Aga Khan Palace

I cannot believe I am walking on the same soil as Gandhi - such an amazing thinker, revolutionary, and grassroots worker.  The Aga Khan Palace is where Gandhi was imprisoned along with his wife after the Salt March because it was so isolated.

" Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God "

On my daily walk to the rickshaw stand to go on, I saw a small child on her grandmother’s lap.  She was bleeding from her left cheek.  They were both weak, skinny and looked under-nourished. I think they both had a skin disease as there is no place for them to assess a shower.  The grandmother has blind in one eye as it was missing. 

I gave them 10 Rs. and ran for 10 minutes to reach the closest pharmacy.  I asked from ointment and paid 50 Rs.  I ran back to the wounded child and her grandmother.  I took some tissue paper from my bag and wet it with my water bottle.  I gave it to her grandmother so she could clean her wound. 

Part of me wanted to do it myself so that perhaps my touch could transmit the message that “You are loved. Stay strong. Do not lose hope.” However, as I was not wearing gloves I had to be cautious and not deal with blood.  As her grandmother cleaned her face, I opened the tube of ointment I purchased and put it on her trembling cheek.  Her eyes spelled vulnerability.  My eyes watered as the grandmother bowed to me demonstrating her gratitude.  She then asked for food but I did not have enough money on me.

I feel some joy as I fulfilled my moral and social obligation to love my neighbor.  However, I still feel helpless because there is so much sorrow in the world that I cannot put an end to.  I wish I could have done more for them.

Overall, I hope I did the right thing.  I pray that her grandmother keeps the ointment safe and continues to reapply it.  I hope that they stay safe throughout the night.  Otherwise, I guess I spent $1 on good karma.

With that said, Father God give me the strength to deal with the suffering I witness each day and give me the wisdom to know what to d in any given situation.  Thank you.

Sakharshet Public Health Center and the Sub-Center

I genuinely feel fortunate to have been able to visit the Sakharshet Public Health Center and the sub-center in the village.  India faces many health challenges, which include illnesses, such as diarrhea, hepatitis, typhoid, worms, measles, malaria, tuberculosis, whooping cough, and HIV/AIDS; and it was inspiring to see how the devotion of medical staff is at the core to India overcoming such obstacles.  Their commitment is evident and deserves credit when one discusses India’s medical successes such as the decrease in infant mortality, decrease in waterborne diseases and vaccination of children.  Furthermore, in both facilities, I was able to witness the genuine efforts made to bring the poorest of the population affordable quality health care and it was inspiring.

The free services provided were: immunization, deliveries, post-natal care, child care, family planning, treatment against dog and snake bites, basic laboratory services for the diagnosis and treatment against leprosy, tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/AIDS, referral services, eye check-ups, safe water supply, basic sanitation, prevention and control of locally endemic diseases, collection and reporting of vital statistics, and education about health. 

Challenges

The Public Health Center’s and the Sub-Center’s obstacles are that they are understaffed, lack infrastructure, high infant mortality rate, malaria, and the high population density.  First, the lack of manpower is a problem in rural India as most doctors prefer to work in urban areas because 80% of health facilities are concentrated there.  This is a dilemma because approximately 74% of India’s population lives in rural areas.  In other words, the distribution of doctors and medical resources is unequal, as the majority is located in urban areas.  

Secondly, the lack of infrastructure and resources is a major obstacle.  For example, statistics are manually collected because there is no electricity for 7 hours a day on average.  Also, the implementation of computers would not be feasible at this point in time because nurses will have to be trained to use computers, which will take them away from their work.  Additionally, financial resources are considered inadequate to supply such services, which makes it difficult for doctors to make necessary improvements.  For instance, the center is too small for all the patients they help to on a daily basis because it was built in 1962.  It was not built to attend to the needs of so many individuals, but insufficient capital makes expansion problematic. 

Fourth, the high infant mortality rate was daunting for the medical officer because he witnessed the deaths of over 100 infants in a year.  Fortunately, this average was significantly reduced to approximately 20 deaths a year due to his commitment, by providing pre-natal health care and by decreasing anemia in mothers by providing them with free iron tablets.  They also weigh infants, under the age of 6, to ensure that they are not malnourished.  Importantly, if the child is malnourished they are provided with protein and iron rich foods.  Furthermore, despite the lack of capital, significant progress regarding child mortality has occurred.

Fifth, being able to physically see the gambusia fish tank was gratifying.  Before this class I never heard about this fish and how it is the most effective method against malaria as they eat mosquito larva.  Sixth, the high population density is a major challenge because the Medical Officer is supposed to take care of 25,000 people, but he is actually responsible for the health of 37,000 people, which makes it difficult to provide everyone with the services they deserve. 

Achievements

The Public Health Center’s and the Sub-Center’s achievements are tremendous.  Despite all of the impediments, they have decreased the prevalence of both waterborne diseases and infant mortality, are close to eradicating polio, and their sterilization and vaccination efforts have been fruitful, to name a few.  Firstly, both centers operate according to Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS), which ensures optimal expert care at affordable prices.  Secondly, it is ingenious that villagers donate land and the government constructs the centers because it shows the commitment of both parties to promote health.  Thirdly, I think it is brilliant that the tribal nurse is compensated when she refers patients, for services such as sterilization and institutional deliveries, because it is an incentive that benefits her and the patient.

Fourth, the decrease in waterborne diseases, such as polio, typhoid, and diarrhea, is a major achievement because they claim 1.5 million lives annually and account for 80% of illnesses in India.  Advantageously, the center educates locals about the diseases that thrive in unclean water and chlorinates all 94 wells have decreased the toil that waterborne diseases has.  Fifth, India has almost completely eradicated polio, which is phenomenal.  According to World Health Organization standards countries need to make sure that there are not any new cases of infection for a span of 3 years.  In other words, if there are no new case of polio for 3 years, India can declare that they have eliminated it. 

Sixth, this center has surpassed the goals for sterilization, which are 74 for women and 8 for men.  Due to culture, women are more willing to undergo the surgery because they do not want their husbands to feel less masculine.  However, the strong relationships the doctors and nurses have with the villagers encouraged more men to willingly undergo sterilization.  Educational camps were set up for villagers where family planning was promoted.  They were taught that smaller families were more beneficial because there is less strain for resources such as food, medicine, and education.  The government provides monetary incentives for men and women who undergo the surgery and gives subsidized housing to families with no more than 2 children.  Furthermore, sterilization has been so effective because this issue was tackles via education, monetary compensation and reparations through housing.

Seventh, India’s immunization program has been successful because approximately 94% of children have been vaccinated free of charge.  I assert that this is a tremendous investment because it is a preventative measure.  Importantly, since 70% of India’s population lives in rural areas, this achievement would not be possible if it were not for the efforts of public health staff.  Nurses travel to each home in order to vaccinate all children.  Brilliantly, vaccines are kept cool as they are submerged in carriers with ice because the heat can render them ineffective.  Eighth, they have a pharmacy in both centers, which is genius because patients can conveniently obtain affordable medication without having to waste time or money traveling to a pharmacy.

Ninth, waste disposal bins were color coordinated, which is clever, because the separation and disposal of medical waste needs to be done properly.  Tenth, rural and tribal people have their own health practices and believe that diseases are caused by hostile spirits or by the breach of some taboo.  Fortunately, fewer villagers are seeking remedies through traditional priests and are utilizing the public health centers.  This was a major issue because treatable illnesses worsened since a trained medical officer was not consulted.  Significantly, this shift was possible because the medical personnel are committed to the health of the individuals they serve.  They have developed relationships with everyone in the village.  Additionally, the idea that free or inexpensive services are of lesser quality has deterred.  Villagers are realizing that they can get the same, if not better services, at a public facility because the staff are trained, have standards they follow and are open 27 hours a day 7 days a week.

Eleventh, deliveries are preferred by doctors and nurses or midwives.  There are at least two certified personnel present for deliveries in case there are complications.  Then the women are usually hospitalized for 48 hours after the birth to monitor her health and the health of the baby.  Interestingly, women are compensated 400 rupees a day, for 10 days, if they deliver in the medical facility because they live in inaccessible areas, have high risk pregnancies, and/or lack access to a telephone or electricity.  Significantly, this program has drastically reduced the average infant mortality rate.  Lastly, it was phenomenal to discover the medical officers’ reason behind working with villagers.  I admire his yearning to contribute to society by seeking an occupation with purpose.  He asserts that working as a medical officer has been a valuable experience for him.

The sub-center is the peripheral outpost of the existing health delivery system in rural areas.  Centers are manned by one multipurpose health worker and generally cater to 5,000 residents.  However in hilly, tribal and backwards areas they attend to 3,000 individuals.  The nurse’s role at the sub-center is limited to mother and child health, family planning, and immunization.  She has been working at the sub-center since 1994 and is supposed to attend to 3,000 people, but she actually caters to over 6,000.  Inspiringly, she has polio, which physically inhibits her, however her commitment to her patients is rooted in her desire to provide quality and affordable health care to others, because she does not want anyone to suffer as she does with polio.  Amazingly, despite her physical handicap, her sub-center is one of the best in the region.  I assert that the efforts of the medical staff in rural India are phenomenal.  They have been agents for change that have improved the health status of thousands of Indians.  However, in order to further improve the quality of rural life the gap between the biomedical model and the socio-cultural model need to tighten.

 A bangle shop.  These beautiful bangles are made of glass and are really delicate.

 Flower

 Fruits at the market

 Rangoli - art made of sand - AMAZING! It is done to Welcome people at the entrance of buildings.

 Food

Fergusson College - one of the gates.  It is a huge and vibrant school.  The students are also amazing.

Beggar Child

In India, there are children who are put out in the street to beg by cruel individuals, but they do not reap any of the profit.  These helpless children go days without food or shelter and beg for hours to then have to give their earnings to an avarice “pimp.”  Due to this phenomenon, I do not give them money, but I always get a horrible pain in my stomach because I wish I could help them.

On my walk home, an adorable little girl tugged on my shirt.  She had no shoes, had torn clothes and looked like she had not eaten for days.  I looked into her eyes and was filled with sorrow. Fortunately, I had bought some bread to accompany my peanut-butter.  She points to the bag and I smile.  For the first time I could do something to help.  I opened the bag and gave her a slice.  Seconds later, I was surrounded by 5 other children and gave them each a slice.

I got on my rickshaw to go home and began to cry.  They were good tears because I felt great helping them and not ignoring them like others do.  But I also felt consumed with sorrow because I wish I could do more.  Consequently, I promise to take 15 minutes out of my day, every day, to feed and interact with a beggar child.  I want to buy a notebook or coloring book to give them because everyone needs HOPE and a kind soul that will treat them humanely.

GOA!!!! Sand between my Toes!!!

Goa was amazing. I am such a water-baby.  I love to swim.  I never got out of the water.  It felt amazing to be one with the sea.  The water was the warmest I ever felt. 

We took a sleeper bus there.  Imagine bunk beds on each side of the bus, where the seats would be, with a small aisle in between.  Two people sleep in each bed – it was really tight, but a great experience because it was my first time in a sleeper bus.

However, I had bizarre experience.  While I was swimming the lifeguard asked me to get out of the water.  I assumed the logic behind it was because the waves were getting stronger or some other safety reason.  Everyone else, including myself, got out of the water. 

Turns out the lifeguard was only talking to me because he thought I was Indian and there is a time period in everyday where Indians are not allowed in the ocean.  I was furious.  This is their country and they are not allowed in the water for some time in order to please foreigners.  I could not believe it.  Money talks – those with money always get what they want.  Foreigners want a peaceful beach without any reminder of their privilege or disturbance from locals and they got what they wished.

Nevertheless, I will still go back and recommend for everyone else to go because it was beautiful.  The water was amazing and the sand between my toes was fantastic.  However, when you do travel to a sandy destination try to make nice with the locals because after all – it’s their country.  Also, I want to do some research on this because this is an injustice.

“You have such a warm friendly face and smile”

Students from the Sociology Club held a poster exhibit with the theme of Gandhi.  The thesis of their presentation is that Gandhi’s philosophy is still relevant today.  The major themes the posters were:

1. How the education system is too expensive for everyone to attend them.  Also, that education needs to shift as learning does not only take place in a classroom.
2. The health system is becoming less personal and western; therefore there is over prescription of medicine, which simply addresses the symptoms and does not provide a cure.  Also, the use of medicinal herbs is decreasing, because individuals are using pills to fix their problems without thinking about the side-effects.  Traditional medicine focuses on finding inner peace and balance, which I think is phenomenal because I truly believe in “mind over matter.”  Nevertheless, I think western medicine is great but it has its drawbacks as well.
3. Recycling and repurposing objects to build infrastructure.
4. The need for organic farming for the betterment of health and the environment.
5. CORPORATE GREED – which is sort of what I am writing my thesis on – we had a great discussion about OCCUPY!!!!

They also showed us a 5 minute movie clip, which raised awareness about how corporate greed leads to the exploitation of individuals and to the degradation of natural resources. 

It was amazing.  I enjoyed having a though provoking conversation with Indian students.  It was phenomenal to hear their perspectives.  They were also very sweet.  I got all their numbers and look forward to hanging out with them soon when I am not swamped with school work. 

Also, one of the girls, came up to me after the presentation and told me “You have such a warm friendly face and smile.”  This made my day.  I LOVE INDIA!!!!!!

Impressions About the Government Hospitals

Visiting the government hospital, Kamala Nehru, was an eye opening experience because it was not what I expected.  In America, we do not have Public Hospitals and the words “public”, “welfare”, and “government run” are equated to poor quality.  Therefore, I expected the hospital to be unhygienic, crowded, and disorderly.  However, I was pleasantly surprised.  I am glad we had the opportunity to speak to doctors as well as ask them questions because it brought the statistics we discussed in class and read to life.  The tour was phenomenal because it gave me the ability to learn in a more interactive way.  Overall, I felt like the visit was a positive one because the hospital was inexpensive, clean, organized, and had updated technology, with capable physicians and a wide variety of services. 

I learned that Kamala Nehru Hospital was managed by the Pune Municipal Corporation.  In other words, the state provides the funding for the services administered by the hospital.  It was interesting to learn that the historical reason that states have control is because the constitution of India decentralized health services.  I assert that this decision was a positive one, because each state will have different health issues due to the diverse climate, culture, and natural resources, and the states can therefore implement the programs they see fit.

I was very much surprised by the wide array of services offered by the hospital.  The services including maternal care, major and minor operations, skin care, deliveries, family planning, mammography, X-rays, dentistry, immunization, urban health programs, counseling, slum outreach and a pharmacy to name a few.  From my experience, an individual in America would have to visit different facilities and would not be able to obtain all the services in the same location.  I think it is genius to have a pharmacy within the hospital.  It is convenient for patients to be able to obtain affordable medication without having to travel because the families who normally utilize the government hospitals probably do not have enough money to take a rickshaw from home to the doctor and then to a pharmacy and again to go home.  This is not a convenience found in hospitals in New York or Philadelphia.  In addition, I was also very impressed by the hospital’s policy to treat all patients without any discrimination based on caste, skin color, socioeconomic status, religion, gender, or sexual orientation.  Due to the importance of caste, socioeconomic status and religion, I anticipated that the services would be segregated based upon these different factors. 

During our class lecture, we discussed the statistic that 18-20% of the population utilizes government hospitals because patients feel that physicians are rude.  However, after my visit I was still honestly perplexed.  I still do not understand why 82-80% of the population prefers to pay high prices for the same services at private hospitals.  For example, the cost of a major surgery is 300 rupees at a government hospital and it costs about 30,000 rupees in the private sector.  A doctor’s visit and the medication for two days cost about 5 rupees, which equates to about 10 American cents.  Additionally, the cost of a minor surgery is 75 rupees and the cost of a delivery is 100 rupees.  I was thrilled to learn that individuals who earn less than 100,000 rupees or live in an authorized slum have the option of paying 100 rupees yearly for family medical coverage as long as paperwork was provided.  Moreover, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that no one is denied medical care because those who do not have money are treated free of charge.  Furthermore, I was impressed by India’s efforts to promote health by providing free services to individuals because it is such a daunting task.  In the United States, medical costs are a major reason why families fall into debt.  We have government programs such as Medicaid and Medicare, but such programs are always under threat of being cut by the government.  I admire the Indian government’s commitment to improving health facilities since India is so populated.

Two additional features that impacted me in a positive manner are the slum outreach and the immunization programs.  I was excited that the slum outreach programs cater to the needs of those in both “official” and “unofficial” slums.  They are provided with family welfare services and the growth of children was monitored because this is the population that needs the most help.  It is phenomenal that protein and iron supplements are given to children who are undernourished.  However, I assert that 1 full-time trained nurse and 4 auxiliary nurses are not enough staff for 8,000-10,000 individuals.  I propose that more full-time nurses and doctors should be hired to work under this program.  Lastly, India’s immunization program has been successful because approximately 94% of children have been vaccinated free of charge.  I assert that this is a tremendous investment because it is a preventative measure. 

I assert that the family welfare program is positive for multiple reasons.  Firstly, I am glad that couples are provided with several options, including sterilization, oral contraceptives, condoms and emergency contraceptives because each family’s circumstance is different and their plan should address their individual needs.  However, I found it interesting that the government incentivizes sterilization by paying men and women 1,100 rupees if they get a vasectomy or a tubectomy because this would not happen in America.  Also, I was relieved to learn that there are government counselors trained to assist couples as they make this crucial decision.  Secondly, I like that women have access to contraception because I believe they should have control over their reproductive health.  Thirdly, family planning allows families to have as many children as they can afford because feeding, sheltering, clothing, and educating a child requires a great deal of resources.  Lastly, family planning will help to reduce India’s high population density.  Overall, I thought the experience was a positive one.

Although my overall experience was positive, there were also issues that impacted me in a negative ways.  First, I was struck by the apparent lack of confidentiality.  I was surprised to see 30 beds with about two feet and a curtain separating them in the woman’s ward.  I was even more shocked when the doctor stated that during times of emergency 60 beds fit in the room.  Nevertheless, the lack of privacy is a negative to me but it not a major priority in India due to culture and their high population. 

Secondly, I was shocked to learn that only 9% of sexually active youth use condoms because that is a very low percentage and it puts this vulnerable population at risk.  I affirm that “Sexual Education Programs” has been effective amongst the educated population, because students are informed about different methods of contraception, sexually transmitted diseases, termination of pregnancy, sterilization, and how health is affected by socio-economic status.  I declare that these efforts are positive; however they need to reach the uneducated because they are the most vulnerable.  Sexual education programs need to be implemented in areas where unprotected sexual activity is high.  Additionally, there are misconceptions about oral contraceptives that sex education can obliterate.  For instance, women do not want to take pills because they gain weight and they believe their weight gain makes them infertile.

Otherwise, I was surprised that the hospital still utilized a paper filing system.  To improve efficiency, they could implement computerized files or an electronic medium for confidential medical documents as a precautionary measure to prevent the paper files from becoming lost, damaged or destroyed.  However, I understand why computerized files have not been employed as the electricity goes out quite often in Pune.  The last negative was that 1.7% of India’s GDP is spent on health therefore the hospitals experience a lack of resources.  India invests in the health of its citizens by devoting 250 million rupees to the hospital as the annual budget.  However, I affirm that more of India’s GDP should be allocated to health because concerns such as malaria, TB, high infant mortality are all issues that plague India.

Kamala Nehru Hospital was an amazing experience.  My impressions were overall positive because it was clean, organized, and extremely inexpensive.  The hospital had updated technology, with capable physicians and a wide variety of services in one building.  Their slum outreach programs, family planning and immunization programs are necessary programs.  The hospital was maintained in a better condition than I expected.  However, there is always room for growth and improvement.  I would advice Kamala Nehru to improve their sexual education programs and perhaps ask the government for more money because they could help more people if their budget was larger.

Maids

Having a maid feels really weird because I am not used to having someone clean up after me.  Especially because I came to India to learn about the culture, interact with locals, and live a simpler live.  However, my lifestyle here is nicer than it is back home.  For instance, my home-stay’s house is HUGE!!!!! It is way nicer than any home I have lived in before.  The bedroom I share with my roommates has its own balcony and bathroom. 

Also, in America, most maids are Latinas because it is unskilled but cumbersome work that no one else wants to do.  Often times they are not even acknowledged.  As a Latina, it was uncomfortable watching her mop the floor and clean the bathroom. I wish I could have told her to stop but if she did not do it she could get fired. 

On the bright side, my host family treats her well and do not treat her as an inferior human being.  I just wish I could speak Marati so I could communicate with her.  I hope that as time progresses I can interact with her more because she is so sweet and beautiful.

Mysterious Nationality

My nationality is always a mystery.

In America, most people just assume I am “black,” unless they are also Latinos because then they can usually identify me as one of their own. 

In Tanzania, there was a never ending guessing game; I got “Brazilian,” “Madagascar an,” “Kenyan,” “Zanzibar,” “South African,” “Jamaican,” “Ghana,” “Egyptian,” “Somali,” and “Indian” (which is a small reason why I wanted to study abroad here.)  I find it invigorating to go to a new place and be able to blend in as it is a challenge.  The most interesting one I got in Tanzania was “half-caste” which means “half white and half Tanzania.” 

In India it is also a guessing game but I have new countries to add to the list.  Apparently, I look southern Indian, which I think is really cool – I want to go to southern India to see if I blend in.  However, when we were on our environmental trek for class a family from Rajasthan asked me where I was from because I am too dark to be “American” since in general the parts of the world I have been in associate America as an “all-white country.”  They guessed: Afghanistan, Pakistani, Nepalese and South African.  Of course none of them were correct and it has hard explaining where Dominican Republic was.  They never heard of the Caribbean so I described it as “a group of islands between the North American and South American continents.”

Overall, I have 2 conclusions.  First, being identified as an individual that can blend into so many places makes me want to travel to them more.  No one can ever guess where I am from, which I think is cool because it means I have a “multicultural look” which makes me feel like a citizen of the world.  Secondly, I am proud of myself.  Few people know about my beautiful, humble, lush-green, tropical, island located in the peaceful Caribbean.  Few people know about my country but I know so much about the world and I am proud of my global awareness.  I am only 21 years old and I have been to 5 of the 7 continents and I want to continue exploring.

At the tribal village

Rickshaw photoshoot 

Me and Jinny

Classes

The classes I am taking here are:

1.    SOCI 360: Contemporary India (3 credits). 

I will learn about the political, historical, and social survey of post-Independence India.  I will learn about India’s cultural, linguistic, ethnic and religious diversity.  I will learn about: colonialism, nationalism, and independence; Gandhi, social activism and the 1960s; gender and caste; formative literary, religious and philosophical movements, and recent history from 1990 to the present. 

2.    INTS 380: Internship (3 credits)

I will work with an NGO!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited about this!!! I get to make a difference.  I will need to do research, go to regular meetings with a faculty guide, weekly journals, and a final research paper or project with my accompanying presentation.

3.    ESEI 380: Environmental Issues (3 credits) 

India’s ongoing population explosion, along with its steady march toward urbanization and industrialization, has placed significant pressure on its land and natural resources.  Deforestation, soil erosion, water and air pollution, and land degradation are critical environmental issues.  I will learn about environmental issues both from an Indian and global perspective, exploring the natural, social, economic and political facets of these complex yet pressing concerns.  

4.    HSPH 300: Public Health (elective - 3 credits)

Public health is a crucial component of a nation’s development and infrastructure, comprising everything from delivery of basic medical services to the protection and support of human rights.   The lack of basic medical care in many parts of India, with widespread malnutrition and high infant mortality rates, HIV/AIDS on the rise, looming threats of infectious disease and epidemics are all daunting challenges.   At the same time, India is in many cases on the cutting edge of finding creative, innovative solutions to these large-scale public health issues that are of increasing global concern and significance. This course will take a multidisciplinary approach to public health in India, incorporating policy development, gender issues, social justice, health economics, epidemiology, behavioral sciences, and health services management.  I will get to question how social, political, and economic factors facilitate or mitigate the production and transmission of disease, and to evaluate ethical and practical consequences of policy and scientific initiatives.

5.    PSED 390: Issues in Political Economy and Development (elective - 3 credits)

I will learn about the distribution of power and wealth all over the world, with a focus on India.  I will try to understand the obstacles the market and the economy face. The main questions addressed by the course are: How do we define development and who is development for? What are the political and economic factors shaping development? How does the struggle for power and wealth affect issues of poverty, equality, and justice?   

Shopping!!!

So I finally got to go shopping!!! I went to the Phoenix Mall with my host sister on Republic Day because there was a massive sale.  Republic Day was when India officially became a republic with their own constitution. 

The sale was if you purchase 2,000 in rupes, which is the equivalent of $40, we get 2,000 rupes worth of clothes FREE.  So I got $80 worth of clothes for just $40.  I purchased 3 individual Kurtis, which are long shirts with slits on the side.  I also purchased a pair of Punjabi pants that goes with the Kurtis, which makes me feel like Jasmine from Aladdin.  I also purchased 2 sets, which includes a kurti, pants and a scarf. 

I am not a shopper back home but I love the clothes here and I am crazy enough to wear these clothes back home in America.  What can I say, I like to stand out!!!!

P.S. What I am wearing is a KURTI!!!!

The Face of Poverty

Once you’ve been to a developing country your eyes and mind go on overload – or at least mine does.  I know poverty is a complex phenomenon that cannot be fully understood through generalization.  However, in all developing countries, everyone is on the hustle; struggling to survive.  It is such a humbling experience because as a “survivor” and as a person who has endured a great deal of hardship to arrive where I am now – the people I interact with here truly embody perseverance.  They are such warriors of life as so many obstacles are in their way and they still smile.  Their courage and positive outlook on life is inspiring.  I am so glad to be here.

Some patterns I have noticed about how poverty looks like are:

1. Crowded cities full of merchants trying to sell tourists their goods
2. Trash everywhere
3. Lots of dust/dirt
4. Homes and stores with tin roofs
5. Massive disparity between the rich and poor
6. Tremendous presence of corporations push their produces (ie: coca cola)
7. Random overly fancy resorts and hotels that only foreigners can afford
8. Poorly developed education system
9. Poor sanitation
10. Little to no access to medical facilities
11. But most importantly, people struggling with an endless supply of determination, courage and hope for the future.

For instance, we went to a temple today and as we waited to board the bus a family came up to me in an attempt to sell me some jewelry.  I did not have any money on me and I felt so guilty because I could not help them.  I was instantly filled with sorrow – I did not even want to look at them but one of the girls who spoke English began to talk to me.  She was carrying an adorable baby girl who instantly took a liking to me.  She could not keep her eyes off of me and she held my finger with her tiny but firm grip.

Their kindness, friendly demeanor, and smiles were extremely welcoming.  I am so excited to be able to intern here and be able to give back to India because I feel she has already given such much to me.

Chapattis, Dosa, Chutni OHHH MYYY!!!!

I LOVE EATTING WITH MY HANDS!!!  I learned how to eat rice with one hand. It took some practice but I got it.  Note: you can only eat with your right hand as your left hand is seen as dirty because it is the hand you use to clean yourself when you use the bathroom.

I LOVE that being a VEGETARIAN is NORMAL HERE!!!

I LOVE how SPICY and COLORFUL all the food is!!!

So some examples of some foods I have been eating are:

Kashimbar – salad (mostly made of fruits or tomatoes with other veggies) but not lettuce, which I found interesting

Chapattis – fried dough.  It is delicious.  You make it with water, salt, and flour.  It’s similar to a tortilla.

Dosa – similar to a chapatti but it is made with rice flour and its thinner and crunchy.

Chutni – vegetables with spices; it is eaten with chapattis and dosas.

Rice – so many different types – I love it.  My taste buds are in heaven here.

Usal = lentil and is high in protein

Aamti = lentil soup.

Pohe, Sabudana Khichadi, upma, and palak paratha, are all things I have eaten but am not sure how they are made.

Home Away from Home

                Leaving loved-ones is always difficult.  Traveling is my passions but I can do without saying “Good-byes.”  I felt like I could create a river with my tears.  I have been to Dominican Republic, Peru, London, and Tanzania and I am still an emotional wreak every time.

                On the bright side, INDIA is phenomenal and it feels likes a “home away from home.”  While I was on the plane the Indian couple thought I was Indian and began to speak to me in Hindi.  They were very kind and friendly.  She asked me questions, I helped her fill out her immigration form, she gave me a hug and wished me a good journey. 

Also, some customs and sites are very similar; for instance, everyone is so friendly and welcoming.  The market is very similar to markets back home in the Dominican Republic because there are a lot of people and displaying their goods in stalls.  There is also a lot of variety – so many yummy fruits and vegetables like passion fruit, jack fruit, black grapes, guava, watermelon, apples, oranges – and all of the food is fresh.

                Moreover, INDIA is so new and full of adventure everyday but very familiar at the same time.  Therefore, despite how difficult it is to leave my friends, family and boyfriend, India is the perfect destination since it feels like home.

Hasta Luego – Ready to Go!!!

I leave for India tomorrow.  Alas, all my hard work has paid off.

1. Alliance Online Application
2. Statement of purpose that worked on and perfected for a year
3. 2 teacher recommendations
4. 1 recommendation from my study abroad advisor
5. Internship Intent form with an essay component
6. Interview
7. Writing a completely different resume
8. Applying for scholarships
9. Budget, Budget, BUDGET!!!

Once I was accepted – more paperwork!!!

10. Intent to enroll form
11. India student Visa Application
12. Medical form
13. Housing form
14. Course selection form
15. Booking my flight and filling out the flight confirmation form
16. PACKING, which was only possible with Matt’s help

I am proud of myself for taking this leap especially during my senior year.  I am going to miss graduation but India is, in my opinion, a more memorable experience since I am still going to get the degree.  Also, trying to finish my thesis abroad is going to be a challenge but  I am a firm believer in the idea that “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”

Wish me luck everyone!!!  By the way, if anyone is into SNAIL MAIL, feel free to write me at

Alliance for Global Education,

Bungalow # 3, Fergusson College F.C. Road,

Pune, 411004