Yvonne Thaise’s 6 months experience in India

Thaise Yvonne Tlalane, is a 29 year old, born in Wesselsbron. She is from a family of 7 people. She started school at Katoloso primary and then progressed to Ithabeleng and matriculated in 2005. In 2014 she enrolled for Administration Clerk course in Pulakgadi, and with her drive and hunger to succeed, along the years, things changed……….

Yvonne. She went to Hyderabad, India’s IT Hub on training.

She started with Web Development, later she changed to Infrastructure Management; let’s hear on what she learnt.  

Anything that you would like to say, as we open this discussion?

I would like people to research and not just seat down, we have the youth office so people should go register their names at the youth system with the Youth Development Officer.

Did you ever think you would have such an opportunity?

Honestly, No. I applied for bursaries, loans, scholarships and did my best to apply for anything that came my way. So I decided to go to Pulakgadi training consulting and enrolled for a course.

So what course did you take on in India?

Remember I never had an IT background so everything that I did in India was fairly new to me. But I decided to do Infrastructure Management. Have so say, as it was a new thing for me, but I enjoyed it very much.

What did you Miss mostly about home?

Food and my Family….. Food wise I missed eating PAP (Porridge), so much. At times it was just unbearable. But I have to say, India is a very peaceful place.

How is India different, in virtue if food, culture & language?

Youth in India loves school despite the most of them being poor, they have respect and they really respect their bodies and their culture.

Food was the biggest challenge for me; I never enjoyed the Indian food at all. I had to carry heartburn medication wherever I went. Another challenge for me was going to the loo (toilet), it was such stressful LOL

Given an opportunity, would you stay in India?

Yep, only if the food was to be different, I was going to stay behind and enjoy that peaceful place.

What did you learn in India?

Firstly I learnt on how to be independent; I signed a contract solely stating that I was going to be there for 6 months, it was very tough because I knew no one on the group that we were in to confide to.

I struggled a lot to get through; it was never a smooth ride at all. Secondly I leant that “ho se kene sekolo ho thata” (not going to school, is a problem).

I was in a class with people who had a lot of experience in IT, 3 years, people with Diplomas and IT qualifications, that made me doubt the reason why I was chosen, I felt like I didn’t belong there, I struggled a lot and on some days I even thought of quitting and coming back home but ultimately I told myself that I am going to do it. I failed my first test with 43% and I was supposed to get 70%, I worked hard, extra hard and even got better results, India taught me that. I even learnt a lot in terms of technology.

What are you going to do with the knowledge that you have gained?

I would like to help our municipalities in terms of IT because what we were taught is very good in terms of managing IT infrastructure to best suit the municipalities and again, I would like to help people with upgrading the systems that they use.

To those who look at you like a Role Model what is your advice?

If you could read and have knowledge, then know what you really want in life and have passion for all the things you need. Trust in the lord and he will do things for you. Do not look at other people and want to be like them overnight, work hard to pursue your dreams, do your best.

Life in India and now?

I used to save a lot from the stipend that we were given, because I knew the situation I left at home, I always had to have tight budget, I ate very little and when coming back to South Africa, I had approximately R10 000.00. I saw it fit to forget about the luxuries and focus. Currently I’m in an Internship with the department of Health.

Any shout outs?

I would like to thank the following people, Pastor Thabang Mogoje and his wife, Brenda Mogoje who supported me and were putting me in prayers when I was in India and the people who helped me in terms of passports and travel arrangements, Tswane Family, Mmase le Mokgadinyana.