India Spring 2011

Back in the States...

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 21:07:23 -0400

Back in the states at last and let me say reverse culture shock is a crazy thing…

After I catch up on sleep, grab hold of my emotions, and process all that I have experienced since February, I’ll write like I have never written before…

For now, I shall continue to search for cows in the streets and recover from the jetlag after days of travel.

* Please check out the link below to better understand some of the work I did in India with my fellow students : )

http://www.deshpandefoundation.org/blog/2011/04/15/celebrating-achievements-the-inchara-project-comes-a-long-way/

Update at last....

Sun, 17 Apr 2011 12:03:00 -0400

Aloha to all of my family and friends who so kindly take the time to read my blog. Please forgive me for taking so long to write and provide you all with updates about my adventures and travels here in India.

Between each cup of ginger-infused chai tea, inhalation of rickshaw exhaust, tour of city palaces and forts, and three hour camel rides, I struggle to find a spare moment to simply mentally process each experience. Keeping up with my blog is an additional struggle!

After I return to the states, I shall blog about my experiences in India and provide thorough and thoughtful reflections. In the meantime, here is a quick recap…..

The last two weeks have been a whirlwind and completely flown by….

*Long day of Presentations on our final Friday, March 25^th. Dressed formally in a sarree and had a successful final presentation!

*That night…celebration with our fellow Indian students included authentic South Indian food and dancing.

*As a group, we travelled to the city of Delhi and Agra. City Tours and saw the Taj!

* Part of the group headed home to Boston and I stayed here to explore more of India!

* Sites so far…….

*Rajashtan

Jaipur, The Pink City

Jaisalmer, The Golden City

Jodhpur, The Blue City

Udaipur, The City of Lakes

*Now I am in the city of Pune! : )

Complete travel stories soon to come….

A wonderful site during fieldwork for BCT last...

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 13:35:00 -0400

A wonderful site during fieldwork for BCT last month….

MARCH 23rd: BCT is Complete!

We have excellent news! Implementation for BCT is at last 100% complete!! YAY.

Our translations FINALLY came through. We met with Lakshmish on Sunday, had the materials read over, and were able to successfully print all of the materials.
Yesterday evening, the four of us went to the BCT office and presented all of our materials to Lakshmish, Chiara, Prashant (Inchara Project Coordinator), and all of the case workers. The materials my group and I produced, included the case-study guide, documentation system (village binders with case studies written up), nutrition guide, and nutrition reference sheet. We provided a single copy of each in English and the remaining copies are all in Kannada. The materials were delivered in bags from the RAPID market along with a notebook and crayons for the children.
All of the materials were very well received and it was quite gratifying to see everything come together after waiting over three weeks for the materials to be translated. Lakshmish and the staff gave us excellent feedback and we loved hearing how much they appreciated the materials. Also important to note, several of the case workers gave us feedback about their experience working with us and any challenges they faced while having us out in the field.
I have not yet fully comprehended that we are at last complete with our BCT project. With our second huge project, the Global Corp Practicum, due in just two days, any celebration or relief will have to wait until Friday afternoon!

MARCH 22nd: Patience....again

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 23:57:00 -0400

Patience—the reoccurring lesson

Another day of field research. Another day of unexpected change in plans. Another day of long group discussions. Fleshing out ideas. Fine-tuning details. This morning two of our group members were feeling physically exhausted. I took it upon myself to revive the energy so we could have a productive day. Speaking slowly to my India peers, utilizing facial expressions, and being overall energetic finally rubbed off after a couple of hours out in the field.

When I made the decision to expend extra energy to liven up the group’s energy, I did not take into account my sleep deprivation and own physical exhaustion. Last night, my brain was ticking. I could stop running through ideas for our project. At 2 a.m. I think my eyes finally closed and three hours later at 4:55 a.m. I awoke to my alarm for my 5:30 yoga class. Particularly because Kijana was joining me, I was more excited than ever to go. I can sleep when I return to the States right? I did not want to miss out on the opportunity to do yoga with Vessuda, my vibrant teacher. Of course, yoga today lasted forty-five minutes longer than usual. Vessuda continued to take us through “one last pose” at least fifteen times. It was rather excellent though! I relished every moment of class, though the exhaustion set in this afternoon. The tables turned…the energy of my group was decent and I now I was feeling drained.

Perhaps, two hours of yoga after just three hours of sleep was not the best idea.

More sleep tonight to get refreshed for tomorrow!

A quote to remember… Not that I find myself getting angry for...

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 03:14:18 -0400

A quote to remember…

Not that I find myself getting angry for any one reason or another, but this quote reminds me to just let go of things..be chill : )

MARCH 20TH: Excited.

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 00:08:54 -0400

Today, our schedule was once again packed with class and activities. Sarah and I had a great day of research yesterday and have brainstormed quite a bit about our project solution.

As I have mentioned again and again, the choice to focus on HIV/AIDS presented us with many challenges in terms of research in the community. Our group has done an excellent job and today we made a final decision to do our project model on a Wellness Center for HIV+ women. We were very excited today when our idea was so well received by two of our Indian group members.

For the Center we want to take a holistic approach to provide the clients with an array of services including yoga classes, cooking classes, nutrition education, and a support group. We are playing with several other ideas too. Perhaps we will figure out a way to creatively incorporate gardening with medicinal plants and a day care service (for any young children of the mothers). With the design of our model, a large challenge has been figuring out a way to maintain confidentiality while still advertising a community center for these women.

The toughest part of this project is the fact that it is a hypothetical design and we are not going to be here in India to implement it. If our project model/idea could one day be implemented in the future we think it would be very successful and benefit many women.

The global corp practicum has been far from simple. As I have...

Sat, 19 Mar 2011 12:30:57 -0400

From my favorite little quote book...

The global corp practicum has been far from simple. As I have mentioned before, my group has been having trouble narrowing down our social issue and developing an appropriate solution. By choosing the topic of HIV/AIDS, our group knew our project was going to be rather challenging right from the start. HIV/AIDS is a sensitive topic and can be rather difficult to discuss, especially here in the Hubli community. After days of intense research, we are finally making great progress! We have chosen to focus on HIV-positve mothers who face social, economic, emotional, mental, and physical challenges. The Organization we envision will take a holistic approach to support our target population. Our design and idea shall preserve Indian culture and tradition while alleviating the stress this population of women may face. For now, I am intentionally being vague….once our idea is fully developed it shall be revealed!

At this point, I do not know what to expect in the week to come nor do I know what to expect during my travels in India after this program ends. I have faith that everything will work out….and at this point all I ask of myself is to love what’s next and discover the stars.

Baking under the hot Hubli sun, I actually would have loved to...

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 11:43:09 -0400

Baking under the hot Hubli sun, I actually would have loved to be in a dark tunnel. Shade. Perhaps, damp. Secretive environment…ideal for talking with people about the issue of HIV.

P.S. No sir, you are mistaken about my occupation…I am just a student gathering research unavailable on google.

MARCH 17TH: GO TO THE NEXT DEGREE With the research for our...

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 08:17:00 -0400

MARCH 17TH: GO TO THE NEXT DEGREE

With the research for our project, with my yoga practice, and for the final week in Hubli, it is time to go to the next degree with the levels of intensity, effort, and commitment.

Inspirational video I utilized in my days as a runner…

MARCH 16TH: Failure is the Best Opportunity of All!

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 08:14:12 -0400

Failure as opportunity!

Today was an extremely bust day chock full of field research. Our group visited a range of sites, and overall gather quality research which we are anxious to link together. Though research has been going well, we are experiencing some frustration. Many other groups in class seem to have their solutions (for the social issue) completely worked out. Our group has a considerable amount of research to gather before we can develop an effective, sustainable, and feasible solution. Denise continues to remind us to see failure as a window of opportunity. In my mind we have not failed at anything yet, but this idea still directly correlates to what we are experiencing. We have a great opportunity to be creative, open, and explore a variety of resources. Our hearts are not set on any one particular idea and because of this we are taking a wide approach to our research. In the week to come we are excited for the opportunity to explore ideas to develop a great project. Field Research Thursday evening and this Friday should accelerate the process and get us moving in the right direction.

MARCH 15th: HUG THE ONES YOU LOVE

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 08:07:00 -0400

HUG THE ONES YOU LOVE

Following a busy day of class and research, yoga is what my body craves. The days here in Hubli are getting longer and longer! We were quite fortunate to find a fantastic yoga instructor who has classes in her home, which is just a twenty minute walk away from the hostel we are staying in. The instructor is absolutely fabulous and yoga classes with her are like no other yoga classes I have taken.

The classes are held on her roof deck. The sight and sound of the palm trees rustling in the wind in combination with the glow of the sun in the sky, the environment is perfectly relaxing and provides a space for our minds to rest. To our surprise, our vibrant teacher is a grandmother! Going into our final breathing exercise, her two-year-old grandson decided to make an appearance. After taking a glimpse of us four foreign girls, he hugged his grandma for comfort. She scooped him up, hugged him back, mumbled a phrase in Kannada, and attempted to put him down so she could take us through the last couple minutes of class.

The grandson was relentless and would not let go. His little arms and legs wrapped around her chest and torso like a little monkey. Ignoring his grandmother’s words and body language, the two year old continued to hug her tighter and tighter. Caitlin, Natalie, Kijana, and I smiled at one another as we appreciated the little boys love for his grandma.

I acknowledge this post may be more simple than insightful, but watching this, I realized how much I miss hugs! This moment was truly the highlight of my day as I was reminded how important it is to me to hug the ones I love.

MARCH 14th: MAKE TIME

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 23:56:00 -0400

Although it may be more convenient for me to claim I do not have time to do things, the claim is dishonest. In my eyes, convenience simply cannot take precedence over honesty.

I have time to brush, floss, and rinse with Listerine each day. I find time to run and stretch in the morning. So this week I will make time to read the paper, go to yoga, and…AND….post my blogs the day after I write them! Though I have been reflecting each day in a microsoft word document, I have allowed the inconsistent internet connection to discourage me from posting my blogs as I write them. I must be honest, I can probably make time each day to simply jump online and post my blogs.

IT IS REALLY WEDNESDAY NOW…THE EVENING EVENTS TRULY PREVENTED ME FROM POSTING ALL MY OLD BLOGS…TRYING MY BEST TO GET BACK ON TRACK. Mostly for my mother: )

MARCH 13th: RIDE A CAMEL

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 23:55:24 -0400

RIDE A CAMEL.

Ride a camel.

And when you do, forget your camera.

No photograph can capture the essence of the experience.

That’s all : )

MARCH 12th: ENJOY

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 23:54:00 -0400

ENJOY

Enjoy the wind in your hair.

Enjoy natural laughter.

Enjoy wisdom.

Enjoy excellent conversation.

Enjoy homemade food.

Enjoy being immersed in a body of water at night.

Enjoy the twinkling of the stars.

Enjoy every moment spent with a quality friend…

…especially if there are guavas involved.

If there is just one thing to enjoy in life…

If there is nothing else…

ENJOY perfectly moist yet well-cooked, crispy yet tender, perfectly salty yet sweet barbeque chicken 5 a.m.

…Even if you are a vegetarian…

MARCH 11th: TAKE A RISK

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 23:53:00 -0400

^{TAKE A RISK}

My father always reminds me, “If you are not living life on the edge, you’re taking up too much room”. Taking risks and living life on the edge is thrilling. I live for it. The motto, “go with what you know” has value, but through many experiences the choices I have made to explore the unknown dark caves, to take a risk and jump off the seacliffs, and the like have been the most rewarding. As Richard Branson puts it, “ I have enjoyed life a lot more by SAYING YES than saying no”. Saying yes risk and adventure is always more enjoyable!

Mysore. Bangalore. Kerala. Mysore. No Kerala. Goa. Bangalore. Hubli. Hubli, Mysore Bangalore. Palace. Beach. City. Hardrock café. Sand between my toes. Or little fishes at a spa. Yoga and open markets. Or chilling on the beach. A comfy hotel bed and a city to explore. Mysore, Bangalore, Goa. No Hubli…..need the escape. Decisions decisions decisions.

The words of my old track coach ring through my head, “There’s a choice you have to make in everything you do. Just keep in mind that in the end the choice you makes makes you.” Free weekend. 3 full days to escape Hubli, see a new part of India—truly a life defining choice. There could be adventures of a lifetime.

I rush down to the train station Thursday evening. I’ve seen Goa once. A city is a city. Mysore Palace here I come. After a bumpy rickshaw ride ending in typical negotion, I arrive to the train station. Thank goodness I have Kijana’s company. We go counter to counter to figure out where and how to purchase my train ticket. Beady eyes stare at us so we stare at each other. Another evening in Gooobli. My blue pen glides over the thin paper as I fill out my name, age, dates, and location of travel. Ok, Mysore it is….

So I think. Bad news. I am unable to purchase a reserved ticket. I will not be able to sit with the four girls I would be traveling with. I am instructed to return to the station tonight to see if I can board the train with a chance of maybe getting a “General Boarding seat”.

“You can always come to Pune!” Kijana reminds me of my invitation. We both have no idea what Pune would be like. Before any agreement to join her, I contemplate my options as we go back to campus. Hmmm what to do what to do. If I decide on Mysore, I may be standing on the train, alone for 10 hours in the night. I am all about taking risks, but there is a different between taking a risk and being an idiot. I want to be safe : )

No train. Goa would be nice. We make our way to Desphande and Natalie shares pictures of the ashram for the weekend in Goa. Gorgeous. What a comfortable decision it would be. Though, there is no guarantee I will have a seat in the car.

I am down the last hour. I must make a decision…..ahhhhhhh.

Google helps me out. Pune. Hmm. Night city pic looks nice. Although no beaches are near, the escape to an unpredictable place is ever so appealing.

I run out to the stone stairs where Kijana is sitting. “Kijana, are there any places to swim in Pune?” Ummm. Brittany, why ask a question neither of us can answer.

Ok, whatever! “Kijana I am coming to Pune.”

Let the unknown adventures of Pune begin!

March 10th: HAVE COURAGE

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 23:51:00 -0400

HAVE COURAGE

Presentations. How frightful being up on stage can be. Beady eyes stare at you the minute you open your mouth. The butterflies flutter in your stomach. You pray your rapid heartbeat will calm. If you run out of the room right now, will the consequences be that bad?

Some people may fear public speaking, but I secretly enjoy it. The reason I love it remains arcane even to me. Today was different. Speaking about our project, was rather uncomfortable. Each group preceding us seemed to have a plan. The ideas and projects of each group were rather clear opposed to our group who felt scattered. Our group dynamic is fantastic, but we are struggling with narrowing our topic and need to gather additional research.

A wise person once said to me, if you do not have confidence, fake it. Today, was that day. Walking up on stage, I took a deep breath, gathered the courage to speak and presented to the best of my ability. During the question-answer time directly after our presentation, I was extremely nervous answering questions because I myself knew we needed more research. Faking confidence worked for the most part and life goes on.

March 9th: INTERNALIZE WHAT THE DOCTOR SAYS

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 23:51:00 -0400

More Dr. Suess…

MARCH 8th: BE YOURSELF

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 23:49:45 -0400

Short Story: As I sip my warm chai tea from the traditional tin cup, I enjoy the fifteen-minute morning break with the company of my Indian friends Jagadeesh and Mahesh. Standing on the gray stone patio, heated by the bright sun, is just bareable. The flavor of the tea and the animated facial expressions of my companny is worth it. After sharing some laughs, we wander back to class. An elderly woman, her lime green saree sparkling in the sunlight, approaches us. Not recognizing a single word of Kannada, I look to an Indian student next to me. She kindly translates, “She wants to know if you are a drama teacher?”

What? Haha.Ummmmmm. No. Not the appropriate response, but I am I taken aback with confusion. Where is Sherlock Holmes to solve the mystery of why this woman thinks I am a drama teacher?

Traveling is absolutely wonderful. The opportunity to learn about different cultures and learn about different people always excites me. Without question, I find it important to be culturally sensitive as I learn about others, particularly when I am immersed in their local environment. How am I being received? Is the way I speak fitting to the typical way of conversation? Do I listen well? How does my body language come off? Overall, are my actions appropriate?

As important as it is to be culturally sensitive, at the same time, I believe it is equally important to be yourself. During our class presentations, I cannot help myself from being….myself. I have come to terms with my craziness, enthusiasm, or whatever strangeness comes over me when I publically speak. Apparently the elderly woman had “peeked in on class for a presentation and sees me when I speak”.

I suppose I use facial expressions in conversation here and there. Perhaps, talk with my hands.

While I continue to unravel the mysteries of India, gain knowledge about the social issues local people face, and interact with people here at Deshpande and in the local community, being myself is just what I plan to do. Not being myself, would simply be dishonest.

Please enjoy some Dr. Suess…

MARCH 7TH: CHERISH GOOD HEALTH

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 23:47:29 -0400

From the pungent spices in each dish to the smooth texture of warm Indian breads, my fellow students and I have embraced this new, local cuisine. The food we consume each meal is always an experience in itself. I enjoy the light, fluffy texture and mildly sweet taste of a banana lassi. The crisp flavor of fresh sugar-cane juice freshly pressed and the revitalizing coconut are my two favorite refreshments on a hot Hubli day. The morning chai tea and bundz from the canteen are up there too.

The abundance of flavor may come with a cost as I experienced this weekend.

I officially have joined the sick-people club.

No details or descriptions for this segment of writing.

I look forward to eating light this week! Plain breads, plain rice, fruit, and electrolyte infused beverages shall be on my personal menu. Perhaps, I will ease up on the running, increase the sleep, and most certainly stay away from any spicy goopy dish!

I have always cherished good health and feeling sick makes me cherish it that much more.

MARCH 6th: SMILE

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 23:45:10 -0400

The chai was rather tasty…

Walking through the campus…

We Northeastern students enjoy the smiles and enthusiasm of the young Indian children as they show off their math and English skills.

[Once I figure out how to post a video, I shall surely do so]