It’s hard to believe that our time and internships in Mumbai have almost ended. With less than two weeks left in the busy, bustling country of India, it’s safe to say that I have gained experience and opportunities that will last forever. As my internship ends, I reflect on my first week arriving in the country and working. I had many pre-conceptions about what it would be like here and also the daunting feeling of having to be away from my family for 6 weeks. I remember some of my challenges at the start of the internship were navigating culture shock and the language barrier. Those were definitely many elements that took a lot to adjust to.
Recently, in my internship, I have been connecting more with the children of the sex workers. I have been fortunate enough to be working with some local university students and assisting them in making a documentary. This week, we got to go out into the field and talk with some of the children and ask them questions like what they want to do when they are older and what they hope to achieve. It was a really rewarding experience being able to connect with that demographic and learn about their future, all while documenting the experience to share.
Part of being based in Mumbai means we can travel around India during our weekends. Recently, we flew to Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, to spend the weekend. We explored the culture-rich city by shopping at the local markets, visiting temples, understanding its history, and waking up early to see the sunrise at the Fort. We then spend a night in the desert while riding camels, jeeps and sunrise and culture performances. Being able to experience all of these learning curves while travelling and experiencing the wider culture of India has been an experience I will never forget.
