Embracing Colombo: A Journey of Discovery

Embracing Colombo: A Journey of Discovery

Colombo has truly captured my heart as a city that’s not only wonderful to visit but also a charming place to study and live. The warmth and genuine spirit of the people here have allowed me to form meaningful connections, offering me an authentic understanding of their views on life in Sri Lanka. I’m fascinated by the intricate nuances of the local perspective, particularly when discussing the relationship between Sri Lanka and India and how people see the political landscape,…

Read More Read More

Pre-Departure Blog

Pre-Departure Blog

Although I feel like I planned this trip intensely, it never really felt like I was actually going to go to India. Now, as I sit in the airport after coming to the airport 4 hours before my flight (I was nervous I was going to miss it), its beginning to feel very real! I found the actual planning process of communicating with the NGO in Bengaluru, booking flights and housing accommodation, and fulfilling all of the travel requirements a…

Read More Read More

What Does it Mean to be Indian?

What Does it Mean to be Indian?

Comments 0 Comment

Blog 1 – Pre-departure (but not really) Currently sitting in a hotel in Chennai, I am writing this post, preparing myself to experience a country I haven’t visited in eight years. Tomorrow, I will travel to Kanchipuram, a city renowned for its temples and sarees, just a 2-hour drive from the larger city of Chennai. I’ll be beginning my work with Hand in Hand’s health sector, an NGO that utilizes funding, mostly from CSR, to improve public health infrastructure and…

Read More Read More

A Culmination of My First Week

A Culmination of My First Week

Comments 1 comment

Like most others will end up seeing, the journey to India is quite long. After a little over 24 hours of travel I finally reached Delhi in the late evening. Delhi was not the best introduction to India but I will leave that story for next week. Irrespective of this, The next day I boarded my final flight to Jaipur and landed smoothly. I was a bit nervous at this point because although emails and Whatsapp messages were exchanged, I…

Read More Read More

Flying to the Pearl (Predeparture)

Flying to the Pearl (Predeparture)

Before my flight to the enchanting island of Sri Lanka, I found myself wrestling with a mix of eager anticipation and an unexpected visitor: nostalgia. My heart ached a little, throbbing with the yearning to see my family back in China. It had been a full year—a year of growth, challenges, and countless memories, yet none experienced with those I hold dear. I am, by nature, reveling in the joys of travel. The open road has always been my teacher,…

Read More Read More

Finishing and Beginning

Finishing and Beginning

I’m going to India thanks to a friend. We’ve been friends since middle school and have travelled a lot together, always looking for fun opportunities to get out of the country. He forwarded me the application email sometime in October but it wasn’t until January that I actually opened it. I applied to many different organizations and NGOs hoping that one might email me back. I figured if I secured an internship before submitting my application I’d have a better…

Read More Read More

Yixin Zhang

Yixin Zhang

Hello! I’m Yixin Zhang, an aspiring international studies sophomore at the University of Michigan with a prospective minor in earth science. My academic and extracurricular journey reflects my enthusiasm for global affairs, with a keen focus on human rights and state sovereignty issues. Engaged with the BLI, UROP, and former experience in CSG, I actively contribute to our campus intellectual ecosystem. With the intent of collaborating with a New Delhi think tank, I aim to delve into South Asia’s dynamic…

Read More Read More

Jorja Wegryn-Jones

Jorja Wegryn-Jones

Hi there! My name is Jorja (she/her), and I’m a junior in the College of LS&A. I ultimately would like to become a Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) who focuses on preventative and holistic health for underserved populations, and is actively aware of the political and sociocultural framework that our healthcare practices are shaped by. I will be volunteering with the Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement in Mysuru, Karnataka (in the South). I am incredibly excited to assist with their community health…

Read More Read More

lsa logoum logo
UM Privacy Statement
Accessibility at UM