Tidbits

Short happenings here in India:

(Sorry about formatting issues... my pictures and blogger don't seem to mix well)

Pushkar

Pushkar has been one of the best weekend trips that Ben and I have made. It is home to a minimal 13,000 people but is a backpacker tourist hub in India while also acting as an essential Hindu pilgrimage site. It was great- Full of cheap hotels, EXCELLENT roof top restaurants, Hindu Ghats (where you bathe in holy waters) including the Gandhi Ghat where Gandhi's ashes were put, the one and only American that we have met, and some of the longest hikes up to Hindu temples to witness B E A utiful sunsets (my last post). It was also home to the best shopping we've had. The picture is a typical store on the road. I found myself spending more money than previously planned which means changing money over, again! 60 dollars got me about 3000 rupees which can last you a very, very long time in Pushkar. We played cricket with some local kids and were conned into buying them a new cricket ball to then be given an abrupt "Goobye" after the purchase. Punks.

Cricket

Cricket! The sport the world, especially India, loves and the sport America is too good for! We have had the luxury of learning this crazy sport with it's five day matches, 400 point games, and hour long at bats. Our camp manager seen here, is a lover of cricket (just like, literally, every other Indian I've met). He has shown us the ropes and I can say that I am fully equipped for the task of showing the States the beauty of the game... Despite it being one of the longest ordeals that you will ever go through. You can see me here struggling to hit the ball, so it doesn't hit the wicket. In this case, the chair. But, As you can see, I miss completely and the chair is broken just a little bit more. Here, the fielding team runs around with their pointer finger in the air signaling an out has been made.

Tuk Tuks or Autorickshaws

Before the words "developing country" became a politically correct term to describe India, at this time still an "underdeveloped country" India had with it these things called rickshaws. Rickshaws are basically a man-driven cart designed to carry people around a city. Thankfully, the "rickshaw" has been outdated and along with other sweeping changes, India made the big change to the cyclerickshaw! Ooooo, ahhhhh. Like the name implies, this is a tricycle powered by a man with seats on the back to take you where ever in the city. This wasn't the end for the up and coming India, though, the autorickshaw was just around the corner. Now, in modern day India, we have the splendor and pollution of the autorickshaw! Ooooo, ahhhhh. This thing is wonderful despite the trail of black smoke that follows. For a price, always higher than everyone else, tourists can now be greeted leaving a hotel by a very proud autorickshaw driver. These men are very, very proud (sometimes it is really over-the-top) of their three wheeled contraption and will take you to your heart's content, for a price, again. After haggling with 4-5 sometimes 10-12 autorickshaws you are allowed the comfort of being cramped up next to your friends and luggage. Then, the sound, *tuk...tuk...tuk, tuk, tuk, tuk* until the engine is roaring full power and you're off. The "tuks" disappear and you're left with an engine that maxes around 20 mph, and gawking Indians ecastic to see the tourists in the "tuk tuk"....

Tuk Tuks- the wave of modernization

Kanjar Children.

Classic India

Some classic photos of this country India and my time here... Enjoy

Substitute cows or water buffalo and you've got a frequent stoppage on our journey home from school...

The English here is always entertaining. (This is a trash can, by the way. Something pretty rare).

I guess our English teaching really is essential for the Indians. Too bad we weren't here for this truck driver...

You may be wondering why Ben is getting picked on by the kids. I often wonder that too. Nevertheless, Ben can typically seen getting hit by some little child. Sorry to unfold the truth Ben!

Oh, the monkeys sure seem friendly, but don't get to close or they'll be growling away. As you can see, I try to overcome this and be at peace with my long lost, thumbed brother. He wasn't having any of it. Punk. (By the way, my hair is way shorter now).

Some of the beautiful architecture we see throughout India. This one is from the palace in India. And YES, the Maharaja still lives here.

Our weekend travel has been nothing short of amazing. Great views like this one combined with our happily welcomed "tourist" shopping and the best food on the trip make them unforgettable.

Happy Kanjar kids. Always.

Jaipur and Teaching

I've had some time to think in the past few days because of my "Delhi Belly" and realized it's been way to long since an update...

To start off, the past two days have been me lounging around waiting for my next trip to the bathroom. I've gotten to know that place very well and have gotten pretty sore from the lack of porcelain India has. I don't know how they can do that squatting position so often! But, today I am feeling much better thanks, I think, to some antibiotics or it could just be my good ole' body. Who knows. This also means I missed teaching the last two days which is Ok, but I'm glad to go back tomorrow.

We visited Jaipur this weekend which is where we stayed the second night. We wanted to get some shopping and sightseeing in. We did plenty of shopping and spent plenty of money. Got a lot of nice things though that will hopefully last (you know, Indian goods ha). We celebrated the fourth on Saturday night with some Foster's and Kingfisher's. Kingfisher's is one of India's local brews which, I say, is a lot better than Foster's. We hung out on the top of our hotel roof talking to random British girls and 37 year old Japanese gem traders. It was definitely a night to remember. I must mention there was also fireworks! Sadly, they were most likely for a wedding occurring at the same time...

We also visited the studio of the acclaimed artist Kripal Singh. He is acclaimed with reviving ceramics in India and is definitely worth the credit. Although he died a year ago, there was still a lot of his artwork available. I think, at least. They might just be the work of his craftsmen, but his daughter said he made it all. So, I was able to pick up a few pieces for very, very cheap compared to the US. I got 5 pieces for about $25 that really should have cost me $70 at least. The kiln they fire with was very interesting. Clay, do you recognize the design at all? It's wood fired and the opening is at the bottom in the picture. They said they fire to 800 degrees C.

Teaching has been very... multifaceted. It has it's downs, of course. But, it really does have its ups. The kids are all very joyful and more or less happy to see you everyday. They are very affectionate. Some really do work hard, too. However, because we are volunteers we are kinda treated like substitute teachers which is expected, but it can get to you. Also, add the fact that we have never been teachers before so we are basically running trial and error... But, we are learning just as much as the kids. And it can be really rewarding, but you have to really look for the rewards. For example, we will probably leave here without seeing big improvements in the overall knowledge of the students or their situation improving visibly at all, really. However, when you look at the statistics of kids that are now attending government school (almost 12 just this year) that would never have gone in the first place, one finds some solace. We also may teach one kid one new word which may be all we have to go on. So finding those type of things can be tough, but when we do we hold on tight.

We may be making a smaller trip this weekend due to my sickness. Possibly Bundhi which is only 3 hours away. Also, Maguns decided that he was going to leave the project last night. Other things were calling him (cooler weather and women). It's good that he's doing what makes him happy. He'll possbily be back in a few weeks.

Recent India news: Michael Jackson is dead. New budget plans to cut poverty in half by 2014. India is sad with an economic growth of only 6.7% instead of 9%. Gay sex is decriminalized in New Delhi and awaiting a national law. India wins 5 day cricket match over West Indies. Oh ya, Michael Jackson is dead.

Some pics...

On the porch of our house. The guy on the left is Sohan, our camp manager.

Some Kanjar girls dancing around.

Lounging around after a busy day teaching...

The bike shop salesmen and owners. Unheard of hospitality.

The toliet....

The epic Indian "road system"

The foreigners are here!

Ho!
It has been a very interesting few days. Friday we visited the slums and decided on the village we're going to be teaching. I chose Chandikarye village over Jarhel village. Ben Mech and I will be co-teaching there while Magnus will be alone at the other. The kids at Chandikarye seemed more motivated and more focused on the teacher. Maybe because the teacher was stricter... We start teaching tomorrow at 9:30-1:00. After that we have community programs. Maybe building roofs, cuonting family numbers, conducting certain awareness projects, etc.... We actually aren't required to do any of these if don't want (They work really hard to make us happy).

Yesterday Ben and Magnus slept in FOREVER, so I decided to take a stroll around town. I stopped in front of a bike shop for about 15 minutes. The salesmen then come out and talk to me (not uncommon), but, he pulls out today's newspaper and, low and behold, the three foreigners are in the newspaper! We met a journalist outside of the Kanjar community, and they snuck a photo of us! We've only been here 5 days and already we're famous. Yesterday people were pulling outthe newspaper to show us. But, those same salesmen basically take me under their wing for the next three hours. We just sat inside the shop, drank chai, ate, and talked. Pretty crazy.. One invited me to a temple 600 km away next weekend. We'll see about that.

We then decided to visit Jhalawar where foreigners are uncommon.. Long story short, we had a crew of 50 kids following us for a mile. "The foreigners are here!" Funny, yes, but annoying.

If you haven't noticed my English is becoming more and more "Indian." I have to try and be proper when I"m writing. I will also get around to posting some photos.

Monsoon is coming soon. Lots of rain, everyday. Buuutt nicer temps, as it stays a solid 105 most days.

Namaste

P.S. Be thankful for your A/C

Chai, Chai, Chai!

"Chai, chai, chai!"
This basically sums up what I have been hearing for the past few days, as we have spent a considerable amount of time on a train. To start off, I got to India about 12:30 AM and was picked up by a representative of the company at the airport where we drove to the hotel. This, my friend, is where I received my, almost literal, crash course introduction into the driving habits in India. This understood chaos is filled with horns and but inches passing between other cars. Ha, any driver wouldn't stand a chance here. Anyways, Ben Mesch showed up at the crack of 430 in Delhi and woke me and Magnus (a fellow volunteer from Iceland, he is very cool). Then, the three of us were given the rare opportunity to share a bed. Great, ha ha. After this we took a bus to Jaipur in Rajasthan where the IDEX (the company i'm volunteering with)'s main office. We find out that there are 31 girls also volunteering from Europe! Great day, right? Sadly, ALL are working a different project site. So, it is just the three guys. Yep....

Now, I am in Jhalaraptan which is only 8km from our project site in Jhalawar. Jhalaraptan is a small city yet the people are amazing. The openness and sincerity is baffling.. So many smiles! These people are going to change me! Ah! ha ha... We start work on Monday and visit the project site tomorrow. There we will see the slums (just like Slumdog Millionaire, possibly worse) where the Kanjar live. Let me explain their situation, the Kanjar are labeled criminals by birth because of certain British policies (that are now nonexistent) but still are very much ingrained the people's minds. Basically, if there is a crime, the first people the poilce blame are the Kanjar. This starts a cycle--- The men get arrested and the only way to get them out of jail is to bribe the police. The wives, then, tell the sons to go and make illegal liquor to sell (many of which get caught), perform petty stealing crimes for people, or the wives will sell their daughters into prostitution (many, many girls have the terrible fate). The men are out now, yes, but a cycle emerges because of the idea that the Kanjar are alraedy criminals which makes them perform crimes because of this ingrained idea. Does that make sense? I hope so.. Either way, children are sometimes left all alone after the age of 6 months because parents flee the police into forests. Children, and parents alike, know nothing of the importance of education. This leads to the terrible situation not improving because of lack of education. Ok, this is gettign long.. In the end, we plan to teach them A LOT of things including, English, math, Hindi, cleanliness, importance of schools (including parents).

We start on Monday.... a very scary thought actually. Knowing that I will be up in front of classroom of 20-30 kids alone, most likely, is kinda scary. Also, things like lack of sleep and gettign used to food add to these feelings of uneasiness. Essentially, culture shock. Lots of anxiety...

But, this should soon pass. Then, I will have the wonderful opportunity to get some much, much needed healing in. I know that if I work at it, I can really change my spirituality for good. Being immersed in a culture where things that I want (calmness, peace of mind) are generally second nature, will be the catalyst. But, will I put forth the work? We shall see.

Thanks for reading
Namaste

Stateside...

Hey Everybody,

So this will be my awesome blog that should keep all of you on the edges of your seats! I mean RICK is going to INDIA! How crazy is that? I am going to try and update this is as often as possible (with pictures!) but, as internet will probably be pretty unreliable, we all may have to just make do. I'm thinking around once a week for updates though...

Some basic details- I'm leaving June 21st and coming back August 18th. I'll be working with a group of untouchables called the Kanjars. I will be located in Jhalrapatan which is in the Jhalawar district of the state of Rajasthan in India. (Lengthy, I know). As far as I know I will be assisting with other volunteers with teaching basic English and math or be working with "community development" projects which include a myriad of things. I'll find out more when I get there... In the mean time, I'm busy preparing and getting the right mind-set. <- Preparing to witness vast amounts of poverty, change my perspective on the world/life, rely more on myself than ever before, and, hopefully, be satisfied with myself for giving back. (Big hopes for this trip, eh?) Either way, I know this trip will change my life, and I am thrilled to see the ways it does.