Today, we as a group went to the hospital to get our reports for the 10-day trek.. We needed to measure our blood pressure and mine was for some apparent reason high and i had to wait countless minutes and redo it where it didn’t go down and it just kept being high was was a stressful situation in a way for me. We also finished the WAFA course today and took the assessment and that was an amazing moment. We again went to the Chakar road where we bought snacks and stuff to take to the trek with us. We are about to finish watching “Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem kahaani” and we also influenced Allison to watch.. She didn’t want to watch it in the beginning but we were somehow able to convince her and she enjoyed it..  We are going to get ready tomorrow and the following day we are off to one of the most challenging situations. 

Have you confronted different cultural and ethical norms while abroad?  How are you managing working with these differences? 

• I’ve discovered that many aspects of the cultural and ethical norms I’m adjusting to abroad are pretty similar to those in my own culture, which has made the adjustment easier. It was difficult at first to adjust to the local standard of personal space, though. I’ve been practicing everyday activities that assist me adjust to these changes to manage this. I can adapt to local agreements more easily thanks to this hands-on approach, which improves my integration and cultural awareness.

Can leaders ever follow other people—or do they always need to lead? Why or why not?

• Leaders can indeed follow others, and in certain cases, this adaptability can work to their advantage. A good leader understands when to step back and let others take the lead. True leadership is about realizing that everyone contributes different abilities and views to the table. This flexibility demonstrates respect for the team’s range of skills and enables a leader to pick up knowledge from others. When done correctly, following others can increase a leader’s effectiveness and credibility by showing that they are receptive to new ideas and teamwork. A dynamic role-swapping enhances the group’s overall competence and decision-making.

What are you looking forward to on the upcoming trek?  What are your anxieties/concerns and how will you predict addressing these? 

• My main excitement for the upcoming adventure is pushing my physical and mental limits. I’m mentally ready, but the physical demands will be a serious problem. I want to see how conquering these challenges strengthens my mental toughness and better prepares me to face challenges in the future. Since I have trouble with cold weather, one of my biggest worries is the weather. I’m going to wear several layers to combat this and stay warm. A persistent cough is also a concern, but I’m managing it and am hopeful that it won’t become worse. All in all, I feel eager, ready, and equipped to take on the difficulties that lie ahead.