Friday, June 26, 2015

Stay Connected



If there is one piece of advice I could give everyone it would be to stay connected with your true self. Take time to turn off all electronics and remove yourself from the world of social media. I know, me writing this is kind of an oxymoron . . . but I’m telling you this because it works. These past few days in Naini Tal have truly opened the door to my spiritual side—a side of me that has been neglected the majority of my life. I have sat on my patio for hours and watched as the sun began to set and the daytime critters go into hiding while the nighttime critters make their prowl. I have taken mindful walks to truly engage with my surroundings. Just this afternoon I found a trail that lead to the woods and it was one of my favorite walks yet. I came across a beautiful fountain. Tiny birds were dancing around the tree branches and flittering about in the water. I spent a few juicy minutes soaking every sight and sound in. There were chirps from I presume to be cicadas and different tweets and hums from the birds. The babbling of the water hitting the stone from its fountain spout. The fountain spout was a bronzish color and in the shape of a cat head. There were different shades of green from the trees and brushes and a beautiful sun beam piercing its way through the tree tops. I decided to continue on the path and much to my surprise, and also poor mister lizard’s, I had startled a komodo dragon who was pleasantly sunbathing on a rock in the path. My presence was unwelcome and he quickly tour through the bushes to safety. After a few moments of laughter and apologies, I continued my walk. This path was ridden with butterflies. They ranged from different shades of ash, brown, white, and blue. Some had small spots on their wings and others had stripes. They were all equally beautiful and graceful. As I paused in my stroll to look at what was around me, I saw a tiny little peach tree. The poor thing had about as many branches and leaves as Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree, but it was still producing fruit. I believe I counted 4 peaches on the branches. Lucky for the peaches a rope of barbed wire kept them from my grasp. I walked on this path until I spotted another house. In order to respect their property and privacy, I decided it was best to turn around. On my walk back I noticed things I hadn’t before. Little coves in the hill which I imagined animals had made into quite cozy homes. Intricate spider webs with the artist sitting proudly in the middle displaying their colorful and creepy bodies. A tiny little inchworm hanging from a tree branch that I helped make it to the ground safely. But best of all, I found my spot. Back by the fountain there is a little space that the sun hits just enough to be pleasant and the trees cover just to provide enough shade. There is a small gathering of water that is home to several tadpoles. And it all looks over the mountains. While I have a mere five to six days left here in Naini Tal, I have decided to make a point to visit that spot once daily. It is where I will find my connection with self and be able to process what I have learned throughout the day.
At first I was disappointed that I didn’t take my phone with me on the walk as I didn’t have a device to take pictures, but the more thought I have put in to it, the more I have decided that it was a blessing. Without my mind being focused on taking pictures I was able to truly see what was around me and appreciate its beauty. So please, give yourself just a simple five minutes with just nature and yourself at least once a week. I promise it will make a difference.

Aarohi Livelihood Center



On June 23 the group spent our morning at the Aarohi Livelihood Center. This center manufactures natural handmade soaps, scrubs, oils, herbs, jams and chutneys, linens, and wools. It is a nonprofit organization and everything benefits the villages directly.
We were split into four groups of three to better participate in the different stations. My first station was the herb packing facility. I was asked to turn little white cloth bags inside out so that the seam wasn’t showing. Then Joe (a fellow student) would use a thin stick to make the corners clear. It was a simple task and I was happy to help. While I did not do as much as I had hoped, I’m sure every little bit helps. The room was filled with the aroma of rosemary, thyme, peppermint, and more. The next station was the apricot oil station. Unfortunately there wasn’t much for us to do, but we were taught about the machines and the process. I love being in that room because the smell is calming and very pleasant. You walk in and instantly playfully smacked in the face with the smell of pure apricots. I also enjoy the different textures of the materials used. It all starts with an apricot kernel (seed). These are put into a grinder which produces both a type of bark which is dried out for at least 15 days and then sent off to be turned into a powder for scrubs, and it makes the oil. It fascinates me how efficient this material is. It yields a decent amount of product which is in demand. The third station was the soap making station. We got to watch them prepare jasmine soap batter. I never realized how time consuming it was to make soap bars. Mixing the batter didn’t take too long, but it was being told the duration of the drying process that surprised me. My final station was the packing station. It was a very simple task of putting stickers on jars and making sure everything matched up. I really enjoy it when things are aligned. It is one of many weird quirks. We had finished all of the jars and I was disappointed to not be able to continue.
I love visiting the Livelihood center. I have spent a fair share of money in their shop buying gifts for those important to me. It makes me happy that I can purchase a wonderful gift for someone and it benefits the village surrounding.







Wednesday, June 24, 2015

A Simpler Way of Life



On Saturday, June 20th, my group got up very early and we traveled to Naini Tal to stay with families in the Himalayan Mountains.  The first day was difficult: five hour train ride and then another three hours of driving to our station. There was a lot of motion sickness, fatigue, and irritability. I know for me personally, all of these symptoms went away once I truly saw where I was. Pictures cannot do the view justice. Where I am staying I can overlook the mountains and watch the most gorgeous sunsets. My only complaint. . . I’m not so much a fan of the spiders the size of my hand waltzing into my bathroom like they own the place. I am embarrassed to admit, but the sight of one of those monsters gave me an instant anxiety attack. It’s all a part of the experience.
My homestay family is absolutely wonderful. They are so very patient and kind and helping me to practice my Hindi. The brother, Sanje, speaks English as well as Hindi and is very helpful in translating things I don’t quite understand. The food is amazing. It is all homemade from fresh ingredients often grown in the family’s garden. The mother hand mixes the flour and water together to make dough. This dough is then separated and rolled into small rottis (Indian flat breads). The rottis are then put on a pan over the fire and flipped once. Once they have gotten some brown spots they are thrown into the fire to get them to puff up and then put in a dish where they flatten out. These things have become my new favorite food.
The bedroom I am staying in is shared with two other girls from my group. We are in our own separate part of the house with three beds, our own patio and bathroom.  The beds are something that took a bit of adjusting to. They are very stiff cots with a simple pillow and blanket. While the first night of sleep was very difficult, I haven’t experienced the slightest bit of back pain since using this bed. Our bathroom is very interesting and took about a day to get used to. We have an Eastern toilet, if you don’t know what that means then look it up. I feel that going into too much detail can make people uncomfortable. There is a window that cannot be closed to ensure proper ventilation. That window happened to be the very culprit for letting gigantic spiders in. My roommates and I came together and decided that after the sun goes down, the window must be patched up.
Life is very simple here and I think that is why I find everything so beautiful and peaceful. I did laundry by hand and then hung everything over the railing of my patio. Internet and phone service barely even exists. It is so nice to be cut from the electronic tether. I’ve made a point to give myself some time each evening to sit on the patio and be mindful of my surroundings. I have seen several toads, butterflies, and very interesting beetles. There are monkeys and cows everywhere. The mountains are a myriad of different greens from the trees. The sky is of the most crystal blue with the purist white of clouds purposefully painted in certain areas. At night you can see tiny villages lit up in the mountains as the families cook and eat their dinners. If I could give anyone one thing, it would be to experience the peaceful beauty of living in Nainital.






Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Day 1: June 15th, 2015

My first full day in India. . . I will do my best to put it into words. I have been learning from the moment I set foot in the country. New Delhi is what I would call tragically beautiful. The architecture, vehicles, people, animals, and colors are all absolutely gorgeous, but the poverty is blatantly apparent. There is so much to see, hear, smell, and do. Every sight is a rainbow. There are huts displaying colorful foods, beverages, and tapestries. Men and women stand in the streets to sell things to people waiting in traffic. These goods vary from life-sized balloons to sliced coconuts. while these are interesting--they are far surpassed by the ways of the roads. Lanes are painted on the streets as expected, but not a single driver follows them. Turning signals do not exist, neither does the three second rule. Communication is done through blaring horns, screaming Hindi out windows, and head nods. And the driver is seated on the right hand side of the car.
Another sight is the animals. There are what I like to call "generic" dogs everywhere. I refer to them this way because they are exactly what I picture when I hear the word "dog." One of the hardest things for me is to not touch or feed the poor things. Dogs here are as common as stray cats and squirrels in America. You cannot go anywhere without spotting at least three. Indian squirrels are absolutely fascinating to me. I had sent a picture to my mother who denied that it was a squirrel and rather referred to it as a "beaver-skunk." Due to the heat, Indian animals do not require as much fur for insulation, thus the squirrels look more like oversized gray chipmunks to the black and white stripes and less fluffy tail. Of course, I cannot forget to mention the cows. They are everywhere, easily as common as dogs. Bovine freely wander the streets and drivers dodge them just like a human pedestrian.
As well as these visual "lessons," I learned about Gandhi. we traveled to Gandhi Samadhi--The memorial of Gandhi. It was absolutely beautiful. The lesson, was enlightening. In America, we talk about Gandhi as a hero but here in India, he is viewed in many ways. He was both loved and hated. People respect him, but some are very unhappy with the way he did things. With this lesson I think it is important to remember that not everything we read is true--even if it is from a history book. Important information can be lost and misunderstood through transfer. Be wary of calling yourself a cultural expert unless you have truly lived your life their way. And never be afraid to question things. Questioning is how you can learn, no matter the lesson--it's how you get to the roots and begin to truly understand things.

 

Saturday, June 13, 2015

The Importance of Adaptability



I honestly feel like a fraud as I’m writing this as I have yet to depart the United States, but already I have learned some very important lessons about adaptability. I have had thirty minutes of sleep in 24 hours. My ride to the airport last night changed at least three times moments before I needed to be on the road. Airport food prices are seriously inflated. And as I’m sitting in JFK after arriving at least 20 minutes earlier than I should have making my eight hour layover even longer, I found myself laughing at the sudden anxiety that was setting in. I thought to myself “holy s***! I am hours away from stepping onto a flight that will take me literally half way across the world. On. My. Own.” I took a deep breath, grabbed my adult coloring book and colored pencils, put in my head phones and turned on Orange is the New Black season three, and gave myself a reality check. Yes, this is scary, but you know what is even scarier?—Giving up this once in a lifetime opportunity due to a few hours of discomfort. Life begins the moment you step foot outside of your comfort zone. I have earned this opportunity. I have fought down my demons and refused to take no for an answer from anyone. Now I’m having the same standards with myself. And once I gave myself that little kick in the pants, I put a half smile on my face (a symbol of contentment), packed up my entertainment, and explored the airport. I became mindful of my surroundings. Smiling at the man unabashedly singing to what appears to be his favorite song as he maneuvered the crowd. Admiring a little boy pushing his even smaller brother in his stroller and smiling at his mommy hoping to make her proud. Trying to hold back my chuckles at an older sister begging her not very much younger brother to put down his book for “just two minutes, I promise!” to bounce a ball with her and it quickly  rolled under my feet. Adaptability means going with the flow. Appreciating what is in the present moment and taking a few deep breaths as needed. It is realizing that whatever the problem may be, it isn’t all about you, but you also aren’t facing it alone. When faced with these moments: give yourself a moment to state your frustrations, caress your hand if needed, remind yourself that it will be OK and that the regret of missing out on the “what ifs” in life is far worse than just about anything else you will face.