It was around either midterm or exams when Amelia and I decided we needed another trip. We decided after our whirlwind trip around Europe that we wanted to explore a single country. We choose India. Although for a single country India is definitely diverse and complex. We are going for 4 and a half months and have divided our trip into three parts: volunteering in a rural village in Rajasthan, trekking in the Himalayas, and sightseeing (Taj mahal, national parks, Mumbai etc.).
We are still in the planning stages but have already encountered some mistakes, frustrations and good surprises. First, we almost caught separate flights home. Accidentally I booked a flight that left 2 days later than we planned. Luckily before Amelia paid for her ticket she noticed that the seats I was supposed to have reserved were still available. She changed her dates and we ended up with two extra days added to our trip. Secondly, finding an organization where we could volunteer was a challenge. Google searches were filled with tourist volunteer agencies that will organize your stay but for a shocking price. Finally after several emails we confirmed our own placement with the Sambhali Trust, an organization that is promoting empowerment and education of women in urban and rural Rajasthan. They are a relatively new organization but have made many positive changes in their local communities. We are excited to learn more and become part of their project. Thirdly, we were pleasantly surprised at the easy visa process. At the Indian Embassy there were several people who helped us find the right visa paperwork and fill it out.
Now our plane tickets are bought, visas are ready for pick-up, and we've been jabbed with several immunizations...time to start packing!
We are still in the planning stages but have already encountered some mistakes, frustrations and good surprises. First, we almost caught separate flights home. Accidentally I booked a flight that left 2 days later than we planned. Luckily before Amelia paid for her ticket she noticed that the seats I was supposed to have reserved were still available. She changed her dates and we ended up with two extra days added to our trip. Secondly, finding an organization where we could volunteer was a challenge. Google searches were filled with tourist volunteer agencies that will organize your stay but for a shocking price. Finally after several emails we confirmed our own placement with the Sambhali Trust, an organization that is promoting empowerment and education of women in urban and rural Rajasthan. They are a relatively new organization but have made many positive changes in their local communities. We are excited to learn more and become part of their project. Thirdly, we were pleasantly surprised at the easy visa process. At the Indian Embassy there were several people who helped us find the right visa paperwork and fill it out.
Now our plane tickets are bought, visas are ready for pick-up, and we've been jabbed with several immunizations...time to start packing!
