I am trying to write something for my blog since last two weeks but can't seem to get it out on paper. I have the idea and what I want to write but when I trying to write can't get it on paper. When I actually trying to write something  I think it sucks or it's not good enough last night I waste whole note book to write but I don’t understand what I can write. I don’t know how can I be committing to write something? How can I actually write it down without comparing myself to other writers? I have tried to write lots of things but can never finish them or get them down on paper.

 All these things are happening after come back from Bangladesh. Well I’m trying to keep myself busy with work. And I have to do everything what planned during my internship I have to by my cycle camera in 2010 and I planned to travel by bicycle but I have no money that’s why I am still confused over this whole thing…

Participant evaluation questionnaire

Name: Shankar Sarkar        

Sending Organization: Drik India

Posting Period: December 31^st 2008 to September 10^th 2009

1.                 Results and achievements

1.1  What are the activities carried out through the exchange?

The specific tasks have been carried out :

Video Shooting, Video Digitization, Photography, Image developing, Graphic designing for a documentary film, worked in publication department during Chobi Mela V, worked as assistant  in installing pictures at the galleries during Chobi Mela V and archiving for Majority  World library. Also have done video shooting for live online telecasts during Chobi Mela and for Bangladesh e conference held in Chittagong.

1.2  What are the concrete results of these activities?

a) It was a great exposure for building up my professional career.

b) Immensely developed my english knowledge.

c) Working in multi disciplinary departments have enabled me to develop the skills to handle multiple works at a time.

d) Chobi Mela was a great exposure and experience where I learned how to deal so many things at a time. To become an young professional I think all young people should not only participate in Chobi Mela but also while participating should take part in Chobi Mela as a volunteer worker.

e) Handling few jobs independently is an experience and also a lesson.

f) My challenge to learning english language combined with my ambition of becoming a professional has heightened up.

g) Working in a big organization is an experience and that’s also in a foreign country.

h) Working under and in presence of Shahidul da is an experience. Attending a workshop conducted by Shahidul Alam is an exposure to me.

i) At the end of my exchange programme attending a workshop by Raghu Rai the world renowned photographer from India and getting his blessings are a rare experience as well as inspiration for me.

 1.3              What do you consider your biggest achievement during your work with the host partner? Did any below contribute to this and in what way?

I would consider my biggest achievement is during my internship in Drik Picture Library Ltd. is to get an opportunity in developing my personality and got the training of how to lead a life with full of challenges. Challenges is nothing new to me at whatever level but what I learned that challenges lead to newer challenges and that I enjoyed while staying at Drik.

     1.4              What have you learned professionally?

I learned lots of things through my internship from technical knowledge to run  library management up to the knowledge of  performing in a professional media organization. I learned live video streaming, gallery assisting, graphic designing, Digital library maintenance. The last but the least is the greatest learning that hard working, patience and ambitions are the key words of building up a fruitful professional career.

What have been the major professional challenges you experienced during your assignment? Why?

            Living my life to the best of my abilities.

Has given me the courage to run a blog which has been subscribed by 150  and viewed regularly by 300 people. It’s another challenge to run the blog sharing with people with proper understanding and knowledge of English.

1.5              What have you learned personally?

Learning how to say what I feel and mean, and doing what I feel is right despite everyone else telling me that it's not worth it.

My internship experience this last eight months was one of the most valuable experiences of my life and a great way in as I begin my career. I was opportune enough to work for one of the biggest new media agencies in Asia.

I learned many valuable things through my internship from specific technical Library management to how to perform myself in a professional media agency. 

I can say that I benefited from my stay at the Drik in a number of

respects. Firstly, and most straightforwardly I expanded my knowledge on an issue that I found and find challenging and interesting. Secondly, getting the chance to present at Chobi Mela an international festival of photography was an extremely exciting and useful experience.

I’m really enjoyed during Chobi Mela. It’s been a fantastic experience and I meet up with lots of new people and did lots of fun.

My internship helped me realize how important being a professional is. This includes what the appropriate attire is and how I conduct myself around other professionals especially clients.

 My internship helped me form important relationships with those I worked with. This helped because I could go to those individuals for recommendations in the future. In my case, their recommendations helped me land a job with the company!

 Learning English has been very important to me. It’s great for communication skills – you have to be very polite to clients; it’s hard at first but that’s the point of an internship!

 1.6  What have been the major personal challenges you experienced during your assignment? Why?

 Most importantly, my internship helped me realize that you never stop learning.

I learned that you always need to take advantage of learning as much as you can. If you do this while you are young it will only help your future.

 At some point of  time the internship can be frustrating because you feel you do not know what you are doing.  I learned that if you keep a positive attitude, continue to work hard and ask a lot of questions things will work out in the end.

 Sometimes I’ve faced with really difficult situations. Working in a big company I have to do different things everyday and have learnt a variety of skills which is of course challenging which I never had to face at my home organization.

 1.7   What could be done to make these challenges less difficult?

 Keeping a positive attitude, continue to work hard and ask a lot of questions within oneself. Sharing the ideas with colleagues and expecting encouragement from the colleagues too.

1.5  What of the newly gained knowledge and experiences will be of particular value to the partners?

I gained knowledge about online broadcasting and digital library management, photo archiving, gallery management; I hope it will help to my home organization. But they have to explore my lessons of being there at Drik Bangladesh otherwise the whole effort would be in futile.

 1.6  How can (specify in detail) can the participants build on/teach the new experience to the sending partners?

I hope all of your internship experiences can be as valuable as or even more so than mine was.  Do not be afraid to take the opportunity because it is an experience you will never forget.

My advice for interns is that if you go to a foreign country you should make sure about your accommodation before you arrive because I faced lots of problem about my accommodation.

2.                 Preparations and Implementation

2.1 How will you describe the partners’ preparation of the exchange?

 They did well preparation for me.

2.2 Did the tasks given to the participants in the host country match the expectations?

I had lots of plan for Pakistan uncertainly I didn’t go there but I have done most of task which is matched with my expectations except some.

2.3  Did the participants get guidelines explaining in a clear way the tasks expected of the participants?

Yes

 2.4  How was the participants’ role as colleague in work relations, and socially in his or her spare time taken care of?

Our work relationships are good since they are so friendly and helpful.

2.5 Do you have any suggestions for improvement in the preparation process?

 As such there is no suggestion. Because many things depend on the given situation and personal adjustments and overcoming challenges. Facing practical things are most important in the exchange programme.

3.                 Expected future results and effects

3.1 What positive effects can the exchange program have for the future? What can you do to maximize the positive effects?

 Like many other participants at the end of the day I have learned a lot and hopefully contributed to the host organization and as well as is capable of contributing to the home organization.

 3.2 How can the planned information activities be used to share the experience and competence gained by participants?

 It has a bigger scope in sharing the experiences gained by the participants.

 3.3 Are there any possible negative consequences of the exchanges? What can be done to prevent them?

 Not at all .

 3.4  What kind of challenges do you expect to face when you are coming home?

The greatest challenge is to get proper work in the home organization as I have the experience of doing multiple things in a bigger organization. But, it is also a fact that I have to develop myself to work in a smaller organization. Challenges are quite different while working in a smaller organization like Drik India.

I have just finished my eight months internship in Bangladesh and now I have to prepare for my debriefing so I did a presentation that I need to take in Bangkok for debriefing. I am worried that the presentation might not so good which I have made... ummmm I think I don’t need to worry about my presentation because I know it will be fine.

 Wow wow the last time I blogged was a month ago. Can’t believe it I have not forgotten the existence of my blog, but just simply too tired everyday after work to login and write something. I still have many thoughts and things to tell everyone but somehow my body and eyes got the better of me and shutdown very early every night. Okay,

 After come back from Bangladesh Quite boring this few days at home just studying and online sometimes I really missing Bangladesh and all of those peoples whom I met in BD... Nothing special to me this few days it was four days holidays in Kolkata for a festival but I spent my all four days for sleeping, eating, and watching TV...

Yeah I know it’s strange but fortunately I bought a book yesterday... is quite nice…. Twilight... many peoples said this story is very nice then I bought it recently... haha! My first time bought an English story book to read...