Not long after Prema and Nayef Samhat joined the Wofford community, Wofford people began asking Prema if she would consider leading a Wofford group to her native India. This year it happened, and there’s already demand for another trip in February 2021.
“Prema was right, you don’t visit India, you experience it,” says Amy Oakes. “She did a great job of preparing us, but there’s really no way to fully prepare for India. It was an amazing experience.”
The 24 travelers included Wofford spouses (like Oakes), Wofford parents and grandparents, Wofford children, Wofford graduates, Wofford donors, Terrier basketball fans and a member of Wofford’s Lifelong Learning community.
According to Prema, the Wofford group covered over 1,000 miles, including four states and one union territory — from Mumbai and Udaipur to Jaipur, Agra and New Delhi. They learned about India’s rich history and culture, enjoyed Indian food and even rode elephants. They saw incredible wealth and abject poverty, and many were surprised by the hopefulness and sense of community despite the humble conditions. Prema was impressed with the group, describing them as resilient and embracing of all that India has to offer.
“India is sensory overload, and the best way to make the most of the experience is to check your sense of logic and impatience at the door,” says Jim Yarbrough ’89. “As Prema recommended, we just went with the flow.”
To learn more about experiencing India in February 2021, contact Prema Smahat at samhatpr@wofford.edu. Space is limited to 20.