|  India
is in transition, and opening to the outside world.
The idea, ‘from walled city to world city’, echoes
around the corridors of power and on the teeming
streets of New Delhi, our nation’s capital. Everywhere
the sense of change is in the air.
Our
economy is thriving, attracting increasing international
investment, and our education systems provide
opportunities for motivated students to learn,
and then to develop, the technological, business
and diplomatic solutions needed for India to compete
in a global economy. Imported from all over the
world, new ideas and practices are continually
being tested and refined, as they challenge our
traditional beliefs and values. Become part of
that intellectual and cultural exchange. YFU India
invites you!
"Having lived in India, has been one-of-a-kind-experience.
As it was my dearest dream to come to India, I
felt like being in heaven, when I sat down in
the airplane. And this feeling continued till
the very last moment I've spent on Indian ground.
"The typical Indian climate dashed into my
face, when we came out from the airport, and instinctively
I was astonished by what I saw. The smashing amount
of vehicles, the cows on the roads. Every day,
though facing little problems now and then, I
made myself realize, that I was in India, finally
my wish came true.
"And because of that, it was little difficult
to adjust to my surroundings. I would not want
to miss out on the experiences, never ever. I've
made lots of new friends, and got a dear family,
which I loved most of all. They showed me, what
it is to be like to live in a family, facing typical
problems, to enjoy with the smallest amount of
material things life."
“I will never regret the decision of going to
another country for one year. Of course there
might be moments where it is getting very hard
for you. But looking back, these moments only
made me stronger.
"It
is great to find so many new families. The first
new families I have found is of course my host
family. It is great to get so integrated, and
I love for example to go to my bhua’s place, have
a chat with my cousin brothers, and hug my uncle.
The second family I have found and I am very proud
of this in the Agnee Family (Fr. Agnel School).
I love my school so much, it has a very warm atmosphere
and I really feel that I belong here. The third
family I have found are my friends. First it was
quite difficult to find friends, but then when
you have found friend you get the happier.
 "I
ever certainly feel to belong to the YFU family
who keeps on visiting me and supporting me. Having
found so may families, it is quite hard to think
of the day I will be leaving. I always don’t try
to think about it, but sometime I cannot help
it. And if even your host mother and your friends
keep on telling you they cannot imagine when you
are gone, of course it gets all the more hard.
I will always remember and cherish my days in
India and even hope that one-day I will be able
to come back”.
“In India you never can say - bad weather today.
May be its just because of its extra ordinary
people who never let the warm and shiny sunset.
India, Bharat or Hindustan with its thousand faces
and colors made me realise the diversity but also
unity of our world.
Elephants
and camels on the street, rickshaws, paan, pav
bhaji, Ganesha statues and the majority of peoples
– everything was new for me, but daily for the
people here. After living so many months in the
country of milk and honey, all the things just
integrated in my life and make me feel like an
Indian.
 "It
was a year of great realization. The knowledge,
which I obtained you can’t test, see or explain.
To integrate, survive, experience and to understand
a new world, you need helping hands, which I found
by friends, teachers and above all by my host
family, who accompanied me in my life here in
India. And this is great!”
Note:
The students who wrote the reflections above
do not necessarily appear in the images shown. |
|
In
His Words
This
year, Mikhel Arrak, from Estonia, is staying
with the Rehal family in Jalandhar, India.
"My
experience in India has above all else been
self developing: taking into account that
I come from a country where religion is
something to be made fun of and where I
might have crossed a person from another
race only once every year, I feel more tolerant
towards different religions and races.
I
came away from my usual environment to live
in a completely different world, and there
is no better way to get to know yourself.
Now
I can say that I have truly found myself
a second family, a second home. I feel that
in terms of education, self development
and self discovering, the year in India
is the most important thing in my life and
that I have created a strong, lifetime-lasting
bond with India." |
In 2003, Indian
bhangra music stormed the global pop charts when
U.S. hip-hop star Jay-Z remixed Panjabi MC's driving
single, "Mundian To Bach Ke (Beware of the
Boys)." Click "Play" above to watch
the video.
|
Kathleen,
exchange student 2006-2007