Goodbye, India

Anonymous We all made it home safely after 20 more hours of flying and 5 hours of airports, immigration, security, and customs!
Will I ever go back to India? I don't know. Even if I do make it back, it will not be visiting schools, or with the wonderful Vidya. This adventure has been so rewarding and so invigorating that I can't truly believe that it's over. I guess that's just how life works, right? You eventually have to start putting your knowledge and experience to use. And I am ready to see how this journey has and will change my (former) everyday life.

I expected to feel different being in India. Not just in a sensory way, but being in a country so different from my own that is perceived and interpreted as another world I expected some feeling of different-ness. Yet, everywhere you go there is hope. There is love. There is determination and amazing aspirations. India and the United States may differ in economic standing, yet the stand is the same on humans and their primal right to, and need for happiness.

Flying over the mountains on our descent into Seattle, reminded me of a lesson I learned the first time I traveled abroad (that I will probably have to re-learn for the rest of my life). The beauty of these far-away lands often makes us forget the beauty that has always surrounded us in our home. We get to drive by magnificent snow-covered mountains everyday of our lives! And we can immerse ourselves in the beauty of Puget Sound whenever we please! We spend so much time in this atmosphere that we (or at least I admittedly) forget just how blessed I am to live in such a visually-amazing part of the world.

The culture of the U.S. and the Pacific Northwest is so varied in rituals, religions, and practices, but we can all be connected by the stunning landscape that we often forget that we share (and also our addiction to coffee).

Namaste, India.
I will miss your messages of peace, your immense diversity in language and religion, your hospitable climate, the dedication of your children, the closeness of your community and your beautiful inhabitants. I will forever cherish the enlightenment you have brought me.

Day 18: How to Spend Your Last Day in India

Anonymous Step 1: Observe a great school!
The low-income institution we visited today was amazing in the ways that we were able to communicate with the students (most of whom did not speak English). One little boy and I just made funny faces at each other, there was definitely some of the most entertaining children we had come into contact with! Further, even though the classes were in Tamil, it was relatively easy to understand what was going on in the classrooms, due to the teachers' utilization of visual aids! I understood and followed the Physics class because the instructor constantly referred to his written formula's and the Earth Sciences teacher used so many maps and charts to explain animals of the rain forest and charts of the food chain, etc. that we could still observe the classes successfully without translations! It is really hard to accept that this is the last school we will visit because each institution has provided such a variety of insights into life in this amazingly diverse country!

Step 2: Get More Henna (Mehendi) Done!
We went to Brinda's house after leaving the school and watched as the Henna artists made the clay-like material before they individually painted each of us! It is seriously amazing how these guys can freehand these designs (which have similar patterns and shapes) yet all of our designs are so different!

Step 3: Wear Beautiful Saree's!
We got our blouse pieces and (with Vidya's help) were able to put on our Saree's! This is a very traditional dress for women that is in three pieces. The blouse, the petticoat, and the 6 yards of fabric that wraps around your body (originally it was 9 yards of fabric, 'the whole 9 yards' was a saree reference!).

Step 4: Crash an Indian Wedding!
When we saw the bright lights and announcement that a wedding was taking place, we jokingly asked Vidya if we could crash it. Her response, 'ok, but we're only staying for ten minutes!' So we walked into the beautifully decorated hall and started dancing with all the guests! People kept asking to dance with us! Then they asked if we would eat with them! and THEN one of the girls of wedding party asked Vidya why were there and she told her how we were students and just wanted to see an Indian wedding. The girl's response? 'We are so honored to be in your presence." Then the father of the Bride told us how much God had blessed him because of our presence there and would not let us leave until we had met every member of his family! This was a very uncomfortable (albeit amazing) experience for all of us. Although who knows how happy the bride will be when she watches her wedding video and constantly sees 8 white girls instead of her friends and family...

I don't think 3 weeks was enough time to truly understand India or the people here, but this night is one I will never forget!

Day 17: Educational Juxtaposition

Anonymous (Illustrated by the beautiful beachfront sunrise we witnessed at 6:36 am on January 20)

The first school we went to today was a special education school. And seeing this institution has definitely been the hardest experience to handle during my time here. Even though the teachers were dedicated and the philosophies were sound, it physically hurt to think about how difficult these innocent lives will be. And there is very little these hard-working students can do about it.

I had to excuse myself from the classrooms multiple time to release the build-up of emotion that I've held in for the past 18 days and wipe my eyes.

These kids however, warm your heart in every way. They are so friendly, warm, and all-around wonderful! They were so proud to show us their notebooks and what they had learned and what they were capable of.

We got to see a section for mentally-handicapped adults as well. Grown men and women who lived at the school and had learned different trades took such joy in showing us what they could do and what they could make. The look of excitement and pride on one man's face as he showed us how he manufactures paper cups (similar to dixie cups) will never leave my memory.

This school does not charge tuition, yet the government only pays for the teachers salaries. The buildings have cracks, holes, mold, and are clearly falling apart, the smell is unbelievable, and one girl was crawling on the ground due to lack of a wheelchair. The rest of the budget comes from donations alone, which the school receives very few of. Vidya gave a large donation, and then the 8 of us pitched in to give around 5,000 rupees in total. It's not much compared to what they need, but it's something. And we had to do something.

Immediately after leaving the school, we arrived at Stella Maris University. This college is Vidya's alma mater, and similar to PLU in both population and area, and (like most of India and PLU) was very aware about going Green!

It was great to see aspirations similar to those we witnessed in some of the schools come to fruition for these students. Like a reminder that even though there is hardship and despair, there is also success.

Being there was also a good reminder that two weeks from now we will be ready to begin Spring semester at PLU. I still have no idea how much this trip will affect my future and my life...

Day 16: Vidyodaya Girl's School

Anonymous These 1st Standard students had all submitted these pieces to the school art show, and could not wait to show us their creations!

Week Two Reflection

Anonymous On our 14th day here I realized that my perspectives are not changing instantaneously. It takes a lot of reflection to truly realize how my views have altered, and this week I think I realized that my views on "third-world countries"/"developing nations" will be forever affected because of this experience. There is a big difference between these two terms. And even though the latter is a more accepted phrase (for obvious reasons) I do not think it is appropriate of me to call India either of the two.

The label of "Third-world country" de-humanizes the people who live in that nation. Yet the children we have come across have a better approach to education and their futures than most American children! And even the beggar woman I saw on the street two days ago was simply trying to provide for her child-which is one of the most primal human instincts!

It is hard for me to claim that my country America, although I love it's freedoms and landscapes, is more "developed" than India. Here there is a female president. Here religions and religious tolerance are not only taught, but Muslims, Christians, and Hindu's go to school and pray together!

One of my group mates pointed out that if this understanding and acceptance had been taught in American schools other than what is "politically correct," maybe there would not be a social stigma against those of the Islamic faith after the actions on 9/11. Maybe we would have understood the origins and philosophies of this culture and "Islamophobia" would not exist, we could all understand that extreme terrorists represent less than .5% of the Islamic world population.

It's these misinformed and misinterpreted stigma's that work against uniting the states of America and cause Western society (with all its imperfections and developing qualities) to call itself the "first world" and countries like India the "third world."
America is so unique in the ethnicities and origins of all of her citizens. Yet, it seems like this fear of the "other" comes out of a longing for the community and connectedness that is present in these poverty-stricken, beautiful countries like India. Who are we to call ourselves that much better? Or truly better at all?

Day 13: History of India

Anonymous Today was a LONG day! We started out at Fort St. George near the Bay of Bengal and spent most of the day in historical churches. It's so easy to get caught up in the culture that you forget about the immense history India has before and after the British colonization! And how truly impressive India's development has been since the British abandonment only in 1947 considering that the country had to start over in almost every way!

Day 11: Places We Go & The People Who Want to Meet Us

Anonymous I don't think I could ever become accustomed to the amount of attention we receive here. People don't just stare, they usually stop what they're doing and focus all of their energy on us.

Today we went to a lot of cultural spots that attract tourists. At the Crocodile Farm, there was a group of students who said that meeting us was the best part of their field trip. Their teacher wanted a picture with us.

At Dakshin Chitra, after we drank coconut water out of coconuts and saw very elaborate dancing in which the performers were on stilts and in large animal costumes, the dancers asked a couple of us who we were and how we were enjoying our visit to India.

And at the beautiful temples (one was by the shore, another in the sand, and the last was on top of a mountain), people kept taking pictures of us! At the last temple, it was very crowded and there was a limited amount of space to walk. With half of my group far in front of me, and half far behind, I ended up in the middle of a men's school group on a field trip. I must have posed with over 15 people for pictures in that 5-minute interval!

This interest in and friendliness between strangers is not present in the U.S. and I will miss it when we go home. Yet, being treated like royalty because my skin color is a rarity here, is just wrong. And it emphasizes the lack of interest the Western world truly has in this (and probably most) developing countries.

Day 10: Sightseeing

Anonymous Today was full of experiences. As is everyday here in India, yet the emotion that I was overcome with at St. Thomas Mount may have been one of the best experiences I have had yet.
After climbing to the peak of the mountain, we went into the church built on the site where St. Thomas (AKA 'Doubting Thomas') was murdered. It is a beautiful monument full of icons and thousand-year old artwork. And as I was crossing myself in front of the alter, a woman looked at me and asked why I was wearing the Bindi (red dot worn on the forehead by Hindu's) if I was a Christian. Religion is a touchy subject, especially in a church. I simply told the woman that I was a visitor to this country, and was trying to respect the culture.

Afterward however, I could not stop thinking about religions and religious differences.

Personally, I believe that God is the father of the world. And like a father, he will bring you opportunities and people you need in your life, but he will also let you learn from your mistakes and leave it up to the individual to create your own situation in this world. I am a Christian, an Eastern Orthodox Christian. Yet, this did not stop me from feeling enlightened in the Hindu temple, nor does it deplete the sense of security you get by wearing the Bindi (used to protect the mind and soul). In fact, using multiple perspectives makes me feel closer than ever to this awesome invisible power that we all celebrate in our own culturally-accepted ways.

Day 9: Kolam and Bollywood

Anonymous Kolam is such a beautiful medium. It reminds me of henna in the sense that it can be drawn freehand yet so intricately by the people here!

Drawing a kolam outside your house symbolizes health and wellness are with all members of the family. It is traditionally drawn with a powdery substance, but we have also seen it done with chalk and a rice-milk concoction!

It is such a simple art, yet it brightens any location with its color, design, and message of peace.

We got to see a Bollywood movie today! I am very thankful that we did because it was a very energizing experience! The colorfulness of the screen with the constant musical numbers made for a very enjoyable movie! Vidya said that going to the movies is still pretty cheap and can obviously provide a lot of happiness to people in hardship. Yet, I also have to think that it preserves and enhances the full richness of the culture in many ways! The movie did not have subtitles, so we were left to fill in some communicative portions here and there (although the one full sentence in English was "they should make love, not war." which out of context was pretty entertaining). However, it was easy to follow because of how well the Indian people show their emotions through their body language. After watching 'Band Baaja Baaraat' I finally understand why people say American accents are monotone!


To see our group's favorite part of the movie, watch this video!:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EK5Nt3y71Q&feature=fvw

Day 8: Montessori School

Anonymous
Today we went to a very expensive private institution that even at face value is hardly worth the cost. Schools using the Montessori method and name get immediate recognition due to the modern style of the education. This generally consists of leaving many educational toys and activities in a classroom and observing the (2-6 year old) child and helping them progress to more difficult activities.

First I observed an elementary classroom where this system is supposed to thrive. Yet, only 2 (of the 5) teachers in the room were even paying attention to the children. The others were charging thousands of rupees a year to sit and read a book while drinking coffee and yell at any child who asks for help because they interrupted them. This truly disgusted me. In a system where observation is everything, this is unacceptable! Later, Vidya asked the woman who was charge of the elementary section how they evaluate student progress and what skills need to be demonstrated before they turn 12 and move into a more traditional setting. The answer? "We'll get back to you on that."

The older grades were so disrespectful to their teachers! It seems as if they see themselves as the authority. Yet, there seemed to be very little drive in these students, most were unsure as to their choice career (which is rarer in India than wanting to be a pottery maker!). And many of them complained about school and referred to subjects as being "like throwing up." They do not appreciate their education like children at the other schools did.

Further, they lacked a sense of community in the classroom-both with other students and their rich culture that I have come to love. Many foreign students are at this school as well, in fact one lady asked us which kids were our children. And over 30 BMW's rolled in to pick their kids up at the end of the day. This school gives children too many freedoms as infants and can never seem to get authority back. The parents must be drawn by name, location, and expected value for ticket price. Yet, lack of true Montessori methods obviously depletes that monetary value in equality to the child's education, growth, and attitude.

1st Week Reflection

Anonymous I can't believe that we've been here for one week. In some ways it seems like it has been so much longer, and in others it seems like so much shorter! We have just departed from Hosur and are beginning our 7 hour trek back to Chennai. Since I have trouble expressing myself and my emotions in this blog, I figured a reflection was in order to keep track of the million thoughts floating through my head.


I do not think I could pinpoint a best or worst experience so far. Yet, I know that seeing all the aid-deprived children at the Siragu school has been the most important experience I have had. Seeing all of these sick children just tore me apart. With how much time I have spent dedicated to the health of those around me, I could not believe that there was nobody(not even a teacher or school nurse) that could be dedicated to their health and well-being. I decided to study World Health because of my Mother's condition. And I am passionate about the subject because of children like this who deserve so much better.


I started thinking about American views on India, and Indian views about America and I find myself speechless. Indians are so impressed by successful Americans and the concept of the American dream. Yet, compared to the obstacles these people are born into, I feel like I have been handed everything in this life. I worked hard throughout my k-12 education, but the amount I did would not have been enough for one of these children to get to where I am. Yet, when I told people of my trip to India, I got complaints and rants about outsourcing. This is a practice that I can no longer argue against. Because we don't have as many hardships as these people and we constantly have the ability to change our situation. Additionally, our government takes care of our unemployed and disabled citizens! Hard working people in India simply need and deserve these jobs much more than most Americans.

The thing I have come to love and appreciate most about India is the intense sense of community and culture. And when I return home that is definitely what I will miss the most. Things will all appear so differently on January 23rd. I am going to have to readjust to the insane price inflation in American pricing. And I will so miss the welcoming hospitality that you get on the street (and the insanely good coffee and tea you get in schools and homes)! It will also seem very cold, and like there are entirely too many white people around but that is no big deal. I will take back a sense of pride in what I have seen and experienced here, and turn that passion into a career.

I will take all of these experiences to evolve into a better daughter, sister, friend, student and one day be a better wife, mother and teacher outside of an educational setting than I ever could have been before.

Wherever you go here, there is a thought for the day. messages of love, justice, education, and peace are personified and given life. I will miss the harmonic balance these messages have constantly been bringing me, but I will treasure the two weeks I have left to absorb their purposes.

Thought of the Day:

Experience is a hard teacher. She gives the test first, the lesson afterward...

Day 7: Return to TVSA

Anonymous
We returned to TVSA today to observe the students in their classroom setting. The school succeeded in continually impressing us. The students were active, attentive, and creative. During the day I observed three classes. The first was a history class where the focus had been on the evolution of clothing and economic factors that are considered when manufacturing garments to be worn. The students were assigned to take this knowledge to design a new school uniform! It was the application of learning in these settings that I found truly remarkable. Next, I sat in on a math lab which was focusing on the subject of area. Not just formula's and equations, but why it was important to know an objects area, and what area essential represents! The teacher gave each student 12 square blocks to create figures and express the concept that different shapes can have the same area. These kids desgined trees, pyramids, crosses, boats, words, etc. and knew that the area had to remain the same!

We also got to watch the 5th grade celebrate the Pongal Festival (similar to an American Thanksgiving) songs and dances were done depicted the harvest, and then handmade kits were flown outside while eating the delicious Pongal (a sweet rice dish)!

My foot was hurting from all of the bug bites, and one of the children's parents (who was a doctor) offered to look at it for me (to clarify, he gave me some medication and my foot was near-healed in 24 hours). While I was talking to him and his wife, they talked constantly about how much they liked the education their 2 children were receiving and how it is shown to be effective through the ability of their 5th grade daughter to assist her 1st grade brother in his work. I have to believe that that right there is the best witness to a good education: becoming the educator!

After leaving the school, we started discussing areas around the school's system that need improvement and could not find any truly lacking immediate factors in this wonderful school! Was it worth the 7-hour bus ride getting here just to see this school: absolutely.