"India is, the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great grand mother of tradi7on. Our most valuable and most instruc7ve materials in the history of man are treasured up in India only.“
MARK TWAIN
Welcome to India!
CONTENTS • Global Community Development Programme • Discovering India • Breaking Barriers • Customer Experience Management • Culture Shock • Contacts
Register with us
• If you are a GCDP EP who has been matched to India, fill out this form:
• hEp://discover.aiesec.in/register/igcdp-‐register/
What is GCDP?
• We aim at providing social impact opportunities that build young leaders who have the right set of skills, knowledge and attitude to make a difference to the society.
• Development of entrepreneurial and responsible leadership by creating direct positive impact through international volunteer experience.
What have the EPs got to say?
What have the EPs got to say?
What have the EPs got to say?
Visit the Taj Mahal - The Epitome of Love
• When lisJng the things one must do in India, you can’t leave Taj Mahal out. Built in the 17th century, this white marble monument aEracts thousands of tourists from all over the world. It is the epitome of love as the world knows it. While a visit to Taj Mahal at any Jme of the day is exciJng, consider visiJng it during night, preferably on a full moon night. The charges are a liEle higher for night visits, but it is worth the experience.
Corbett National Park – A rendezvous with the wild side
A rendezvous with the wild side of nature is always an exciJng experience. CorbeE NaJonal Park can definitely give a thrilling rendezvous with the
wilderness of India. It is one of the oldest naJonal parks of the country, and certainly one of the most popular. Embark on a wildlife safari here, either in a jeep or on an elephant. Wildlife safari packages range from short 3 day tours to extensive 11 day tours. You can spot several wild animals here including
Jgers, leopards, and so much more.
Feel the Pulse of the Nation with a ride on the Mumbai Local Train
For a feel of the pulse of the naJon, take a ride in the Mumbai local train. And if you are brave-‐hearted enough, consider taking a ride in the Mumbai local train during the peak rush hours. You get to hear all kinds of discussions while in the Mumbai locals-‐ from poliJcs to economy and sports-‐ people share their opinion about everything. But the biggest wonder of the journey is how the people
survive the journey, clinging on to the barest of metal pieces they can get their hands on. Don’t worry about geVng in or geVng out-‐ the crowd will help you
with that ;)
Go Goa! Goa is one of the most visited tourist desJnaJons in the world. Known for its
sprawling beaches, the state is blessed with many beaches that serve as a holiday picnic spot for adventures, honeymooners and general tourists alike. Bright lights and people masqueraded as Santa signify the coming of the Christmas party and New Year. Take a tour of the old churches in Goa, which give a peek into the rich cultural past of the land, The churches date back to the Jme when Portuguese ruled the land. Some of them have an interesJng story behind them, while others have beauJful
architecture to be marveled at. Some of the must visits one when in Goa are Basilica of Bom Jesus, Mary Immaculate ConcepJon and Se Cathedral.
Relax in a House Boat in Kerala - You will Love It
Houseboats in Dal Lake, Srinagar are a mesmerizing experience. The ones in Kerala are not too far behind either. While a house boat in Kerala may lack in luxurious decor, it more than makes up for it with the serenity that surrounds it. Staying amidst dense foliage, with the most personalized service is exactly
the kind of break you need from the stressed rouJnes of today.
Play Cricket on the Street - Make your own rules
Cricket is to India like what football is to Brazil. People do not need parks or stadiums to play a game of cricket. All they need is an empty street corner
and it is game on. Play a game of street cricket in India, with its peculiar rules and dollops of excitement. Watch out-‐ one-‐Jp(bounce)-‐one-‐hand is out!
There’s so much more to do! .
• Check out: 101 Things to Do in India! hEp://discover.aiesec.in/about-‐india/things-‐to-‐do-‐in-‐india/
Important information
• Calculate and compare the difference of the cost of living from your home LC to your host LC check out www.numbeo.com
• A list of general emergency helpline numbers across the country: Click here
• To know the weather and Jme in any city hEp://www.Jmeanddate.com/
Changing Perspectives • This is an excerpt from a Pre Arrival
Survival Guide written by an EP from AIESEC UK with contributions from EPs around India
• Pessimistic view – designed to give a worst case scenario, all possible worse eventualities, this doesn’t mean it will be like this!
Accommodation To give you a picture of the different types across the country or even city! Trying to write this document we found ourselves struggling to provide a comprehensive representaJon of accommodaJon as it varies tremendously from region to region, LC (local commiEee) to LC, project to project! There is no “one size fits all” guide for accommodaJon in India and therefore the responsibility of clearly knowing what you are to be expecJng upon arrival should be of your utmost priority. Even if it is outlined on your TN form, it is strongly advisable that you contact your respecJve TN manager, EP buddy or training partner and get a complete set of informaJon given to you prior to your arrival. We personally feel that the more clarity you have about your housing situaJon, then the beEer prepared you will be to deal with all of the other factors involved with living and working in a new country!
Accommodation Checklist Make sure you are checking the following with your TN Manager regarding accommodaJon:
ü EPs per room ü Kitchen FaciliJes ü Internet facility ü Washing FaciliJes ü Sleeping space ü Distance of accommodaJon from area of work
KNOW Your Project Having a few key things in place before you leave is essenJal, the main one being research into the project or field of study! Although many of you may feel that because you study the subject you may be working in, do you know the local realiJes that may face the organisaJon, or even what the culture of the business may be? As menJoned before, another key point you should try to ascertain from your TN manager is the distance to work from your accommodaEon. You should try and prepare yourself so you have a beEer idea of what you will have to travel every day. In addiJon you may need to budget for this. The start and end date of your project are also very important topics. According to the AIESEC GCDP Delivery Model, the first week of your project with mostly include seGling into the local and naEonal culture, geIng accustomed to the food and find your bearings in the new environment.
KNOW Your Project Bear the following points in mind, and be sure to clear them with your TN Manager:
ü InformaJon and background about the organizaJon you are going to work
with. This will enable you to research about the issue you are going to be working on.
ü Distance of work from accommodaJon ü Start and end date of the project, including the incubaJon period. ü About other EPs you are going to work with (Be excited!) ü Measurable results and expected outcome from your working in the project ü When during, before or ader the project can you take Jme off to explore the
country ü Is any addiJonal preparaJon required, such as carrying a laptop etc.
Arrival into India ü Clear who will be meeJng you ,where, at what Jme, have their numbers,
EB contact list. AccommodaJon details –address, direcJons, just in case there is an emergency and you need to get to the hotel, EP flat.
ü Keep your Dollars handy, you can convert a porJon of them upon arrival.
Ask AIESECers about currency exchange centers in the city that might give you beEer value for your money, ader you have seEled in.
ü Confirm the idenEty of the TN manager upon pick up, and if this has been outsourced to a taxi firm, make sure you have their number and name, and then ring the TN manager and confirm your pick up
Arrival into India Make sure you are clear with the following details before you arrive into India, if not contact your TN manager for the same:
ü Contact details of the person who is going to pick you up ü If you are travelling between ciJes (Example: Your flight lands at Mumbai and you
have to go to Surat) please make sure that there is a reservaJon for you in the next flight, or train, or cab for the journey onward.
ü Tatkal Tickets (Emergency ReservaJon) for trains are available for booking only 1 day before the train journey and get sold out preEy quickly. If your host LC is doing the booking for you, make sure you receive the Jcket in your email AND the SMS on your mobile phone.
ü Confirming with the TN manager about a back up plan to reach the accommodaJon, in case your pick-‐up does not turn up (It’s beEer to be safe than sorry!)
Food “Regional differences can lead to extremely different food being served across India, with most ci7es being lucky enough to contain a lot of the different types!
Whether it be rice based, chapati accompanied, or naan complemented, most meals will cost very little but pack a lot of carbohydrates! But what about the stories that say all Indian food is spicy and that Westerners just can’t manage it! To that I say rubbish! I would say that I have a moderately strong stomach but I can manage curries which the locals would call relatively hot, with the help of some sweet Lassi to cool the burn of course!
It is true that most of their food is “spicy” but how that term is used in most locations in the world is different to India! Here everything is spiced, whether it be simple breakfast porridge or a little cup of chai (tea as we would call it). I feel it should be said that it would be wise for every person to carry some immodium or equivalent, despite how “strong” your stomach may be! Our bodies are often just not used to breaking down such spices and flavourings and even though you may feel that your mouth can handle the heat, it doesn’t mean that your stomach can!”
-‐An EP from United Kingdom
Clothing ü Discern – dress appropriately depending on the situaJon – Indian culture.
Check with local realiJes as it can vary dramaJcally across India – very important for females more than males – temples, in the evening in ciJes or just day-‐to-‐day in rural areas.
ü Clothes tend to be very cheap, and good quality. Arrive light and depart packed.
ü How to wash clothing -‐ bring “travel wash” ü Carry winter wear to ward off the cold. It tends to get very cold in the north,
becoming warmer as you go south. ü India tends to be conservaJve about clothing, dress appropriately but
comfortably J ü Check the local weather online: here
Health ü Be sure to take appropriate vaccinaJons before arrival, you probably don’t
want to spend your internship lying in bed. ü Malaria pills are available cheaply locally and can be purchased with ease. ü Clear out stagnant water in your trainee flat to avoid building up of
mosquitoes ü Purchase local mosquito repellants, which tend to be effecJve. ü Avoid eaJng regularly from roadside stalls, ask AIESECers about
recommendaJons. ü Keep the details of a physician, hospital and other ameniJes handy. It’s
beEer to be safe than sorry. ü Keep immodium with you J
Helping you through your own feedback
• AIESEC as an organization wants to be better every day and provide the best services possible to the customers.
• For that sake AIESEC International has partnered with
Customer Gauge, a customer feedback firm that gives data on Net Promoter Score. NPS is a customer loyalty metric that is based on direct questions. It measures the loyalty that exists between a Provider (AIESEC in this case) and a consumer (the exchange participant in this case) based on the quality of the services given by the provider.
What you need to do?
You will receive an email with a survey 3 times during your entire cycle of engagement with
AIESEC. You will receive the first survey as soon as you are matched, the second survey when you are
in the other country on exchange and the third survey when you come back from the internship.
The email will look something like this: <next page>
You can give the ratings as per your experience. Broadly: 0-6 means Poor 7-8 is Average 9 is Good 10 is Excellent
How is this survey useful for both the parties?
• The Exchange participant can keep on giving constant feedback through the survey forms and we can improve our services/ ask the host local committees in other countries to do the same.
• You can open a case through this survey and keep the hosting local committees accountable in case they are not fulfilling any of the promises they made.
• Give us more insights in the quality of services of the AIESEC local chapters all around the world.
Culture Shock It is the feeling of disorientaEon experienced by someone when they are suddenly subjected to an unfamiliar culture, way of life, or set of aItudes.
During your internship you may experience culture shock. This feeling can come due to different reasons related unfamiliar environment. However, you need to take the iniJaJve to adjust in the environment and find soluJons to your challenges. By doing this you undergo, the phase of experienEal entrepreneurial development. Through is phase you will learn and develop skills that make your mindset entrepreneurial .Hence, you will become capable to work effecJvely in any situaJon and take newer iniJaJves.
Culture Shock “When going through a culture shock – keep going.”
Culture Shock
You can go to our online plaiorm to know about stories of culture shock and share your story.It’s really simple to join, share stories and search for trip inspiraJon. You can explore the world by country or by experience: whether you’re wondering what you can do in China or curious about what life is like in Cambodia. If you are a traveler, make your trip last long and share your stories. If you’re looking for inspiraJon, discover the world at your fingerJps. Visit culture-‐shock.me today!
culture-‐shock.me
AIESEC India Contacts
Anup Mohan Director
Incoming Global Community Development Program AIESEC India
Mariana Mihai National Support Team
Exchange Participant Communication Email - [email protected]
GOOD LUCK FOR THE INDIAN TIMES AHEAD J