So today is the 3rd day I have been in India and I already feel so at home! The staff at Visthar (where I am living) is incredible and my "team" mates are so fun.
Yesterday it down poured and we had our inauguration ceremony. At the start of inauguration we all got brought into an open room through a sort of ritual. We walked up and they had a plate of flowers and candles that they held up to our face and moved in a circular motion a few times. Then we each got a Bindi (forehead dot) and a necklace of REAL FLOWERS! The necklace was so intricate and smelt sooo good! In it was roses and a white flower and two yellow flowers with silver tinsel (yes like the kind you throw on Christmas trees.)
Once everyone was brought into the space (SJPD students and the entire Visthar staff) we all sat in a circle in white plastic chairs. In the center of the circle was a floor decoration composed of colored sand,flowers, and candles. We read a poem about a circle of unity and then each are given the opportunity to light one of the many candles that surrounded the floor piece.
After the poem Johnathan gave a speech we all (the SJPD students) recited a poem (The Low Road) to the staff, which followed the theme of the inauguration which was Breaking Down Barriers and Building Communities.
Later we played a introduction "get to know you" game, where we were each given a card with a specific animal on it. From there we had to all walk around the circle acting like that animal and try to find your pair. Of all the animals, I got the donkey. But, I did find my partner eventually. His name is Steven and he works here at Visthar as the paper making teacher. (At the beginning of the inauguration all the SJPD students got shoulder bags with packets of info inside and one of the treats was a handmade journal that Steven made.. mine is blue!)So Steven and I talked for about 10 minutes and "got to know each other."
After inauguration we all went back to our rooms to change clothes because we were wet and freezing (Mom and Dad here is where my zip up I was dying to take would have been very useful!) Then we went back and Roshin talked to us about Purchasing Power in India.
-- Interesting Fact: 80% of Indians earn 300 Dollars in one month and spend less then 20 rupees a day. However,they are not all considered to be poor. Only the bottom 40% are considered to be "poor." (20 rupees would be about 20 cents in America)
Then today we woke up and went to breakfast where I had two things I cant think of the names of (one was spicy and looked like a doughnut and the other looked like those uncrustable sandwiches except it was just dough.) I also had toast and boiled eggs and pineapple juice and coffee.
Panel followed breakfast. This is where 5 or so staff members come to talk to us students and answer any questions we might have about the Indian culture. On the Panel today was Reshma, Indrani, Anuradha, Vinoj, and Francis. We discusses inter-religious marriages, inter-caste marriages, divorce rates, domestic violence, caste systems, education, employment, and much much more.
After Panel we had tea and then we watched two documentaries one that especially struck me and I think everyone should watch is called The Story of Stuff, its about 20 minutes and is so eye opening to how selfish and blind the USA is in regards to how much we consume.
Afterwards, we took a tour of the surrounding area and I saw MONKEYS and goats an cows and chickens and dogs just walking the streets like the people do. (One dog was so scary and almost bit us!)
Then we went back and got Kannada lessons from the Bandhavi girls! The two we got to meet where Nimbamma (Nimbu-14) and Eramma (Era-13). We learned SO MUCH KANNADA! I love the language. To give some background, Kannada is the language of the Indian State of Karnataka which where we are located. In lessons we learned how to count to ten, how to say colors and other basic everyday phrases as well as a really cool song! The girls were amazing singers too. When they sang the songs for us their voices are purely angelic. This has probably been one of my favorite experiences thus far and I am so excited to go back and learn more!
So it is getting late but before I finish this fairly long blog I will simply say..
"Nanu Kannada Motanada Beku" = (I speak Kannada!!)
:D
Yesterday it down poured and we had our inauguration ceremony. At the start of inauguration we all got brought into an open room through a sort of ritual. We walked up and they had a plate of flowers and candles that they held up to our face and moved in a circular motion a few times. Then we each got a Bindi (forehead dot) and a necklace of REAL FLOWERS! The necklace was so intricate and smelt sooo good! In it was roses and a white flower and two yellow flowers with silver tinsel (yes like the kind you throw on Christmas trees.)
Once everyone was brought into the space (SJPD students and the entire Visthar staff) we all sat in a circle in white plastic chairs. In the center of the circle was a floor decoration composed of colored sand,flowers, and candles. We read a poem about a circle of unity and then each are given the opportunity to light one of the many candles that surrounded the floor piece.
After the poem Johnathan gave a speech we all (the SJPD students) recited a poem (The Low Road) to the staff, which followed the theme of the inauguration which was Breaking Down Barriers and Building Communities.
Later we played a introduction "get to know you" game, where we were each given a card with a specific animal on it. From there we had to all walk around the circle acting like that animal and try to find your pair. Of all the animals, I got the donkey. But, I did find my partner eventually. His name is Steven and he works here at Visthar as the paper making teacher. (At the beginning of the inauguration all the SJPD students got shoulder bags with packets of info inside and one of the treats was a handmade journal that Steven made.. mine is blue!)So Steven and I talked for about 10 minutes and "got to know each other."
After inauguration we all went back to our rooms to change clothes because we were wet and freezing (Mom and Dad here is where my zip up I was dying to take would have been very useful!) Then we went back and Roshin talked to us about Purchasing Power in India.
-- Interesting Fact: 80% of Indians earn 300 Dollars in one month and spend less then 20 rupees a day. However,they are not all considered to be poor. Only the bottom 40% are considered to be "poor." (20 rupees would be about 20 cents in America)
Then today we woke up and went to breakfast where I had two things I cant think of the names of (one was spicy and looked like a doughnut and the other looked like those uncrustable sandwiches except it was just dough.) I also had toast and boiled eggs and pineapple juice and coffee.
Panel followed breakfast. This is where 5 or so staff members come to talk to us students and answer any questions we might have about the Indian culture. On the Panel today was Reshma, Indrani, Anuradha, Vinoj, and Francis. We discusses inter-religious marriages, inter-caste marriages, divorce rates, domestic violence, caste systems, education, employment, and much much more.
After Panel we had tea and then we watched two documentaries one that especially struck me and I think everyone should watch is called The Story of Stuff, its about 20 minutes and is so eye opening to how selfish and blind the USA is in regards to how much we consume.
Afterwards, we took a tour of the surrounding area and I saw MONKEYS and goats an cows and chickens and dogs just walking the streets like the people do. (One dog was so scary and almost bit us!)
Then we went back and got Kannada lessons from the Bandhavi girls! The two we got to meet where Nimbamma (Nimbu-14) and Eramma (Era-13). We learned SO MUCH KANNADA! I love the language. To give some background, Kannada is the language of the Indian State of Karnataka which where we are located. In lessons we learned how to count to ten, how to say colors and other basic everyday phrases as well as a really cool song! The girls were amazing singers too. When they sang the songs for us their voices are purely angelic. This has probably been one of my favorite experiences thus far and I am so excited to go back and learn more!
So it is getting late but before I finish this fairly long blog I will simply say..
"Nanu Kannada Motanada Beku" = (I speak Kannada!!)
:D
Beauty my dear. Way cool. I'll try and watch The Story of Stuff.
ReplyDeleteExcellent..!
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