It was about 2AM and I was on my way to the airport. I was
half awake and half asleep. It was weird to think I was leaving India. I don’t
think there’s ever a good time to leave, but there’s always a right time. This
felt like the right time.
Looking back, I met some amazing people. It’s not easy to
tell your story to someone who is from thousands of miles away, let alone in
front of a camera. Whether I was interviewing widows or the differently-abled,
they never held anything back. From the triumphs to the tragedies, they told me
everything. They weren’t looking for fame. They just wanted the world to know
their story.
When I first came here, I was looking for the “powerful
footage”. I wanted to see these radical transformations that changed people’s
lives forever. Instead, I saw the simple things. I saw how a computer software
could increase a young person’s confidence. I saw how the way a farmer planted
seeds could change his/her crop yield. I saw how a widow creating bags could
begin the healing process.
Out here, life’s about the small victories. If you are
expecting to change lives in a year, you might be disappointed You have to be patient and trust that the
small things will eventually lead to a big change. The fact is you might not
see that big change while you are here. You have to accept that you are just
one step in a long process.
This past year, I felt like I covered so much ground, but I
know that I just merely scratched the surface. Going into my second year of
work, my expectations haven’t changed. I’m still looking forward to those small
moments. I hope that you will get to experience those as well.
No comments:
Post a Comment