Rishikesh – A Short Trip to a Holy City

Week 3: Days 19-21 of Trip

This is going to be a quick one ;-)

This weekend we took our first group trip to the Holy City of Rishikesh. Interesting thing about Rishikesh – it is a completely vegetarian city and since cows are considered sacred animals, they were all over the place. It just so happens that we were there during pilgrimage season where people (mostly men) travel to Rishikesh and the Temple of Shiva to bathe in, collect water from, and give offerings along the Holy River (the picture to the left is of Shiva and the offerings that are burned and sent along the river). It was quite a sight to see and a few of us even participated in one of the blessing ceremonies. While we didn’t understand what was being said, it was a true cultural experience to be around people while they were seeking blessing from their god. To learn more about the Hindu God Shiva see:

http://www.sanatansociety.org/hindu_gods_and_goddesses/shiva.htm

One thing that we were unable to get used to over the weekend was the number of people who not only stared at us because we looked different, but who unapologetically pulled out their cameras and took pictures of us without our permission. I was even able to get a few shots of the men taking pictures of us in the act (see picture to the right - haha). Some of us received more attention than others and it did make the trip a bit uncomfortable. I will say that this wasn’t a complete surprise as we were warned about people staring at us during our Orientation but, you know, being warned about something never truly prepares you for the experience. I did my best not to let it bother me and overall those people taking pictures of us didn’t put a damper on my trip at all.

My favorite part of the trip was our hike to Neer Waterfall. It was so beautiful and so soothing. It was well worth the 8-10 miles roundtrip we walked to get there. The trip to the waterfall was one of the few times thus far that I was able to just sit with my thoughts and simply converse with God. Once again, I was reminded that this is the opportunity of a lifetime and God has truly blessed me.

We only have one more week on Hindi school and then back to Delhi we go! My 1st day of school is next Thursday and I am so excited (and nervous too). Wish me luck :-)

Hindi 101: Back to Basics

Week 2: Days 8-15 of Trip

So, I’ve traded in my English ABCs for Hindi अ,आ,इ’s. It’s hard to believe that a little over a week ago I knew no Hindi whatsoever and now I am slowly but surely learning to read. Recognizing and reading script is really cool – I silently jump for joy when I pronounce new words correctly in class during our reading aloud exercises and the teacher says शाबाश (shabash → good job:-)). It reminds me of how my Sunday School kids got so excited when they would read the memory verse out loud all by themselves and I would smile and tell them that they did a great job! It never gets old – adults and children alike enjoy the feeling of grasping new things and the ability to showcase their newfound knowledge/talents.

I must admit that these T and D letters/sounds are the bane of my existence at the current moment. (See: http://www.learning-hindi.com/post/821127618/lesson-13-consonants-part-3-ta-tha-da-dha & http://www.learning-hindi.com/post/842512665/lesson-14-consonants-part-4-ta-tha-da-dha) I made a really cool chart to show you all of the letters at the same time, but it won't upload :-( As you can see, each of the letters look different and they do in fact have unique sounds. But this is what I hear in class “tuh, tuh, tuh, tuh, duh, duh, duh, duh” – luckily the teacher varies her facial expression while saying each consonant so I know that there is a difference between them. Unfortunatelty, my ears have not caught up to my eyes and I am still quite lost during oral dication exercises. Oh, the oral dictations we do in our 4th period class each day are cause for much laughter as the teacher says a word to us and we are to dicepher the correct letters and also write the word in Devangari script. All I can say is: Big Fun, oh yeah :-)

Learning a new language has been a challenge to say the least. It’s not that Hindi is hard; it’s just that I have to almost completely empty my mind of English in order to learn it. The teacher often says “stop thinking in English” and she’s right – especially when it comes to sentence structure and word order. For instance, instead of saying “the book is on the table,” in Hindi I say “mez par kitab hai (मेज़ पर किताब है)” which translates into “table on book is.” Sounds crazy, but we’re getting the hang of it.

Knowing that foreigners come from all around to attd the Landour Language School, the local people of Moussorie are sweet enough to allow us to practice with them as we go into shops and walk around. Everytime I say “Mai achchhi hai (I is good),” they smile and say “Mai achchhi hun (I am good).” :-) Even the kids help me out and they are great teachers!

All in all, this is a very humbling experience. It reminds me that there is always more for me to learn. Now that I am learning a new language and able to put sentences together, a bit of Hindi will now be included in each of my posts (with translations of course). Enjoy! :-D

Get In Where You Fit In: Experiences on the Streets of Delhi

Week 1: Days 1-7 of Trip

So I’ve been in India for exactly one week now. It seems like much longer because I am learning, experiencing and seeing so much each and every day. My mind is constantly trying to process everything – the customs, the heat, the people, the stares I receive because I look different, the heat, the air, the food, etc. I feel like I’m on a magic carpet ride and I should be singing “A Whole New World” from Aladdin. Life is so different here – not better or worse than the life I’m used to in the States – just different. It is a difference that I am enjoying though and I am looking forward to getting to know India much more intimately over the next nine or so months.

While I am experiencing a lot of different things – what is sticking out the most for me in the beginning of my journey is the driving in India. Now anyone who knows me, knows that one of my favorite things to do is get in the car, put on some good music and drive, drive, drive. Yeah … that won’t be happening in India. I can’t even put my headphones in because I have to be alert at all times – whether riding in a car or simply walking down the street. Simply put, when it comes to the rules of the road here, there are no rules whatsoever. Literally, anything goes when trying to get yourself from Point A to Point B in New Delhi. You simply have to get in where you fit in – and trust me, people find ways to fit in some very tight spots :-)

While lines have been drawn on to the lanes with either yellow or white paint, no one stays in their respective lane. It’s almost like the paint is there just for decoration or some type of art project. People regularly cross over to the other side of the road to pass cars. A stop light in Delhi reminds me very much of the starting line of a foot race – except instead of people, cars, bikes, and motorcycles are crowded together (in no particular order or identifiable pattern) and they each is trying to elbow the others out of the front position. When the light changes to green: hold on for dear life.

If I can be honest, sometimes I miss out on cool sights and buildings because I’m too busy talking to Jesus trying to ensure my safety. I am so serious. But you know, I have actually deepened my relationship with God traveling through Delhi . . . as nervous as I am crossing the street and riding in ‘auto rickshaws,’ I had to remind myself that God is everywhere and even when I am in the middle of a crazy New Delhi street, I am still quite safe in the palm of God’s hands. There’s no need to worry. Earthy danger is everywhere (even in places that we feel comfortable and have naively convinced ourselves are ‘safe’), but I am so glad that I have learned to trust God. Luckily I serve a God who always has his/her eye on me and who never ever sleeps; therefore, I have no need to worry. Of course, I’m always cautious – mama didn’t raise no fool. But who knew I’d find a lesson in faith while driving and walking around India??? Yep, God is indeed everywhere and I’m finding new reasons and ways to praise him/her each and every day.

India with America on the side: My Own Special Mixed Cultural Learning Experience

Before the trip commenced, it set in that I was the only African American in the South/Central Asia Pre-Departure Orientation for Fulbright, and I realized that I was already in a whole new world even before I reached India. I will say that it was refreshing to be around people from different cultures – all of whom had a desire to see the world and to make it better place whether it is through teaching or conducting research. I was beyond excited to become a part of the Fulbright family. For the sake of complete disclosure and at the risk of being vulnerable, I must admit though that I was a bit apprehensive about how I would be perceived as a black woman - not only in India, but I was also concerned about how my fellow India ETAs would interact with me. Luckily, I have had nothing but good experiences with each person that I’ve come in contact with; furthermore, I trust that I will remain lifelong friends with some of those with whom I am taking this journey. Now that I am here, I hope that more African Americans will consider and ultimately take advantage of the many opportunities out there to explore different parts of the world because the global community is becoming smaller and smaller with each passing day.


On this journey, I’m not only learning about India, I am also learning about another part of America. Having been in predominantly African American settings (i.e. Detroit, Spelman College and Howard Law) has indeed been a wonderful and foundation building experience for me; but now I am discovering the white and multicultural part of America through the other members of my cohort of English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) in India. Even something as simple as reminiscing about childhood over lunch in the USIEF office was an eye opener for me because we didn’t sing all the same songs on the playground, but we did know variations of the songs others sang. There are so many different parts of America – each valid and worth getting to know. I am blessed to have the opportunity to learn about it with such a diverse and kind set of people.


With all this being said - I’m simply looking forward to continuing to learn, grow, and make cross-cultural connections.