and wishing I wasn’t! It has been the bes thing I have ever done. I can’t believe I haven’t spent every winter of my whole life there! 5 years ago

“Time after time in India, you find yourself overwhelmed by the madness, and asking yourself “How does this place function? How come it doesn’t just implode?” In the past I used to get very frustrated, but now I’ve started to tap into the Indian way of thinking. “All right, I’m stuck on a bus, the road is flooded, I’m in a traffic jam, but hey, in 10 years time this is all just going to be a footnote.”” 5 years ago

It’s really happening! I need to get some perspective on life and everything about it so I hope this trip will help in some way. There’s so much uncertainty about what’s going to be happening after medical school ( damn MMC! ) so this might just help me remember there’s more to the world than London and worrying about where I’m going to end up and what I’ll be doing and what sort of person I’ll be. I can just be. Take the country in. xxx 6 years ago

..and I got the place on the program! I’m going to India! I feel so lucky to be able to do this. I have to think about flights now!

I’m pretty scared. But I think this could be an amazing experience. 6 years ago

..that’s ok with me though, gives me a chance to do some reading up. I found out today though that another hospital I wanted to work in said I could spend time with them – in Kerala – so either way I’m going to India! I’m looking forward to getting out of the rut I seem to be in and get on with some amazing adventures. I’m planning on flying home from Mumbai to give me a chance to travel up the coast through Kerala and Goa for a week or two. I’m terrified! ;-) 6 years ago

..for helping out with the charity that I want to spend time with next year. I am so keen to go to India and work for them – it’s a great grassroots project in Southern India and it’ll give me a chance to go travelling as well – but I don’t know if I have enough experience etc etc… I’m really trying to keep the voices in my head that tell me I shouldn’t even bother applying – I figure I should just go for it. So anyway, here’s hoping it goes well! xxx 6 years ago

“So far as I am able to judge, nothing has been left undone, either by man or by nature, to make India the most extraordinary country that the sun visits on its rounds. Nothing seems to have been forgotten, nothing seems to have been overlooked.” – Mark Twain

It’s looking good for next year. I haven’t booked anything yet but I hope to soon! I couldn’t be more excited. xxx 6 years ago

Most medical students get to spend a few months abroad as part of their course. I’m thinking of going to India for mine. As well as working in hospitals, I’m thinking I’m going to spend a few more months travelling, maybe learning yoga properly. I don’t know whether I should go alone – maybe I’d really be able to learn about myself and what I want from life if I can choose my own path. I hope I’d have the courage to do this!

Either way, it’s going to be a long time until I can put this as done! xxx 7 years ago

“India is a curious place that still preserves the past, religions, and its history. No matter how modern India becomes, it is still very much an old country.”

-Anita Desai 7 years ago

I’ve always wanted to just take off, from this life that seems to have had no spontanaeity for a long time. Six months, maybe a year – travelling round one of the most fascinating countries, learning yoga, learning about religion and meditation. Trouble is I may find myself with a whole bunch of people just like me wanting to “find themselves” in exactly the same way I do. Well I’ll just try to get off the “lonely planet” track I guess. The idea’s just so tempting sometimes. I live in the middle of London and I really need to be somewhere without a tube.

“If there is one place on the face of earth where all the dreams of living men have found a home from the very earliest days when man begun the dream of existence, it is India.”

- Romain Rolland 7 years ago