By Reet Goraya ‘21, Keystone Foundation Fellow

As time winds down for my fellowship, I reflect on the various places I have been, and the home Kotagiri has become. As an Indian American, I have grown up wanting to explore different parts of India. The last time I had come to India before this fellowship was when I was 4 years old, so naturally I had a lot of plans saved up travelwise. What was most important to me though was to go to Punjab, and see the place where my parents had grown up.

By Reet Goraya ‘21, Keystone Foundation Fellowship

In the short time I have been in Kotagiri, I have dealt with a few adjustment issues, but still managed to somehow make this small town feel like a home. Working at Keystone has provided me with a group of people who in just a month have begun to feel like family. I have found that they would help me with getting groceries, finding auto drivers to take me home, teaching me Tamil, and even throwing me a surprise birthday party at midnight the night of my 23rd birthday. I came here nervous that I wouldn’t have a support system, or that I would feel lonely, but this group of friends has really provided me with endless memories that I continue to cherish.