Hello! My name is Natascha and I am from Germany.

In summer 2015 I graduated from High School and then came to India for one year of social service. For the past half year I have been teaching English at a Government School near Kundapur.

From Monday to Friday I teach classes from 1^st to 7^th Standard. By now I notice improvements of the children’s English which makes my work all the more worth the while. Three times a week I had language class (first Kannada and then Hindi) after school which has proven very helpful in a couple of situations. Also it is very nice to be able to speak to the people in their native language. Through my host family and the other teachers at my school I have also learned a lot about Indian culture. The Indian people are in general very sweet and always eager to help if I face any problems or have questions. Another benefit is all the Indian food I get to try. My host mother is a really good cook and during lunch break in school we share our dishes, too, so there is always a big variety.

I have also had many opportunities to travel. So far I have seen Mysore, Hampi, Kochi, Madikeri, and Panaji and I travelled the north of India, too.

The first few weeks in India were a little bit challenging, since India differs so much from Germany. Soon I got used to everything that is different though and now I feel at home. But I am actually very glad that there is such a gap. It is very fascinating being here and I have made so many memorable experiences in such a short time that it simultaneously feels like I have been here for years or only a few weeks since time really does fly.