Erin Haley I’ve now been back in the US for a few weeks and I seem to miss India more and more each day; I’ve been out with my family for Indian food twice now and each time I leave wishing I could have the real deal back in Pune. When I first arrived at home, it was great to be back with my closest friends and family, but it only took about a week for me to understand the…
By Erin Haley After the conclusion of my internship about two weeks ago, I’ve had the opportunity to travel to different parts of India, including Jaipur, Agra, and Delhi. Jaipur was beautiful and offered many historical sites to see, the favorite of mine being the Pink City and Galtaji, also known as the monkey temple. I even got to feed, walk, paint, wash, and ride an elephant! (See the pictures below for the Michigan-inspired elephant painting!) Delhi and Agra were…
Erin Haley This past week has been filled with a variety of very confused emotions. I’ve been trying to get my visa extended for the past month and a half, only to realize on Tuesday that by the time I hear back about whether my request has been accepted or denied, it will be too late to make alternate travel arrangements. As a result, I had to switch my flight from August 23 to August 3 and let Atma know…
Erin Haley When I first arrived at the Atma office, I had little idea what kind of work I would be doing for the next two and a half months; I could well articulate Atma’s role in improving grassroots education NGOs, but wasn’t quite sure where I would fit in. Now I’m six weeks into my internship and couldn’t be happier with the role I’ve found. I’ve been working with two of Atma’s partners, both of which are incredibly interesting…
Erin Haley When I first arrived in Pune a few weeks ago, I was entirely overwhelmed. I wasn’t used to the crowded streets or the spicy food, nor was I prepared for the communication difficulties I would soon face. After settling into the hostel, I had given myself a few days to adjust to the time difference and overall culture before going to work. During that time, my phone broke and I discovered that my computer charger would not fit…
As the start date for my trip to India inches closer, my excitement continues to build. This summer, I will be working with Atma, an organization that serves as an accelerator for education NGOs in Mumbai and Pune. During my time with Atma, I will work to research what makes some educational programs more successful than others, specifically within the context of India. My journey with Atma began while I was looking at various organizations specializing in education, and I…
