A few Pictures :)

This is McKensie and I on the top of the roof of Susan and Samson's house where we had our homestay.  We  all tried our best to fly a kite. It amounted to quite a few laughs. :)

Also I found this written in the paper the first or second day after I arrived. It is of course part of the reaction due to the unfortunate tragedy in the rape of a young woman in Delhi. It gave me hope to see this.  :) 

உணவு uṇavu (Food)

Mangos are the national fruit of India. (I had to look up the national fruit of the U.S. and apparently we don't have one. :P )  When we went to the store the other day I got a mango, and mango flavored wafer cookies. Today I got a mango ice-cream bar. I also have a carton of mango juice in the fridge. Needless to say, I really like mangos. I'm going to eat as much mango here as I can.

On another note, we have been getting served tea and snacks in our classes. Tonight in our Contemporary India class we were served tea (which is really good!) and a different type of food every time we happened to change each major theme of our powerpoint. We were first given banana chips which are thin slices of  yellow bananas fried with a bit of salt. Next we were given a peanut carmel bar which reminded me of the carmel used in cracker jacks and caramelized popcorn-- except the carmel was on peanuts instead of popcorn. Our professor then gave us a fruit call "qua" with a very strong sweet odor and told us to bring it back home to eat. He also interestingly instructed us to not drink water directly after we ate it but about 15 minutes afterwards. He said the juice of the fruit would line our throats for that 15 minutes and then we could drink water.  He generalized this to all fruits as well. I found this quite interesting. 

Apparently, some Indians believe that one should drink water only before and after a meal. I heard our bodies likened to a food processor where you put the liquid in first and then you put the solids in. This can be difficult to do though especially when the food is spicy. On another note, the food here althought it is spicy is managable. Sometimes I can manage how much gravy I put on my rice and therefore how spicy it is. Also we eat SO MUCH RICE! I had no idea that South Indians in Tamil Nadu were so keen on eating rice.  Every lunch we eat rice in the mess at school with a variety of gravys to pour on. We are also given papad which I like to crush and mix with my rice. Also let me mention that we have to eat rice with our hands (actually more correctly only with my right hand)! As a result I've been trying to master the art without getting it all over myself. It's been getting better as I've continued to do it each day, but it has definitely taken some getting used to. I have so much more appreciation for silverware. :)

A Twist to Earl Gray

Last night I treated myself to a cup of earl gray tea. Before leaving I grabbed 10 tea bags of it and stuffed it into my suitcase. Making tea here is more of a process than in the U.S. First I had to light the stove. I turned on the gas tank that is connected to our gas stove. I then turned the handle on one of the double burners for the gas to come out. With this done I had to light the gas with a hand held lighter.
Finally, I could then boil the water and milk which came in a plastic square pouch. Once both were done, I poured them into my cup with my  earl gray tea bag. The twist came when I put the sugar in. I didn't measure it out but poured it out of the jar we had. I didn't really know how much sugar I was putting in but wasn't too worried because the tea here is super sweet.  I thought that too much sugar wouldn't bother me if I happen to put too much in.

Well, I ended up putting too much in and it actually bothered me. So much for liking lots of sugar in my tea  some things still have not changed. I put way to much sugar in. (Although, in the U.S. my mom might argue that I still put more sugar in than she does, I put much more in this time than I usually do.)

This tea, in some ways represents my life here. Since being here I have adapted and changed my style of dress to the original person I was when I arrived. These are merely only minor things such as wearing a salwaar and dupata (the scarf) which I have enjoyed. However, sometimes it annoys me. My dupata always seems to end up touching the floor at one point during the day. It's most embarrassing when other Indians point out that I have not achieved this art of keeping it on my shoulders and it is trailing behind me. It is so long! I don't know how they do it... I know some pin them. Perhaps I should get some here. In as much as I am trying to embrace the culture here there are still parts that are difficult.

With the difficulties there are also blessings intermixed. This morning, I woke up and as I was washing my face I overheard someone else in the apartment below us blasting the song "Mighty to Save". (As another note, they use the word "blessing" is used here a lot more than I have ever experienced in the U.S.) I find that some Christian here are very passionate in their prayers. I think this may be a result the fact that unlike America, they are in the minority here and therefore take the personhood of Jesus much more seriously. Hinduism as far as I understand, does not have a god who takes the likeness of human form to take on the sins of the world allowing for a direct connection to God. I believe this idea of a direct connection to God is valued all the more here in light of this understanding.

On Friday we will be going to our first temple which I am looking forward to.

Home of Compassion ( Field Placement) - Reflection of last Thursday

Today I went to Home of Compassion with Jancy. She was a little worried that we would not be able to communicate well due to her limited English but it all worked out. We took the bus and arrived to meet Sharif and Yogilam who had taken their motorcycles. Then we walked in and sat at the tables to wait for instructions. We then walked into the secretary’s office where we were given instructions to go to the class for recovering alcoholics. There must have been some miss- communication between the students and the secretary of the organization. I believe the students thought that today they were going to be working with those who were housed by the organization. However, the secretary said that he would only allow them to work with them after they had received training by going to the recovering alcoholics meetings. When they found this out they were not happy.

After meeting with him we went to the first session of the meetings, which focused on decision-making. I only knew this because it was one of the only words written in English on the white board the man was using. The session was given in Tamil except for the prayer at the end and the phrases “seeing the world through my eyes” and “sensation of feeling” which were written on the white board during the session. Sharif was able to translate some of the chanting at the end for me which had to do with making change in their lives. We also attended a second session on stress management where the teacher taught all of us how to meditate to relieve stress. At the close of both sessions we prayed, “God grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, courage to change the things we can, and wisdom to know the difference.” After eating lunch, we planned a skit to articulate that alcoholism was a disease and promoted that the Home of Compassion was a place they could come to be cured. The students who spoke Tamil came up with the idea of what we should do and gave me the part of a bar tender, part of a door and one of the doctors at the end of the skit. They plan to translate what I say in English into Tamil when we perform it next Thursday.

Hospitality

Hospitality. Wow. I just came back from our home-stay. We stayed with one of the professors at the school we are going to.  We were treated to meal upon meal. We got there on Friday morning and stayed untill Saturday afternoon. On Friday were treated to lunch, and a then a game of learning cricket. We played outside with Susan (7) and Samson (9?), Sheila Mamam (our textiles and design professor) and her older sister who is the mother of the two children. They live in the city of Aurus Puram and their house is wedged between the shops on the street. Beside them works a tailor who plays music and is hard of hearing so they told me its often loud.

After we played cricket for a while outside we played another game where we switched trees and the person in the middle had to get to the place before the other odd person got there. Afterwards we went to McDonalds. Earlier in the day we had told them we had not been there and were hoping to go some time later. But of course, they took note of this. They took us there later that afternoon after we had had some time to rest.  It was was a 5 minute walk from their house.  There we took pictures and I got out my iphone which thoroughly fascinated Samson. We took picture in McDonalds which was much more classier than any McDonalds I have seen in the U.S. They bought us cheeseburgers which were deep fried patties, with peppers, lettuce, mayonaise, and chicken like texture because they don't serve beef here.They also bought us McFlurries, and french fries. The french fries were like the American french fries which was great. :) We then stopped at the local vegetable store and a supply store to get school supplies for Susan. 

We then came home and played an Indian game called carom. It's in the shape of a square with nets in the four corners.  Each team  of two players has to put their own color puck in the nets. While we were playing in the power cut out, but it was no big deal. It was a normal occurrence for them every night so they had lights charged and ready. 

I also got to play PS2 with Samson who encouraged me in the video game King of Persia.  He was so nice and continued to tell me to play. He would tell me and show me how to do things but always gave me back the controller. I made a point of asking him to show me so he could play as well. Otherwise I would have been the only one playing. He was so patient. I was very impressed. Not once did I feel like I was a nuisance to him and was doing everything wrong. He continued to encourage me to do it  and didn't insist that he do it for me. As far as I understand boys in the U.S. I think it would be a rare thing to see the same hospitality shown to a visitor by a boy his age. 

Later around 9pm they gave us dinner which was not super heavy ( but apparently McDonalds had been more of a snack).  I was definitely full of food by the time I got to bed.

Here they listen to Christian contemporary singers such as casting crowns and Britt Nicole. I found out that Samson's favorite song was "Who Am I" and he knew the words too... and Susan's was "Open the Eyes of My Heart". Prior to going to bed McKensie and I sang some of "Who Am I" for them as they asked for us to sing for them. This experience brings knew meaning to those songs for me. 

I will post some pictures later. We only have so much internet juice to upload them so we all have to wait till we get our own internet sticks or ( dongles) as we call them here. Thanks for all of your prayers and thoughts.

My knee had been hurting a while back from all of the walking I was doing but it has been much better recently which I am so thankful for. If you can't walk here it's very difficult to get around. :)

Love to you all. 

I am alive! We had a fun adventure getting lost in Coimbatore and trying to find our way back to our home. The busses here are a bit more confusing especially when people tell you various directions about what side of the street you need to get the bus on. After taking two different buses, walking a lot of kilometers and asking numerous people we finally found a third  bus that took us back. At one point we had absolutely no idea where we were and thought about taking a rickshaw back which would be more money but we knew they would be able to get us back. We finally were able to find the right bus and bus stop. Kari and I had a marvelous indian meal  with Kirk ( the director) complete with a warm chocolate soufflé and chocalate french cake ( both including ice-cream) to end our day. I'm pretty tired now and will be taking a shower and heading to bed. Another adventure awaits tomorrow. We're going to church :) Goodnight!

I'm Here!

Hi!!!

I am in India... and it's been a crazy first couple of days. I had two 8 hour flights and spent the night in the Mumbai airport with the five of the other students before finally getting on a domestic flight to our small town in the South. 

There were times when we were all so jet lagged that really anything seemed funny because we were all so out of it. I didn't realize how much jet lag would mess with me to get here. That aside, each day has progressively gotten better. 

Since being here I have learned about different aspects of Indian culture:

People drive on the left side of the road. As well as pass on the left. I experienced this first hand today when walking down some public stairs.

Indians have this way of “long blinking” where they see you and then blink for more than a second to acknowledge your presence.

I am very white and people stare at us constantly wherever we go.

After I woke up  I heard church bells ring this morning

If you think driving in D.C. is hectic please come to India. It is much worse. If there is simply no space on the sidewalk people just step into the street and then cars move into the other side of the lane…for a brief moment... where oncoming traffic may be coming and then get back into their lane. There are cross walks but no one will stop for a pedestrian without them asserting their presence.

Everyone walks here.

Indians have extreme tastes in their food. Either super sweet or spicy.  We have been drinking very sweet tea with milk and it is soo good. We have also been eating lots of fried treats as well.  On a different note, I had parrata today more of like sweet bread tortilla. (Mom and Dad it kinda tasted like the sweet Olga tortillas we used to get) I think this is my favorite Indian food I’ve encountered so far. 

We’ve been eating lunch with the other Indian students at school who eat with their hands. Sauces are poured over rice and then using all their fingers scooped up and put into their mouths… I don’t know how they do it. Afterwards we take our plates over to the spigots on the side of the building that all flow together in a sort of stream like water system. There we bang our plates in this big barrel to get rid of the food that was not eaten and then rinse and wash it using powdered soap.

Power goes out everywhere. In class today the Indian professor just kept on talking. She was perfectly un-phased where as I’m sure any other U.S. teacher would have a fit. It goes out in nice high end stores, as well as in our apartment. Thankfully, we have a generator for these cases.

I’m getting the hang of these bucket showers. I don’t really mind them.

They have wonderful colorful Saris here. We went shopping today and had such a hard time choosing. There were so many choices. (Mom you know how I am haha… thankfully they were very accommodating.) Some of the girls from our school came to give us pointers. One in particular named Merlin helped me.

Preparations

One week. One Week.. ONE WEEK!

Wow. Time has flown by so fast. Today my mom and I went around Target to find various things  including: hand sanitzer, some granola bars for the flight over, bubble gum, and some shampoo & conditioner. We tried to find some without scent, but much to our avail we found nothing. (I was told getting products without strong scents would help keep the mosquitos away from me.)  Thankfully we were able to get deet at the casual adventure store to ward off any who may think me to sweet to resist :P. So hopefully that will be enough. I also got some new Teva sandals to walk around in while I'm there. There still seems like so much to do including finishing up assignments before I even arrive in India. I've been reading The Christ of the Indian Road by E. Stanley Jones and The Story of My Experiments with Truth by M.K. Gandhi. I wish Ghandi could have given me a little more succinct account of his life but I probably shouldn't judge him since I tend to be pretty wordy myself.

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