This last week has been a whirlwind. I don't think a day-by-day recap of this week is really necessary- it was all just working toward our presentation (which was Wednesday) and our final report, which was due today.
Amanda, Yoshi, Maria and I all presented on Wednesday morning to Professor Moledina, Cathy and her husband, Laura, Rams, Lily, and Umesh. Amanda and Yoshi presented first and talked about all the statistical analysis they have done with HLC's center data over the past 6 weeks. Maria and I presented second and discussed the social media strategy we created for HLC. After about an hour of presenting and answering questions, that part of our final week was over- and I think it went pretty well. But that was just the first step.
As a final product, Maria and I were asked to produce a final report, two newsletters, a promotional video, a database of center information for the HLC website, and to each write a reflective paper about our time here. Yikes. We had sections of the report drafted before the final presentation, but the bulk of this all had to be completed between Wednesday afternoon and now- Friday afternoon. Sooo we started working. We jumped around from task to task, and I am happy to say, I think it is all done! Two newsletters about the Kodihalli and Mullahalli villages, a 2.5 minute promotional video, an 11 page database of center information, a 51 page final report, and a one page reflective paper (by the way, that should have been sung to the 12-days of Christmas song...)... and now, at least until we get edits in two weeks, Maria and I are done!
And now the rest of the madness begins. Tonight I am sure there will be some group celebration, and then tomorrow I know I will be running around like a chicken with my head cut off getting ready to leave Bangalore on Sunday. I have to find an ATM, make copies of all my travel documents, mail a package home, put more minutes on my phone, pack, find a couple books to take with me, do laundry, and hopefully find time to hang out with people on our last full day in town. Tomorrow night is the official closing of GSE with a big dinner where people from our host organizations and CSIM come, as well as people from past organizations (Dream a Dream and EnAble India) and GSE alumni. Should be an interesting night!
And on Sunday, everyone is off! I am flying to Udaipur, Rajasthan with a group of other GSErs. I will spend two days there with the group, and then me and one other person are headed to Agra just for the day to see the Taj Mahal. From there, I'm on my own! I'll catch an overnight train to Varanasi, where I'll spend two days, and then I have another overnight train to Calcutta. I spend one day in the city, and then VSSU, the non-profit organization that is hosting me for a week, is picking me up and taking me out to their rural centers. When I get back to Calcutta a week later, I have one night in the city and then its off to the airport! I don't go straight home, however. I have a 20 hour layover in Hong Kong that falls perfectly so I can leave the airport first thing in the morning, spend the day exploring the city a little bit, and then be back in the evening in time to catch my flight back to San Francisco, where my mother will be waiting!
I'm telling you all of this now, because once I leave Bangalore, I don't know if or when I will have internet, but if I do, I will be sure to post updates! At the very least, once I am back in the states on July 24, expect to hear from me! Wish me luck with navigating North India on my own!
Amanda, Yoshi, Maria and I all presented on Wednesday morning to Professor Moledina, Cathy and her husband, Laura, Rams, Lily, and Umesh. Amanda and Yoshi presented first and talked about all the statistical analysis they have done with HLC's center data over the past 6 weeks. Maria and I presented second and discussed the social media strategy we created for HLC. After about an hour of presenting and answering questions, that part of our final week was over- and I think it went pretty well. But that was just the first step.
As a final product, Maria and I were asked to produce a final report, two newsletters, a promotional video, a database of center information for the HLC website, and to each write a reflective paper about our time here. Yikes. We had sections of the report drafted before the final presentation, but the bulk of this all had to be completed between Wednesday afternoon and now- Friday afternoon. Sooo we started working. We jumped around from task to task, and I am happy to say, I think it is all done! Two newsletters about the Kodihalli and Mullahalli villages, a 2.5 minute promotional video, an 11 page database of center information, a 51 page final report, and a one page reflective paper (by the way, that should have been sung to the 12-days of Christmas song...)... and now, at least until we get edits in two weeks, Maria and I are done!
And now the rest of the madness begins. Tonight I am sure there will be some group celebration, and then tomorrow I know I will be running around like a chicken with my head cut off getting ready to leave Bangalore on Sunday. I have to find an ATM, make copies of all my travel documents, mail a package home, put more minutes on my phone, pack, find a couple books to take with me, do laundry, and hopefully find time to hang out with people on our last full day in town. Tomorrow night is the official closing of GSE with a big dinner where people from our host organizations and CSIM come, as well as people from past organizations (Dream a Dream and EnAble India) and GSE alumni. Should be an interesting night!
And on Sunday, everyone is off! I am flying to Udaipur, Rajasthan with a group of other GSErs. I will spend two days there with the group, and then me and one other person are headed to Agra just for the day to see the Taj Mahal. From there, I'm on my own! I'll catch an overnight train to Varanasi, where I'll spend two days, and then I have another overnight train to Calcutta. I spend one day in the city, and then VSSU, the non-profit organization that is hosting me for a week, is picking me up and taking me out to their rural centers. When I get back to Calcutta a week later, I have one night in the city and then its off to the airport! I don't go straight home, however. I have a 20 hour layover in Hong Kong that falls perfectly so I can leave the airport first thing in the morning, spend the day exploring the city a little bit, and then be back in the evening in time to catch my flight back to San Francisco, where my mother will be waiting!
I'm telling you all of this now, because once I leave Bangalore, I don't know if or when I will have internet, but if I do, I will be sure to post updates! At the very least, once I am back in the states on July 24, expect to hear from me! Wish me luck with navigating North India on my own!
No comments:
Post a Comment