YOGA

I have been practicing yoga on and off for the last seven years. I first got into hot yoga my sophomore year of high school when my friend Sam (a fellow athlete) encouraged me to try it out with him, he said it was a great workout. He wasn't lying and as I left the world of competitive sports behind in high school, yoga slowly became my favorite and sometimes only form of exercise. 

My sophomore year of college Carey, my roommate, Big, one of my best friends and female role models, was a yoga instructor. Ever since taking her classes sophomore year, and watching her own practice deepen with time, I have been dying to become a yoga instructor myself. Unfortunately for me the teacher training is incredibly time consuming and expensive at Corepower where I usually practiced hot yoga in San Diego. 

Luckily for me the world works in mysterious ways and gives you what you need not what you want. Since coming here I have gotten back on the yoga kick, practicing daily again after having to take a hiatus most of this past year because of my busy schedule and lack of excess funds. Turns out everyone I work with wants to learn yoga, especially the kids. The last two days I have spent visiting the schools Navsarjan runs to teach the kids about pollution and yoga. 

Below are some photos of my beautiful students in the yoga classes I taught. 

The pose above is called Crow pose and it took me six years to learn how to do. 

Teaching these students about yoga, something I truly love, have spent a lot of time on, and think everyone can benefit from... is honestly a dream come true. Its quite comical actually, me the American teaching all these Indians about yoga... when India is the birth place of yoga.

But I strongly encourage anyone whose looking for a new form of exercise or a way to relax to take a yoga class. Yoga has been a godsend in my life, helping me stay fit and mentally sane during my most stressful moments. Yoga is more then just a form of exercise it is a way of life. It is about bringing your mind, body, and spirit into alignment so that you can live a balanced and rewarding life. 

I know yoga will be a part of my life from now on, and I honestly cannot wait to continue deepening my own practice and learning more about this wonderful ancient practice. 

NAMASTE

Dwarka...for a Weekend Away

This past weekend I left DSK to my friends (Manisha, Bachu, Jagruti, Drakhi, and Avana) at there homes in Dwarka, the birthplace of Lord Krishna (the Creator God in Hinduism). We left after work on Friday at 5p.m. and got back this morning before work at 5:45a.m. It was a short trip, but one filled to the brim with new experiences, good food, lots of good food, and tons of picture taking.  

Sushma and I took a sleeper/luxury bus to Dwarka. It left at 10p.m. and we arrived to the girls village at 8:30a.m. The boys in the picture are Sushma's cousin's sons, they dropped us off at the bus terminal. Luckily for me I slept the entire way, despite being eaten alive by bugs. It was my first time on a sleeper bus and honestly I would definitely recommend it, it was super cheap and I woke up and I was where I needed to be. 

Me after a quick bath, stuffing my face with some delicious breakfast they prepared for us the minute we got there.  

I was definitely the first white person this village had ever seen. After working in rural India for the past month I have gotten used to people staring at me constantly, but it was still kind of crazy having my visit be such a big event. Everyone one a picture with me. 

They took us all around Dwarka the first day, so we could see the main tourist attractions. The funniest part was honestly the entourage that came with us. Two Dads (because the girls are not allowed anywhere without a chaperon), eight girls, and three little kids. First we pilled in a Good Carriage aka a fright type truck to get into town, then we all piled into a Scorpio SUV. 

The first stop was to Old Dwarka to go on a boat ride. It was really funny how scared Sushma was of falling in. I was literally probably the only person on the boat who new how to swim though. 

This was a temple that we went to on the second day. It was up on a hill and took 299 steps to reach to the top. It had a panorama view of the ocean and all the villages and roads below.  

They were constantly trying to feed us, and it was really hard to say no. But the food was a nice change from the stuff I get at DSK. 

Pictured above are Drakhi and Jagruti's older sister, little brother and mother. They parents have twelve kids. Actually all the girls I went to visit are related to each other. Its common here for brother's and sister's kids to marry each other so property can stay within the family. 

All the little kids were so cute, and all ironically four years old. They all just wanted their picture taken. 

The two above who are the same age are actually uncle and nephew. They were best buds though, playing together constantly. 

The girls' farms were only a kilometer away from the ocean, so we walked there the second day to collect sea shells. At first all the women were so scared when I went to go put my feet into the water....but then after an hour of collecting shells everyone got in.  

Sushma was literally like a little kid, the amount of enjoyment they were all getting rolling around in the sand and water was priceless. I tried to capture it on film, but I don't think the pictures did the moment justice. They were giggling and screaming, loving every wave as it crashed into them drenching their saris. 

I even learned how to milk a cow... though I think I would need a lot more practice before I could do it full time. 

They even convinced me to wear Jagruti's engagement Sari. They all wanted pictures in my clothes so they figured I would want to dress up in theirs. It was a beautiful sari, but very itchy and not really my style. But they all said I looked like a doll...so I guess it was worth it since it made them happy. 

All and all it was a perfect get away. I got to see the girls homes, meet their families, really experience village life, and see another part of India. And I got back in plenty of time for work this morning.

They were all really so sweet though... they gave Sushma and I plenty of goodies to bring back with us like buttermilk, nuts, fruits, sea shells, curd, and most importantly an open invitation to come back whenever. I told the girls if I was around I would go to their weddings which are all scheduled for two years from now. 

Oh! and second best part. the entire weekend for both me and Sushma, including souvenirs cost under $50...got to love India. 

A Brilliant Man

My father is really a brilliant man (and yes Dad if you are reading this, I mean it!). There are multiple conversation I can remembering having with my father throughout my childhood, that always made me realize just how smart he was. 

He is a man who realize that happiness is not drawn from material things, but from the simple things already given to us by mother nature....

He doesn't want a lot in life just a plot of land near the water that he can call his own, and the chance to tromp through the woods really in search of the peace that comes from being outside than any deer or elk (though he would take that as a bonus), and maybe a new ski boat....haha

But there is one conversation that I had with my Dad a couple years ago that I always return to. It was while I was home working for the summer. My mom was away on business so my Dad and I decided to go to Outback Steakhouse for dinner (we are real classy like that...haha). 

During dinner, my Dad looked at me and said (something along the lines of)

 "You know Jill, the one thing I worry about with you is that you are going to let your education go to your head. You can't ever thing you are better than other people because you are more educated than them. You were just given a better opportunity then most. But who knows what anybody else could have accomplished with your same opportunities"

Truer words were never spoken by my Father. I revisit that conversation and the lesson I learned and am still learning from it often. Its a story I often tell my friends to. 

As people become more and more educated they often fall victim to wealth of their own knowledge... they can't remember not knowing what they know now, they don't think about how much time and effort it took for them to learn...some people even become pretentious, condescending, and most of all inpatient with those supposedly less educated then them. 

Honestly these are problems we all fall victim to at times, me included. Being less condescending and more patient is something I have been avidly working on ever since this conversation, and it is probably something I will continue to have to work on until the day I die. 

What we don't realize is that the world is full of hundreds of thousands of different types of knowledge and understanding...and each person has there own wealth of knowledge to share, their own lifetime of experience. 

Its funny cause now I always think about how little I know, and much more I want to learn, and life will teach me. 

I look to the people I am working with and see how innovative they are, they learn whatever skills they have to make a difference in the lives of the people we work with. Even the girls at DSK, some of them might cannot even read or write, but then can sew the pants off of me, and definitely know how to handle village life far better then me. 

So Thanks Dad! You taught me more then you will ever know! 

The message stuck, and now instead of thinking in a condescending manner, I am thinking about what  it is that I can learn from the world and the people around. What is it they have to teach me. 

Only in India!

Over the past two weeks I have slowly been introduced to the wildlife of DSK. Unfortunately, I do not have pictures of all the animals to show you, but I was able to get some good photos of the family of monkeys that live here. The first time I saw them I was coming out for breakfast and they were just chilling on the top of the cafeteria, and I thought to myself "only in India!"...haha

Do you see the baby monkey attached to the mother's belly above? It is the newest member of the monkey family just born a little over a week ago. 

Besides monkeys there are also a number of cute but dirty stray dogs (whom I would love to adopt if I had the chance), peacocks, various other kinds of birds, mice, squirrel looking things, scorpions, lizards,  and snakes. I have yet to see a snake and I am praying that I never do, as they are pretty much the only thing I am afraid of...I know it is a stupid fear but what can you do. At least these snakes are not poisonous or so I am told. 

The most entertaining encounter with one of DSK's many animal inhabitants, happened two days ago. I was sitting in my office working at my computer with my headphones in, when all of a sudden Naresh (Manjula's secretary) came running in and told me I had to get out of the office right now. There was a giant lizard who had somehow gotten In when I wasn't paying attention. Turns out it was a Monitor Lizard and it was almost two feet big. It was literally right behind my desk when Naresh came to get me. All of a sudden my office was filled with the ground's manager, all of the accountants, and Naresh standing up on chairs with big sticks trying to scare the lizard out of hiding. By this point it had taken refuge under my desk. 

I just waited and watched as they kept moving my desk and poking the mysterious animal until finally it ran out from under my desk and into another corner of the office. At that point I went back into the office and collected my things and left them to it. It took over an hour for them to get the lizard out of the office. Sushma screamed as the farm hands waving long sticks scared it out of the office and into the auditorium. I heard a loud smack every time they hit the ground around the lizard trying to force its chosen direction towards the door. On more then one occasion the lizard played dead and they had to push it with the sticks they were using to get it going again. 

After that day Sushma and I made sure to push our desks closer to the wall, and fill in any places another giant lizard might try to hide in...haha 

Only in India must I learn to watch out for giant lizards in my office. 

My Beautiful Cohort

This past year I spent a majority of my working hours with the people pictured above. It is kind of crazy to think about how over half of them will no longer be there when I get back from this trip in October. All of the 12 month students finish the program in August, while the rest of us finish up in December. 

The end of the school year was such a whirlwind... with people just trying to survive finals while also preparing for their various internships and research projects all around the world. May of us really didn't get a chance to say goodbye. I didn't really get a chance to say bye. 

The people above were more then just my classmates this past year, they were my teachers, my supporters, and most importantly my inspiration. The amount of compassion, understanding, and drive the people above have for making a difference and helping those less fortunate then themselves is truly amazing. They made coming to class each day not only enjoyable but as educational as possible. I am truly going to miss their presence in my life, but I know that they are all doing wonderful things for the world...and I take them with me as I strive to do the same. I thank them all for their love and support...they will never know how much they meant to me, and how much I admire them all. 

Thank You Cohort of 2011-2012!

I love and miss you ALL!

Convocation

Currently there are about 150 girls taking classes and living on campus with me. They are enrolled in one of three classes: sari dress design and tailoring, punjabi dress design and tailoring, or beautician training. Their classes run for three months...during which time they are only allowed to leave for one weekend after a month and half to visit their parents. 

Then after three months there is a graduation ceremony with all of the girls. At the ceremony they are acknowledge for their accomplishments and then the ceremony is followed by an extravagant dinner. 

(The dinner was honestly some of the best food I have had here yet... Samosas so good)

The ceremony started with everyone following two drummers in one lap around the campus, then we all filled the auditorium. 

Above is all the faculty and staff who run the DSK campus and programs. 

The ones graduating are the girls with the blue sashes on.

 During the convocation they announced the winners of a number of contests they run throughout the course of the three months. Certificates and prize money is handed out to the girls who performed they best. The money the win will help most of them start their own businesses. The competitions include speech, essay writing, journal writing, reading comprehension, business ideas for themselves, and events in track and field. 

  

I unknowingly was included into the program. I had to hand out the certificates and prizes to the girls who were recognized for their journal writing. After I was done handing out the envelopes the girls were each given a chance to say a few words, then I had to say a few words. 

Talk about being put on the spot...I said something about invest in yourself...education will take you far...and finally if you believe in yourself and are willing to work then anything is possible. 

Not my finest speech, Martin had to translate it and I am not entirely sure the girls understood what I was saying. 

The entire event took a little over an hour and then we feasted. It was such good food, I really wish I had some pictures of it to show you. Oh well I will be here for the next convocation on August 15th and then I will know what to expect. 

The Local Farm

That family whose home I visited in the local village and took pictures of were kind enough to invite me to their farm. Sushma and I went after work on Friday 

The calf was only born a couple of days ago. 

 The mom and her calf.

The green beans from lunch at DSK that day come from this field. 

The field above was full of Indian cucumbers... which it turns out our orange. 

One of the farm hands who worked there. 

The Husband and Wife who owned the farm. 

their granddaughter...she was so cute 

 Two of the other farm hands I met.

Can you believe the size of that cucumber?

The family's farm had all types of vegetables and a couple of empty fields that were reserved for rice, but they won't plant until the rain starts. Unfortunately the rains are extremely late this year, but they weren't worried. Despite being a wealthier family, they were incredibly humble and generous. 

They gave Sushma and me all kinds of vegetables to cook with. The last picture above is Sushma with all of the goodies they gave us.

We are going to use those vegetables to cook dinner tonight...Im excited Sushma is a really good cook. 

Life Changers

Receiving an education is important no matter where you are in the world. In the U.S. the current issue is both the costs of attending college, and in some parts of the country the quality of the public schools systems due to lack of adequate resources for teaching staff. I know personally being one of the thousands of individuals who has student loans, the cost of education is a really big concern... Especially when the job market isn't what it used to be, and getting a college degree is no longer the guaranteed career booster it used to be. 

While these issues are very important to us in the U.S., they pale in comparison to the overall lack of access to even basic primary education in the rest of the world. 18% of the world's population is currently illiterate, and according to UNESCO India still has the largest illiterate population in the world despite all of its recent development. Two thirds of all illiterate people are women. 

So why am I telling you all these things? Because here at DSK they offer girls and boys from the state of Gujarat the opportunity to take vocational classes...such as wood working, tailoring, computer skills, mechanics, among others. 

Currently there are 150 girls enrolled in tailoring and beautician classes. The classes run for three months and the cost for each of the girls is 3,000 Rupees which includes room and board. That is about $55. Upon completing the classes the girls are then given back 2,500 Rupees to help them start their own business. It really is an amazing program that has helped a lot of individuals change their lives for the better. The problem though is for some of the students here and other potential students 3,000 Rupees is really hard for them to come up with, and now the cost of the sewing machines they use is 8,000 Rupees, so they have to come up with an additional 5,500 Rupees to get started. That's only about another $100 in U.S... an amount that is less then most people's gas for the month. 

Education really is a powerful thing, it can help people change their lives, but unfortunately everything comes at a cost...and for some of these girls $150 or 8000 rupees is more then they can afford. 

Its crazy to realize that with just one year of my school's tuition and cost of attendance I could have sent over three hundred girls to school here, and then given them the extra cash they needed to start their own business after. 

Doing Laundry

DSK- is the college campus where I am currently staying, it is the home base of Navsarjan Trust. Before leaving for India I talked to one of my Professor and one of my program's alumni who had stayed at DSK before to get the low down on what to expect. What I was told was for the most part true, while some of the details given to me were definitely exaggerated others were dead on. 

One thing no one ever mentioned, and I never thought about was how I was going to do my laundry. Turns out I have to hand wash my laundry...which is totally fine. 

Thankfully, my parents raised me to be an independent and capable person... and I was one of a select group of freshman at USD who not only knew how to do my laundry, but did it on a regular basis.

 But now at the age of 22 I had to be taught all over again how to do my laundry (Indian style). Just thought I would add some of the photos...cause I thought they were kind of funny.

Look Ma...Im all done. Don't worry I hung my under garments inside my room, I didn't want to offend/excite the locals. 

For those of you who think doing laundry once a week or every two weeks even is a lot... Sushma told me I should clean the clothes I wear everyday when I go to shower so that it won't take me as long,  and because once the rain actually starts for the monsoon it will be harder to find a place to dry my clothes. 

Ah the wonderful and wacky experiences we gain while traveling.