Back To The Motherland!

Eland Bronstein - Volunteer Relations Coordinator/Tour Guide

April 11, 2013

Hello everyone!

For those of you who don't know me, my name is Eland and I am the Volunteer Relations Coordinator at Let Live Travel. This means it's my job to find, meet, befriend, organize and plan with the people who we want to work with in India. We want to do projects that have a positive effect on a community and build a lasting relationship where the communities offer us an amazing experience in return.
This is the dream job for me. I truly believe that we all have a responsibility to give in some form. This belief lead to starting a project a few years ago called The GiveProject that aims to inspire people to give and connect more. I have also been involved in many, many cool volunteer, non-profit and fundraisers of different forms. The other reason this is my dream job is because I LOVE traveling. I have spent well over a third of my time overseas in the last three years and been to 20 some-odd countries. I love meeting interesting people, immersing myself in different cultures, eating different local cuisines and seeing different landscapes and ways of life. Every time I do a trip or live abroad I come back more full and with new perspectives that give me a little more understanding about our short time on earth.
I have been asked to write a travel blog for our new Let Live Travel website which I am very excited to do. So much seems to happen in a week overseas compared to a week back home, I'm glad I can share a bit with you all.

I have been back in India about two weeks now and already experienced some amazing things. Last year I spent two months in India and upon return it feels a bit like I never left. India has a funny thing like its always expecting and welcoming you when you arrive. There is an overwhelming feeling that everything happens for a reason when you get here. India always has a gift to give everyone who comes here wether it's new perspective, new creative inspiration, direction or just pure beauty. Out of all the countries I have spent time in, India has been the most stimulating for me in so many ways. I really feel like everyone should come to India at least once in their life.

I am so exited to be bringing people from Canada to experience India in a safe way that shows as many of the sides of India as possible (good and bad and everything in between). The Let Live Travel team (Shawna and I) are working hard to put together an amazing tour. I have already met with people and visited small villages that show a real need for improvement but that are also extremely creative and are managing in their own way. My goal in approaching any places or people we work with is to ask what THEY need and see if that's something we can offer without drastically changing anything about the culture, society or tradition.
Some of the highlights for me so far have been Holi Festival (festival of colour), camel riding in the dessert, having dinner and playing local music in a tent village, riding a cable car to the top of a mountain and the many amazing sunsets. This first two weeks were spent all in the Indian desserts of Rajasthan. I just met Shawna in Mumbai (Bombay). A big change of plans has pointed us back up north as we have decided its just too hot to go south of Mumbai at this time.

Namaste for now,

- Eland