this post may suggest, the thing I’m dreading most about returning home is that one question: “So, how is India?”

Why? Well, this is a question it could take me days to answer in full, and our lives at MUWCI cannot be summed up in a simple “yeah, it’s good, thanks”.

I could write once again about diversity, culture, special bonds, fantastic experiences and crazy fun, because in essence, that’s what characterises MUWCI at first glance. But MUWCI is also about sitting on the roof at 4:30 AM, still nowhere near concluding the debate about whether or not marijuana should be legalised. It’s about the spontaneous 2-minute dance parties with your roomies, singing along to bad music, and head banging like you didn't know was possible. It’s about the principal showing up to College meeting in a ridiculous wig, and for it to be considered normal. It’s about being told to get the hell out of your friend’s corner by their roommate, because it’s 5AM and you are STILL jamming together. It’s about coaxing frogs off your bed, and out of your laundry. And your cupboard. And shoes. MUWCI is about learning the hard way that if you’re white, you really do need to wear mosquito repellent and sun-screen. And that the others will give you shit for it.

But, as with all of these things, we learn to live with it, because it’s MUWCI, and to put it bluntly, that’s kind of what we signed up for.

Ask me if I would have it any other way, I’d say no. That may not be the case for everyone, but something tells me these little things are what make this place genuinely special for all of us. Different. Crazy. A bunch of weirdos from all around the world, living together in the ultimate mish-mash of ideas and identities.

MUWCI, I’ll miss you over winter break. :’) Thank you for this first term. Please, let next one not go by so fast. 

See you all in a month’s time!

Maria xXx