In addition to the beautiful culture and work ethic of India, one thing I have come to appreciate greatly is Indian efficiency. I’ve noticed that efficiency in India comes in many forms: whether that be sustainability to protect the environment, efficiency in the workplace, or efficiency in communication. Throughout my trip abroad, it’s been incredibly […]

The week before my birthday, I enjoyed cake almost daily through a series of fortunate events. First, a group celebrating a girl’s second birthday at Madurai Eco Park offered me two slices of chocolate cake after I walked by. The following evening, we went to Haran’s house (and ate chocolate cake) to celebrate the conclusion […]

When I found out I was selected by CASI for this internship at Aravind, my mind was immediately filled with questions: What would life be like there? Would I be able to fit in? How could I, just a first-year in college actually make a difference in this massive, world-renowned institution? Based on quick searches […]

EXPLORING Outside of work travels, Gurgaon itself has had a lot to offer. In our neighborhood itself, we initially made it a routine to take advantage of the “cooler” morning weather (usually 90°F/32°C) and head to the Joggers park around 7:45/8:00 A.M. In addition to making rounds around the park we also tried out the […]

Hello. My name is Advait Aiyer. I am pursuing a PhD in Applied Economics at the Wharton School’s Business Economics and Public Policy Department at the University of Pennsylvania. I am a rising third year student, interested in examining higher education quality in India.  It is only fitting that I pursue my research with CASI […]

Hi readers! My name is Adwaita, and I am a PhD. Student in Anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania. I am excited to start my fieldwork in Mumbai this summer aided by CASI’s summer research funds. As part of my larger dissertation work, I focus on the challenge of understanding plastics in the urban. The […]

It feels very odd to think that almost a month has already passed since my arrival in India. Despite how full of excitement, new experiences, and new memories it has already been, the days left here seem fleeting. Because of the amount of content in the past month, I’ve thought it best to split the […]

Over my journeys across India so far, I’ve found that the transportation options are endless. Whether you’re looking for a quick and affordable ride in an auto (also endearingly referred to as a “Tuk Tuk”), a comfortable ride on the speedy Delhi metro, or a luxurious ride on one of the many air-conditioned trains of […]

Our intern cohort has a running joke that goes something like this: Aravind understands and speaks Tamil, Suhaas understands Tamil, Manya understands India, and Celeste is just along for the ride. “Along for the ride” definitely characterizes my first few weeks here, but I’ve been enjoying every moment of it. Here are some abbreviated highlights […]

Hello everyone! I’m Suhaas Narayanan, one of the four CASI Interns at the Aravind Eye Hospital in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. I’m a rising junior at Penn, studying Finance and Neuroscience, from Fort Collins, CO. It’s exciting to join the CASI Program to explore both healthcare and a new country in diverse contexts. A brief bit […]