Wow that’s a lot of I.N.’s (interested, interning, India) geeze I should have thought of a catchier title! Any suggestions? Winner gets a free virtual hug!

After a long bitter sweet one month journey in India I am now writing the final review of my experience with Leave UR Mark. From sleeping, eating, working and exploring, I hope to grind it all down to the bones for you. Why? Because in the end I really think India is a remarkable place to intern. Here’s why.

Pre-Departure

Though it may not come as any surprise to you, a pre-departure orientation is typically irrelevant for me, having gone through so many during my previous travels. However, Prachi (the queen of LUM) prepared a great training very specific to my needs via Skype. I was surprised how different training really needed to be for India compared to other countries I have learned about prior to departure like Peru and Thailand.  Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a newbie starting out in the world of ‘wanderlusters’ here, a pre-departure meeting is extremely relevant when visiting India.

Dependent on where in the world you are prior to your India travels, the management team at LUM can either arrange a face-to-face orientation or online via Skype. If you don’t yet have Skype, get it… you’ll need it when keeping in touch with family when you’re abroad anyway.

Accommodations

It all depends on what you’re used to, I mean coming to India I wouldn’t recommend you having a luxury resort in mind. However, compared to most India standards the Leave UR Mark (LUM) accommodations are incredible.

I’d give the first thumbs up for convenience and location. The apartment complex is situated right next to a western-like mall with international cuisine and everything you’ll need to prepare your stay in India. This means there is no need to pack shampoo and the works ahead of time, just wait until you’ve arrived safe and sound.

The second thumbs up definitely goes to the impeccable security. You don’t always need security everywhere in the world you travel but in India, it comes highly suggested. The LUM apartments have security at the front gates 24/7 as well as staff situated in each tower. There are sign-in books for every visitor entering and exiting, there are security walking around and the paths are well lit throughout the night.

Other mention-able points:

– The wonderful view on the penthouse suite
– The spacious rooms
– Each intern gets their own single bed and cupboard space with hangers
– There is a washing machine and ample clothes lines for free
– There are 3 elevators (though some may be rather slow)

Internship Opportunities

If there was one reason for recommending LUM to friends, family and colleagues, it would be for their wonderful internship opportunities.

Coming into this experience I honestly only anticipated the interns to be taking part in the internships listed online on their website at www.leaveurmark.com. This would still be wonderful, but what really impressed me was that there were only about 5% of the interns who had actually booked an internship opportunity from reading it online, the rest had internships very specific to their interests and field of studies. When you look online you will find opportunities like NGO Development, Water Literacy Projects, Art and Dance Opportunities. However, at Leave Ur Mark they are dedicated to finding you the best internship possible where you can walk away feeling helpful and fulfilled.

There were interns in art studies, interns helping the mentally and physically disabled, there were ones with a focus on cancer treatment and psychological disorders. I would be eager to come back to the apartment every evening just to hear about all the different and unique experiences each intern had on their own that day.

I love being in groups but being in an independent internship also allowed me my own freedom and stories to share.

Weekend Travel

Wonderful! However, I will mention that if there is one thing that is going to go wrong while in India, it will likely be the weekend travel ventures. Given that Leave Ur Mark is a popular organization to partner with, there are many different interns from all over the world with very different interests. You will meet people with different interests and more importantly, different budgets. So don’t go in expecting to have perfect weekend trips with the whole lot of LUM interns, there will be bumps and changes in plans as time progresses. Here are some tips to making sure you get the best experience on weekend travel:

– Be open minded, there are so many wonderful places to see in India so try not to set your heart on one thing only
– Be calm, plans change on a regular basis (whether it’s Indian tradition or the mix of interests)
– Be budget friendly not cheap, prepare a budget ahead of time and then answer the ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions to your attendance
– Have fun! You’re only here once (or twice if you come back again!) so let loose and don’t sweat the little things

Weekend trips are so cheap when traveling through India, don’t forget this! More often than not interns start adjusting to the daily rates and prices and then start convincing themselves that 2,000 Rupees ($36 CDN) is far too much for a weekend trip. Think about being at home and how much a weekend trip may cost you there – is it worth it?

There are so many great places to visit, and not enough time! Don’t be shy when booking your internships, if you’re only planning a stay for a few weeks chances are you might get envious of all the wonderful travel plans the interns have set after you leave. You’re in India so go out and enjoy it! Here is a list of great and convenient places to go while interning in Bangalore:

1. Coorg (read my review here)
2. Ooty
3. Hampi (read my review here)
4. Mysore
5. Goa
6. Kerala (read my review here)
7. Chennai
8. Pondicherry
9. Auroville
10. Munnar

Food and Cooking

Food in India = DELICIOUS! Need I say more?
I am some what of a vegetarian (if you must know I’ve converted to eating chicken but won’t touch it if it’s been cooked on a bone, so yes, I sometimes consider myself a full fledged vegetarian while on the road) and India was my safe haven when it came to food!

If you’re a meat eater, don’t expect to be getting much protein from meat in India. The wonderful cook at the LUM apartments will cook meat a couple times a week (if you ask for it nicely) and likely no more than that. This is normal in India, it is a part of their lifestyle, religion and culture so I suggest you try and respect it as much as possible while you’re there. If anything, going veg for a little while will be a good cleanse for your body.

If you’re interested in reading more into the Indian cuisine, check out this blog post on the best Indian dishes to try while in Bangalore.

LUM Coordination

It really all depends, and that’s all I can really say. Over the course of 4 weeks I had two different coordinators who were both very different from one another. Both girls were remarkable, resourceful and responsible. However, that is not to say that there have been different ones in the previous months/years. What I do know is that LUM staff work diligently to find the most suitable coordinator for the role and always try to source candidates who are knowledgeable about India and surrounding areas.

I will talk a little bit more in detail about one of my coordinators Annie who I got to know for most of my trip in India. Annie was born and raised in Austria only to find herself settling down in India and for a short while in Bangalore with the LUM team. She was sweet, kind and over the top caring. I won’t ever forget flying over a bump on the road home from one of our weekend trips only to have Annie bringing me to the hospital, holding my hand through the needles and stitches and then buying me a lolly pop when it was all over. I am an independent young traveler who loves to jet set and be free but when it comes to situations like ending up in the hospital after an over night bus accident, it is people like Annie who have made a world of difference in my life and the way I travel today.

All I can say further is that I hope if you choose to intern with Leave Ur Mark in the future the coordinator at that time will be just as wonderful as the one I got to spend time with.

Shopping in Bangalore

Well, I can definitely tell you that you will be in no shortage of shopping malls while you’re interning in Bangalore. I didn’t spend much time in the malls while I was there but if you’re like the rest of the interns, chances are you may end up spending a good handful of hours there each week. Check them out:

– Commercial Street (my personal favorite – a street of cheap souvenirs and Indian clothing)
– Sampige Road (my second favorite for henna, sarees and PSR!)
– Mantri Mall
– Orion Mall
– UB City Mall
– Inorbit Mall
– Royal Meenakshi Mall
– Bangalore Central Mall
– Garuda Mall
– Forum Value Mall
– Gopalan Signature Mall
– Phoenix Marketcity
– Forum Mall
– Ascendas Park Square Mall

Transportation

Your transportation from the airport to the apartments will be covered in the cost of your internship program with Leave Ur Mark. Unfortunately, the cost of the ride back to the airport was not included (though this may change in the future) so just be sure to budget about 850 Rupees nearing the end of your trip to pay your cab fare.

Rickshaws – If you have read any of my previous posts about India and the rickshaw drivers, you will not be surprised when I tell you that I would prefer to avoid rickshaws at all costs. Unfortunately I still managed to hop in a rickshaw everyday despite what I have been telling you. They’re cheap, but they’re not THAT cheap if you’re willing to let them rip you off. In that case, taking a taxi may end up being cheaper. If you’re full of guts and pride, taking a rickshaw may not be that difficult for you however, I still haven’t gotten used to being a ‘hard ass’ on the drivers around India.

Taxis – This is my safe space when I’m having a bad or exhausting day in India. You will likely end up paying the same or a little more than a rickshaw (rip off) when taking a taxi. The benefits –> you get air conditioning, you leave the car with a clean nose and the price is usually the same. Recommendations: Download the ‘UBER’ and ‘OLA’ apps, you can book rides with the tap of a button and locate their whereabouts at every second.

Buses – Some are great, some are terrible and some are your worst nightmare. Download the ‘RedBus’ app on your phone to check prices and book buses anywhere in India. The app is a convenient way to travel on your weekend trips but just make sure you book the right bus. How?
… Look at the ratings, like seriously. If the ratings are low, especially in Indian standards, then don’t take it
… SRS, SLS and Volvo buses seem to be the best (from my thoughts)
… Never book a semi-sleeper (it’s the same as an airplane chair) and I was hospitalized with stitches in my head
… Don’t take Ashami or Poonami Travels

Trains –  I never took a train and I’m sad to have to say that! However, I have heard great things about the trains. Though I don’t believe they are the most comfortable means of transportation, the views are supposed to be beautiful if you’re planning on traveling during the day. NOTE: I never understood how to book online, it’s easier just to go to the station and book a seat.

Overall, most journey’s are usually worth the overnight buses. Sleep it off and wake up in a new village/city/town!

Tips and Considerations    

1. Pack a Shewee: The buses don’t have toilets and my worst nightmare came true when I had to pee into a bottle in the back of the bus at 3:00 in the morning.
2. Bring Malaria Pills: To be honest I didn’t and I don’t regret it, however many of the other interns did pack them just in case.
3. Test the Food Slowly: Indian food is spicy, by now you should already know this. The downside to travel is that you will most likely get diarrhea at least once or twice while you’re there. Bring along some gas tablets and take it slow.
4. Be Clear when Choosing your Internship: Leave UR Mark works hard to make your stay as enjoyable as possible. If you aren’t clear on your expectations than they cannot promise you the perfect internship. You need to meet half way on this – they can’t read your mind.
5. Book your flights one week before the start of your internship and one week after. Trust me, you’re going to want to travel to a few other spots in India once you start learning more. Start off with Delhi and Agra and then perhaps end your time in India in the desert of Rajasthan.
6. If you’re looking for great souvenirs, check out my blog post “10 Must Buy Souvenirs in India”
7. If you’re looking to explore Bangalore for the weekend, check out my blog post “The Best of Bangalore in 7 Days”
8. If you’re looking for more reasons to volunteer in Bangalore, India, check out my blog post “Why Volunteer in Bangalore, India”

If you’re interested in visiting India or learning more about Leave UR Mark, visit www.leaveurmark.com.