Seven Mount Si High School students immersed themselves in the sights of India over spring break.

But it was the trip home that opened their eyes to the privileges they enjoy as Americans.

Traveling from Feb. 11 through 22, the Mount Si group journeyed to the small city of Mysore and visited Grace School, a school for underpriveledged students run by Christian missionaries.

The students were accompanied by Mount Si Japanese teacher Sudeshna Sen, who is of Eastern Indian decent, along with Principal Randy Taylor, his wife Bev and Deric Villanueva, a friend of Sen who helped connect Mount Si and Grace School through his Auburn church.

At Grace School, Mount Si students spent three days teaching and interacting with the student body, children in kindergarten through 10th grade who could not otherwise afford to attend school.

“You got to see how kids appreciate learning,” said senior Helen Hasbun. “They’re a lot less privileged, but they care a lot more than students here.”

While many American students take their education for granted, the Mysore children have to work hard just for the opportunity.

During their time at Grace School, Mount Si students tutored second graders in reading and conversational English. At an “Oasis Conversation Cafe,” Mount Si students coached the children on what to say in scenarios such as a restaurant or airport customs desk.

In return, Indian students taught their tutors a local sport.

“It’s like volleyball, except you catch the ball and then you throw it,” said senior Hannah Hasbon.

Cultural Immersion

On the remaining days of the trip, the Mount Si visitors explored temples and palaces, shopped, were bombarded by the city’s cacophony of traffic honking and ate some of the spiciest food they’ve ever tasted.

“We had pizza when we came back, and I found it really bland,” said junior Megan Winter. “I caught myself putting more and more pepper flakes on it.”

Eating Indian food from the day they landed until the day they left, the students had only one other type of food available if they wanted a break from the heat: Chinese food.

“India fought a huge war with China in 1962, and at that time, the Dali Lama ran away to India,” Sen said. “A huge number of Chinese people who were for the Dali Lama were persecuted, so they all went south. Now there is a huge Indian Chinese population, which is why Chinese food is the other Indian food.”

Daytime lows were in the 90s, but the six girls on the trip had to wear warmer, more modest clothing. They tried to blend in with the culture, but still stuck out like sore thumbs and became the center of attention to many locals.

“Even if you were modest, they stared at you because we were white,” said Hannah Hasbun.

As the students toured India taking pictures, the people of India noticed them and wanted to take pictures with them.

“We were like a backdrop for them,” Hasbun said. “You can wear the clothes they wear, but you’ll never blend in.”

“But they loved us,” added junior Tracey Piecarczyck. “They were the nicest people. I got lost and they were super helpful.”

Reality check

The February trip was the first time most of the seven students had visited a developing nation. They realized pictures can never describe a place, until you are there.

“When you look at a picture of (India) and see they don’t have clean water, you feel sad for them. But at the same time you can just turn around and get clean water yourself,” Winter said. “But when you’re there and you see it isn’t clean, you can’t just turn around and get it because you don’t have clean water or electricity. It’s empathy.”

Popular pictures depict India’s beautiful palaces, temples and trees everywhere, which are there — but to Rehm, the reality for much of India is very different.

Aside from the beauty, students saw many uneducated women with no jobs scraping up garbage on the street into piles, to later be lit on fire.

“I appreciate what I have now so much,” Winter said.

Successful trip

Praising the students for immersing themselves in a place outside of their comfort zone, Sen said she will make the trip a yearly event.

“A lot of people who live in this continent go to Mexico — that’s the American perspective of poverty, difference and diversity,” she said. “To get outside of the comfort zone, and be in a place that you truly don’t understand what’s going on and what to expect, that’s fun.”

Sen will announce a meeting in May for those who are interested in taking the trip to India next year.

She expects to bring about seven or eight students; however, if she receives a huge response, students will have to compete for a spot by presenting a project.