So our last day in Chennai was a great one. Around 11am Baskar took us shopping, and everyone had a chance to buy some last minute gifts/souvenirs. Most of us won't be coming back :(
Around 1:30ish our group took a break for lunch, and as we crossed the street from our bus to the restaurant we all had a chance to take a look at the solar eclipse in the sky!!! It was so amazing to watch!!! I stared at it a bit too long and had trouble reading the menu inside, but it was so totally worth it! From the news I got the sense that this solar eclipse was a really big deal, so I feel so lucky to have witnessed it!
After lunch we returned to the hotel for last minute packing and some rest. Since Zeneta and I had already packed our things last night, we decided to take a walk outside instead. At the end of the street from our hotel their was a handbag shop with really cute purses and wallets inside. While we were there looking around, a camera crew from a Hindu News station was there and they interviewed us about our opinion of the store! It will air in a week on the channel and the news anchor took our emails down so she will send us a youtube link so that we can watch it! India has really treated us well! :)
Before dinner we headed to the beach to watch a Pongal celebration. It was very similar to the one we watched the night before, but it was more fun because we sat on the beach. There were dancers and a really fantastic drumming performance - this holiday is a huge deal here! I'm so happy that we got to experience these celebrations.
We cherished our last meal in India together, especially our last dessert of strawberry ice cream. The strawberry ice cream in India does not have chunks of strawberry in it, which is why everyone loves it. No chunky fruit is a good thing; that has been the general consensus.
I'm really sad to be leaving India - it was so easy to feel comfortable here! Before when I was sick, I honestly couldn't wait to go home. But now, the thought of sitting on a plane and getting ready for school on Tuesday (ughhhhhhh) and returning to my cell phone just doesn't appeal to me. I'm really going to miss it here, and I will especially miss Baskar because he is just the greatest.
I guess it's bitter sweet because I am really really happy that I will be at my own home and with my family and friends again. I think everyone feels the same way; I think everyone is ready to go home.
I want to come back more than anything I think; it's so beautiful here.
Love, Alicia
Friday, January 15, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Our last day :(
So this morning we were allowed to sleep in! We've been getting up around 7am or earlier for the last week or so, and today we won't meet until 11am! Baskar plans to take us shopping around Chennai for a couple of hours, and I'm hoping to see some activity for the Pongal celebration!
Yesterday afternoon we stopped at Mahabalipuram, which is a group of temples carved out of stone from the ground. This is one incredible giant archeological site in South India! Just wait until you see our pictures!!! This place was so amazing; basically we went mountain climbing yesterday! (We were all wearing flip flops...) We were allowed to walk all over the temples and walk inside parts of them too. It was a little tiring but well worth the effort :)
Afterward we continued our bus ride to Chennai and stopped at a Pongal celebration! We saw a balancing artist, a dancer with a machete, and Indian drummers with really vibrant costumes! We only stayed for a few minutes, but it was so fun to watch! I wish we could have stayed longer. Once we got to Chennai we ate a really cool restaurant. It's theme was movies, so each of us at a seat had a different movie star! Mine was Rachel Weisz from the mummy. The food was great!
Tonight after dinner we will pack up and head out to the airport. Our flight leaves at 4am, and then we are homeward-bound! I think that everyone would still like to be back at the school with the kids because we miss them terribly. I know I do. But I am also really happy to be going home where I can drink the tap water and jump in a snow bank. We all have a new found appreciation for the simplest things, and last night at reflection we all discussed ways we can use our new-found motivation to make changes in our own communities. Buffalo will be happy to have us back!
See you soon!
Love, Alicia xoxo
Yesterday afternoon we stopped at Mahabalipuram, which is a group of temples carved out of stone from the ground. This is one incredible giant archeological site in South India! Just wait until you see our pictures!!! This place was so amazing; basically we went mountain climbing yesterday! (We were all wearing flip flops...) We were allowed to walk all over the temples and walk inside parts of them too. It was a little tiring but well worth the effort :)
Afterward we continued our bus ride to Chennai and stopped at a Pongal celebration! We saw a balancing artist, a dancer with a machete, and Indian drummers with really vibrant costumes! We only stayed for a few minutes, but it was so fun to watch! I wish we could have stayed longer. Once we got to Chennai we ate a really cool restaurant. It's theme was movies, so each of us at a seat had a different movie star! Mine was Rachel Weisz from the mummy. The food was great!
Tonight after dinner we will pack up and head out to the airport. Our flight leaves at 4am, and then we are homeward-bound! I think that everyone would still like to be back at the school with the kids because we miss them terribly. I know I do. But I am also really happy to be going home where I can drink the tap water and jump in a snow bank. We all have a new found appreciation for the simplest things, and last night at reflection we all discussed ways we can use our new-found motivation to make changes in our own communities. Buffalo will be happy to have us back!
See you soon!
Love, Alicia xoxo
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Pondicherry!!!
So right now I'm sitting in an internet cafe outside of our hotel in Pondicherry!! It is so beautiful here. It is like Chennai, but a little bit more touristy. I actually see white people walking on the streets, so people don't look at us like we came from Venus or something :) We've done quite a bit of shopping since we came yesterday. We left kuppayanallur early in the morning around 8am, and then rode the bus several hours to an area outside of Pondicherry called Auroville. Basically Auroville is a huge hippie town that tries to create a perfect society by getting rid of religion/authority and existing for the sake of humanity. It was a bit beyond strange to say the least.
Then we came to Pondicherry! Yesterday we walked outside a Gamesh (killed that spelling, sorry) temple with an elephant outside of it! The elephant walked right past me on the street!!! I could have touched it if I wanted, but I didn't. Some other members of our group walked up to the elephant and gave it coins because it is trained to bop you on the head if you do that. Some of the team members have really cool pictures of this. I did not participate seeing as how I feel I've had enough adventure for one trip :)
On our way back to the hotel we got a bit lost, but the morning we did much better finding our way around. Megan, Hannah, Tessa, Zeneta, and myself all walked on the beach this morning. It was so beautiful and the breeze from the Bay of Bengal (Indian Ocean) felt so wonderful in the sun. We sat down at a small cafe right next to the water - I think this breakfast was my favorite part of the trip!! It was just perfect. Zeneta and Hannah ordered the most delicious coffee EVER! It was espresso with ice cream! I need to try to make this back in the states. We did some more shopping and soon we will leave to go back to Chennai.
Today is Pongal in India so everyone is celebrating the "new harvest" season! Happy Pongal!!
Saturday I will be home! I miss you all!
Love, Alicia
Then we came to Pondicherry! Yesterday we walked outside a Gamesh (killed that spelling, sorry) temple with an elephant outside of it! The elephant walked right past me on the street!!! I could have touched it if I wanted, but I didn't. Some other members of our group walked up to the elephant and gave it coins because it is trained to bop you on the head if you do that. Some of the team members have really cool pictures of this. I did not participate seeing as how I feel I've had enough adventure for one trip :)
On our way back to the hotel we got a bit lost, but the morning we did much better finding our way around. Megan, Hannah, Tessa, Zeneta, and myself all walked on the beach this morning. It was so beautiful and the breeze from the Bay of Bengal (Indian Ocean) felt so wonderful in the sun. We sat down at a small cafe right next to the water - I think this breakfast was my favorite part of the trip!! It was just perfect. Zeneta and Hannah ordered the most delicious coffee EVER! It was espresso with ice cream! I need to try to make this back in the states. We did some more shopping and soon we will leave to go back to Chennai.
Today is Pongal in India so everyone is celebrating the "new harvest" season! Happy Pongal!!
Saturday I will be home! I miss you all!
Love, Alicia
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
We've spent our afternoons travelling to parts of the rural villages near the school. These villages are very poor, but they have such a strong sense of community it is inspiring. Some of the women in one village micro-finance each other; if one woman in a family needs a goat, 5 or 6 of them pool their money together to purchase one for everyone's good. Oftentimes their husbands are of no help, so they take it upon themselves to care for one another.
Another women's organization is working to end child labor in factories where silk is produced. This is especially problematic because in the poor villages, factory owners will buy children from parents who need the money. Those children then are unable to go to school because they are forced to work in the factory. The teachers are supposed to make sure this doesn't happen, but it is safe to assume they benefit from pay offs to keep their mouths shut. Although it is very dangerous for them, the women in the organization bring attention to child labor practices and get the government involved. Also, they do not purchase silk saris; their BEAUTIFUL uniforms were made of cotton. At the presentation we met one young girl who had been rescued from a factory. Since she was too old for school these women taught her to be a tailor so that she could work. Seeing this girl in front of me made me really want to pay attention to fair trade practices - it's really important that people aren't taken advantage of. This girl and three others performed a dance for us - it was so great and I loved to watch it!
Another women's organization is working to end child labor in factories where silk is produced. This is especially problematic because in the poor villages, factory owners will buy children from parents who need the money. Those children then are unable to go to school because they are forced to work in the factory. The teachers are supposed to make sure this doesn't happen, but it is safe to assume they benefit from pay offs to keep their mouths shut. Although it is very dangerous for them, the women in the organization bring attention to child labor practices and get the government involved. Also, they do not purchase silk saris; their BEAUTIFUL uniforms were made of cotton. At the presentation we met one young girl who had been rescued from a factory. Since she was too old for school these women taught her to be a tailor so that she could work. Seeing this girl in front of me made me really want to pay attention to fair trade practices - it's really important that people aren't taken advantage of. This girl and three others performed a dance for us - it was so great and I loved to watch it!
Loyola Higher Secondary School
I LOVE THE KIDS AT THIS SCHOOL! They all want to talk to us and they all want to interact with us. It's really intense because when you walk into a 6th grade classroom all of the students want to shake your hand and ask our names and where we are coming from. They are all so cute! The older students behave a little better, but they are just as curious. The kids have extremely long names and laugh when I try to repeat them. They really seem to like my name :)
Most of the students speak English very well, but it is still hard to explain certain things such as snow to them. I find this to be the funniest thing ever: it is winter in India, and it is probably 85 or hotter here, and the humidity it so intense that we just sweat all day long. But some of the kids here, and Fr. Bella, they wear ear muffs to keep themselves from "shivering in the cold"....yes, this is true.
During our lessons I taught with Dr. Forest and Helen. We sang "This Land is Your Land" and discussed information like our names, ages, where we are coming from, our favorite color, etc. The lessons this week were great, but I really enjoyed doing crafts with the kids today. The paint worked out, and I had enough for one class. The kids really loved it. Then Helen had the kids make masks, and Megan had them make friendship bracelets!! It was a very fun day.
I really wish I could do more for the kids here. They are so kind-hearted and eager to be our friends - it seems so unfair that we have to leave tomorrow. There a few kids I can remember specifically by name :) I hope we can find a way to keep in touch.
Most of the students speak English very well, but it is still hard to explain certain things such as snow to them. I find this to be the funniest thing ever: it is winter in India, and it is probably 85 or hotter here, and the humidity it so intense that we just sweat all day long. But some of the kids here, and Fr. Bella, they wear ear muffs to keep themselves from "shivering in the cold"....yes, this is true.
During our lessons I taught with Dr. Forest and Helen. We sang "This Land is Your Land" and discussed information like our names, ages, where we are coming from, our favorite color, etc. The lessons this week were great, but I really enjoyed doing crafts with the kids today. The paint worked out, and I had enough for one class. The kids really loved it. Then Helen had the kids make masks, and Megan had them make friendship bracelets!! It was a very fun day.
I really wish I could do more for the kids here. They are so kind-hearted and eager to be our friends - it seems so unfair that we have to leave tomorrow. There a few kids I can remember specifically by name :) I hope we can find a way to keep in touch.
The Indian Health Care System
The contents of this post are not for the faint of heart....
So last week on Wednesday our group arrived in the rural village of Kuppayanallur. Unfortunately, for the first 3 days, me and my lovely roomates Megan and Hannah were sick. By lunch on the first day I was in the bathroom vomitting everything that was inside of me, which continued then for the next 18 hours. Megan and Hannah followed suit shortly afterward, and we spent the night taking turns in front of the toilet. Unfortunately for Hannah, at one point she found herself "ankle-deep in sink" because our sink fell off of the wall in the bathroom. I had sort of dislodged it earlier when I needed to grab onto it as I puked my brains out, and I forgot to tell Hannah about that. I heard the crash but slept through the whole episode. Apparently there were like six men in our room trying to fix it. I have no memory of this.
Early the next morning our adult leader Rita had one of the Jesuits, Brother Bruno take us to a nearby hospital. (Nearby being 15km away). I was so nervous because I thought that in foreign countries doctors stole tourists' organs or something, but the hospital was really really nice and very clean. Kevin came with and we were made all better by the wonderful medical staff.
Before I left my Dad told me to try all the different kinds of local foods, but since this happened I've sort of stopped being adventurous with food. I've mostly eaten bananas, but I did try papaya today. It was delicious.
So last week on Wednesday our group arrived in the rural village of Kuppayanallur. Unfortunately, for the first 3 days, me and my lovely roomates Megan and Hannah were sick. By lunch on the first day I was in the bathroom vomitting everything that was inside of me, which continued then for the next 18 hours. Megan and Hannah followed suit shortly afterward, and we spent the night taking turns in front of the toilet. Unfortunately for Hannah, at one point she found herself "ankle-deep in sink" because our sink fell off of the wall in the bathroom. I had sort of dislodged it earlier when I needed to grab onto it as I puked my brains out, and I forgot to tell Hannah about that. I heard the crash but slept through the whole episode. Apparently there were like six men in our room trying to fix it. I have no memory of this.
Early the next morning our adult leader Rita had one of the Jesuits, Brother Bruno take us to a nearby hospital. (Nearby being 15km away). I was so nervous because I thought that in foreign countries doctors stole tourists' organs or something, but the hospital was really really nice and very clean. Kevin came with and we were made all better by the wonderful medical staff.
Before I left my Dad told me to try all the different kinds of local foods, but since this happened I've sort of stopped being adventurous with food. I've mostly eaten bananas, but I did try papaya today. It was delicious.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
The Religions of India
Today was a really great day - we saw so much of the city! But not really because this city is huge... Anyway, we began our day with breakfast at the hotel as usual. Then we returned to Loyola College for our last two lectures. First we heard from a female professor, Dr. Sandra, from the Sociology Dept about the status of women and children in India. To BRIEFLY summarize, women in India are both oppressed and liberated at the same time. This was a great lecture; disturbing, but great. Afterward during our tea break we meet the President of the college in his office along with several deans from the school. They were so happy to have us there. Our last lecture was given by a professor from the political science dept...I can't remember his name
:( ...it's so late here and I'm exhausted... He spoke about India's foreign policy. This lecture was absolutely amazing!!! It was so interesting and I was able to pay attention almost 100% the entire time. Mostly he compared India and China economically and socially. I found it so informative, so relevant, and so interesting. He was brillant and the best was definitely saved for last...today's lectures were fantastic.
After lunch we left to tour different religious sites in Chennai and we had our first exposure to the people on the streets. Our first stop was a Sikh temple. Sikhism is a major religion in India...look it up I don't have time to explain it to you. One interesting thing is that we have to remove our sandals before entering places, including Loyola College. Before entering the Sikh temple we removed our shoes, walked through a basin of water to cleanse our feet, and then we had to cover our heads with bright orange bandanas. Then we shared a "community meal" inside the temple where the holy book is kept. It was "sleeping" (was put away) when we were inside. The temple was simple yet intricate and very beautiful.
I had the most amazing moment after we left the temple - as we walked back to the bus we passed some Indian boys who were returning home from school. They LOVED us!!! They said hello, shook our hands, and were eager to have their picture taken. They were such little diplomats! One boy asked me my name, where I was from, my father's name, my mother's name, my sister's name (Liz they made a funny face when I said your name HAHAHAHAHA), my grandfather's name, my grandmother's name...they just kept wanting to talk to us!!! I loved every minute of it and I was sad I had to leave.
After we went to a Muslim mosque. It was simple, yet very beautiful. Then we went to a Hindu temple which was very intricately decorated with heads of Hindu gods and goddesses. I encountered more Indian children here - I love them! They are so friendly and they love having their pictures taken! Hannah was in her glory because there were baby (21 days old) cows here.
As we walked out of the temple Baskar bought us girls flowers to wear in our hair like the Indian women here do. They are so lovely and I've kept them in all day! :)
After that we visited a Jain temple (Dad, tell Anarog!). We had to wait for it to open so we had ALOT of time to people watch. I think that I must have heard over 1000 beeps of a horn during that time. People here a crazy when they drive. We waved to school children, they looked at us funny, whispered and waved back. Then I saw a little girl pee in the streets and realized that we had just probably walked through a bunch of that the whole day. It is a dirty city, but no one minds.
Finally the temple opened; it was so beautiful. It's made entirely of marble, and hand carved. There are lotus flowers on almost every surface. Pictures are necessary to understand the architectural beauty of the building. Luckily I snuck a few...they're not really allowed.
Finally we had the coolest experience of the day - we visted a Buddhist monk. Our one student leader, Justin, wants to become a Buddhist and he was in his glory. I was so happy for him! He is good friends (thank you facebook) with the head monk at the monastery, so we had a great experience. Bati gave us a New Year's Blessing and tied bracelets on our wrists. Then we had tea with him in his kitchen - who can say they've had tea with a Buddhist monk???!?! I CANNNN!
After dinner tonight I led reflection. I think it went really well because I asked everyone to offer encouraging words to each other. I believe it was a great bonding moment for the team, or so I was told. :)
Tomorrow we leave Chennai for Kanayulapanur...yeah that's not the name but I'll fix that later. We will spend 5 days here teaching English to Indian students and I CANT WAIT!
Goodnight! Love, Alicia
:( ...it's so late here and I'm exhausted... He spoke about India's foreign policy. This lecture was absolutely amazing!!! It was so interesting and I was able to pay attention almost 100% the entire time. Mostly he compared India and China economically and socially. I found it so informative, so relevant, and so interesting. He was brillant and the best was definitely saved for last...today's lectures were fantastic.
After lunch we left to tour different religious sites in Chennai and we had our first exposure to the people on the streets. Our first stop was a Sikh temple. Sikhism is a major religion in India...look it up I don't have time to explain it to you. One interesting thing is that we have to remove our sandals before entering places, including Loyola College. Before entering the Sikh temple we removed our shoes, walked through a basin of water to cleanse our feet, and then we had to cover our heads with bright orange bandanas. Then we shared a "community meal" inside the temple where the holy book is kept. It was "sleeping" (was put away) when we were inside. The temple was simple yet intricate and very beautiful.
I had the most amazing moment after we left the temple - as we walked back to the bus we passed some Indian boys who were returning home from school. They LOVED us!!! They said hello, shook our hands, and were eager to have their picture taken. They were such little diplomats! One boy asked me my name, where I was from, my father's name, my mother's name, my sister's name (Liz they made a funny face when I said your name HAHAHAHAHA), my grandfather's name, my grandmother's name...they just kept wanting to talk to us!!! I loved every minute of it and I was sad I had to leave.
After we went to a Muslim mosque. It was simple, yet very beautiful. Then we went to a Hindu temple which was very intricately decorated with heads of Hindu gods and goddesses. I encountered more Indian children here - I love them! They are so friendly and they love having their pictures taken! Hannah was in her glory because there were baby (21 days old) cows here.
As we walked out of the temple Baskar bought us girls flowers to wear in our hair like the Indian women here do. They are so lovely and I've kept them in all day! :)
After that we visited a Jain temple (Dad, tell Anarog!). We had to wait for it to open so we had ALOT of time to people watch. I think that I must have heard over 1000 beeps of a horn during that time. People here a crazy when they drive. We waved to school children, they looked at us funny, whispered and waved back. Then I saw a little girl pee in the streets and realized that we had just probably walked through a bunch of that the whole day. It is a dirty city, but no one minds.
Finally the temple opened; it was so beautiful. It's made entirely of marble, and hand carved. There are lotus flowers on almost every surface. Pictures are necessary to understand the architectural beauty of the building. Luckily I snuck a few...they're not really allowed.
Finally we had the coolest experience of the day - we visted a Buddhist monk. Our one student leader, Justin, wants to become a Buddhist and he was in his glory. I was so happy for him! He is good friends (thank you facebook) with the head monk at the monastery, so we had a great experience. Bati gave us a New Year's Blessing and tied bracelets on our wrists. Then we had tea with him in his kitchen - who can say they've had tea with a Buddhist monk???!?! I CANNNN!
After dinner tonight I led reflection. I think it went really well because I asked everyone to offer encouraging words to each other. I believe it was a great bonding moment for the team, or so I was told. :)
Tomorrow we leave Chennai for Kanayulapanur...yeah that's not the name but I'll fix that later. We will spend 5 days here teaching English to Indian students and I CANT WAIT!
Goodnight! Love, Alicia
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