GSE - Does the experience ever end?

I am still not sure if someone still visits this site. But as it is there and as I can still post to it, I am going on. The reason for going on is that there is so much happening even after the GSE tour is officially concluded. In fact, the tour is only the initial part of the GSE. The experience begins after the tour when you start talking about it.

Most colleagues at office are curious to know about my experiences. They have so many questions to ask and so much to share. There are people who have been to the States earlier. They now feel a new affinity for me. I was speaking to Parul Gupta from the ECE Department. We were good friends before and we shared many things during our brief interludes earlier.

I said hello to her after I came back and then we got into a conversation about the US, food, people, schools, education, life styles. She was on the east coast and we were able to share a few differences in what we observed and exchanged notes on how we were able to cope with life style changes. She was there in the States for about an year. Prior to that she was in Hong Kong and she was comparing how people in both countries respond to our food preferences. It was interesting to know about it. I am sure without this trip, this conversation would have never happened.

There are more such conversations to come. Both students and faculty members are curious. I am waiting for an appropriate occasion to speak. I have 4200+ photographs to show. Many more stories and anecdotes to share. I have just begun to realize that the trip was only a beginning. The real experience of cultures begins only now. The realizations, the comparisons, the arguments about right and wrong, the trials to remove misconceptions about several issues, the trials to understand our own culture in a much deeper sense, everything begins now. It happens usually over some time and is not fast paced.

There have been new found friendships, but existing relationships will alter. Now I know that my friends, my colleagues, my family, my students and all others around me will begin seeing me in a new light. Will observe the subtle changes in my behavior and my composure and make note of the same. They will all begin to say "He has changed". Some will like the change, some will not. Some will tell me they dont like the change or like the change and some will remain silent, as usual. But for me, the change is real and its for good.

If I think back, I am not the same person that went to US of A forty five days back. The change is internal, it is not visible at the moment. But gradually it will be externalized. The process of externalization has to be carefully managed. It has to be shown to people that I have changed and that change is for good. This is where I fell the trick now lies.

I am not sure, how I will manage the whole thing. The only thing that I have is hope and confidence. Hope that I will be able to manage and the confidence that my managerial skill will come in handy.

Back Home - Sweet HomeA

I doubt if anyone will check this blog anymore. But for those who just happen to visit out of habit, we are all safe home. Umesh is in Chicago to visit his aunt and uncle and would return by the end of this month.

Amazing weeks as we had, it also has been an amazing experience being back home. Family is happy to see us back again. Jet lag was minimal for me. No ideas yet about Sushma, Namratha and Uppi Sir. Have to call to find out. My phone is out of charge and money. Have to get out today to get it up and running.

The UK team is still blogging. Check out http://thecambridgers.blogspot.com for updates. I hope you would follow them as much as you did us.

Planning to start another blog for some special photographs that we took and explain out a few things. Will post the site here as soon as things get ready. But, first attention to issues at college and at home. Then to catch up with friends. After that will begin the blog. Look out for it.

Till then

Adios Amigos! Au Revior!! See ya all soon..

Namaste!!

We have been the Cultural Ambassadors of India in the USA for the past forty five days. We have done our best to build bridges of friendship. From here shall begin a New Chapter in the history of Rotary. We wish that this forty five days of warm friendship that we have shared should continue and bring about progress in our lives and help us to make the world a better place to live.

We take this opportunity to thank all our host families and all rotarians who have shared their homes, time, energy and hospitality with our team. There are too many names to write and too many different emotions to share.

We are thankful to all those contacts of rotarians who made our vocational visits wonderful. Thank you for sharing your valuable time and information with us.

We thank all those people who drove us around and made sure we reached on time to all places. Without them, whatever little success we have had with our GSE Program would not have been possible.

We also thank the team from Australia (Sally, Caroline, Kirsty, Sara and Peter) and the team from Turkey. Though our interludes were brief, we did enjoy each others company.

We welcome everyone to India! Come stay with us and enjoy our hospitality!

NAMASTE!!

The Termination - A beginning of a new chapter!!

As the old Native American saying goes - Everything that begins has to end

So did GSE on 17th May 2010. There were many touching moments and good byes from those who supported us. Its heartening to see how quickly relationships build up and how fast human hearts engage in the process of bonding. We were all there at the district conference and enjoyed the show at the conference, but the moment of departure was, I should say, a bit confused. We didnt know if we were happy to leave home after 40 days or were sad because we were all going away from a wonderful set of people.

We knew that the parting was only temporary. That we would be in touch using many communication devices and media that are at our disposal today. That these bonds can be leveraged to do things that can bring about a better world around us for everyone. Some photographs and a bit of comments below. As usual, I will let the photos talk.

At the District Conference: For the first time, we wore our ethnic wear. It was appreciated by all. In the Photo you can see RI President's Representative

With the GSE Team from Turkey

Sushma gave a performance that was well appreciated

Rotary International Youth Exchange Students - All decorated with their pins from various clubs that have supported them. Many of them are covered with pins!!

The Fiesta - A Spanish Dance by a Mexican Dance Troop!!


Making our final presentation at the Conference

With our National Flag - After the Parade of Flags!!


Going to the Rim of the Canyon - We were stationed at the Rim, so that many people could meet us and talk to us - We took the opportunity to give away our contact information to as many Rotarians as possible!

With PRIP Frank Devlyn and GSE Chair Don Schiller

With District Governor Jeanie Morgan

With every sunset, there lies the hope of a new dawn.
A New Beginning!!

The Grand Experiences

The Grand Canyon. The place that we have dreamed to come to right from the beginning of the trip. The place we wanted to see and hike in. If kayaking was a capstone experience for us all, the hike at the Grand Canyon was a completely different experience.

We All Begin!!

We started at Williams at around seven thirty in the morning. Ken, who was driving us, who is Umesh's host, said "Are you ready to go to the big hole in the earth!!" We all shouted "Eeee.. haaw.." in the south-west cowboy style (which was taught to us by Ken himself). We reached the canyon amidst oohs and aahs of the views offered by the side at eight thirty and were surprised to meet the Australian team (we were told they were signed up for an eight hour hiking tour and expected that they would be off by that time.)

We began at 9:10 am. We were told by Dr. Upendra that we all have to come back by 12:30 pm and we have to plan accordingly. The weather was perfect. Not too windy, not too sunny, not too cold. It was as though God had already set us up for the tour.

And then we went to a point nearby to see what the Canyon is like. My God! What a view!! Its just amazing. To realize the grandeur of the Canyon, we all have to remember that we are 7000 ft above the lowest point. Height deceives us. It makes the depth look flat. We never can understand what the depth is, unless we get closer and closer. Take a look, and you will understand what I am saying.

Our First View of the Canyon!

After a few moments of awe and photos, we began our hike. As usual, Sushma (who is nimble and fast) and Umesh (who thinks he is nimble and fast) took to their heels and ran off the trail leaving us behind.

The fast and the furious!! Sushma and Umesh running off!!

The panorama began to unfold before our eyes. What a great thing to look at. I felt dwarfed before the grandeur of nature. Once again, I began to experience my own meekness and was humbled by the great depths that nature has carved slowly and carefully over time. In Sedona, Renata Barnwell, my host told me "Once you come to Arizone, if you dont believe in God! You will begin to believe in God!!" And she was true. You cant just be your same self again once you see the Grand Canyon.

7000 feet above the ground!! The narrow cracks are atleast half mile in width!!

Dont be deceived by the small sizes in the photo!! The cliffs you see raise upto eight thousand feet! Remember!?! We are already on a thousand feet altitude!!

We reached the Cedar Ridge and then took to about another 100 ft below. Then, we decided to hike up as it was going to take us longer to hike up the Canyon than the hike down. We realized here that we were amongst the 5% of the tourists who ever step into the Canyon, having come to see the Canyon. I will let the pictures talk.We turn back!! Sushma and Umesh could have gone forever, but we had to turn back!!

Yeah! Yeah! I know you want to go there!! Just get back on the trail madam!!

After climbing back which took us about two hours, Ken took us to some more places where we had breath taking views of the Canyon. Again, pictures speak!!

The first view of Colorado River - Yavapai Point!!

Watch the play of light and shadow!! Two eyes not enough to see the beauty!!

After spending a while at some of the majestic views and taking some tours inside the hopi house, we all went to Tusayan, where we were taken to the IMAX theater for a half hour movie about the people who unfolded the secrets of the Grand Canyon. If you ever want to die a happy man, watch this movie. My strongest recommendation. I will complete this blog post with a quote that touched my heart, from the movie.

"Some live, some die and some simply disappear. But some will live for ever and speak to us in muted silence from the dust and the soil."

Our Kayaking Photos - After All I got them!!

We got started all in best spirits. You can see Neil's shadow.

That did not threaten us at all!! Who cares Now!!

Brave Heart!! Really!! I mean it!!

The Colorado!! "Coloradamma!! Kaapaadamma!" was composed here!!
For more on the music contact Umeshappa and Sushmamma

And you can think Umesh rowed the whole time!! Really! You CAN THINK SO!!

Water Water Everywhere... But we get a coke to drink??!!??
This is where we decided to take a break after Namratha's boat capsized.


The "Really Vast" Sandy beach, where we left Namratha, Dr.Upendra and Steve Stevens.
They were here for about five and a half hours before getting picked up.


The End - Yeah!! Almost...

And you think Umesh really wanted to show that L. Boss!! Ask his fingers!!
The Aftermath. The toughest and the most unpleasant part of our journey!!
THE REALLY REAL END

Family - India's Greatest Strength

The Indian Family and its ways of working have always intrigued many people foriegn to the culture. Americans are no exception to this. We have been asked many a question about the family and our life styles. We learnt some amazing things about our own family system and its importance while answering some of the questions and in our long discussions with a lot of people who wanted to understand the system.

They are amazed at the fact that we live with our parents and ask us immediately if we felt the need for privacy between the husband and wife. We tell them that while parents live with us, they dont really intrude upon our privacy, that we have our own private rooms where we can be intimate, but expression of intimacy publicly will not be tolerated and is considered disrespectful. Then we go on to tell them that we have been brought up in environments where publicly expressing intimacy is considered inappropriate and the social consequences of such matters would be serious. They simply nod their head and say "Wow!"

When we explained to them how the grandchildren are cared for by the grandparents, while the parents are away at work, and how the culture and value systems are introduced to them through story telling, they were literally wide eyed and open mouthed. We shared this at lunch during our visit to Glendale Community College. There were two Native American students, who were from the Native American Union and they told us that during the winter season, the grandfather in the family had to tell children stories about their culture and tradition and about their Gods and ceremonies etc., and we all realized how similar we were in terms of how cultures are handed over to generations.

We were also questioned about education and the way parents are involved in educating the child. While we were at Mojave (shall be pronounced as MO as in "MOLECULE" HA as in "HALL" and VE as "Way") Community College, the question of teacher's attention to students in larger classes came up. They were curious to know how large class sizes are handled in India. We explained to them how involved parents become in the child's education and how they design processes for the child to learn at home and aid such learning by getting them access to information. The usual response that we have got is, "I wish that we had such parents here". See my post on recession for more information on this issue. I guess I have written out a paragraph or two on this scenario.

We were asked questions about conflicts between family members and the dilemmas that men and women face. When we clarified that all such conflicts existed in our country, they were like, "See! The problems are the same!!" One of our hosts had asked "Do conflicts occur between the daughter in law and the mother in law?" and when we agreed, they had asked "How do you resolve the conflict?" then we said, by dialogue and through a bit of understanding. Sushma, then volunteered to say "First, we make the mother in law feel she is the boss of the house and there is no threat to her respect. Then, we talk over things, however unreasonable the conflict might seem." Namratha then said "From a very young age, girls are prepared by the women folk at home for some of these things. The girl is told what she might undergo and might also experience a few conflicts in person, which gives a first hand experience." Dr. Upendra added, "With the exposure that a girl gets through her education and with her importance as a earning person of the family, she can usually get along in a while. But the process is slow and sometimes many people in the family are stressed, but the goal is to remain united." When we told them that families that split tend to be either viewed with sympathy or would be looked down upon socially, and therefore most families would not like to split because of this pressure, they were again "Wow!"

We visited Sun Health Research Institute, which was famous for having the world's largest brain bank and is known for developing the world's fastest autopsy process. The doctors there have told us that Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease would get delayed by active social involvement of older people. For those who are not aware, both the diseases are caused by old age and SHRI specializes in both. More about Sun City and SHRI in another post. It would be an interesting reading. When we asked whether engaging kids and telling them stories would help old people, they were not very clear as no research was done in isolating those social activities that help reduce disease incidence. But, they were sure that some activity to engage the brain is absolutely helpful in postponing the incidence of both diseases. We shared this with our hosts and when we said "Thank God! Our parents are safe as they are engaged actively in raising our kids and being socially active!!", they were happy. They said "Its such a relief to know that some diseases can be warded off with simple social systems!! We could avoid paying so much of money to the doctors and hospitals and so much of tension and pressure can be avoided too!!" Friends is this not a great lesson to learn!

The greatest learning we have ever had from these interactions is that our family system is the best in the world and if we expect sustainable socio economic progress, we must pass on the value of the family to our youngsters. Though there are a few things that we might have to change, we must not let go of our families and break up into nuclear families. As much as possible we must make sure that our families stay united, share resources and make life more meaningful and less miserable for all of us.

Let us spread this message across the globe and make it into one large family. Lets make the ideal of "Vasudhaika Kutumbam" a possibility.