Hello, my name is Jose Barragan I am one of the eight, Send US To India students from Norte Vista high school. What brought me to Child Leader Project was that this organization touched on issues that are limited in our classrooms, but in CLP they addressed the problem and talked about all aspects of the issue. I joined the SU2I team, because the work that we do, would be more meaningful and it was a great opportunity to travel abroad. I also wanted to meet the other half of of Child Leader Project-- our Indian brothers and sisters who tackle the the same or similar problems in their communities.
Today being our first day in India was a completely new experience. We started off our first day by waking up early and having a breakfast that was locally grown in the area of Pondicherry. This meal consisted of fruits and a less-locally produced “home food” called peanut butter and jelly sandwiches! 
After our breakfast we took personal time for about two hours. We then moved on to House Orientation. During orientation we covered many items such as washing clothes, food and showers. Later TYCL (CLP Indian Mentors) came over to our apartment and discussed the formation of a documentary that would occur within the time we are abroad.
The came a great time to interact and see more about CLP India, we took a fifteen minute ride over to Baby Sara's Home. Baby Sara's Home is a orphanage located within the city on Pondicherry that takes in ordinary children as well as less supported children with mental disabilities. While we were there we met with the director of the home then went to observe their community garden. At the community garden SU2I and Indian mentors busted into action and began cleaning up the garden by pulling weeds, raking leaves and picking up trash. We then returned home where we washed up then went to dinner at a multicultural restaurant. Afterward we walked back home (in the monsoon rains!) were we held a SU2I Council to focus on concerns and joys that we might have had on the first day as well as to discuss our next day's schedule. We then retreated to our beds for the night.
Something I have noticed in Indi
a from day one was how movies just simply portray this country different from what it really looks like. Some of the challenges I faced from the moment we touched ground here were things like the humidity, the congestion of human traffic as well as vehicle traffic, and homesickness.
All and all, my experience in India on the first day was a little different then what I expected, but nonetheless we still have two weeks to further our experience!
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