Global Connections

While in India, I made many friends and acquaintances. Most had one thing in common, which was a hope to find a way to America to better their lives. Back home in the U.S, I have international friends that I know are worried about finding jobs and being able to stay in the US. Many International students and entrepreneurs are at the mercy of lotter systems to get Visas, or at the mercy of employers who will either deem them worthy of a work visa or decline that. Many I found to have great ideas which push the envelope, in current fields, but are limited by the resources at hand. I found that international relations and global governance can come hand in hand.

            Recently, Obama addressed the Indian populace and spoke to the prime minister of India. This simple action gave hope to many, that current limitations within the international community would be eased. The most important limitation for Indians is the number of Visa applications which are accepted and how visitation and related matters are governed. It is seen how much the United States policies affect the hopeful youth of a better future. There are many cases were institutions of each country are already working together. I learned that the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur works with different universities and companies around the world, sharing technology and research. The Technology and research which has been developed behind the scenes is what power your phone, aids humanitarian efforts and makes quality of life better as a whole. A big focus for IITK is subject matter which effects global thinking and global improvement; such as education and health projects.

While we are different peoples in different countries, we do have similar problems in certain cases. We worry about our health, our children, our environment. One case which is used to address situations of medical emergencies is held as an example of a medical drone. Right now drones are a hot topic for the world and even Indian students understand this. However, they have their own take on it. A fellow peer for example wants to make a drone which can carry a patient and fly over the traffic in congested cities. This idea is very novel and if executed correctly could help more than just Indian society but other locations with similar problems like New York and California. Another peer was working on a synthetic hand made of almost entirely 3D printed and common household items. This in itself is very progressive, leading a way for cheap prosthetic, which would help the global community in this need.

Through the different examples that where stated above, it is easy to see how the world is interconnected in many ways. It would be hard to say that one country’s’ policies didn’t affect another’s. How a people’s problem is not shared be another. An ultimately, it is seen that progress in one society or one field can have a profound effect on the world.