Olivia - India - Week 3

Officially past my halfway point, I can't believe how fast time is going by! 

I spent the work week putting together the final touches for our summer workshop, confirmed registration statements with parents, and helped to prep the school. I am so excited to begin working with these amazing students and hopefully make a difference! 

In addition to the administrative work this week we hosted a Computer Presentation for our parents to learn more about new applications and programs available for their children to use. We have partnered with an IT specialist who will be attending our summer workshop to help teach the students how to better use computers and iPads. There are so many creative ways that the students can use technology as a learning resource and I am so glad that they finally have the chance to!

My boss also took myself and the other intern to visit another NGO that is a center for alcohol and drug addiction. It was very interesting to talk with some of the patients and to hear their stories. The program has been running for 13 years now and is extremely impressive with both it's facilities and extensive therapy programs offered. The NGOs in India have yet to cease to amaze me in their dedication to bettering their clients. 

Outside of work my roommates, myself, and Erik (a fellow wolverine and UBELONGer) took a road trip to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. It was absolutely breath taking to see them in person and even more interesting to hear the stories behind them. It was also very interesting to see the contrast between Agra and Delhi and how different local life was. We even got to ride in a camel cart! Our tour guide did a great job explaining all of the monuments to us and even took us to see the shop where the style of hand crafted Taj Mahal original tiles are still made to this day without the use of machinery. I was in awe at the amount of work that goes into each little flower on every piece of tile!

However, when we were in Agra you would have thought we were celebrities! I lost track of how many times people stopped us at the monuments to ask for pictures or shamelessly walked passed and snapped a selfie with us in the background! Our guide told us that this was happening because May&June are the big travel months for Indians since children are out of school and lot of people from small villages who rarely see westerners visit the monuments. We felt famous! The people were so nice though, we couldn't turn down quickly posing for a "click" with them! 

I have had a wonderful experience in India so far and can't wait to make the most of my final weeks ahead!

Organizing the closet in our activity room. 

Working with two students on object association. 

Giving a presentation about our summer workshop goals to the parents. 

Wherever you go, GO BLUE!

Namaste,

Olivia