Before our group became sick, we spent a day visiting Rishikesh with two local friends from IIT Roorkee. While the city itself was beautiful, what made the day memorable were the conversations we had throughout the trip. As we walked around and explored different areas, we learned about what it was like growing up in India, particularly the pressure surrounding education and university entrance exams.

Hearing their experiences reminded me of my own childhood growing up in Shanghai. Although the education systems are different, I noticed many similarities in the emphasis placed on academic achievement and prestigious universities. It was interesting to realize how two countries with different cultures could share similar expectations surrounding success. These conversations encouraged me to reflect on how much my perspective has changed since moving to Canada, where I have gradually learned to value personal growth and individuality alongside academic achievement.

Sometimes the most meaningful part of travelling isn't visiting famous landmarks, but the conversations you have with the people who call those places home.

Before coming to India, I imagined every week would be filled with exciting travel, new experiences, and unforgettable adventures. Reality turned out to be much different. Between the extreme heat, monsoon rains, language barriers, transportation challenges, and eventually food poisoning, much of my time was spent on campus rather than exploring different cities.

At first, I felt disappointed that I wasn't travelling as much as I had expected. I even felt guilty for staying indoors, worrying that I wasn't making the most of this once in a lifetime opportunity. However, after spending several days recovering from illness, I began to rethink those expectations. I realized that meaningful experiences don't always come from constantly visiting new places. Sometimes growth happens quietly through adapting to challenges, reflecting on your experiences, and simply learning how to live in a completely unfamiliar environment.

This exchange has taught me that studying abroad isn't about having the perfect itinerary. It's about embracing whatever experiences come your way, even when they aren't the ones you originally planned.

During our internship, we spent weeks interviewing healthcare workers throughout Uttarakhand to better understand the healthcare system from a provider's perspective. Ironically, after our entire group came down with food poisoning, we found ourselves experiencing the system as patients instead.

One thing that immediately stood out was how quickly we were able to receive medical attention. Unlike many stories I've heard about long wait times in Canada, we were usually seen by a doctor almost immediately after arriving at the university hospital. At the same time, the experience reminded me that access is only one part of quality healthcare. As a patient, communication, cleanliness, and understanding your treatment are equally important in building trust.

Experiencing healthcare from both sides during this internship gave me a much more balanced perspective. It reinforced that healthcare is incredibly complex, and understanding a health system requires listening to both providers and patients.