Parents

As I struggle to overcome the effects of jet lag on my sleeping pattern I have a lot of time to reflect on my J-Term trip to India. The three weeks I spent in southern India were packed full of cultural immersion, crazy driving, and school visits.

When I stepped out of the airport in Chennai after three days of flying, I saw a sight that I will never forget. There were so many people waiting outside the airport at 11:30pm, they crowded the walk-way out of the airport, and were noisy as they greeted family members and friends. The crowd was a sea of bright colored sarees and kurtas. What I didn’t realize at this point was this crowd was a first snapshot of the sights I would be seeing in the city for the next month. The next day we got to go shopping and found where all those colors came from. The fabrics we found to wear were vibrant and so much more comfortable in the heat and humidity than our western attire. Our professor asked us to wear our shalwar kameezes to the schools and out in public as much as possible so that we could immerse ourselves in the culture and be respectful of traditions in India. I loved exploring how fashion plays such a large role in culture and enjoyed learning about India’s culture in this way.

Our group spent the month travelling around the city of Chennai and three days in Trivandrum. We got around in a van or in auto rickshaws – small, three-wheeled vehicles that zoomed through traffic. The roads in India are indescribably wild. The first night I held on to the sides of the van in fear for my life. But as the days went on and we continually arrived at our destinations safely I realized there must be a method to the madness of driving in India. Drivers use their horn constantly. This created a noisy atmosphere in the city which I soon grew accustomed to and eventually loved. The cities felt so alive and busy all the time.

I enjoyed every school we visited while learning about education in India and will remember the things I saw there forever, but one in particular sticks out in my mind. The second school we visited was a Catholic girls’ school. We were welcomed by a headmistress who gave us the immediate impression that she loved her job and took her position seriously. The students all showed her such respect along with every one of their teachers. The girls were so curious who we were, why we were there and if we liked their school. I visited the primary classes on the first day at Rosary Matriculation School and in those classes I was so impressed by the level of learning. The first standard girls were comprehending concepts that I had never seen students their age even attempt. Their discipline was impeccable and their respect for their elders, each other, and their education was so impressive. I left that class with an interest in exploring the childhood development.

This month abroad has changed my perspective on the world. I am so thankful to my professor, my peers, and PLU for offering me this opportunity and opening my mind to a culture halfway around the world.

Don’t Forget!

Starting Thursday evening, Feb. 26, and continuing all-day Friday, Feb. 27, the Wang Center for International Programs will be coordinating a World Conversations event for the 2008-2009 academic year.

Your students’ can look forward to learning about how to participate in 2010’s adventures during the Study Away Fair, in the University Center, on March 4th!