Happy belated Holi everyone!
The second excursion that the program took us on was to different parts of the beautiful state of Rajasthan. During this week long trip we learned a lot about desert communities and different social, economic, environmental, and political issues occurring throughout the state. It was great to learn more about the state that we consider our home away from home. As we ventured into the sandy desert, which consists of many roads through seemingly barren land that connect communities and small cities, I felt like I was experiencing a desert for the first time. I was very excited to see real cacti and the desert environment. At first the desert was deceiving, and I felt as though it would not be as exciting or alluring at the beautiful mountains in the north. I was proven wrong, and quickly fell in love with the desert environment as well. I loved relaxing on the rooftop of our hotel at the end of our long days and taking in the beautiful stars and nightlife of the city. One of the perks of the desert is the fresh air and breezes. Especially at night when the land cools down and a calm wind runs over the city.
This excursion was also an unforgettable learning experience. We visited a desert community where the village is divided by a road, and a different caste lives on each side. We had the opportunity to break into groups and ask the women and men more about their lifestyle, water issues, social issues, and so on. The experience opened my eyes to how invisible the caste system, and similar issues such as tension between religions, can be when you are not a part of the system. If we had not been told that the village was divided by caste, I would have never come to that conclusion on my own. We also visited a Pakistani refugee camp, which is becoming one of the many communities for Pakistani refugees in Rajasthan.
When the group reflected on our experiences at the end of the excursion we all talked about what our place is as outsiders looking in, visiting these villages, and India in general. We all agree that there is so much for us to learn, and there are a lot of lessons we will take back to our communities at home. However, it is very clear that it is not our place to make decisions, changes, or judgements, and we must be very careful as we piece together our interpretations. Our western perspectives greatly affect the way we view things. Realizing this, and taking our perspectives into consideration as we learn and observe is key to getting the most out of this experience.
Here is a short look into the desert life.. enjoy!
Missing you all,
Tay
The second excursion that the program took us on was to different parts of the beautiful state of Rajasthan. During this week long trip we learned a lot about desert communities and different social, economic, environmental, and political issues occurring throughout the state. It was great to learn more about the state that we consider our home away from home. As we ventured into the sandy desert, which consists of many roads through seemingly barren land that connect communities and small cities, I felt like I was experiencing a desert for the first time. I was very excited to see real cacti and the desert environment. At first the desert was deceiving, and I felt as though it would not be as exciting or alluring at the beautiful mountains in the north. I was proven wrong, and quickly fell in love with the desert environment as well. I loved relaxing on the rooftop of our hotel at the end of our long days and taking in the beautiful stars and nightlife of the city. One of the perks of the desert is the fresh air and breezes. Especially at night when the land cools down and a calm wind runs over the city.
This excursion was also an unforgettable learning experience. We visited a desert community where the village is divided by a road, and a different caste lives on each side. We had the opportunity to break into groups and ask the women and men more about their lifestyle, water issues, social issues, and so on. The experience opened my eyes to how invisible the caste system, and similar issues such as tension between religions, can be when you are not a part of the system. If we had not been told that the village was divided by caste, I would have never come to that conclusion on my own. We also visited a Pakistani refugee camp, which is becoming one of the many communities for Pakistani refugees in Rajasthan.
When the group reflected on our experiences at the end of the excursion we all talked about what our place is as outsiders looking in, visiting these villages, and India in general. We all agree that there is so much for us to learn, and there are a lot of lessons we will take back to our communities at home. However, it is very clear that it is not our place to make decisions, changes, or judgements, and we must be very careful as we piece together our interpretations. Our western perspectives greatly affect the way we view things. Realizing this, and taking our perspectives into consideration as we learn and observe is key to getting the most out of this experience.
Here is a short look into the desert life.. enjoy!
Missing you all,
Tay
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| The streets of Jodhpur.. gotta love those camels! |
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| Barber shop.. almost time for a hair cut? |
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| Fresh fruit and street smoothies in Bikaner |
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| Desert community near Bikaner |
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| The word is spreading of our arrival... |
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| One of the homes and families we visited in the desert community |
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| Getting ready for Holi! |
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| Clock tower in the old city of Jodhpur |
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| Having some fun at the Pakistani refugee community |
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| Happy Holi! |
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| More Holi colors in Jodhpur |
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| One of the many water and color fights we had on Holi. :P |
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