Note: This series was originally published between April 17, 2013- August 2, 2013 for a study abroad experience I attended while an undergraduate student at the University of Michigan- Ann Arbor. Through a partnership with the Khorana Program, which was formed to create a “two-way partnership between India and the US.” For three months, I was placed as a summer student researcher at IISER-Pune, a world-class research institution located in Pune, Maharashtra. Working in two research labs: a chemical and an animal research lab, I learned about the workings of a laboratory/research project in a country other than my own. Although I initially expected the summer to be one of professional learning, it transformed into one of the most life changing cultural experiences of my life, framing my mindset and leaving a large impression on me at the time. This travelogue is a personal record of my summer experience. It really delves deep into the realizations I had during those few months. I hope you enjoy perusing the recollections as I much as I enjoyed uncovering them after a decade!
Welcome!
Hi! My name is Supriya. I’m an incoming Junior at the University of Michigan studying Neuroscience. I am also interested in international studies, Hindi (language), traveling and volunteering. I aspire to work in medicine and global health. This summer, I will be travelling to India through the Khorana Program. I will be living and working at an Indian university. I will also be volunteering in the local community.
You might be wondering why, being from India, I’ve chosen to work in India. Growing up, I always felt connected to India: through the stories family told me about the country, and my own family’s history in the country. As I got older, I began appreciating India’s truly vibrant culture and people. Each time I take a trip there, I feel enthusiastic about returning, which really shows me that deep down, I love this country- as a home, a haven.
I can count the number of trips I’ve taken to India on two hands: nearly 9 times, each less than a month long. This will be the first trip longer than a month, but also the first time I’ll be able to truly immerse myself in the lifestyle. Volunteering with an NGO in India will be an especially unique experience, and doing research at an Indian institution will be invaluable academically, allowing me to compare my research experiences in Michigan and abroad. In many ways, this trip will be a testament to my ability to be so far from the familiar things in my life- family, friends, American “culture”, and the simple things like food and my neighborhood. However, I believe that I will gain so much by traveling to my parents’ homeland. I’ll learn about my family and culture, explore research and academic paths in another country, and perhaps most significantly, explore my passion for this amazing nation.
This blog will help me share my experiences in India, and develop new perspectives and ideas.
I’m so excited for this incredible opportunity, and for the chance to reflect on it!
