#susi18

Every passing week gets better than the rest of the weeks. My third week at UMass Amherst have been the best time so far which I’ll remember forever. This week was so happening and I experienced most of the things which I wanted to. At the start of the week, we had a session about the U.S. Presidential Election Campaign Simulation and we’re divided into teams. We went to the Amherst High School, visited different sections of the school and had a talk on Education Policy with the Principal and Superintendent of schools. I used to see American schools in movies but visiting there and seeing it with my own eyes was amazing. We visited the Tree House Foundation’s village which is a nonprofit organization and working on re-envisioning of foster care in America. They hosted us very well. Being a social activist, it was great to meet and interact with like-minded people in this part of the world. I loved talking to the senior citizens. They were so lovely, caring and humble.

Homestay is the other best thing that happened during this week. I was placed with the family of Geoff and Michelle, both of them are teachers. I had a great time with the host family. Interesting part was that both of them have travelled to Pakistan before and I had 9 mutual friends with Geoff on Facebook :p (see, the world is too small). We had great discussions and they were of progressive thought so, it was good to be placed with like-minded people. I felt like home.

At the end of the week, we went to SIX FLAGS New England which was another great experience. We had so much fun there. The free fall and roller coaster was fun. I wanted to face my fear so I tried the toughest one’s.

This week was more amazing and happening than the first week. The 4th of July celebrations are what I enjoined a lot. On 4th July, we celebrated the independence day of the United States with full zeal. It was a busy day and I got a whole new experience. In the morning, we went to the Chesterfield Town for the parade in which people of the town marched by the main street with motorbikes, vintage cars, pets etc. After the parade, we went to the Barbecue party. The barbecue party was very well organized and it was in a scenic and beautiful place. Loved the food and had some short and detailed conversations with the SUSI professors (a group of professors from 20 countries ) and the senior citizens which were there. In the evening, we went for the fireworks. There were so many people gathered to see the fireworks. The crowd was amused by the tunes of music by the Amherst Music Band as well. I've never witnessed such amazing fireworks before. It was a serene, joyous and memorable evening. Witnessing them so closely spoke volumes of life’s colors and enthusiasm. 

We went to the Hampshire Mosque for the Friday prayer. It feels so good to go there, pray and network with the Muslim community living here. On the weekend, we played soccer and went for the hiking to the State Park. Everything is going great.

That week I got rejected for the second time from an exchange program interview I was dead sure I would be selected, this was not the only failure of mine. Say that I had been through that before in many ways. I pretend that I’ve moved on but inner me gets poked everyday for my failures in life. I was shattered for a while, Why God? Why always me? Yet the other half of me (which is a little obtrusive) choose not to give up. Applying for SUSI was one thing I did soon after my last rejection. I wasn't sure this time though I got selected. The first week in susi18 as expected was not easy for me, started feeling lonely in a crowd thought I’d not be able to fit in. But thanks for the strategy of Susi making small subgroups for a shorter time, for we worked as a group and got to know each other and the blurry image started getting more clear. I felt more comfortable in starting a small talk with anyone.

I felt more confident each passing day as if my behaviour would be double checked and any uncertainties were explained. The environment here is what we’ve learnt in good moral stories in our childhood, like smiling at strangers, saying words of praise and appreciation when not really necessary. I mean this is just the beginning, by observing people around me, be it Pakistani participants or American mentors, I am looking forward to learning more and build a better version of me by the end of this programme.