I volunteered in India for three months last September and had an amazing time. I taught English in a primary school to Standard 7 students (aged between 10 and 13), I went to school for 9 o'clock each morning, lessons started at 9.30. I had four lessons each day. In the afternoon after school, I ran an English Club for my students and helped another volunteer run an English Club for her students at the same school. We also helped out at the local NGO and ran lessons for undergraduate students, which was a great way to meet people in the local community and made a change from singing Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes! I had made some great friends through those classes.
I lived with a host family whilst in India, which was the most amazing experience, they were so welcoming and looked after me unbelievably well - a lot of food was involved!! They took myself and the other two volunteers away for a weekend to the tip of India, which was great and they took us to places we would never have seen otherwise and it was great to spend some time with the children in the family!
At the weekends we visited different places nearby, including Munnar, Varkala and the backwaters.
What would you improve about this program?
Getting used to the chaotic lifestyle was difficult, we often would be preparing lessons for school and then find out late at night that school was cancelled the next day due to a strike or holiday - it happened quite frequently but there is nothing you can do about it!
