Hello from Harrison, your program co-director!
Hello my new friends!
I’m thrilled to be returning for another semester of co-directing across northern India. It’s going to be rich- dynamic new places, people, and ideas, as well as foods, animals, and languages. Sites from the Golden Temple in Amritsar to the high peaks of Ladakh will be our classrooms, while our teachers will include politicians, artists, monks, and humanitarians. Studying abroad has been hugely inspiring in my life, both as a student in Nepal and as a program director in India. We have so much to look forward to!
I was initially drawn to studying abroad myself while focusing on Buddhism as an undergraduate, which led me to study abroad in Nepal during my junior year. Those were four of the richest months of my life, and I am excited to help another group of students have their own meaningful immersion. Today, I continue to find insight and inspiration from the Buddha’s teachings. I have also developed a practice of movement and dance, which I teach to all ages. From creative movement to breakdancing, I’m excited about the ways bodily awareness and motion can inform and deepen academic learning or personal experiences. During our three months together, I look forward to adding some embodied activities to our process of getting to know each other and traveling together.
Another central goal I have is to offer positive and supportive mentoring and facilitation through strong communication - from empathetic listening to effective speaking. The opportunities and lessons in relating with each other will be as vibrant as the sarees and temples we walk through. We will truly become a family as we travel and learn together. From reflective thoughts on overnight trains to personal sharing in councils to silly moments of laughter, I look forward to co-creating a feeling of home in the presence of each other.
I also feel grateful to work with a group of female students (as it now stands), as I have appreciated teaching, working with, and learning from women in my life. From co-teaching with 26 women in a preschool to leading breakdancing workshops for high school women, I have had great exchanges, and I aspire to again be a positive male figure.
As the calendar moves towards mid-February, enjoy your time with friends and family as you gather, pile, and pack for our upcoming program. I would love to hear from you with any questions or excitements, so please don’t hesitate to contact me via hb@global-lab.org or 617-308-2683.
Be well, and I’ll see you soon!
Harrison