India Immersion
A Life-Changing Journey
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n December of 2022, a cohort of eleven Upper School students and
Edited from contributions by Michael Chung, Director of
three faculty members embarked on 91st Street’s first ever immersion
Community Outreach and Upper School Service;
trip to India: a two-week program to visit our sister schools in India.
John O’Hagan, P.E. teacher;
Faculty sent daily updates, and students wrote reflections once they
Barbara Pachetti, Upper School
returned. We are pleased to share some of their words here. As their accounts
Maeve Farley ’23, and
French teacher; Kavya Bhatia ’25; Nora Gallagher ’23.
show, the experience was not just a trip; it was a life-changing journey.
DAY 1: ARRIVE IN MUMBAI AFTER A 23-HOUR JOURNEY, THE COHORT ARRIVES IN MUMBAI. THEIR HOME BASE IS SOPHIA COLLEGE, A SACRED HEART SISTER SCHOOL. Kavya Bhatia ’25 All of my family was born here, and I had been here so many times, but this time it truly felt different. The smell, the cars honking, the humidity. I felt invigorated because it was so different, the mayhem and randomness so unlike the structure we enjoy. Maeve Farley ’23 It was hard to believe we were across the globe, no longer in NYC. But you feel the difference with every sense. You see the different clothes, buildings, and people, you smell the Indian street food wafting by. You feel the thick warm air around you, hear the music, the honking, the Hindi.
DAY 2: GORAI PAGODA Barbara Pachetti We traveled by ferry and motorized rickshaws to the Gorai Pagoda, witnessing a hazy sunrise on our way, and learned the technique of Vipassana meditation. This evening the girls connected with some boarders their age. They clicked immediately. Maeve
It took 23 hours to get there and 41 to come back home, yet we would all do it all over again. —Barbara Pachetti
The pagoda was a lovely experience, but the most memorable part was the journey there, because it helped us understand Mumbai better. Looking out the window, I could see the incredible diversity in clothing and religion... Mumbai is a city bustling with life, color, passion, culture and activity... However, I cannot talk about Mumbai without talking about poverty. It was extreme in some cases and right in front of you, impossible to ignore. I ask you to pray for the people of Mumbai.
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DAY 3: SOPHIA COLLEGE THE GROUP EXPLORES SOPHIA COLLEGE, WHICH EDUCATES STUDENTS AGES 2 THROUGH EARLY COLLEGE. AFFILIATED WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MUMBAI, THE SCHOOL IS STAFFED IN PART BY RSCJ. Michael Chung Today we visited all four sections of Sophia College, from the nursery school to the senior college science classes! There was also a special luncheon prepared by the culinary students, a special Indian dance workshop, science and silk screening demonstrations, an interview of three of our students at the school's media production center, a henna hand design activity with the junior college boarders and so much more! Mr. O’Hagan also ran a special soccer clinic for the junior college team. Maeve We were in awe of how welcoming and excited the students were... That afternoon, we watched many of them perform Bollywood and Classical Indian dances. It was unbelievable how talented these girls were... They put their entire heart into everything they did. Kavya What struck me was the incredible hospitality and grace... A teacher explained how the largest room is offered to the children who live in poorer areas so they can experience the feeling of living in a larger space... they cared about making sure the girls and boys felt welcomed. John O’Hagan It is really wonderful to see that future leaders are being educated on both sides of the world by Sacred Heart. Both sets of students are poised and confident. It is beautiful to see.
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DAY 4: VISIT TO THE ELEPHANTA CAVES, A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE Barbara Pachetti Elephanta Island is home to a maze of cave temples predominantly dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva. We admired the statues with some of Sophia College faculty members, including a history teacher who explained it to us. We could never do what we are so fortunate to do here in Mumbai without them... The rest of our day included tea, reflections, journaling, and an unforgettable dinner at the famous Taj Mahal Hotel, a gift from the Hattiangadi family.
DAY 5: SOPHIA COLLEGE Maeve Today we attended two lectures about Indian culture and politics. The first was more of a discussion based class. We talked with the Sophia girls about things like family structure and dating, and we learned how different societal norms can be. They shared that many people do not leave their homes until they are married. They thought it was crazy that dating in high school is totally normal in the U.S.! Barbara Pachetti We then had an hour long interaction with students and staff about their daily lives at school—it was fascinating. After lunch, we had a presentation on the history of Bollywood prepared by students followed by a visit to the Museum of Indian Cinema. We finally had to say our last goodbyes... We took pictures and gave many hugs with promises of seeing each other again. N INE T Y -F I R ST ST R E E T
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Day 6: SEVEN-HOUR JOURNEY TO HAREGAON THE GROUP DRIVES EAST TO HAREGAON, A SMALL VILLAGE IN THE AHMEDNAGAR DISTRICT OF MAHARASHTRA. THEY STAY AT ASHANKUR, A CENTER STAFFED BY RSCJ THAT AIMS TO EMPOWER RURAL YOUNG WOMEN. Maeve The next leg of our trip was completely different. We drove out of one of the most populated cities in the world to a quiet, remote farming village. I watched as the city melted into fields and the smog thinned to a light haze. Barbara Pachetti The road trip was an experience in itself! Because roads are unmarked, what should be two distinct lanes turned into a mishmash of cars, trucks, buses, cows, motorcycles and pedestrians weaving, passing each other on either side, and honking incessantly. Our driver for the duration of the trip, Mr. Khan, remained unfazed and delivered us safely... At Ashkankur, we immediately felt the warm welcome of Sr. Prisca, RSCJ.
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I’ve realized a Sacred Heart child is not too dissimilar wherever they are in the world—they are curious, they are caring and they are courageous. These three traits will take them far, make them strong and make them fearless. -—John O’Hagan
DAY 7-9: ST. THERESA SCHOOL THE COHORT SPENDS EVERY DAY AT THE SAINT THERESA GIRLS SCHOOL, A SACRED HEART SCHOOL FOR PRE-K - GRADE 9. Maeve Driving onto the campus is an experience that will forever be etched in my heart. Hundreds of girls with colorful hair ribbons and beaming smiles ran up to welcome us... We built connections beyond language through activities like dancing, painting, making friendship bracelets, playing games. The younger girls referred to us as “didi,” calling me “Didi Maeve,” or saying “Didi, come here!” This is an endearing term meaning big sister in Hindi, and it instantly filled my heart. I could genuinely see the spirit of the Sacred Heart living in these young girls who had just met me and considered me a member of their family. John O’Hagan Seeing the many smiling faces and enthusiastic high-fives and hugs, I realized that what brings these emotions about is the place they are in, and the teachers who are there. Sacred Heart schools would not be the fine institutions they are without the faculty and staff they employ. I’ve realized, throughout the world, how much “our” faculty and staff care about our students, and want them to succeed. Barbara Pachetti One girl summed up today by saying “my heart is full.” We started with Mass, then spent the day with the boarding students, and later, with the families of day students. It was one of those days where connections, friendships, and community building took place in the most genuine way.
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DAY 10: TRAVEL TO NASHIK AFTER JOINING IN ST. THERESA’S CELEBRATION OF SAINT MADELEINE SOPHIE’S BIRTHDAY, THE GROUP TRAVELS TO NASHIK, AN ANCIENT HOLY CITY VISITED BY HINDI PILGRIMS. THEY ARE HOSTED BY THE YOUTH CENTER OF ST. ANNE’S CATHEDRAL. Maeve The girls waved to us as we drove away, yelling “Bye Didi!” It made me very emotional. These girls had brought so much joy into my life, and I had formed such profound connections with them, and I may never see them again. So many people can impact your life, even if you only know them for a short time. Barbara Pachetti We stopped at a farm for a barbecue dinner with a priest who works closely with the RSCJ... He came with three young campus ministry members who volunteered to cook and chat with the girls about their lives. They could not have been lovelier... Everyone is in good spirits. We are tired, but fulfilled.
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DAY 11: LAST DAY IN THE MORNING, THE GROUP VISITS THE WATERFALL OF JALALPUR ON THE GODAVARI, A HOLY RIVER. AFTER LUNCH, THEY DEPART
REFLECTION
Sacred Heart Sisters Nora Gallagher ’23
FOR THE MUMBAI AIRPORT. Barbara Pachetti This was our last day in India... We are excited to come home and share our experience with you all, but we struggle to verbalize all we have experienced in the past eleven days. One thing is for sure. We are returning with a new perspective. John O’Hagan The people of India gave us everything they had—
In Hindi, the word “didi” means sister. When my classmates and I visited
time, space, love, and compassion—and when you
India, “didi” became our second name. Students at Sophia College Mumbai
add in the tangible things, I wondered how they
and St. Theresa’s took to welcoming all eleven of us with this two-syllable
did it. These schools need us... Our students
exclamation, inviting us into their lives without hesitation. Over the course
brought joy, hope, and promise to their Indian
of two weeks, I found myself recognizing their generosity and enthusiasm
little sisters... They know they are not unknown,
in every interaction.
not forgotten. People care about them. We must
At Sophia College, we engaged in classes and activities alongside
continue to foster this beautiful relationship
Sophia students. One of my favorite memories was when they offered to
between all three schools. I don’t think I’ll ever
do mehndi, or henna, for us one night. The enthusiasm with which they
forget this trip, or the people I met.
called us “didi” symbolized their broader excitement for conversing with us, sharing interests and experiences as they drew intricate designs. During
Maeve
reflection that night, my 91st Street classmates and I agreed that their
The India immersion trip has changed my life...
capacity for generosity was inspiring. They dropped everything so that they
I hope to always emulate the joyful, optimistic
could share a part of their culture with us and forge connections. I grew
and welcoming attitudes of my sisters in Mumbai
eager to expand my own generosity, a value I carried with me both for the
and Haregaon... This trip has really taught me
rest of the trip and now that I have returned back home.
to love with all my heart. Kavya Before this experience, I thought about service as a small gesture. I had no idea about the influence I could have, or the impact service could have on me... Now, I realize service is not a small act. Service is spectacular. Encouraging. Special. Service allows someone to see things they never have before. Service pushes us past our comfort zone... The beauty of service lies in the incredible faces of the girls of India. I would not be who I am today without this trip.
After an eight-hour bus ride from Mumbai to rural Haregaon, we were once again greeted by the hospitality and generosity we had come to recognize as central to Indian culture. Throughout week two, students at St. Theresa’s School commanded our attention with “didi” as we made friendship bracelets together, sat in on classes, played games, and learned popular Bollywood songs and dances from our peers. No matter the inter action, my classmates and I were struck by the kindness and spirit of each student. Their sincerity transcended language and emboldened us all to live as much in the present as they did. Traveling to India instilled in me a new appreciation for life and its opportunities; a newfound capacity for generosity; an appreciation for Indian culture and for traveling in general; but most notably, “didi” has stuck with me. I feel so fortunate to have connected with a new community of sisters across the globe. But I was equally changed by my 91st Street sisters traveling with me. Talking late into the night, blasting “Desi Girl” in Mr. Khan’s bus, sharing endless snacks in the Qatar airport over eight-hour layovers, we found a sense of family and community that reminded me of what it means to be a student of the Sacred Heart. I would not have traded this opportunity to discover so much about the world, so much about India, so much about peers new and old, to come away with a new “didi”-inspired way of living life, for anything. N INE T Y -F I R ST ST R E E T
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