“I learnt the ways to be happy in difficult situations during my five-month-long stay at Hyderabad and a fortnight’s stay in Kurnool city,” remarked Victoria, 23, of Kiev in Ukraine, a member of International Youth Fellowship, on Tuesday.
A qualified officer manager, Victoria was sponsored by the Ukraine Tourism Department on a cultural exchange programme of the IYF on a trip to Hyderabad.
Ms. Victoria and about 20 others of South Korea, Thailand and other nations came to India in March this year. They visited Hyderabad and nearby places gaining an insight into the culture of the local people.
“I set off at Kiev in Ukraine from a freezing temperature of minus two degrees Celsius and landed in Hyderabad five months ago when the temperature was 40 degree plus and fearing the scorching temperature, I wanted to immediately get back to my country,” she told this correspondent in Kurnool. She recalled that she had visited Germany and South Korea in the past as an IYF volunteer.
As days passed by, Victoria says, she began liking the spicy food, Indian feature films and became a fan of Bollywood actors Shahrukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai. “By connecting with the people, I learnt English in India, though my accent needs some improvement,” she asserted.
During her stay in Hyderabad, the IYF team had been going round various colleges and interacting with students to impart mind education through lectures and refresher programmes. “Our task is to infuse confidence among students and train them on controlling their emotions and being creative,” Ms. Victoria said.
IYF Senior Executive for A.P. and Telangana, S. Hannah, Ms. Victoria and team would address students of G. Pulla Reddy Engineering College at Kurnool on a mind education programme on July 15. Ms. Victoria said she would return to Ukraine next month with a memorable experience.
