Alright so tomorrow is July. That means that this blogging ball needs to start rolling. It'll be rolling fast because it's all downhill from here!!!
Jeez louise I can't believe how fast this is all going. It's true that you think you have all the time in the world and then all of a sudden, BAM, you're buying your tickets for you "mid-semester" retreat and planning your last few weeks in the field.
So here's THE BACKGROUND:
I am a Human Development major working on a project in McLeod Ganj, India. This town is located in the Northern state of Himachal Pradesh, and it's where many Tibetan refugees are currently living. It's also the headquarters of the Tibetan in Exile's Government, and the home of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Because it's such an interesting and spiritual area, it attracts many tourists from all over India, and all over the world. It's also kind of a base-camp for trekkers who journey into the mountains and up to Jammu and Kashmir. I am here studying Tibetan parenting styles and trying to answer the question: "what to Tibetan parents in this area consider to be good parenting?" This is a very exploratory study, and I will be accomplishing it through participant observation in 3-5 Tibetan homes.
And here's WHERE I AM:
I have tackled culture shock, lived in two Tibetan homes, walked all over town, walked all over town again, walked up a mountain, been very sick, been very homesick, been very happy, made friends, made momos, made phonecalls, and eaten food. Lots and lots of food.
The results? I love it here. It's not a "oh my gosh everything here is great and perfect" kind of love. Don't get me wrong, there are things here that I won't miss when I leave. This love is a choice. It's the choice I made to look at my experience thus far with all of its ups and downs and smiles and frowns, and think "hey, you know what? There is a beauty here that is worth all of this." So yes, I love it here.
How is my project going, you ask? Well... it's going very well, in the sense that I feel as if I have successfully entered the community and build rapport with all the right people. The right people being Tibetan moms. I am volunteering in a day care that is provided for low-income Tibetan families. So I'm working with 35 kids under age 4 every morning for four hours. I act as a human jungle gym, a foam-puzzle master, a singing-lady, a hokey-pokeyier, and a large bullseye for flying toys, drool, food, and (of course) snot. I also change diapers, feed the kids, and get them to fall asleep. Let me tell you, it's an adventure every day. The nice thing is that instead of staying for the three-week commitment, I have been there for 5 weeks and will be there for another 4. This means that the teachers treat me less like a volunteer and more like a teacher, giving me more responsibility and more respect. All of the teachers are... TIBETAN MOMS!! And they all are fond of me, and I of them. They will be the ones I will hopefully observe, starting next week (cross your fingers for me).
Ok well, that's where I am. I've been writing a daily reflections log, as well as a weekly report, as well as semi-weekly emails to family and friends. I think I'll choose some things from those to post on here so my followers (and the ISP program) can look back and see what's been going on. So stay tuned, ladies and gentlemen!
Jeez louise I can't believe how fast this is all going. It's true that you think you have all the time in the world and then all of a sudden, BAM, you're buying your tickets for you "mid-semester" retreat and planning your last few weeks in the field.
So here's THE BACKGROUND:
I am a Human Development major working on a project in McLeod Ganj, India. This town is located in the Northern state of Himachal Pradesh, and it's where many Tibetan refugees are currently living. It's also the headquarters of the Tibetan in Exile's Government, and the home of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Because it's such an interesting and spiritual area, it attracts many tourists from all over India, and all over the world. It's also kind of a base-camp for trekkers who journey into the mountains and up to Jammu and Kashmir. I am here studying Tibetan parenting styles and trying to answer the question: "what to Tibetan parents in this area consider to be good parenting?" This is a very exploratory study, and I will be accomplishing it through participant observation in 3-5 Tibetan homes.
And here's WHERE I AM:
I have tackled culture shock, lived in two Tibetan homes, walked all over town, walked all over town again, walked up a mountain, been very sick, been very homesick, been very happy, made friends, made momos, made phonecalls, and eaten food. Lots and lots of food.
The results? I love it here. It's not a "oh my gosh everything here is great and perfect" kind of love. Don't get me wrong, there are things here that I won't miss when I leave. This love is a choice. It's the choice I made to look at my experience thus far with all of its ups and downs and smiles and frowns, and think "hey, you know what? There is a beauty here that is worth all of this." So yes, I love it here.
How is my project going, you ask? Well... it's going very well, in the sense that I feel as if I have successfully entered the community and build rapport with all the right people. The right people being Tibetan moms. I am volunteering in a day care that is provided for low-income Tibetan families. So I'm working with 35 kids under age 4 every morning for four hours. I act as a human jungle gym, a foam-puzzle master, a singing-lady, a hokey-pokeyier, and a large bullseye for flying toys, drool, food, and (of course) snot. I also change diapers, feed the kids, and get them to fall asleep. Let me tell you, it's an adventure every day. The nice thing is that instead of staying for the three-week commitment, I have been there for 5 weeks and will be there for another 4. This means that the teachers treat me less like a volunteer and more like a teacher, giving me more responsibility and more respect. All of the teachers are... TIBETAN MOMS!! And they all are fond of me, and I of them. They will be the ones I will hopefully observe, starting next week (cross your fingers for me).
Ok well, that's where I am. I've been writing a daily reflections log, as well as a weekly report, as well as semi-weekly emails to family and friends. I think I'll choose some things from those to post on here so my followers (and the ISP program) can look back and see what's been going on. So stay tuned, ladies and gentlemen!
I totally agree with the title of this blog post.
ReplyDeleteJulia, I love your description of your time at Rogpa. It sounds like you're having a great time there! Your project is fascinating and I think you're doing a great job. Let us know when you get your first observation done! I'd love to hear all about it :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing Julia! It's so amazing to see the world through a different lens than what we have here in the good ole US of A. To emotionally connect and reconnect makes the tapestry of your life so much more full...of texture, of color and of character. You and Matt are "Carpe Diem" it... seizing each day with all your senses. Best wishes and many blessings on your travels.
ReplyDeleteFondly....Cindy