Mumbai

Anna Pfeil, an intern from Poland, working at Q2 Data Services Pvt. Ltd has a few words to say about her experience as an AIESEC Mumbai intern so far,

“I remember my first day in Mumbai very well, when I got off the plane, I felt the hot tropical air. My trainee buddy Jehan picked me up from the airport and for the first time in my life I travelled in a rickshaw. My first impressions – lots of traffic, crazy fast slaloming among other vehicles – all in all it seemed dangerous but fun. At the side of the road I could see slums and a completely different world from Europe.

 

Jehan instantaneously became a friend for me, my guide and my family. I was staying for the first days in her flat with her family and thanks to Jehan I managed to adapt to my new life fastly.
 

The day after my arrival, I went to my new workplace at Q2 Data Services. The company is small and I’m the only foreigner working here. At the beginning my colleagues from work accompanied me to my home and showed me how to function in India. I learned very quickly how to use trains, buses, what clothes to wear and how to behave.

 

The structure of the company is very similar to the European companies.  Work itself is not very challenging but I really enjoy great atmosphere. We eat together, go back home or hang out after work.

 

After the first few days I moved to my AIESEC flat in Jogeshwari with 4 other girls. The conditions are rather far from European standard – we have no washing machine, radio, tv. Our toilet is Indian style. We keep the flat clean and actually I already got used to using Indian style toilet and to wash my clothes by hand. The atmosphere in the flat is great and I always enjoy chilling in the flat with my flatmates.

 

Living in Jogeshwari has its advantages – it’s a very local and colourful place, where you can feel the smell of incence, hear Indian music, see goats and elephant and I really enjoy living there and even the local people already got used to me and my flatmates, the kids call us ‘didi’.

 

The biggest adventure is travelling in trains. Especially during rush hours. As far as night life is concerned – it’s pretty rich. We hang out all the time with AIESEC trainees. I also often go out with my work colleagues and other Indian friends. We go to flat parties, clubbing, malls, karaoke, concerts.

 

Mumbai is huge, crazy, hectic, smelly, sometimes dangerous and especially for a white girl it’s really challenging to live here. On the other hand it’s so alive, full of contrasts, colours, music, palmtrees, interesting people from all over the world. It’s a city that never sleeps and that has so much to offer, in terms of work and entertainment.

 

I’ve been here already nearly a month and it feels like home. I can see the incredible potential that this city  has and I just can’t wait to find out how it will surprise me tomorrow and what other incredible things I will explore. Sometimes I get angry at Mumbai or even hate it, but mostly I love it and I’m very happy that was my choice.  

 

Balakalakaar is an annual initiative taken up by the local office of AIESEC in Mumbai. It is organized with the aim of creating an opportunity for the under privileged children of the city to discover and develop their potential in creative exercises such as Art, Dance, Drama, Music, and Craft.

Balakalakaar is also aimed at connecting today’s youth to the less privileged children of the city thus giving them a chance to make a difference! Through this project we take one step forward towards our vision of ‘Fulfillment of Humankind’s Potential’

 

To volunteer, register on http://balakalakaar.aiesecmumbai.org/volunteer-for-balakalakaar.html