Today was packing day! Still tired and sore from the overnight hike, we turned our focus to the 10-day beast ahead. I mostly nailed my packing list for the overnight experience, but this success was short-lived. Now, we must carry food to sustain 10 days in the wilderness. Something tells me the absurdity of this trek will somehow become normal by day three or four. However, I need to do an excellent packing job to make this normalcy a possibility. I now realize the burden of a heavy backpack as well as the sting of forgetting a handy item. 

Before we began packing, the group convened for a brief reflection on the program so far and our goals for the upcoming trek. My peers and I had a group conversation last night about the overnight hike to determine what we wanted to change for the 10-day trek. We all agreed that we would benefit from some additional free time (structured unstructured time, as our guides put it) due to the grueling nature of the program. I hope that somehow we find time for games and laughter after cooking at our campsites. We might never see this corner of the world ever again, and I intend on cherishing every moment. 

The first step of packing for this trek was to divide the food. We arranged a long table of flour, pasta, trail mix, onions, potatoes, cheese, and much more. Then, we split into teams to prepare packages and baggies of each material. Our teams of three would receive a ration of every food item. While we worked, someone played a Fleetwood Mac playlist for Vipul, who had never heard of the band and wanted an introduction. The upbeat mood propelled us to finish making food piles by lunch. 

After lunch, we began dividing all food items and team gear within our teams of three. As much as possible, we attempted to give denser objects to the men. Ultimately, I took control of two bags of flour, a bag of spices, a canister of oil, a bag of grated cheese, a bag of onions, our entire tent, and possible more food that I am forgetting to list. I also received a large bag of trail mix (which will serve as lunch during the trek). With some help from Bryan, I was able to let go of some extra clothing and fit all of my essentials in the bag. The final weight was around 60 pounds. Fortunately, we all have a strong urge to eat the first few nights and reduce the weight of our packs. I will have less food to carry each day! 

At this point, I do not have many lingering concerns or anxieties. I cannot wait to get started, and I have controlled about all that I can control about the next ten day. The rest is unwritten. I joined this program because I knew that backpacking would force me to cede some authority over my surroundings. Already, I have become more flexible about the smell of my clothes and the inability to take a shower. I am willing to be an outspoken leader when it comes naturally, but I am also looking forward to leading with my followership, as I discussed in my last post. I want to remain a prominent voice in the group, but in a different way. I want to be a quieter, steadfast perspective instead of the first person to speak (as I usually am). 

I have noticed that our Indian collaborators command this presence to an extent—they wait and observe first, but when they decide to speak, they do so forcefully and concisely. Another big cultural difference seems to be a tendency for direct, unfiltered feedback, which I am not sure I am ready to adopt completely. I respect it, though. Even if cultural and ethical norms in India can be jarring sometimes, I can take pieces from them to enrich my own perspective on leadership and society.

One great example is that many Indians neglect to say thank you—good deeds are somewhat of a cultural obligation, since communities see each other as family. When Gaurav worked with a villager the other day to find a campsite, the two men addressed each other as “brother” and “friend.” I strongly think that American culture needs more of this implicit gratitude. However, it certainly could be Hindi culture instead of Indian culture providing these bonds, which explains why Americans might not readily treat others like family due to wide diversity in religion and ethnicity. 

I will definitely continue taking notes of cultural norms in the villages we traverse on the 10-day trek! I’ll be back on the May 25 for a pretty eventful recap of whatever transpires on the expedition. Until then…