Day 4: India

On the way to the village we saw the remains of a crash. These trucks are jam packed with people and I hope no one was hurt. I feel bad for the person who owned this vehicle. Especially, if it was a source of income. 

It turns out that the villagers get paid once a month. My first thought was how would they buy the things they want or need. Americans buy things all the time. Getting paid once a month I would assume that would make the villagers more conservative and less materialistic. Americans can't wait for "pay day."  

Today we visited a community center the foundation established. Jay the Executive Director met with group leaders appointed by villages to represent their community. The foundation touches around 17 villages with a number of resources such as water management, income enhancement, alternative energy and education for women. Mawat is the area the foundation works in and there is 503 villages. The organization works with 17 villages that are spread throughout Mawat for a period of four years in hopes to create a ripple of effect throughout the area. After the four years they move to the next and leave the village with the responsibility to manage and continue with what the foundation has implemented for them. The idea is that it is their responsibility not the foundation and if they want to succeed they cannot rely on outsiders to come in and fix things, it is up to them to work together. This is the main philosophy of the foundation with the programs they implement throughout the villages. They are not a charity, but rather someone they can work together with to better their community. 

The group talked about a number of things they are facing with their villages. They talked about leadership skills and how to improve the communication among themselves so that they may improve their communities. For instance they were encourage to listen to concerns and to encourage others when they fail rather blame.

The leaders also shared success stories of people from their villages such as a young girl who could not read, write or even spell her own name. She learned through the foundation's program and is now able to spell her name, write poems and short stories.

We also found a potential subject for our documentary and the team is excited.

After the meeting we headed to  Delhi for some shopping. We also got to ride some elephants. It cost 100 rupees, so two American dollars. They tried to get 35 American dollars out of us for each person, but we told them no and we both split our ways. However, they called us back to ride. At first, I didn't want to ride an elephant because I have seen a number of documentaries about elephants losing it and killing people. So I was nervous. However, I manage to get on the elephant. To get on you have to step on the animal.  As I step on the elephant I felt that it was wrong. The ride was not enjoyable, I just didn't feel right. I am not a PITA freak, I eat meat. I just didn't feel it was right. Anyways, to make it even worse one of the elephants had some kind of skin infection. 

Also, they are a number of people working the main strip. Once we got out of the car people were trying to sell us postcards, and hustle a monkey dancing as well as charming a snake. It was neat, but not enjoyable because people just surrounded us. It wasn't as if I was walking down the strip to witness the attractions. The photos above is of the Rashtrapati Bhavan which is the official residence of the President of India and the photos of the elephants is also on the same strip.

We got to stop at a number of shops and bargain for prices. I took some money out of the ATM, but what I found odd was that the ATM gives you 30 secs to get your money or it will take it back. As I was reading that for 10 secs, I didn't notice my money was already extended out of the machine for me to get. If I waited a bit longer, it would have taken it.

Also, during the market I was asked to buy a map of India. I wasn't interested and told the guy no. After I told him no for about a second time he asked me in a creepy India raspy voice, "do you want some marijuana, do you want some hash?" I looked at him and he then looks at Megan the photographer and says again in a creepy tone, "buy some for your friend." I just ignored him. In India you get put in jail for smoking marijuana. The guy, was just creepy.

Day 3: Schools

Today we visited two schools. There were a number of small children who were excited to have us. Once we started taking photos they began playing with us. 

The first school we visited had 327 students which 150 are young girls. They learn reading, writing, the English alphabet, math and other subjects in standard education. The administrators hope that one day they will have all of the young girls in the village enrolled.  

The cost the government pays for the students to attend school is 225 rupees per student which is about 5 dollars each. I really was surprised how cheap it was, but as well as how many still don't have an education. The school has a shortage of teachers and textbooks. 

The second school we visited  I was surprised that they were reading about Abraham Lincoln. I wonder what they would think if they were told that the US education really doesn't have a lesson plain about Indian leaders. I can't really remember studying any.

The foundation has helped better the physical appearance of the school such as fresh paint, restrooms, and they have added to the structure of the school so that the students may have a better learning environment such as a water tank.

When comparing and contrasting the education of the US urban poor 

(well at least from my personal experience) with the rural poor in India I thought of it to be funny that there is laws in the US that make children attend school and many rather not attend. However, in India their education is something their parents value the most. Two countries with poverty, but both have different values. I know from experience the issue is complex and many urban poor do care about their education, but some do not. This is also one of the reasons why I go back to my old high school to talk to students about seeking an education. The other day in the village a man asked if the states had programs that will send poor people from our country to visit their village because only rich people seem to visit. I think that is a wise decision.

Day 2: Ghagas

Production:

For the first week of our stay we are getting a feel of the locals and of the foundation. No actual documentary work will take place this week. As a team we find it very disrespectful to go into these villages full blast with cameras and start documenting without knowing the individuals who we will be working with. Also, many of the villagers see us as outsiders. If we are not paired up with someone with the foundation they find it unwise to talk to us. 

On the road to Ghagas:

When we were heading to Ghagas I saw a number of things. There is so much trash on the streets that it piles up. Many children dig through the garbage as well as dogs. Children bath in unclean water and many run around with no clothes. Some children even use the restroom a few feet away from traffic. The area is developing and there is a lot of construction that adds to the piles of garbage. 

There are many little shops that sit next to the road.

In Ghagas:

We visited the village Ghagas to witness training on rural governance. The Sehgal Foundation trains villagers on government policies so that they may become active citizens in the government. It was a great learning experience. Tough it may seem like common sense to us Americans that in order for our government to work we must become active, but many of us can care less. The villagers here are deprive on information on how to impact their government. What the foundation does is train a number of people from different villages on polices and then those who have learned spread the word.

Also, the foundation pushes for women to become more active as well. For instance, in order for a village representative to attend these training sessions the village must first nominate a equal number of men and women or their application will be declined. One women said that the foundation gives her "hope" and that before many of them never left their home.

Now, they are more educated and able to do more things such as going to the market alone, before only men did such task. They also learn how to use their postal system and other government institutions which many of us Americans use in our daily lives. However, like I said before these villagers are not aware of what is outside their village and are deprive of their rights. A lot of this stuff may seem like common sense and stuff you read about, but actually seeing it in front of my eyes has shaped my understanding of life. Another women said that they are fighting for their rights so that they can better their lives for their children who may prosper. One said, "they are not only working for themselves, but for the community."

Day 1

AIRPORT:
So today is my official first day in India!!! I still cannot believe that I am actually here! We arrived last night in India around 9pm and the place we are staying is not too far away from Delhi. When we first arrived at the airport 2 Indians started to speak to me in native tongue and once they notice I wasn't Indian they spoke to me in English. As we started to walk out the airport towards our vehicle these men started to force their assistance of pushing our luggage cart to our car (I was also asked a third time if I was Indian). I manage to push my cart halfway through, but the guy ended up taking over pushing my cart. I kept telling him, "it's OK, thanks," but he kept pushing the cart alongside me. We ended both steering the cart as well. So as we approached the car they started to ask for money from us. They asked for 20 American dollars. I had Indian money, but had no idea how much to give them. They were already ripping us off asking for 20 dollars for something they forced on us. John the other videographer ended up giving a person 100 rupees and that ended up being around 2 American dollars. I felt bad for not giving anything to the guy, but I wasn't sure what I had. I also had big bills like 500 rupees and I didn't want to be hassled even worse if they saw that. I was thinking it would be like seeing 100 dollar bills in American money. Anyways, we ended up in the car and they kept bothering us for money. Another team member Rachel gave them 5 American dollars, and they saw that she had 20 bills and they kept bothering her. Megan the photographer didn't have anything and they were telling her "yes you do." So we were hassled to the point til the door closed.

Traffic:
Now, the traffic is crazy. People force themselves into lanes and no one is polite in letting people in or out. They honk and drive real close that it seems we are going to crash. The location we are staying is near a construction zone and is guarded by security. However, before we pulled in we entered a dark alley and people were standing at the end of it in complete darkness. At that point I was like "I HAVE BEEN TAKEN" like the movie. Ha ha, lol. It was weird because the driver didn't know any English so what else was I supposed to think and before I left to India I saw that movie so it has made me all crazy about stuff like that, also my friend Jaemy told me a story about how someone flew into China thinking they were going to work, but ended being tricked. Anyways, a gated door was opened and we drove away from those people, but then there was another dark alley with people at the end, but it was fine the people were with the foundation.


The Place:
So the place we are staying at is really nice. It is also really really green.



The person on the bed is my roommate John, he is taking a nap.


We get a desk, and that door on the far right leads to the restroom.



Storage.

In the storage area, there is this window where you can see shacks and people bathing in the morning.

This is the restroom. Pretty neat.

Study area with TV.

The People:
Americans shake their head no, but in India that means like yes. So that was something new. Also, since they place we are staying is in a construction zone many of the workers who work on the sites live in little shacks. Around 8am they get up and start getting ready. They bath and shower with little amounts of water in buckets. They work during the morning and when it gets hot they go back into the shack during the hot time of day. Women are also working on these sites. They gather dirt and put it in baskets and transport it on top of their head. I am guessing they are using the dirt to make cement. I also notice a pig and many children on these sites. They women are dressed real pretty, but they are working hard. I thought of that to be different. In America many of us freak out about getting a single spot on a white shirt and here women who are dressed in colorful beautiful attire are getting dirty and working hard. It made me wonder what we value as Americans. As of now, I am studying their mannerism.

The first three pictures below are photos taken through the window that was photographed.

These are workers preparing for the morning.

One of many shacks on the site.


These are images of women gathering and pouring materials to create cement. Again, photos taken from another window in my room.


Food:
The food is real good. They serve us 3 meals a day. For breakfast we ate something like a flower tortilla with egg. It was simple and good. Lunch we ate a grilled cheese sandwich with tomatoes and cucumbers in it as well as hot tomato soup. Again simple, but real good. For dinner we ate mutton.

6 more days and I am off to India!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!