Hola from Santiago! This week has been jam-packed with lectures, field observations, a workshop, and a welcome ceremony at the New Zealand Embassy as we settle into our new home. Highlights Thursday: We attended a captivating lecture on clinical strategies for promoting breastfeeding. We discussed the benefits and the importance of an intersectional approach to promote…Continue Reading Culture, Healthcare, and Self-Reflection
While the humid air outside Chennai Airport filled my lungs last Sunday, I was mentally preparing myself for 6 weeks of unfamiliarity. Yet, this first week in India has brought me profound moments of connection and whanaungatanga. Unexpected bonds over food, gender, and linguistic identity grounded my mauri and uplifted my wairua, just as any…Continue Reading Finding Whanaungatanga – Unexpected connections during my first week in India
He aha te mea nui o tea o? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata. What is the most important thing in the world? It is the people, it is the people, it is the people. How long does it take for strangers to become whānua (family)? Sometimes, as quick as a camera flash. I am…Continue Reading It is the people that make the place
The Reimagining India tour began with Auroville. This illuminating experience introduced us to an intentional community far outside of New Zealand norms. It’s through experiences we find the most uncomfortable that we encounter the deepest insights and this visit stands emblematic of this truism. One noble lie sealing the lips of truth as we pave…Continue Reading An ode to Auroville
It has been a little over a week that we have been here in Santiago, Chile, and I can’t believe how much has changed already. Upon first arriving here, this city overwhelmed me. The heat made my head spin, the language barrier left me reeling, and the lack of proximity to any sort of natural…Continue Reading As the unfamiliar becomes familiar
Embarking on my six-week journey across India, I’ve been here for a week now, absorbing the rich culture and diverse traditions. I’ve learned that India welcomes visitors with open arms, showcases immense dedication through hard work, harbors big aspirations, and contributes to global betterment through various innovations. The spiritual essence of the country has also…Continue Reading Week One Reflections and Goals
Magnificent mountains that tower in the sky. This was my first impression of Santiago which reminded me of home. I find comfort and nostalgia in seeing mountains, which was the main feature in my hometown in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and in Kyoto, Japan, where I lived before moving to Aotearoa. In Santiago, the distant snow-capped…Continue Reading Santiago, Chile: At the foothills of the Andes
Reflecting on my first week in Chile and writing this blog has made me imagine a theme or something to organise the disparate excitement, chaos and confusion that comes with being in a new place. Going overseas to another country is very much an act of disconnection, leaving a place that is entirely unfamiliar. Indeed,…Continue Reading Connecting in Santiago Week 1
Arriving in Chennai was nothing short of magical. We were welcomed by a cacophony of sounds and smells, a blissful assault on the senses that took over any nerves I felt on the plane. I wrongfully assumed that rain would be a distant memory left behind in New Zealand, but the hot muggy air reminded…Continue Reading Rain is a sign of good luck!
Pack your bags Leave your reservations behind Bring with you only the essentials An open mind A caring heart Bring the stories of your whenua Remember the way the winds feels Sand between your feet The music of the forest The babbling of the creeks Carry your history The mountains you’ve climbed to get here…Continue Reading Intentions for India