My International Practicum Experience - Week 2
June 12, 2019 | 2:51 PM
Colton Pettyjohn '19, Social Work Major
This past week in Ahmedabad brought with it a couple of new jobs for me to work on. At my practicum site, I was given the task of creating a case study for the rural villages and the patients we saw there. I was also allowed to spend time at Bareja Eye Hospital where I observed their operating procedures and saw how the facility was run as well as attend an eye clinic at a local temple. Most recently, I visited various clients who have received loans or monetary donations for rehabilitation work which tend to be ways the person can earn an income for themselves.
The more time I spend in India, the more India teaches me. One of the lessons I've learned so far deals with a person's perception of the world around them. Often, the media portrays India as an impoverished place where nobody is happy; however, from my experience here, it is the complete opposite. We as Americans take for granted the little lings in life, and we focus more on the materialistic things instead of the time we could spend with each other. But the Indian people are some of the nicest and most welcoming people in the world, and their focus is not primarily on material things to make them happy. Not to mention, they are always so willing to do anything you need and put your comfort above their own.
So, next time you think of India or see images or watch videos about this big and developing country, take a moment and ask yourself, "Is it my life that I am comparing it to?" If that's the case, then maybe take time to ask yourself what their perception of America might be. You might be surprised to see what you learn from putting yourself in someone else's shoes and seeing the world from their perspective.
