Here I am in New Delhi. We arrived last night after the long plane ride, and are enjoying an amazing hotel. We are being treated like royalty in this fancy hotel and by the UCEFI staff who have coordinated our whole trip.
I am about to go out on my first big adventure ... we'll walk around the city a bit and maybe bye some local clothing to wear to our 80+ person reception tonight. Yikes.
My favorite thing that I've noticed so far is the COLORFUL nature of this place. Everyone has such beautiful colors on, and things are decorated so brightly.
I'll post a picture or two and more stories after the big event tonight.
The Taj Mahal
This "wonder of the modern world" is truly magnificent. One can't help but feel very small and at the same time part of something big when standing in front of it.
Traffic Hazards
The camels were just one of the many obstacles to safe and easy driving in India. Overall, they were some of the most patient and easy to deal with!
Helpful, Friendly, etc.
This young man gave me a personal tour of the Mosque outside of Agra. His enthusiasm and friendliness was refreshing compared to some of the beggars and vendors who wouldn't leave us alone.
Strength and Beauty
The women I met in India were strong and beautiful, regardless of how they were treated by the men around them.
Gateway to India
One of the famous sites of Mumbai, this tourist spot attracts people from all over India and all over the world.
Dangerous Art
This young man whipped a fire stick around himself to end the demonstration of his art form. It was amazing to see, and everyone was left in one piece (for the most part).
Familiar Symbols
In the area called "Jew Street," we saw the beautiful signs of the Jewish people that are still living here, though there are not many left at this point.
Chinese Fishing Nets
In Kochi there are a series of these nets which use a counter-weight system to pull in nets filled with fish. Today I got to help work one of them with this man who is showing off his catch from earlier.
School Pride
This sign hangs in a Government school for disadvantaged students, and makes me think about the level of pride students all over the world DO, or SHOULD take in their schools. I like CSI and ISA for their levels of student ownership.
Storytelling
This wall is one of the artistic remains of the ancient civilization. It has hundreds of small figures and tells a story of the power of water and animals.
Henna on my Hand
The other day I had a lovely local woman put this design on my hand. It is part of the costuming for weddings and other celebrations here.
A Special School
Today we visited the first (and one of few) schools especially for students with special needs. We saw some amazing teachers and their incredible students who welcomed us with open arms. It was a heart-warming and heart-wrenching experience.
No Food Allowed
The monkeys outside this historic cave/temple site are famous for ensuring no visitors bring food into the temples. They'll search your belongings personally!
Orissi Dancing
Some local students performed a short recital for us ... with beautifully adorned costumes and intricate performances. It was a warm welcome indeed.
A School for the Community
Today (14 July) we visited a school that is totally free for the children of a village that didn't have any education system until three years ago. The students welcomed us with warm smiles and an eagerness for the camera!
The Victorian Memorial
This amazing memorial to a dead queen (done with many similarities to the Taj) is the most visible, but not the only, reminder that Kolkata was founded by the British. The change in the spelling of the city's name depicts the shift in mentailty away from British domination.
The Holy River
Bathing in the Ganges is an experience of cleansing the mind and spirit for the Hindi people. I was careful not to touch the water which has been infected with many things, but the beauty was there for all of us.
Visit to Mr. Ajay's School
I was the guest of honor for the day, and was asked to give a message of hope and a bright future at the daily assembly. It was an impressive thing to see. No, it is not an all girls school, but the boys were standing in back.
Papers to Grade
The teachers at this private school have a huge staff room, including storage space for exams like these that are given every week (one in each subject). They are all written by hand, and the penmanship is incredible!
Two Teachers Working Together
Just at the beginning of our work together, we hope to learn from each other and help our students do the same!
No Evil
Recognize this one? This is a popular image in the streets, perhaps serving as a constant reminder to stay out of trouble, though I don't know exactly what the script reads.
Girls in the Community Kitchen at the Sikh Temple
These young ladies took a break from helping to make food for everyone in their religous community to have their picture taken. It is possible that they had only seen one other picture of themsleves in their lives.
Graffiti in New Delhi
Though not as prominent, it does exist here
1 comment:
Hey Zinn,
It's Anam. I'm so excited for you. India is so beautiful, everything is really colorful. I'm so proud to have that heritage in me because my roots start back in India. The reason why I'm not still in India is because of the split that happened between Pakistan and India, and my family came over to the Pakistan side because they were Muslims. It's quite an interesting story that I enjoy telling and hearing about.
Captain, be careful with the food they sell in the local shops because most of it'll make you sick. That happens to me every time. It's fun to enjoy the local life of different countries and to learn about them, but it always comes with a price, and in this case, it's your stomach, haha.
Anyway, I'm off to China tomorrow morning. Wish me luck!!!
love,
Anam
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