Reflection

Reflection 

After almost two months of being in India I have done a lot of reflecting on my experience thus far. Traveling abroad is a very unique experience; you are immersed in a new place with a very different culture and you have to navigate new situations and overcome obstacles in a setting where you may not be able to communicate through verbal language. In addition, you are thrown in with a new group of people and have to figure out everyones personalities and navigate group dynamics. Many times throughout this journey I have felt alone and uncertain as to my purpose for being here, however; I have realized that it is exactly this scenario that makes studying abroad such a unique and beneficial experience. Only when one is completely out of their comfort zone is it possible to truly see the world from a different perspective. I have decided that this opportunity is worth pursuing and will be a learning experience even if it is not what I had expected. During the past couple of months I have found solace in friends; new and old, family, running, school work, and yoga. I greatly appreciate all of the support I have received and hope that you all know you are in my thoughts. As we are learning in yoga, the real challenge is to overcome any obstacles in life with grace and humility.  

~Namaste

Birthdays and Beaches

Birthdays and Beaches

WOW! I could not have asked for a more special way to spend my 20 birthday than to be in India. As one of the many September babies in our program I celebrated my birthday numerous times in different ways... 1st I was able to celebrate at Namma Bhoomi with the school children, 2nd I was able to celebrate with my (almost) birthday twin and lovely friend Coral, and 3rd I was able to celebrate on the day of my birthday.

Our trip to Namma Bhoomi was not only a time of celebration but also a time of making relationships. The first trip that we made to Namma Bhoomi was in August, during which we learned about the purpose and framework of the school (see previous post about NB). This time our purpose was to spend time with the children and work as a team to provide a unique and memorable experience for them.

During the morning (10:00am-12:45am) we were separated into 4 groups; measuring, coloring, games, and gardening. I chose to help with the gardening project. The school strives to be self sustainable and the garden is one step aimed at reaching that goal. For our part, we worked with a group of about 25 children to clear a plot of land, level out the surface, and line the edge of the garden bed with large stones. This work was both physically and emotionally rewarding. We not only were able to break land and see the garden bed come together but we were also able to bond with the children over our blisters and herpetophobia  (fear of reptiles or creepy, crawly things). There is no better feeling than getting a little dirt on your kurta in the process of giving back to an organization that has done so much for such wonderful children.

We broke bread with the students in their dinning commons and the meal was fabulous! After lunch we spoke with one of the program coordinators about the work done in the classroom. Namma Bhoomi focuses on democracy and giving children autonomy. Their education model is similar in some ways to the Montessori model in that; the children have the freedom to choose what they work on each day, the classrooms are mixed ages, concepts are learned through working with materials and teaching tools, and teachers are there for guidance not lecture style learning. We were invited to support the school by develop teaching materials such as flash cards, educational games, counting tools, and language props. I am thinking about developing tools for teaching health education or biology!

In the afternoon, we were divided into small groups and  explored our artistic sides. One group made masks, another did henna and the third danced. The children had an absolute blast and we did as well! At the end of the day we all met outside and the children sang us happy birthday in english and Hindi. Then we shared home-baked cookies and said our goodbyes. 

Beaches 

On Sunday, September 14th, a few friends and I traveled to Malpe beach, located in Udupi just around 20 minutes from Manipal. It was a beautiful and sunny day and I got my first bit of color as we walked up and down the beach. The water was lovely and it was a great way to celebrate. 

On my birthday I went on an adventure with my roommate, some mutual friends, and a friend that I met while traveling. We went in search of a large waterfall around an hour and 45 minutes away from Manipal. Once again we didn't ever make it to the falls but after a long trek we found a farmer who showed us to the river somewhere in the middle of the forest. After a challenging bus ride home via. public transportation, we went out to dinner at our favorite local restaurant and got oreo milkshakes at a local fast food joint. It was a fabulous way to spend my birthday; low key but it is always lovely to spend time with friends.  

the River

Local rice farm

Walking through a local rice farm following the farmer to the river. 

More than just a preschool: the Anagwadi Center

Anagwadi 

This past week we visited an Anagwadi in Udupi. Anagwadis are part of the primary level of health care and are community based. Their main goals are to: enhance the health and nutrition of children under 6 years, reduce infant mortality, morbidity and malnutrition, decrease school drop out rates, and lay a foundation for physical, mental, and social health. In order to meet these goals the Anagwadi provides a number of services to the community including; supplementary nutrition, health check ups, immunizations, basic preschool education, health and nutrition education for mothers, and referrals for specialists. Most of the work that is done at the Anagwadi and via outreach programs is done by the Anagwadi teacher, a honored and respected woman in the community.

The Anagwadi Center

The Anagwadi facility was clearly a place of learning and enrichment. It appeared well kept and safe and the two staff members; the teacher and the helper controlled the children in a friendly way. I was impressed by the respect the children displayed for the women’s authority and felt that it was clear that the teachers were looking after the best interest if the children. The facility was also academically stimulating. For example, the walls were covered in numerous visual teaching tools such as; images portraying important lifestyle choices associated with good health, the alphabet in Hindi and English, and the numbers 1-15 in the form of easy to remember pictures.

Some of the children at the center. After learning about the mission and organization of the center we were able spend time playing with the children. They showed us a number of songs and dances in Hindi then we taught them the makarina! 

This poster is a visual tool used to teach the children about important aspects of life in the village such as; agriculture, fruits and vegetables, work, and clothing. The children are taught both Hindi and English at the Anagwadi and most learn the local language while at home. 

The children learn their numbers 1-15 by drawing creative and easy to remember pictures. For example, the 5 is drawn as an apple and the 4 is drawn as a popsicle. 

In addition to education, the Anagwadi also provides health care for the children. While at the Anagwadi children are weighed, provided supplementary nutrition, and given the appropriate vaccines. In addition, a doctor visits on a monthly basis and referrals can be given to the community at any time. This is the weighing mechanism for the children. They were all excited to be put in the swing and told that they were a healthy weight!

This is a chart of all of the mothers, pregnant women, and women
of childbearing age in the community. It is the teachers
responsibility to keep tract of the members of the community
so that she can effectively provide healthcare for
the target group. 

I was also impressed by the community outreach coordinated by and through the facility. The food supplements to be distributed to the community were well-organized and kept in dry covered containers. In addition, the services offered to mothers’ pre and post delivery were quite impressive. The surveillance and monitoring of the mothers creates a relationship through which the Anagwadi teachers can relay important health messages to the community. Providing mothers with support during and after pregnancy provides the teachers with the opportunity to relay relevant information about health related to pregnancy and lifestyle, which benefits the community as a whole. Community education seems to be a major goal of the Anagwadi and is carried out through biweekly meetings and information sessions. I would be interested in learning about the attendance rate at these meetings.

These packets are examples of food supplements that would be given to the mothers on a monthly basis. There are certain packages that are given to women that are breastfeeding, women that are pregnant, and children that are malnourished. 

Although this Anagwadi was extremely well outfitted and effective, when we talked about the Anagwadis in other districts there was not the same success. Like many of the notional programs implemented on the community level, success varies greatly based on location and other social factors. There is a lot of effort through the instillation of top down management to try and homogenize success, however there are limits on the effectiveness of “outsider” intervention. I would be interested in testing the efficacy of a teaching movement in which respectable Anagwadi teachers traveled to other districts where there has been less success to teach the Anagwadi workers. The goal of their teaching would be to spread their passion for helping to achieve health in the community. In order for the movement to be successful, they would have to instill the seed of selflessness and pride for their work. If successful the movement would change the mindset of those who are exploiting the system and decrease maleficent behavior. If there was a way to decrease the corruption of the system by individuals through increasing education there might be more success stories in more districts across the country.

A-going to GOA

A-going to Goa

Friday

The first night was quite an adventure, we arrived at the bus stop at around 11:00 for our 11:30 bus and waited until about 12:15 before the bus finally rolled up.  The bus that we took was an over night  AC sleeper bus. It had reclining seats and provided blankets. Although it was a rough ride, I managed to get a good amount of sleep with the help of an anti neasea pill from the pharmacy. An adventure made even more exciting due to the anticipation of what was in store for the weekend.

Saturday

We arrived in Pondichery at the main bus station around 7:30 am and had to get a local bus to Palolema, the picturesque beach side town where we were planning to spend the first part of the trip. After an hour and a half long bus ride we arrived in Palolema under dark clouds. We found a comfortable restaurant to have some lunch while we waited out the down pour. It was the first time I had humus since leaving the US and it was absolutely fabulous! 

The rest of the day we spent wandering around Palolema. We walked up and down the beach and stopped in at a few local restaurants for drinks. 

The streets were lined with small stores all of which were very similar; selling small souvenirs, trinkets, and clothing. I bought my first incense and a pair of pants. 

At 4:30 I went to a yoga class offered by a crazy little beachy man. The yoga class was just what I needed that day, a bit of an adventure and some alone time however, the yoga itself was not my forte. I am really into the static yoga that we are learning at maniple as it is more focused on meditation, breathing, and personal improvement. This other class was more of a "show and try" of all of the challenging positions in yoga. Although it was fun and I met a few interesting people, I was not able to do most of the poses and didn't feel quite as centered coming out of it. Luckily the man that ran it was a hoot and made up for what he lacked in teaching skills in personality!

For dinner we went to "the First Authentic Italian Restaurant". We ordered bruschetta, hand made spinach raviolis w/ pesto sauce, and a spinach pizza. We also got a lovely bottle of wine. The food was superb as was the company. Sitting cross-legged on stone benches about 3 inches off the ground added to the ambiance and we all had a blast!

After dinner we all walked to the beach with the intention of playing cards and hanging out. Unfortunately the beach at night is not the most charming place in India. Between the stray dogs, drunken men, animal feces, and garbage, it can be a bit of a challenge to truly enjoy. We sat for about a half an hour before the drunken men got to be a bit too much to handle (they all wanted to play cards with us) and we went to a restaurant near the water to sit and relax. The Arabian sea is a beautiful and powerful looking body of water. After a bit if rain the swells looked ominous and as the clouds parted the moon lit up the ocean.

Sunday

After sleeping in until 9:00 we all woke and packed up hoping to get an early-ish start. We sat down at the restaurant around 9:45 and planned on leaving by 10:30, however this breakfast was a typical Indian experience. When we arrived we ordered within the first 10 minutes. I got the Israli breakfast which included hummus, a salad/salsa made of cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, olive oil, and some other seasoning (maybe cilantro?), scrambled eggs, and a roti (It was absolutely delicious and hit the spot!). Our food then preceded to arrive within the next hour and a half with no particular order. Our juices arrived within a timely manner but my meal in particular took quite some time. We were informed that they had to make the hummus from scratch. They also never brought out our pancakes and we had to remind them about a half an hour after our meals had come out that we had ordered them. They then brought us 2 plates of pankaceks out of the 4 that we ordered and we had to calmly correct the mistake. This same situation happened again with the coffee and teas. After 2.5 hours we finally left the restaurant, an hour and a half behind schedule but at least we were on our way!

We took a taxi to our next destination where Chris (one of my friends) and I split off from the rest of the group. We decided to go to Old Goa, the old Portuguese center and one of the Old Heritage Sites in Goa . 

The Chapel of St. Catherine

The Basilica of Bom Jesus

Courtyard in the Basilicia

After seeing the cathedrals, museum, and ruins we went down to the ferry landing. As we were standing on the ferry landing trying to figure out our plans for the rest of the day (as we had not eaten, had no means of transportation, and didn't really know where we were) a group of three european men drove by on mopeds. Before we knew it, we had chatted and discovered they were also going to Anjuna and were touring about the countryside of Goa enjoying the sights for the rest of the afternoon. They invited us to join along so we hitched a ride on the back of their bikes.

I had a really nice time getting to know Christopher and Josh while riding along and we had numerous interesting conversations. We took two ferries across parallel rivers surrounding a small island, and went in search of a "neva falls". After a long time of riding aimlessly along unmarked roads we asked a few gentlemen if they could point us in the direction of the falls. 

With signs like this I don't know how we ever got lost!
#typicalIndia

As I assume we were in the wrong village we were pointed to the local water source and hiked in about 300 yards to a small stream and pipe. It was an adventure and we couldn't help but laugh at the end point to our search. 

The legendary "Falls" or a local watering hole?

Unfortunately, India is not all beautiful sights and adventure. Where there are people, there will be garbage.

The path through the rainforest that we walked trying to find the falls.

Lovely little Ganesh alter in the middle of the forest. A diamond in the rough. 

We also saw the biggest spider I have ever seen. Luckily this one was high up in the trees. AHHHH!

Once on the main road we started to head back to Anjuna and went through a crowded market place with bustling streets and side roads. The town was decorated and a buzz due to the Ganesh Festival later that weekend. 

By the time we finally arrived at Anjuna it was around 7:30. We went to the guys hostel where we bumped into some of our Polish friends from MIT (Manipal Institute of Technology); small world. We had a couple of drinks before meeting up with the rest of our group and going out to dinner at a fabulous Indian restaurant where I got Chicken Afghani Kebabs (soo good). After dinner we drove back to the guys hostel and played games and hung out. There was about 20 individuals at the gathering from different parts of the world. It was fabulous to talk with other young adults and learn their stories. There is something special about meeting people while traveling. You all  automatically have at least one thing in common, a passion for traveling and new experiences, which easily bridges cultural boundaries and facilitates companionship. I have learned that travelers are always friendly as they are looking to make connections and enjoy quality time with people! Meeting chill people and learning about their stories is what I believe traveling and tourism is all about! Later that evening my friend and I went out for a ride on the moped. We didn't have any set route and just bopped around looking at the rivers and ponds. We poked our head into a local temple and stopped on a bridge over a beautiful river and lake. It was fun to chat and learn about a new person with a very different history. 

The beautiful countryside in Goa, India.

Monday

The next day the group wanted to go to Chipora, a little hippie town. Unfortunately due to the holiday and it being off season, the town was shut down except for a few restaurants. After walking around for a couple of hours we decided to hitch a ride back to Anjuna. When we finally made it back I went to an Ayurveda center and got a massage. We met up at a local restaurant and had some beers while listening to music and enjoying the beautiful ocean and warmth of the sun! The view was incredible and I felt a sense of calm that I had not experienced in a long time. 

Our bus that night was at 8:45. Although we tried to make the best of it, the non-AC bus was miserable. It smelt like garbage, was hot, and did not have very nice accommodations. Luckily I was asleep for the first 4 hours then was in and out of consciousness for the second leg of the trip. We arrived back at campus around 4:30 and stumbled into the dorms dragging ourselves into bed. 

This experience was one for the books and was a wonderful adventure and learning experience~

~ ciyarsa (cheers)

The ASHA, the Jains and the Sheiks: Beginning a lifelong spiritual journey

The ASHA, the Jains and the Sheiks: Beginning a lifelong spiritual journey 

I can not believe I have already been in India one month! This past week I really started to feel like Manipal was a home away from home and felt at peace with my surroundings. I love the shops and restaurants in both Manipal; many of which are small specialty shops and very personable. There is nothing like getting your coconut juice, fresh fruit, or organic peanut butter from the same vendor each time. In addition, it is always exciting to explore and discover new shops and hidden treasures. For example, today I went to the watch shop and had my battery replaced by a lovely gentleman for 40 rupees. I am not sure how that works considering batteries in the US are ~$16 and 40 rupees is less than $1 but I didn't protest. It is not suprising that living in a location with shops such as this is more community based and friendly. I have found that you form relationships with people that you come in contact with on a regular basis and can easily find comfort in a familiar face.

On Friday 30/08/13 we traveled to a Community Health Center where we learned about the importance of national health programs at the community level. This experience was very beneficial in helping me to put the theories and policies I have learned about into context. Some of the policies that we talked about included maternal and child health policies, DOTS, and Vaccination policies.
This particular Community Health Center was well established and had a relatively high autonomy however, there were still a number of things that could be improved. At both centers that have we visited I have been shocked at the level of technology available in the lab for diagnostic testing. I am interested in learning more about how work is conducted in these labs that seem so vastly different from american diagnostic laboratories.  
We also learned about the role of accredited social health activists (ASHA) in the community. ASHA are community members that have been trained in basic medical practices and diagnosis. They act similarly to a community health worker in that they are mainly supposed to provide emotional support and guidance to members of the community. In addition, they act as a bridge between the community healthcare clinic and the citizens.

On Saturday 31/08/13 we traveled to the main Jainism Temple in the state of Karnataka. Jainism is a religion that is based on the philosophy of the individual being in coordination with the environment. The philosophy states there are two types of being; living and nonliving and that living beings can be classified into 5 groups based on the senses they poses. The first order in the taxonomy is of beings that only have the sense of touch such as earth, water, fire, and air bodies. This class includes microorganisms and plants. The second order includes organisms that have a sense of taste in addition to touch and includes worms, leeches, oysters, and snails. The third order introduces smell. Some examples of organisms in this class are insects and spiders. The fourth order introduces sight and includes butterflies, flies, and bees. The final class includes all beings that can hear including birds, reptiles, mammals, and humans. All the living beings contain jiva (consciousness, energy, and bliss). The nonliving properties are flow of time, space, and karma.

Location of idol and holy place in the Jain house. 

Entrance to the Jain House. 

This pillar, located outside of the temple, served as a symbol of caste in previous eras. Pillars such as this one were often built outside of temples so that people of lower castes, who were not allowed into the temple itself, could participate in spiritual rituals.

The Temple

Jains theorize that, "consumerism is based on the assumption that the universe is a collection of dead objects. It is for this reason that depression is a regular feature in every consumer society. When humans find themselves surrounded by nothing but objects, the response is always loneliness…" (Swimme). The solution to this flaw, is rediscovering awe in the material world. This is one of the Jain philosophies that I identify with and feel is useful in my life.
Although I do not fully comprehend or believe in many of the rituals associated with Jainism, I do like many of their philosophies and layman practices. One example of a theory that I identify with is that a loss of intimacy with oneself  leads to indifference to the natural world. People today are often too busy for self reflection or understanding, a flaw that harms more than just the individual.

On Satuday afternoon, we went to a pineapple farm where we had a picnic lunch, fresh pineapple juice, and went on a tour of the facility. The farm not only had pineapples but it also had a number of other fruits including: mangosteen, dragon fruit, and snake fruit; as well as spices such as: all spice, cinnamon, and pepper.

Learning from the Jains and watching where i'm stepping... 

Greenery at the Pineapple farm where herbs and new plants are kept.

The sea of coconuts (in forefront) and discarded coconut shells (in background). 

Bamboo Tree Forest

The infamous pineapple fields! Not a single pineapple tree in sight.

Finally, Saturday Evening we went to a presentation by Grad Students on Sheikism at the Guardara (place of worship). Sheikism is a religion that was established around the same time period as Buddhism and Jainism. Its main philosophies are based on the equality of all men and its traditions aim to maintain equality in every day life. There are 5 symbols that can be used to identify a Sheik; uncut hair or "kes", a wooden comb "manga", a pair of "kacchas" or boxer briefs, a turban "keshki", a bracelet "kada", and a "kirpan" a small to 3ft long dagger carried around the waist. The formal language of the Sheiks, which I have used in quotations, is Punjabi. Historically the 5 symbols were established during times of war as protection and weaponry; today, they are more of a ritual and tradition and hold different meaning.

"To define another being as an inert or passive object is to deny its ability to actively engage us and to provoke our senses…" 

(Thomas Berry)

~Engage with the world in search of thy true self.

Abode of the Beloved: The 5 Love Languages

The Five Love Languages

Some of the most insightful conversations I have had have occurred outside of the classroom including a conversation about the Five Love Languages. The 5 love languages include:

words of affirmation

acts of service

receiving gifts

quality time

physical touch

According to the philosophy of the 5 love languages people experience love in different ways. This includes the ways in which they show their love for others and the way that they perceive others expressions of love. There is an online test that one can take to formally determine which languages they identify with and implore the most. When I took it, I was told that my love languages are physical touch and quality time (although anyone that knows me could probably have guessed).

This theory was completely foreign to me however, I feel it is extremely insightful and have enjoyed thinking about the implications that it has. I believe that the relationships that we have with others are greatly determined by the coordination or dissonance of our actions and interpretation of those actions. Having a better understanding of the way you and those you interact with experience love and emotion is crucial to forming successful and meaningful relationships. In the end, even if conflicting traits create indestructible barriers in a relationship, keeping these languages in mind will help avoid conflict and animosity towards others.

Here is a link to the quiz online: http://www.5lovelanguages.com

Abode of the Beloved

Oh Companion That Abode Is Unmatched, 

Where My Complete Beloved Is. 

In that Place There Is No Happiness or Unhappiness, 

No Truth or Untruth 

Neither Sin Nor Virtue. 

There Is No Day or Night, No Moon or Sun, 

There Is Radiance Without Light. 

There Is No Knowledge or Meditation 

No Repetition of Mantra or Austerities, 

Neither Speech Coming From Vedas or Books. 

Doing, Not-Doing, Holding, Leaving 

All These Are All Lost Too In This Place. 

No Home, No Homeless, Neither Outside or Inside, 

Micro and Macrocosm Are Non-Existent. 

Five Elemental Constituents and the Trinity Are Both Not There 

Witnessing Un-struck Shabad Sound is Also Not There. 

No Root or Flower, Neither Branch or Seed, 

Without a Tree Fruits are Adorning, 

Primordial Om Sound, Breath-Synchronized Soham, 

This and That - All Are Absent, The Breath Too Unknown 

Where the Beloved Is There is Utterly Nothing 

Says Kabir I Have Come To Realize. 

Whoever Sees My Indicative Sign 

Will Accomplish the Goal of Liberation. 

~Kabir 

(Poet and essential philosopher for the Bhakti movement)