Purple Wagon

07/09/2015

"Never in a million years would I expect to find myself in front of a class without some sort of knowledge of what my kids could and could not do." What happens when you know nothing about what your students know? You teach, as Ashley does.

http://www.purplewagon.org/blog/india-2015/on-my-way

I knew that I wanted to become a teacher in fifth grade, the day Mr. Klower came to our class dressed as George Washington...

07/09/2015

"He had had more teachers in three years than I’ve had in my twelve years of schooling." In this post, Lizzy considers the reality of a revolving door of volunteer-operated schools.

http://www.purplewagon.org/blog/india-2015/a-lesson-on-contentment

Purple Wagon is a nonprofit organization devoted to giving high school students the opportunity to walk, work, and live in the shoes of cultures across the world.

07/08/2015

"Then you have jet lag, culture shock, Delhi heat, and holes for toilets. It’s a lot of adjusting, and very little room for control." In our first post of the day, Meredith contemplates the idea of "finding yourself" through travel.

http://www.purplewagon.org/blog/india-2015/expectations

I’ve tried time and time again to put words to this experience, both mentally and by means of pen and paper, but I quite truthfully don’t feel equipped to do it justice...

07/07/2015

What's that spell?

07/07/2015

"Children begging, people sleeping on the dirt walkways, painful and exhausting labor, houses pieced together by random, miscellaneous materials, men bathing on the side of the street…" In this wonderfully introspective post, Carma ponders the coexistence of poverty and humble happiness.

http://www.purplewagon.org/blog/india-2015/truth-in-travel

Within minutes of driving through the area after leaving the airport, I was already empathizing with the people and the pain they probably were feeling...

07/07/2015

"Walking up to the monastery, the anxiety started to kick in. I did not know how to talk to younger kids let alone teach them." Read more of Delaney's post and learn how her experience has shifted her ambitions.

http://www.purplewagon.org/blog/india-2015/boys-will-be-boys

Signing up for this volunteer trip, I assumed it would be easy since I’ve always wanted to be involved with education...

07/06/2015

Wondering what we did after breakfast today? Check out our latest post by Clinton to find out!

Today the Purple Wagon group made the decision to hike to the Maheshwari temple (mountaintop Hindu temple)...

07/03/2015

"We went in with a plan, we knew what each kid was like and we knew how to handle them." Jillian calls dibs on a class before knowing exactly what she's in for.

http://www.purplewagon.org/blog/india-2015/dibs

Our first day in Bir, we took a tour of two monasteries at which some of us would be teaching, Chokling and Sakya...

07/02/2015

In today's post, Alyssa talks about being in a group that stands out. "My privilege is exposed in my Keens and Osprey backpack, in my loaded wallet."

http://www.purplewagon.org/blog/india-2015/privileged/

One of the first things my mother told me after I expressed interest in volunteering in India was, “Everyone will want a picture with you!” ...

07/01/2015

"There’s no feeling like when the language barriers suddenly fall away and you can communicate with someone from across the world." This is Paige.

http://www.purplewagon.org/blog/india-2015/life-on-the-outside/

I have always wanted to be teacher, so when I heard about this trip and the opportunity to teach in a different country, and out of my comfort zone, I was all for it...

06/30/2015

"This is probably the best day of my life." Here's a great look at the wide variety of activities we've been up to, brought to you by Henry!

http://www.purplewagon.org/blog/india-2015/india-the-magnificent

The moment I arrived in Delhi, India, I knew I was in for a surprise...

06/29/2015

The unveiling of our 2015 blog is upon us! First up is Jessica, and her discovery that there can be profound beauty in opposites.

http://www.purplewagon.org/blog/india-2015/mismatched

India, a country in the middle of transition. The nation clashes within itself, modern business buildings stand feet away from dilapidated apartments...