Global Health Intensive Course, 2025 in Manipal, India

Monday 24 February 2025 Written by Tiina You ever blow your top over Finnish bureaucracy? Think it is   ‘so annoying!’ ? Try visiting India. I dare you. We got a first lick when we applied for our visas. Process that could have been an easy-peasy online application required multiple visits to the Indian Embassy at certain times at certain days. Oh, and please remember to bring with you your passport and all the paperwork you already submitted online. And god forbid – do not come on Republic Day! Nothing gets done on Republic Day. Little did we know – it would only get more intense.   First day in Manipal – it started easy as.  At the Prasanna School Admin Office – passports & visas. We all came prepared. Only half an hour and we got our student cards and T-shirst and photos. Good vibes. From Prasanna we continued to MAHE main building. Random photo. In the office – again passport & visa. Million questions of why and when and what. The only information we did not g...

Friday 21 to Sunday 23   Feb 2025 Written by the staff members Tarja, Subas and Cata From left: Tiina, Sari, Meri, Ansa, Elina, Krista, Eveliina, Cata, Tarja, Subas, Kamilla, Laura and Natasha. First one of many group photos on Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. We are all set and ready for the adventure to begin! Our group consisted of 10 students and 3 staff members, many of whom visited India for the very first time! We all came from different locations, some by train, some by bus and met at the airport, full of excitement and expectations  😉 The direct Finnair flights went smoothly, and we landed safely in New Delhi. It was on time so the extra time we had reserved for the transit, some 5-6 hours, was not really needed but we used the time to sort out the customs formalities, have breakfast, chill out and sleep. A little queuing, but the formalities we had been warned about were surprisingly smooth and did not take that long. The airport in Delhi was spacious, cool and nice. We wal...