Ridhima Ghoshal, Himalayan Health Summer 2025
Hello everyone!
My name is Ridhima, and I am a rising sophomore! I am currently majoring in Neuroscience on the pre-med track, along with minors in Business and Chemistry with a Conceptual Foundations of Medicine certificate. A fun fact about me is that my favorite color is orange!
As I wrap up my trip for the Himalayan Health Program, I reflect back on my time to see what I have learned so far. Other than the obviously incomparable views of the mountains and life here, there is so much to think about and describe for those of you who will venture on to this trip next. Therefore, I decided to compile my best advice in hopes that they will resonate and prepare students who wish to further their learning on this program.
- You will be tired. Your first day here will make you feel like your life has been turned upside down. But you get used to it, trust me. Everywhere is a walk or an uphill climb in order to get to your destination. At first, you may think it seems unnecessary or excessive but it makes you appreciate your surroundings more. When your journey is slower, you get to notice things you may not usually do. For example, after learning about some of the flora and fauna native to the hills on our hikes, I began to start recognizing them myself on our walks to the school or dormitories. Did you know the black stems that protrude from cobra lilies dictate the timing of the monsoon season? You appreciate your comfort that you had and learn to love your discomfort as well. Adaptability is what you learn during your time here.
- In terms of tiredness, you will have your rest days. My advice? Don’t use them. This may seem counterintuitive; however, your six weeks go by VERY fast. Use these days to explore. At first, all I wanted was a break, especially when I was still acclimatizing. When my friends started planning different things to do, I was surprised nobody was affected like me. But your time here is limited and who knows the next time you will be back? Explore while you can. Plan that trip down to Dehradhun. Go for that solo hike with two to three friends. Try all the restaurants in the area and see what food they have to offer. This is when you truly learn about the culture of the area because you’re on your own. Do everything you possibly can within your limits (and well obviously, do NOT overexert yourself. Take that rest if needed). Most importantly, have fun!
- On the topic of food, you have many options. Choose wisely because you will have to finish it all in the restaurant! Unless you want to brave the monkeys that linger outside plotting on your meal. Do not look them in the eyes and definitely try not to run from them. And if they do manage to try to grab your food, definitely do NOT do what I did: play tug-of-war with your packet and scream at them. Thankfully, I managed to escape after I realized I was battling a monkey. My Mexican jalapeno pizza was not so fortunate. On my silent walk back to the dorms, I reflected on my sorrows of my half-eaten pie and reminisced about my time at the restaurant. But lesson learned: finish your food or have a great disguise to hide your meal.
These may have been the top three truths I have learned, but there is so much more left for you to discover. I will leave that in your hands to figure out when you decide to come have your adventure in these hills. There is so much wisdom to gain, and you learn the most by adapting to the culture and way of living. These experiences that may have been hard or scary in the moment are funny memories that I can laugh at now, but also ones that I will never forget any time soon.
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