(written at Sangam) 

Namaste Parents and Friends! This is Amy! We are all having the times of our lives in Sangam Arts Center in a small village in Bangalore, India. So far the past couple days we have experienced lost baggage, suffocating heat, crazy drivers, bucket baths, Indian meals, clothes shopping, wise teachings, mountain walks, an Indian arranged marriage, playing with orphaned children and teaching them, classical music and dance, drawing mandalas and so much more.

Today, July 9th, we gave back to the family at Sangam for everything by helping Roshan in his garden. We tended to his garden and planted chilies, spinach, carrots, gooseberry, dhal, watercress, corn and gourds.

Hello Family and Friends,

Our apologies for not posting any pictures sooner, our schedule is VERY busy! Today was no different.  We were up and on the bus by 9:30 and had a full day of Kathakali–a Keralan dance form.  I’ve posted a picture of the group with two of the performers belwo (taken just three hours ago). I’ve also posted a few other group shots I thought you might all enjoy….can you see the transformation??  In just over 1 week they have all experienced and seen so much of India!!  I think they will all be coming home with new perspectives of life and the world around them!  

After today’s Kathakali Performance.

Visiting a Shravanabelagola, a holy Jain pilgrimage site.

Playing with the children at a local govt. primary school.

Making Mandala’s with Jyothi at Sangam near Bangalore.

Visiting Nandi Hills in our New Indian Clothes!

Meeting for the first time in Newark!

Hello Family and Friends,

After a few minutes on the internet yesteday in Bangalore we made our way to the train station and boarded the Kochivelli Express for Cochin.  It was a 12 hour journey.  We had packed peanut butter and jelly sandwiches from Sangam and bought bananas, chips and cookies at the station for our dinner.  Everyone seemed to enjoy their first (and only) Indian train experience, and most were able to sleep during the overnight journey.  We landed up in Cochin (in the state of Kerala) at 4:30 this morning.  Everyone went straight to bed for several hours.  This morning we have some down time and have been able to make some calls and have found an internet place near the hote.  So, while we are in Cochin we hope to have better access to communication than we did in Bangalore.  This afternoon we have a guide to show us around Fort Cochin and this evening we have a Keralan cooking class and dinner planned.  It is wet and hot here…a change from the cool climate of Bangalore!  Everyone says ‘hello’ and is doing well!

We will try to upload some photos soon, but please be patient as we have a tight schedule and internet is sometimes hard to reach and slow at best!   Thanks!  –Kirsten

I have only been here four days and i am aleady completley overwhelmed by India, but at the same time i can’t wait to see more. It is such an amazing country and the people are so friendly and determined to build a better India despite all the huge problems they encounter in their day to day lives. I could go on and on about these problems such as the coprruption of the government, lack of proper infrastructure, conflict with various other countries and lack of adequate education and healthcare, but i won’t yet, because i have so much to say about what we’ve done here.

Today was brilliant, we got on the train to Jaipur at four in the morning, having been at an Indian wedding he night before , so everyone was completley knackered (no one here understands me when i say that, it’s so funny!). Our alarm didn’t go off for some reason, so we had five minutes to get out of the hotel which ws interesting! But we managed, and before i knew it i was sitting on an indian train having lugged my bags for what seemed like miles. I sat down and stared out of the window, i wanted to sleep, but there is just so much to see. just outside the city there are so many slums, it is so sad to see children on the sides of the railway picking up litter and everything that could possibly be edible. Thats the thing with India, its amazing, such a beautiful country, but the poverty can get to much at times, and the fact that we are so helpless to make any difference is hard to come to terms with.

We then checked into the hotel and ate traditional Indian meal, tali. Then we learned about India in great detail from an amazing woman who was so intelligent and really progressive and modern in her thinking, she had such brilinat ideas on the future of India. I learnt so much and she could answer all our questions. It seems that there is a growing educated class in india, which does bring hope for the future, but so many are lured into call centres and similar monotonous jobs. Apparently the middle class in India is now huge, but our definitions of middle class seem to be somewhat different!

Well i have to go because im off to the temple of Hanuman, but will write as soon as i can. I am so excited for the rest of the trip!!

Hi Parents & Friends,

Our apologies for not updating the blog more since Delhi.  After arriving in Bangalore we have been VERY busy with dance and music classes as well as visiting an orphanage and public school.  We also attended a Christian wedding in the village we were staying in. Unfortunately, we had NO access to internet in the village–so this is the first time we’ve gotten online since Delhi!  However, we did finally find an international phone and everyone has made calls (or left messages).  All in all it has been a FABULOUS first week!  We were all sad to say good-bye to our lovely hosts at Sangam Arts Center.   We asked all the students to write a “shout out” to their friends and family back at home.  Here are notes from the students:

“Everything here [India] is AMAZING but I miss my MOM [yes mom I miss you like crazy.] I also miss In n’ Out. I want a double-double animal style and gigantic milkshake and some fries [chili cheese fries]. I miss LA and everyone else. Everything here is amazing. I’m so glad I came b/c the culture is so interesting and EVERYONE is friendly, and the little kids are cute and I just want to take them all back home

I MISS EVERYONE!  LOVE YOU MOM”     –Ana

” India has been quite an experience already. So much fun and meeting new people. Despite what I was originally told about India’s hot weather, it’s been quite cool in Bangalore. The food is amazing along with the sights and what I have been learning from SAGE and Jyoti. Even though I’m having a blast, I miss my loved ones. Also chicken, pizza, steak, fries and soda…We will be home soon! Peace!”  –Amy

“Today was a day to remember forever. The children were even more enthused than expected. Just to see the look on their face is priceless.  This unique experience will never be overlooked in the following years. I wish everyone could charish the moments of my Indian journey.” –Teebo

“I planted some spinach in Roshan’s garden. Then after lunch we went to the school. Woohoo!  I miss Southern American Food and….”  –Jeremy

“I miss eating meat! And I miss my mom! We’re having a lot of fun and we’ve learned so much! I miss my friends and my boyfriend. But it is amazing here.” –Beth

“Wow! Being the minority in a foreign country is awful. The people here are so kind and generous though. This trip has already been such a great life experience. Two weeks left! I miss everyone back in the states! Love you guys!”  –Shawn

“The food her eis great. It’s vegetarian heaven. I just want my mom to know that I’m happy and healthy and that I love and miss her.”  –Althea

“Hey!  Mama, Papi, Avertido, Dannt and Ziggy, I miss and love you all a lot. Take care of Ziggy puppy! Please do not worry too much because India is great! I’m having a great time! See you all soon.” –Valeria

“Yesterday we went to a girls orphanage and I really enjoyed playing and talking with all the kids. Playing frisbee and modeling in “super” poses was a terrific experience and they all seemed so happy and appreciative. :)” –Josh

“I miss chicken.” –Chris

“Mom, Dad, Hannah, Rudy & Lucy: I’ve been having a lot of fun in India! We’ve been to a wedding and a temple, seen monkeys and schools, taken a shower from a bucket and eaten with our hands. The weather is so nice here. I really miss all of you and I will call when I can. P.S. Call Mr. Brown for me…ASAP”  –Molly

“It feels great to be back in India gain. Sangam is beautiful and Imo, Kiran, and Angeli’s hospitality has been amazing. We have participated in music, dance and art lessons. Today we planted a garden and worked with the village children. Everyone is healthy, happy and doing well! All for now!” –April

After sleeping for maybe 5 hours we were all very excited to get out of the hotel (and tired). Little did we know that orientation and other preparations awaited us before we could get out and learn about Gandhi and his life. We weren’t too anxious about getting out as the food in the hotel made up for the wait!
As soon as we stepped out onto the street two things happened: we began sweating and we realized that we were in a totally different world. Walking out of our hotel we were assaulted by the smells, noises, colors, and traffic. Our tour guide explicitly told us not to give to the beggars, which was a difficult experience for all of us.
We drove around New Delhi and immediately noticed the division of the city, which separated the wealthy from the poor. Soon we arrived at the Birla House, the site where Gandhi lived the last 144 days of his life. We recaptured everything that happened by following Gandhi’s footprints as he left his living quarters and walked to where he was assassinated. The Birla House is well preserved and truly beautiful, educating us about Gandhi’s philosophy and the Indian struggle for independence of 1857, also known among British scholars as the Sepoy Mutiny.
Next we went to Rajghat, an exquisite memorial garden celebrating Gandhi and his work for a united India. The green trees and grass depicted the beauty of life.  All in all,  seeing Gandhi’s memorials allowed us to better understand the passion and reverence with which people regard him. 

Next we went sari shopping which we enjoyed greatly. We might have gotten a little too excited and bought a few too many.

By this time we were exhausted and ready to go to sleep. At the same time we were starving so we went to a south indian restaurant.

Now, we are at the hotel and ready to shower and CRASH. Tomorrow is a really busy day and we definatley need our rest.
Love,
Tracey and Ali

we arrived in delhi last night, went through customs and easily retrieved all our bags. we were lucky enough to meet grace, who arrived from london, right in the baggage claim area. we all feel complete now!

after being presented beautiful marogld garlands and boarding our bus, we headed to our hotel for a much needed few hours of rest and being horizontal! it’s now almost 8am, the horns are honking outside our hotel on the street,  rikshaws are whizzing by and our first full day in india is about to begin!  there is much excitement as we will be seeing some of the important sites related to gandhi’s life this afternoon.

we’ll be in touch soon.