I can’t believe that I already leave India tomorrow. I remember first arriving in Bangalore and feeling so daunted and intimidated by this whole experience, and now that the end is arriving, it doesn’t even feel like a month and a half has passed. Somehow it feels like I’ve been here for so long since I’ve grown so accustomed to life here – drinking chai all day, eating new fruits, meeting new people in the most unexpected ways. I’ve made…
Regular guitar practice, writing poetry/songs, and an exercise routine. For me, lax summers have always revolved around a list of personal goals. Since freshman year, this list hasn’t really changed. So, when I came to Mumbai, I naturally tried to sculpt time for these hobbies. But, after work and commute take up about 11 hours of my day, I’m living in the most social culture I’ve ever been in, and I have the “never say no” mentality ingrained from my…
Yesterday I gave my presentation on the transformation of Vyasarpadi due to an NGO called SCSTEDS (Slum Children Sports Talent and Education Development Society) to my two supervisors at CRY. Despite major internet difficulties that didn’t allow for the photos and videos to load, the presentation went well! They said they would be able to use this work for many different occasions, so it felt really satisfying to be able to deliver useful, meaningful work for such a noble cause…
My first few days have gone quite well. While I was planning my trip to India, I was in contact with my NGO but they suddenly became unresponsive when it came near my time to come here. They had said they would send me my agenda and I never got any information. So my first day, I woke up and went to the address of the NGO and asked for the person I had been contacting, Shruti. She came out…
I have already completed half of my internship. Time really flies. As I mentioned in my last blog post, there have been times that I’ve been riddled with loneliness and can’t wait to return to my family, my friends, and my familiar life. Since then, I’ve made a lot of progress in terms of investing myself in this experience. At my accommodation, there are not many people my age and people tend to only stay for a few days at…
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…
Last week I had the opportunity to tour and meet with people from Sulabh, an organization based in Delhi that deals with sanitation work. They are known for their International Museum of Toilets which is included on many lists of odd museums in the world. Like the organization I work for, Sulabh does have some work that deals with manual scavenging. I went to Sulabh with the other SKA intern who is also from America and a coworker from SKA…
I can’t believe all that’s happened in just a little over a month. I’ve loved my experience living with Swapnil, Sarah, and Sunil in central Bombay. I live in a more green and quiet area, which is the mental cleanse I need after a long journey through the city. Just down the street is“Jogger’s Park”, a seaside track that gives me a little peace of mind before I start the day. I’ve always wanted to try meditating, so I try…
As soon as I stepped off the plane into Delhi, beads of perspiration formed on my forehead and my skin was covered in a film of heat and dust. I’d been warned about the huge crowds of people I’d get lost in, the poverty I would encounter, the adventures I would embark on, but nothing could have prepared me for the 115 degree heat. I was so grateful to see my Mom’s cousin – my Masi – in…
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…
