Hello!
Thought I'd add some thoughts....
The first Sangam Volunteers for the year have just started working over there. We're all connected on a private FB group so that we can share experiences and get to know each other. One of the girls currently there is also from England, and her photos and posts demonstrate her awe at the country. She's noted the cows in the road and the novelty of travelling on rickshaws or buying saris, for example.
It occurred to me that my initial experience will be very different as I've already done all these 'firsts' and actually, when I read her comments the Indian way of life and unique culture felt to me quite like a home that I've been missing. I guess in some ways it'll help me to settle in more quickly to the role I'll be playing out there, as I'll be able to concentrate on that as hopefully I'll re-adjust to India quite easily. On the other hand, I wonder if it means that my experience won't be quite as fulfilling - in the first instance - because it's something I've already done. I have no doubt that the actual working at Sangam part will be amazing and different, but the 'getting used to Indian culture and climate etc' might not be so much of a challenge. And in fact it'll probably totally throw me if I do struggle with that, so I hope it will all be as I say. I'm certainly feeling more and more excited about it with every photo I see or message I read about Sangam.
On a more practical note, I'm still trying to work out which immunisations I need if any - my local health centre is not a travel clinic and the masta one I was directed to hasn't answered their phones. I was intending to just turn up and demand some advice, but it's in Birmingham and my car's waiting to go into the garage for a new part so I can't get there at the moment. It's a good thing I'm being organised about them and haven't waited until the last minute, because if any do need updating it's going to be interesting fitting them into my continually filling diary for the summer.
Think that's all for now,
Philippa x
Thought I'd add some thoughts....
The first Sangam Volunteers for the year have just started working over there. We're all connected on a private FB group so that we can share experiences and get to know each other. One of the girls currently there is also from England, and her photos and posts demonstrate her awe at the country. She's noted the cows in the road and the novelty of travelling on rickshaws or buying saris, for example.
It occurred to me that my initial experience will be very different as I've already done all these 'firsts' and actually, when I read her comments the Indian way of life and unique culture felt to me quite like a home that I've been missing. I guess in some ways it'll help me to settle in more quickly to the role I'll be playing out there, as I'll be able to concentrate on that as hopefully I'll re-adjust to India quite easily. On the other hand, I wonder if it means that my experience won't be quite as fulfilling - in the first instance - because it's something I've already done. I have no doubt that the actual working at Sangam part will be amazing and different, but the 'getting used to Indian culture and climate etc' might not be so much of a challenge. And in fact it'll probably totally throw me if I do struggle with that, so I hope it will all be as I say. I'm certainly feeling more and more excited about it with every photo I see or message I read about Sangam.
On a more practical note, I'm still trying to work out which immunisations I need if any - my local health centre is not a travel clinic and the masta one I was directed to hasn't answered their phones. I was intending to just turn up and demand some advice, but it's in Birmingham and my car's waiting to go into the garage for a new part so I can't get there at the moment. It's a good thing I'm being organised about them and haven't waited until the last minute, because if any do need updating it's going to be interesting fitting them into my continually filling diary for the summer.
Think that's all for now,
Philippa x
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