Luke Pollard from Falmouth in Cornwall explains his thoughts on cultural immersion.... South India style!                                 

We started the week off with some Tamil Language training – as India is such a huge country there are 22 recognised languages, with hundreds upon hundreds of dialects and other language forms – which was interesting to say the least!! It is such a fab language and I have really loved using it here!! I must pop in and say now that I am LOVING the South more than the North, the culture, the architecture, the people, the place!! EVERYTHING rules here!!!

We have visited some amazing places, including Prassad Studios – who do a lot of major film work for Bollywood, Collywood and some Hollywood productions. We've had briefs on everything from education to family structures, economics to small business start ups, NGOs to Government schemes; we've had talks with some amazing people including a CEO from Tata, Execs at Ascendas (Commercial Retail Property). The highlight of the week this week has certainly been spending time at Dakshinachitra Heritage and Culture Centre, which is a centre running to preserve and showcase the heritage of cultural South India in a very active and vibrant way. It included me and Ollie getting a chance to wear traditional Doti's for the day – which was BRILL!!  I am also, apparently, a true potential Anglo-Indian, who is showing many Indian traits and is, as we speak, being talked into marrying and settling in India with a South Indian Bride!! Lol ...