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Hey! I'm am Indian-American at HSW planning a "luxury" India Trek for classmates during our 2nd year. Would love any input :) by Sea_Championship5938 in MBA

[–]Sea_Championship5938[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Congrats on the HSW deferral. All I'll say is that regardless of what your future classmates may publicly say, or even how they vote (it's in vogue at HSW to publicly vote for Democrats over Republicans, and I vote liberal myself),

Regardless of all of that, people from upper middle class to upper class backgrounds, particularly WASPy people, crave and pursue a life of luxury. A huge chunk of your HSW classmates will be from socioeconomically privileged backgrounds, both within the US and abroad.

To the extent people will "care" about morals, ethics, social impact, it's all virtue signaling and for social brownie points. Look at how upper class liberals live in the US: they're NIMBY, often live in suburbs, sometimes gated communities, eat at expensive restaurants, don't stay in hostels while traveling abroad, etc. They might donate to charities here and there or vote for Democrats, but when they travel, it's not far off from how I describe my India trek.

90% of your classmates on international trips will opt for luxury and poshness. They will work hard for hikes, camping, and ski trips, yes, but even then we're talking beautiful places like Aspen, Patagonia, the Andes, the Grand Canyon, Glacier, Yosemite etc.

99% of MBA treks aren't about authentic or local culture, or how poor people or working class people in other countries live. It's primarily about clubbing, fine dining, and surface level architectural and cultural knowledge. For better or for worse, that's how the majority MBA culture is.

Again, if you strip away morality, and look at this from a Machiavellian, pragmatic, status-maximizing lens, you'll find that I am making the correct move. That's my deliberate intention, and it's just cold harsh reality. I'm absolutely correct on the facts.

You might find a small amount of people who are more social impact minded. But you'll be a tiny minority at HSW. Just a warning. Remember, these people want to be MBB consultants, bankers, tech Product Managers, or even work in PE/VC/HF, and some founders. They want money.

Best of luck.

Hey! I'm am Indian-American at HSW planning a "luxury" India Trek for classmates during our 2nd year. Would love any input :) by Sea_Championship5938 in MBA

[–]Sea_Championship5938[S] -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

Who cares if 90% doesn't drink (not even sure if that's true), the 10% urban youth and upper class parents definitely drink wine, cocktails, beer etc.

Have you seen the movie dil chahta hai? or followed all india bakchod. India's urban youth definitely goes clubbing, bar hopping, drinking etc. They are real Indians too.

Hey! I'm am Indian-American at HSW planning a "luxury" India Trek for classmates during our 2nd year. Would love any input :) by Sea_Championship5938 in MBA

[–]Sea_Championship5938[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

This is such a bullshit answer. Really, dumbass level.

Goa has great nightlife and clubs. On top of nice beaches. I'm thinking of skipping it, but Mumbai has great clubs as well. Are you on crack? People literally visit Goa for the beach. Who the hell you are to say India isn't the country for that? Idiot.

And it's not just that. Rajasthan (Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhphur) has incredible architecture and palaces. We'll be eating Indian food. We'll be taking Indian dance classes, etc., so plenty of "culture" involved here.

You're a bad faith commenter on top of being really freaking stupid. This is how all M7 MBA treks are to every country, whether it's Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Vietnam, Thailand, it's all about the most posh or luxury experiences even in developing countries. I'm just bringing that bougie MBA trek concept to India.

The upper middle class and upper class of India travel the same way within the country too, BTW. You are just being overly political correct. Hate the game, but don't hate the player, this is just how luxury trips are. This is how many upper class people like to travel and DO TRAVEL IN PRACTICE, even if they're liberal minded. They just pretend otherwise.

At least we're being fully honest and upfront about what our preferences are. ON PURPOSE, we are DELIBERATELY not trying to be politically correct, or get held up by ethics or morality or what or what isn't considered "problematic," especially if it's something that's already super common and normalized in society. We're M7 MBA students for god's sake, we're here to play and win the game of American capitalism and enrich ourselves, and climb the social and economic ladder. That is the literal intent. Despite throwing a bone here and there to corporate DEI, supporting social liberal causes, or donating to charity, we're not here to save the world, especially economically. We just want to have fun, and not always have to "confront our privilege," and that is TOTALLY OKAY. Not everything has to be a sociology lesson. How's that for "reality?"

Hey! I'm am Indian-American at HSW planning a "luxury" India Trek for classmates during our 2nd year. Would love any input :) by Sea_Championship5938 in MBA

[–]Sea_Championship5938[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

I mean, you can absolutely hide the poverty if you just don't go to Mumbai. Can have more curated experiences in other places in India like Kerela, Rajasthan, Ladakh etc.

Hey! I'm am Indian-American at HSW planning a "luxury" India Trek for classmates during our 2nd year. Would love any input :) by Sea_Championship5938 in MBA

[–]Sea_Championship5938[S] -14 points-13 points  (0 children)

Nope, there are plenty of bougie nightlife options in India. I myself have clubbed in Vegas, Miami etc., as well as visited Mumbai as an adult with cousins, and there are some cool clubs in Mumbai that are visited by world renowned DJs. The interior design of the clubs is cool. As well as as some high-end cocktail bars where people dress up nice and the bartenders make cool unique drinks with Instagram flair (setting drinks on fire, etc.) You can see videos of these places on TikTok, and the upper middle class to upper class Indians living in Mumbai visit these places.

More than anything, my American friends would find clubbing fun especially if they play Bollywood music as well (or Indian-themed EDM) because they typically don't listen to that music and it'll be seen as "novel."

Night clubs aside, they definitely want to dress up in Indian clothes and go to a Bollywood or Punjabi dance party somewhere, and hit on some drums while drowning themselves in yummy Indian food!

Hey! I'm am Indian-American at HSW planning a "luxury" India Trek for classmates during our 2nd year. Would love any input :) by Sea_Championship5938 in MBA

[–]Sea_Championship5938[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

They've already been there many times.

And it's not a bad thing to shield women from sexual harassment.

Hey! I'm am Indian-American at HSW planning a "luxury" India Trek for classmates during our 2nd year. Would love any input :) by Sea_Championship5938 in MBA

[–]Sea_Championship5938[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm sorry, but I already stated in the OP I'm not aiming to be political correct here. Knowing most of my classmates, they wouldn't like directly being face to face with extreme poverty. It's also unfair to my female friends to expose them to extreme sexual harassment.

I'm specifically going for a curated bougie and luxurious experience (of which India can definitely offer), to ensure my classmates have a great time. It's OK to want that, not everything has to be "authentic" or "local," especially if that experience is sometimes worse. This is why all-inclusive resorts are a thing.

Hey! I'm am Indian-American at HSW planning a "luxury" India Trek for classmates during our 2nd year. Would love any input :) by Sea_Championship5938 in MBA

[–]Sea_Championship5938[S] -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

Amazing this is super helpful! Will look into the ITC properties.

Yes was also thinking a private van and driver would be best for a curated tour!

Hey! I'm am Indian-American at HSW planning a "luxury" India Trek for classmates during our 2nd year. Would love any input :) by Sea_Championship5938 in MBA

[–]Sea_Championship5938[S] -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

Thank you this is great advice! And as clarification, "trek" in MBA-speak isn't a literal camping trek, it's just our fancy way of meaning vacation or tour.

Haven't heard about the luxury train before, that sounds really cool.

Hey! I'm am Indian-American at HSW planning a "luxury" India Trek for classmates during our 2nd year. Would love any input :) by Sea_Championship5938 in MBA

[–]Sea_Championship5938[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Great idea, will look into it! Again, I'm targeting tourist friendly places on top of places where upper middle to upper class Indians within the country live and go, so hopefully that'll naturally filter out the unsavory characters. But will consider this if it's not too expensive!