Alumni Interview with Tanshul

What inspired you to go abroad? 

Being the daughter of an Army officer, I had always travelled around India but never really got to explore the places I visited. I decided to go for a Social Travel project so that I can travel to different places with other like-minded people, meet local people, know more about the place’s history, discover new places, and so much more.

Why did you choose Social Travel: North India through The Tarzan Way? 

I opted for the Social Travel: North India program with The Tarzan Way for a few reasons. The price they offered the project at was much cheaper than any other organisation I could find (and believe me, I looked a lot). Also, they covered a lot of cities during the duration of the project. Upon talking to a sales executive from the company, he explained how they had planned the project so that not only did we visit these places but also understood their cultural significance.

What was your favorite part about India? 

The beautiful story behind everything. There was a story attached to every place and everything, be it a myth, a legend, or local folklore. I used to love listening to these stories!

What made your experience abroad unique? 

The way the project was planned. A major way I felt this project was different from all other projects was that a lot of activities and trips were planned other than the volunteer work which helped us really explore and understand each and every place we visited.

How did local staff support you throughout your program? 

There was always someone around to talk to or get help from. We could also call them anytime and they would always respond. Having such good support from staff helped me feel safe and secure during the entire project.

What's one thing you wish you would have done differently? 

It was a good project—nothing comes to my mind!

Describe a typical day in the life of your program. 

We generally had volunteering work during the weekdays, Monday to Friday. We would generally wake up, have breakfast, and hurry to work because none of us ever woke up on time. We would work there until afternoon around 2:00-3:00 p.m. A lot of my job role involved working with small children which was a lot of fun. We would generally have a small activity or event organised by TTW in the evening, or we would just go out with other volunteers. Weekends, on the other hand, were very busy because we would generally go on trips with the company to other cities.

What did you enjoy doing in your free time? 

There are so many places to shop everywhere I visited. I spent almost all my free time visiting local markets and buying local specialities.

What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it? 

It was neat. In Delhi, I stayed with a host family with a daughter in 12th standard. They were really helpful and fun. The mother, Mrs. Sharma, was such an amazing cook. I definitely gained a few kilos during my stay there. In Rishikesh, I stayed with the Founder of the NGO I was working with. She was a sweet lady and her dedication to make a change had me in awe. She was always working, trying to give her best. She ran a school for poor children. She is truly an inspiration to women all around the world. In Jaipur, all the volunteers stayed together in a funky backpacking hosted and it was really fun because we used to hang out with each other all day long.

What is one thing every participant should know before participating in your program? 

Please go with an open mind. You will meet a lot of people and have a lot of new experiences. Please be open to taking them all. Don’t shy away. Trust me—you will remember these all through your life.

Now that you're home, how has your program abroad impacted your life? 

I have started volunteering at local NGOs distributing food to homeless people every weekend. I also understand a lot more about my own country. However, the biggest impact might be that I now have friends from all around the world. 

Would you recommend The Tarzan Way to others? Why? 

Yes, definitely. The team is so helpful and caring, and the project is just amazing. You will not regret coming to India for their project.