Biega Beyond Borders

For the past five months or so, I’ve known that I would be traveling with nineteen other educators to India, spending time together teaching in—and exploring—New Delhi. Beyond that, though, the details were sparse. We knew that eventually we would split into pairs and travel to our host cities, where we would partner with a Fulbright Alumni host teacher to teach, learn, and immerse ourselves in their school and hometown.

For months, we’ve been chatting daily in our WhatsApp group—sharing our excitement, travel plans, lesson ideas, and dreaming out loud about where we might go and who we might be traveling with. At our February symposium, we learned about the eight different locations we could be sent to. I’ve been staring at that photo ever since, researching each of these incredibly diverse areas of India.

Yesterday, I was driving home from school on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, listening to podcasts, when a WhatsApp notification appeared on my car’s display screen… then another… and another. My phone was blowing up. I took a deep breath, my pulse racing, and pulled over at the first shoulder I could find to check my messages.

“I got my placement,” one friend wrote.
“Check your email!” said another.

Almost shaking, I opened my Gmail account and saw the subject line: “India Host Teacher Introductions – Kolkata.”

I screamed. I squealed. I clapped my hands. I teared up.

My placement was finally here.

KOLKATA!!!!!

I feel overwhelmed and so incredibly lucky. This is truly going to be a trip of a lifetime in the City of Joy.