Age: 22

Country: USA

Placement: Psychology

After completing a degree in psychology from the University of Miami, Elena was looking for an opportunity to get some work experience abroad. She was looking to gain more work experience while making a difference in a different part of the world. She always wanted to come to India and was thrilled when the team at Leave UR Mark identified an internship which was related to her field.

Elena is working in Bangalore at a school for children with disabilities. Since she already had some experience working with autism, she decided to volunteer her time with autistic children. “I work with two different classes of autistic kids,” she says, describing her role. “The morning class is for 2 to 3 year olds, while in the afternoon class there are slightly older children, between 6 and 7.” Elena is happy to be actively involved in the therapy process, which gives her valuable hands-on experience. “This wouldn’t have been possible in the US where rules are too restrictive. I knew that I could get more hands-on experience abroad, which is very valuable for a psychology graduate like me.”

Elena spends most of her day at the school where she teaches. She lives close by, which means she doesn’t have to negotiate the city’s hectic traffic and can easily walk to work. She describes a typical day: “I get to the school at 10am. The first class is for very young children who are still toddlers so they come with their parents. We play games with them to help them learn to socialize and make eye contact. We sing rhymes and do different fun activities. These are all specially designed for autistic children to help them develop their fine motor skills. We use toys to teach them how to follow instructions and a picture game to develop communication skills. The older children come in the afternoon. We have special games and activities adapted for their needs. Classes end at 3pm.” Elena’s day is not all work, she also likes to unwind at the end of the day by exploring her neighborhood, discovering Bangalore’s many parks, reading and catching up with friends. “I have a great group of local friends and we do a lot of things together,” she says enthusiastically. “The group is made up of both foreigners and Indians which is great because I love to meet people from all over the world. We took a trip to Goa together recently which was a lot of fun.”

Elena is half way through her four-month internship and finds that it has been an especially rewarding experience which has fulfilled her expectations. “The experience has been amazing,” she says without hesitation. “I have absolutely loved it. This is my first experience working in therapy. I’m very impressed with the school. It’s extremely well organized and comprehensive with a diagnostic center and speech therapy center. The teachers are great and I’ve learned so much from them. They take the time to explain things to me and answer all my questions. I’ve learnt how to handle autistic children and teach them how to do things on their own. Each child is different and has different needs so learning how to handle these differences has been very valuable for me.”

Elena has traveled extensively in South America and South Africa, but this is her first time in India. She spent time reading up about India and Bangalore before she arrived so she knew what to expect. For Elena, the work experience has definitely been valuable but she thinks that the best aspect of her stay has been the people: “The contact with Indian people has been the best aspect. I had heard how hospitable Indians are and it’s definitely true. Everyone is very friendly and welcoming. The woman I live with is great. She makes me laugh and is a fantastic cook. I’ve been learning a lot about India through her and my Indian housemate. I also really like the teachers I work with and my co-workers.”

Once the school year ends, Elena plans to do some traveling in North India before heading home. She hopes to find another psychology internship abroad before going to graduate school.

Summing up her experience, Elena has made the most of her time in India and would love to stay longer. “I have really enjoyed my time here and there are very few things I don’t like here. I would definitely recommend this experience. Bangalore is a good place for someone coming to India for the first time because there’s less of a culture shock. Everyone should travel abroad and open their minds. It’s great to meet people and learn about different cultures.”

To apply for this project, email info@leaveurmark.com