From the Vault: Xavier's Khandala Trip 

Hey Blog, 

30th June 2024 - It's been a year since I wrote the below article. I was clearing my drafts and suddenly I saw this post. I hope for some people it brings some sweet memories of our time at Xavier's Institute of Communication, Mumbai. This post was written exactly a year ago, today. 

Pre Workshop Thoughts: 

7th June 2023: I am beyond nervous about our upcoming trip to Khandala. The thing is that it has been three or four days so far into the programme. I haven't interacted much with my classmates. My close friends have been nothing but super supportive. I am actually desperate to meet them too. But our schedule has been so tight that I haven't gotten a chance to catch up on some sleep or a breather. Anyway, so far I have narrowed down which bag I would take to the trip. But that bag is too big for a one-day sleepover exertion. I wish someone I would have shared this experience with someone from school or college. My soul can't imagine being left alone. But I am alone. I am slowly learning to accept that life can not be led in groups or with your besties. I am slowly coming out of the college's 'fun attitude' and starting to adopt a more serious attitude towards life in general. 

11th June 2023: I am really looking forward to my trip! As usual, I am a little excited, and nervous. But mostly excited. I had excavated my school bag from the depths of my bed's storage! For the first time, I would carry a huge bag. College has really got me into a habit of carrying small compact bags. It took me 4 hours to complete my packing: I was waiting for some clothes to come out of the dryer, and then for certain activities to be completed so that I could tuck away those things in my bag. I have attached a picture for you to understand the load I was about to carry for a 48-hour trip. 

Workshop :  At Khandala

The temperature must've been 30 degrees or above, but it certainly felt like Mumbai was closer to the sun than Mercury. We were transported to the place on a Volvo bus. Unfortunately, me and my girls had to sit in different seats. I sat beside a person with whom I had endless discussions on movies and shows and Mumbai. Now I am not sure if I had bored them or if I had come across way too strong in my conversation at any time or anywhere. I have attached pics of the view from the Mumbai-Pune highway. Check below. 

We reached Khandala around 4:30-5 in the late afternoon. The accommodation at St. Xavier's Villa was a clean premise. The beds were decent. Whatever our college could provide to us in their capacity. We met a couple of industry seniors who were alumni of the XIC programme. I remember thinking to myself that certain individuals around me were "acting up" due to whatever reasons best known to them. I thought to myself that some people in the programme were just 'know it alls', and I am not sure how would this programme help them, apart from getting decent placements.  

Moving on, post-dinner we danced our hearts out and XIC's management brought chips and some soft drinks to enjoy. We hoarded the items for the next day. I didn't dance much compared to my friends. I mean I was still getting used to people around me and by the looks of it I knew it would be a much longer journey to just get to know them and understand them better. 

The girl's hang-out session was definitely the best part of the day! 

Main Day: Long hours of Activity, and Failure. 

So the main day of our session started with a bang! I had slept for roughly four hours and was woken up by my friend's alarm. We quickly took turns to take a bath and were fresh as daisies. Each group was assigned a personnel who assigned us tasks. I enjoyed most of them. It took a lot of coordination work and focus. But we couldn't clear the last activity. By the end of the day, I was so tired and zoned out I couldn't perform. I skipped one whole session because I was busy gossiping. Anyways... 

When we concluded our day, our journey back home felt like a journey of a million miles. It was roughly a two-hour journey. I wanted to be home so bad. I missed my parents my room's comforting vanilla-cocoa aroma that I purchased from Bath and Body Works, and my washroom. Everyone has their moments of weakness. Especially when you step out of your comfort zone for the first time in the foreverness of your existence on this planet. (I remember being so tired, that I became teary in the bus. Also, the above statement shouts - SHELTERED AF). 

Present day - Little did I know that life brought many more challenges than the ones I witnessed that day. I mean sure, everyone is different. I have grown so much from the point I wrote the above article. Like in a way Xavier's prepared me for what's about to come, and for that I am thankful. 

Fin. 

Huzzah!