2025 Student Blog
January 29, 2025
Settling In and Starting Fresh
This week has been about finding our rhythm—adapting to early mornings, full schedules, and the unique pace of life in Bengaluru. Today started a little rough for me, waking up with bug bites all over my arms and legs, but I tried not to let that dampen my mood. After breakfast, our day began later…
Inner Child
The bright blue and green walls of the Parikrma Humanity Foundation were a fitting backdrop to the energy within. Parikrma serves children from 95 slums and four orphanages in Bengaluru, providing free education, meals, health care, and life skills. Today, I had the joy of spending a day at Koramangala School. I was surrounded by…
January 28, 2025
Start of an Internship
Today marked the perfect end to a relaxing weekend. The waves in Pondicherry were warm and full of energy, evoking a sense of home for someone like me who has spent a lifetime by the coast. Having lived along the West Coast in California and Washington, I’ve come to cherish the ocean’s constant presence—the gorgeous…
January 27, 2025
Water Water Everywhere
For anyone reading this who is considering taking part in future GCIL years – you should know Julian and Co. are only slightly exaggerating the description of the program as a boot camp. They’re mountains of good memories and opportunities for experiences during the first three weeks. Still, proper free days are not only very…
Finding Peace in the Chaos
While our fellow GCILers were closing their weekend off near the ocean, three of us decided to take a different route and stay back in Bengaluru. With our laid-back start to the day, we had a great brunch at The Green Door Coffee House, a tiny gem tucked away in a quiet neighborhood. Located on…
January 24, 2025
Perceiving People’s Purpose
Most mornings, I walk alone from the hostel to the gym. Along the way, I see the same men waiting for the cafe to open, the same vendors setting up their sidewalk stalls, and the same cows and dogs perusing the streets. One morning, I witnessed a dog directing traffic. The dog barked continuously and…
Home
I’ve been wondering lately about what homesickness and the word home mean. I’ve learned that for me, home is a lot like happiness, not found outside but found within. Today, I was reminded of home; I broke fast with a bowl of yogurt, fruit and almonds with a cup of hot tea. This is my…
January 23, 2025
Regroup, Rejuvenate, Reclaim
As we enjoy another late breakfast, and by late, I mean 8:30 in the morning, we’re tasked with watching several videos and reading a few articles about Bengaluru’s water supply. Some of the ideas surround governance, pollution, lake restoration, and much more. We then participate in a role-playing activity in the afternoon, exploring the different…
Home Away from Home
Today, Bhargavi assigned us a role-playing exercise. She provided some readings and videos for us to consume before heading to BMS to conduct the role-playing exercise. I’m the type of person who can’t focus at home and get my best work done at cafes. I walk to a nearby cafe with a fellow GCILer and…
January 22, 2025
Blueprints and Blockbusters
The day started the way most days do, the routine GCIL run-through: breakfast, blogs, and a bus ride. But today was special since we were having our first official meetings with our Partner Organizations in the afternoons to find out how we’d be spending the next seven weeks. The stakes felt high and there seemed…
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