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Tag: 2024

Expectations before going to India

Expectations before going to India

I would describe my emotions as a little nervous and more excited. I am nervous because this is my first international trip by myself, and I am excited to see my extended family in India. Originally from India, I moved at a very young age and haven’t seen India through the perception I have right now. Despite being a native, India still presents unique challenges. Navigating through these unprecedented challenges would perhaps prepare me for my future endeavors. Additionally, I…

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Peace and Chaos

Peace and Chaos

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Blog 4 – The Next Two Weeks Lately, things appear to have settled into a slower rhythm – I’ve grown far more familiar with the city and, surprisingly, even the language. I’m now used to taking the ‘share’ autos to save money, drinking morning and afternoon chai, and even using the bathroom! Having wrapped up most of my responsibilities in the health division internship, I often find myself helping with random tasks and accompanying my colleagues on field trips (they…

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A Little Chai Goes a Long Way

A Little Chai Goes a Long Way

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As my last week of work comes to an end, I cant help but think about all the chai I’ve indulged in here. Once at 11am and then again at 3pm. Hey, You may have to work 6 days a week in India, but at least you get chai. It was hard at first not having coffee, but I can confidently say, the chai regime will continue on in the US. This last week, I’ve been working mostly on the…

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City of a Thousand Temples

City of a Thousand Temples

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Blog 3 – Festivities This blog post will be a touch shorter, yet I couldn’t resist dedicating an entire entry to the Wooden Chariot Festival—it’s unlike anything I’ve ever witnessed. To give you some background, Kanchipuram is renowned for three primary attractions: its sarees, its temples, and its idlis. And today, it was the temples’ moment in the spotlight. In Kanchipuram, the two most celebrated temples are the Perumal (Vishnu) temple and the Shiva temple. The exact nature of the…

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Privilege and New Experiences

Privilege and New Experiences

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Blog 2 – My First Two Weeks in India The past two weeks have been surreal, with so many ups and downs. Honestly, though, on the surface, nothing has truly surprised me. Through my trip and work in India, I aim to immerse myself in Indian culture, refine my mother tongue, enhance my global awareness, and most importantly, embrace a more adventurous and risk-taking spirit – I’m confident I will! However, my parents have done everything they can to shield…

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What Does it Mean to be Indian?

What Does it Mean to be Indian?

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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…

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