Our unofficial BIF cohort trip to Goa from December 12th to 16th was my best trip in 2024. During the trip, everyone had the freedom to choose their own itinerary. We reached Goa on the 12th, and on the 13th of December, some of us—Marcos, Namrah, Cora, Yumin, and me—followed Namrah’s itinerary to explore old Goa. With its colourful streets, stunning churches, and old-world charm, we chose it over a day trip to Dudhsagar Waterfalls, jokingly naming ourselves the “We Hate Waterfalls” group just for fun!
The day started on a high note. I paired my outfit with yellow strap sandals I’d never worn before, adding the perfect pop of colour. We piled into a taxi, Bollywood party songs blasting as we sang at the top of our lungs. Yumin, Cora, Namrah, and Marcos brought peak “desi girl” energy, and I couldn’t stop smiling.
Our first stop was a restaurant. We enjoyed a delicious meal, raising our glasses of different drinks to my missed Master’s convocation in Delhi. Marcos gave a cute speech that felt so special—I had no regrets about choosing Goa over my convocation.
But then the unthinkable happened—my beautiful yellow sandals broke! Like that, my mission for the day became finding a chappal store. Unfortunately, we didn’t spot a store despite searching as we walked. Leaving the restaurant, we decided to head to the beach. The worst thing about Goa is that it doesn’t have regular cab services like Ola and Uber, so getting a local taxi is tough. It’s also more expensive than cabs. We decide to walk to the beach, hoping to find a sandal store on the way.
The road outside was filled with gravel, and I was now barefoot. “Here, wear mine,” Yumin said, insisting she had no problem walking barefoot. Her thoughtfulness touched me, but I felt terrible taking her sandals. I kept walking, wincing at every sharp stone, until Marcos said, “Aarushi, try my flip-flops—they’re so comfortable!” Reluctantly, I gave in, apologising and thanking him endlessly.
The sun was harsh at the beach, the ground was scorching, and the streets were anything but clean. Cora, ever so kind, said, “You should try my sandals—they’ll go perfectly with your outfit!” I gave in again, knowing she didn’t have to make this sacrifice. She walked barefoot on the hot ground, and my heart filled with gratitude (and guilt).
Marcos and Namrah left the beach to a cafe while Yumin, Cora and I basked in the gorgeous Goa sun. Soon, we joined Marcos and Namrah and decided to visit the Fontainhas area in Panjim. We booked a cab through a local cab booking app, which was the worst app I have ever seen. I had returned Cora’s sandals at the cafe this time, but I had been barefoot for a while. Everybody gave me a nod of assurance when I said we’d find a store on the way to Fontainhas. We reached there, and Namrah spotted her school friends—what a coincidence!
We got out of the cab and started taking pictures of the beautiful lanes with stunning, vibrant facades and charming architecture. Namrah’s friends joined us, and the plan was to roam around, take pictures, and find Joseph Bar. I told the story of my sandals breaking into Namrah’s friends and told them the agenda of finding a chappal store. I clicked everybody’s pictures while walking barefoot. This is when Yumin insisted I wear her sandals—“Now it’s my turn—you have to wear my sandals! I want to walk barefoot!” Laughing at her persistence, I accepted her offer, grateful for my friends’ constant support and kindness.
Finally, we arrived at Joseph Bar, a cosy little spot packed to the brim. The waiting line was too long, and it was already late, so we called it a day. As we walked to our taxi, Yumin and I spotted a chappal store. We exchanged a look—annoyed—but we kept walking. Namrah did not get the chance to walk barefoot. But her itinerary was so well planned, and she is a great organiser!
Reflecting on this day, it wasn’t just broken sandals or missed convocation. It was about the incredible people who walked barefoot, so I didn’t have to—making playful excuses like, “It matches your outfit!” or “I want a chance to walk barefoot”. These gestures of kindness reminded me of the strength of friendship and their support for each other.
Walking in someone else’s shoes—literally—showed me empathy, thoughtfulness, and humour. The orange-tinted backs of our feet, dirtied by the roads, became a badge of one of the best days I’ve ever spent in Goa. Thank you, Marcos, for suggesting the perfect title for this memory—it’s a day I’ll never forget.
