SAGE Arts and Religions 2008

Our last group picture–all dressed up at the Taj Mahal!

This is our group mandala that we created as our final reflection project. The mandala included our favorite page from our sketchbooks, a painting we each did, our traveling temples, flowers, incense, camphor flames, and our combined group visual map and future goals. It took an entire day to put it all together!

It often takes months or even years to realize the full impact of a trip like this one. New perspectives on life and the world open new doors to future opportunities never dreamed of before. As part of our final reflection we asked the students to write down how they think this trip will or has changed their future goals in life. Here is what they wrote (anonymously):

“Going to India will open many door for me. It looks better on job apps and will gain me ultimate life experience that can’t be taught from a book.”

“I hope to come back to India with my familiy for a longer period of time.”

“I hope to come back and work at Home of Home or start donating.”

“From this trip I’m taking home a much more open mind to different cultures and practices. I’m also taking home the spirit of kindness that lives in India. From this trip I hope to explore the world and see/experience many more people and places. I feel that this trip has given me the courage and insight to do this.”

“To start writing my book.”

“To show people the difference between what they think of India and what it actually is.”

“Future studies in India”

“To travel around the world.”

“To explain problems of different cultures to my friends.”

“Going to India has made me want to travel more in the future.”

“I would like to see more of the world. India has opened my eyes. I plan on using this trip in college apps.”

On our way to Chennai we stopped in Mahabalipuram to see Krishna’s Butter ball and eat a delicious lunch on the Bay of Bengal. Not to worry, the students aren’t really holding up the rock…it has been sitting like that for thousands of years!

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We’ve just arrived in Delhi. We had an uneventful flight and just sat down to a late dinner at the hotel. Tomorrow we will have a morning tour of Delhi before driving to Agra in the afternoon.  We’ll stay in Agra and visit the Taj Mahal early the next morning before returning to Delhi for our international flight!  Everyone is getting excited about returning home and seeing family and friends again!  They have many many stories to share and 1000s of pictures to show you! Both April and I have noticed considerable change in everyone in 3 weeks–independence, responsibility, consideration for others, global perspective, etc. It’s been fun to be part of their transformation. They have been a great group of students to travel with.

Here are the latest shout outs from our last days in Pondy/Auroville:

“Hey, we are staying in Auroville right now. It is so hot! Yesterday we went to a temple and I got blessed by an elephant. We have a cooking class today and then we are going shopping. I love you all!” –Molly

“We’re in auroville. It’s a very peaceful place. We rode bikes to the solar kitchen (food is cooked by solar power.) It’s been fun. We watercolor-painted today. That was awesome! We learned a lot about yoga and sustainability. My room is like a little tree house. And I’m feeling better now from being sick. I miss you mommy! I’ll be home in a week! and We’ll have lots of mom and Beth time! I love you!” –Beth

“The solar cafe was awesome. A restaurant that feeds 1000’s of people on solar power!” –Jeremy

“Hello! Today 07/22/2008 we went to an art workshop. it was pretty fun We ate in a solar kitchen. I MISS YOU MOM!” –Ana

“We met two awesome indian artists, vishwajyoti and kirti, who spoke to us about art. It was a really cool experience. Miss you M & D.” –Althea

“We’re in Auroville now and just got done eating at the solar kitchen which is powered solely by solar energy. This is an awesome place and I’m stoked for the rest of our time here.” –Josh

“Time is winding down, 5 days left. Today we ate at a solar kitchen. Pondicherry is awesome. One of the nicest cities we’ve been to so far. All is well. Can’t wait to get back home.” –Shawn

“We are currently staying at a guest house in Auroville. We meet two indian artists today who happen to be amazing. See you soon family.” –Valeria

“Awuu Yea” –Chris

“Hello! We got art lessons from Vishwajyoti and Kirti today. We also ate at the solar kithen! Basically everything in Auroville is ecofriendly. I do miss air conditioning though. But the beauty of Auroville makes up for it. I even got blessed by Lakshmi! The temple elephant! Peace!” –Amy

“July 22, 2008. Vishwajoyti and Kirthi’s lecture and inside into Indian Contemporary Art was very insiteful. The way it differs from American Art is not to far fetched. I learned many types of art and the basis for which they use in their Art. Theres six basic principles that they must use and the work is not complete without all. Kirti and Vishwajoythi’s Art was amazing to say the lease. Inspired me to do more with my art and even perchase some.” –Tyler

“Hi Again, We are here in Pondi. We met with the talented writer Manoj Das who spoke to us about Sri Aurobindo and the Ashram. Shoba took us to the Ganapati temple and we were blessed by Lakshmi the elephant. We took a walk along the Bay of Bengal and saw the Gandhi statue. We ate a lovely dinner at Surguru…mmm. Today we rode bikes to Gallery Square and met with Kirti and Vishwajoythi for a talk and workshop on contemporary art in India. We then rode to the solar kitchen for lunch. It’s been lovely seeing all my friends in pondicherry! Bye for now!” –April

My apologies for not getting to a computer sooner–very very busy schedule and we’ve been staying in Auroville which is very rural.  We have JUST left Pondy/Auroville and are in transit to the Chennai airport for our flight to Delhi.  We’ve stopped off at a beach resort for lunch and the students are enjoying dipping their toes in the bay of Bengal before we leave South India later today.  Only 2 more full days in India before our flight home. The students are looking forward to seeing family and friends again, but overall consensus–they would like to stay in India longer! And almost ALL of them hope to come back here someday!  So, I’d say the trip has been a success!  Here are the shout outs from our days in Madurai:

“Right now we are on route to Auroville in Pondicherry. We just stopped off for lunch at a hotel and still have 3-4 hours of travel till we stop in Valankani. In the morning we wake up and travel and the next day ot Pondy. Our last place of stay was Madurai and I loved the city. Highlights of our stay include visiting a temple and seeing a goat sacrifice, going to an after school learning program in the slums, and making good friends witht he kids and volunteers from the program. We still have 7 days left in our trip and I’m excited for the rest of it. :)” –Josh

“Hi mom! I miss you! I’m sorry I haven’t been able to call in FOREVER. I’ve experienced some awesome things and made some amazing new friends. I’m still having fun, but I miss you! Thank you for putting money in my account, even though you shouldn’t have! I love you mommy! talk to you soon. Give Amy hugs and kisses for me. Tell dad if you talk to him that I miss him. Love you!!!” –Beth

“This week has been amazing from dancing to hanging out with the children from the SEED program. I can’t wait to come home to tell you the amazing stoires I have. Miss you all.” –Valeria

“Yesterday we got to hang out with the local college students. It was awesome. We played futbol and just watched TV!” –Jeremy

“Having fun and making new friends and loving every min.” –Chris

“Hey, We got henna on our hands and arms! We went to a silk weaving place yesterday and I got a sari! Today we have an 8 hour drive to Valakini. Tomorrow we have a 6 ghour drive… I miss you all a lot.” –Molly

“Hi everyone! I’m really happy here, everyone is sooo nice. We met some new kids from the SEED center and ALL of them are REALLY friendly and sweet. Mom I miss you and I’m so sorry if I haven’t call you. SORRY! I MISS YOU MOM!” –Ana

“I really enjoyed meeting all the young SEED students. Two 13 year old girls drew henna up my arm and one of them gave me her necklace with an “S” and heart because we share the same Tamal name “Sandhya” aqnd she didn’t want me to forget her. It was really touching. Love you mom!” –Althea

“Hey everyone! I am really starting to miss everyone! Mom, reply to my email! I’ve been slacking on my travel log heavily because I’ve been so busy lately. We went to another seed center and 75 kids put on an amazing performance. I have videos of it! Love and miss you all.” –Amy

“Pondy kovil was a very unusual experience. Beside the normal we saw possessed women, animal sacrifices, holy showers, and extreme offerings. Their religion is very complex and involves many Gods. I can’t wait to visit more temples…” –Tyler

Shawn didn’t submit his blog entry for Madurai.

“Hello All! We are having an amazing time! We depart from Madurai today. We’ve made some great friends and have been treated like celebrities in the village. Everyone has been very friendly. We visited a silk weaving family and some of the girls got saris. We went to Pandykovil temple…I’ll tell you about it later. We played “treasure hunt”, learned kolam and had henna/mehendi done on our hands. Kirsten took us to her host fathers jewelery store to get anklets and toe rings. Now we jingle when we walk…and wobble our heads when we talk.” –April

And notes from two of our SEED friends:

“It is really nice for your coming in the SEED plan. I like all of you. I miss you. My sister and me very miss you. Yesterday my sister and me cried for your going. I was amazing, sharing experience. Krish, Josh, Jemi, Sam, Tyler, anna, spoke me very much. Happy Journey.” –Patel. S

“These people was very wonderful. They are very friendly. I learnt lots of things and they did good works. I was happy to share their experience. I won’t forget these days. I have willing to join their groups.” –Vinoth Kumar, SEED Center, B.SC Physics

yesterday was quite long but incredibly interesting.  we visited the center for environmental education where we were given a series of presentations on what the organization is doing to educate communities about environmental impacts and also raise awareness about ecological handprints (positive things individuals and communities can do to reduce consumption of the world’s resources and preserve the environment) and footprints (quantitative measurements of how many resources we use on local and global scales.)  we took a short walk around their campus and the group was treated to some sightings of magestic peacocks roaming the grounds as well as families of langurs hanging from the trees and frolicking in the foliage.

from there, we ate at mirch masala, a great punjabi restaurant which is themed after indian dhabas, or roadside restaurants/stands. the decor was fun to see and the food was great!

our meeting in the afternoon took place at drishti, a locally operated human rights video production organization that has been working to empower local communities to make their own culturally and locally relevant video segments. we watched one relating to slum improvements on sanitation and also met with the founder/director, stakin k., who along with dr. sara ahmed,  gave the group some background on the 2002 riots in gujurat and ahmedabad specifically. we saw the startling and disturbing video footage he took in the days following the riots, documenting the violence towards the muslim communities here in the city.  it was quite difficult to see some of the images but also quite important for the students to become aware of ahmedabad’s relatively recent racial/ethnic tensions and the work being done to detail these crimes.

we leave tonight on the train for dahanu, approximately 3 hours north of mumbai, for our last days together. having been together for almost three weeks now, we have much to reflect on! everyone is looking forward to seeing the arabian sea and trying chickoo, the local fruit.  it’s not over y-e-t!

from there, we ventured back to our bus and could see the closed shops and restaurants, all observing the bandh. we managed to find a restaurant that was still open and willing to feed us and have since returned to the hotel for the evening where we plan to watch a hindi movie entitled munna bhai, a bollywood production with gandhi references.

tomorrow everything should return to normal out on the streets and we are scheduled to visit sewa, a local women’s collective. rest assured that we are safe and sound in our hotel tonight, bandh or no bandh. (actually, it was quite an experience for the kids to learn about what motivated this community to strike and how pervasive the support for the strike was in the different neighborhoods we drove through this afternoon—-from this teacher, another valuable learning experience!)

c is for chalo, which in hindi means, “let’s go!”
we’ll be off and running starting tomorrow morning and we’ll be posting more….
we have many unique opportunities in the comings days here in ahmedabad so keep checking in for updates!

bye!

We’ll be leaving Madurai tomorrow morning and I wanted to post a quick blog before we get back on the road. It has been a busy three days: temple visits, a dance class, a cooking class, visits to an urban slum, a visit to the Gandhi museum, jewelery shopping, saree shopping, trinket shopping, eating and eating and eating! We also spent some quality time with some local college students and they made friends for life. There were tears on both sides today as we said our good-byes and promises to visit again were made! We are all exhausted (as usual) after long long days. So my apologies if you aren’t receiving the emails or phone calls you would like. It isn’t because they have forgotten about you, they are just very very tired at the end of the day. Some pictures from Madurai are posted below and we will try to post some more shout outs at the next internet stop. We will be traveling for the next two days and then staying in Auroville until our flight to Delhi. While our schedule will be a bit more relaxed, Auroville is very rural (much like our first week in India) and it may be difficult to find internet and an international phone line. But we promise to do our best and keep everyone in touch.

From Madurai,
Kirsten

En route from Cochin to Madurai in the Western Ghats Mountains!

At Meenakshi Temple with our SEED Volunteer Tour Gudies

With Ms. Bala and her daughters after our Bharatanatyam Dance Class!

Saying good-bye to our new Madurai friends!