Oh my goodness. Here I am in India. IN INDIA. My work day is basically over so I am finally finding time to write a new post.
Day 1: Day one was crazy town. I got in at like 5 am and got picked up by Brooke and Ben. It was super exciting and happy and we took the cab back to our place. I was jaw dropped the whole drive. We got to the apartment and I got to settle in and meet everyone. After eating breakfast, I did an orientation. We went over basic rules and regulations and then proceeded to enjoy lunch at this place called Golden Crown. SO GOOD. AFTER that I went to the general bazaar with Sarah, Brooke, and Meera. It is basically something you would imagine in a movie. A narrow alley way with shops in the sides of the walls...I got to get some pants and a scarf. It turns out the modesty here is much different than I thought it would be. I was not prepared...So after that and rushing around all day I got back to the apartment and fell asleep...Totally slept through dinner. I woke up at like 1 am and texted Sean for a bit and then went back to sleep until about 7am.
Day 2: Woke up at 7 am, like I said already...haha. I called Sean and we chatted for a while and then I called me parents. It was so good to hear from them. I was actually quite emotional after...Just missing my husband and hearing encouraging words. ANYWAYS, We had a team meeting and went over everyone's projects which was really neat. Things are getting done and I am already learning. We ran a couple of errands, ate lunch and then Sara and I headed out with Ben to meet up with Dr. Meera. Dr. Meera is one HECK of a lady. She has something like 6 degrees, one of them being a doctorate. She runs an organization called SAPID. SAPID does many projects and has been around for over 30 years. Dr. Meera told us how much good has been accomplished in India with the power of team effort. I loved her approach to creating change. SAPID offers the information and a way to start projects(better and sustainable ways of life) and then encourages the people to try it themselves...This either escalates to the success of a project in which SAPID withdraws, or if the people are unwilling to work, SAPID will withdraw. SAPID is willing to offer help as long as the people are willing to work.
We approached Dr. Meera with the intent on starting a new set of classes for GLOW girls. GLOW girls means Girls Leading Our World. We have been asked to teach a group of 15 girls in the slums of a Muslim community about the menstrual cycle and self confidence. It is common that the period is viewed as taboo. After doing some research, we learned that in some Muslim communities girls were told to live in a shack for the duration of their period because it is viewed as a "curse" or "pollution.
We have been asked to teach what the menstruation cycle really is so that girls have a better understanding of who they are. The culture here is so complex. The women work so extremely hard but yet are not viewed to be in the same playing field as men...Ultimately, the responsibilities placed on a woman are vast in comparison to that of a man, and having something that occurs naturally being viewed as sinful or dirty is damaging for self esteem.
We are lucky in the sense that SAPID has had great success with this project in the past and education is being requested...We are lucky to have the opportunity to teach these girls who probably have not had the chance to learn basic biology from their mothers.
This blog post is really long, but I am so excited to share the things that I have learned already.
We start teaching next Tuesday and will continue two more lessons the following Monday and Tuesday.
I cannot believe I am doing this.
I have never been more scared, or inspired.
Day 1: Day one was crazy town. I got in at like 5 am and got picked up by Brooke and Ben. It was super exciting and happy and we took the cab back to our place. I was jaw dropped the whole drive. We got to the apartment and I got to settle in and meet everyone. After eating breakfast, I did an orientation. We went over basic rules and regulations and then proceeded to enjoy lunch at this place called Golden Crown. SO GOOD. AFTER that I went to the general bazaar with Sarah, Brooke, and Meera. It is basically something you would imagine in a movie. A narrow alley way with shops in the sides of the walls...I got to get some pants and a scarf. It turns out the modesty here is much different than I thought it would be. I was not prepared...So after that and rushing around all day I got back to the apartment and fell asleep...Totally slept through dinner. I woke up at like 1 am and texted Sean for a bit and then went back to sleep until about 7am.
Day 2: Woke up at 7 am, like I said already...haha. I called Sean and we chatted for a while and then I called me parents. It was so good to hear from them. I was actually quite emotional after...Just missing my husband and hearing encouraging words. ANYWAYS, We had a team meeting and went over everyone's projects which was really neat. Things are getting done and I am already learning. We ran a couple of errands, ate lunch and then Sara and I headed out with Ben to meet up with Dr. Meera. Dr. Meera is one HECK of a lady. She has something like 6 degrees, one of them being a doctorate. She runs an organization called SAPID. SAPID does many projects and has been around for over 30 years. Dr. Meera told us how much good has been accomplished in India with the power of team effort. I loved her approach to creating change. SAPID offers the information and a way to start projects(better and sustainable ways of life) and then encourages the people to try it themselves...This either escalates to the success of a project in which SAPID withdraws, or if the people are unwilling to work, SAPID will withdraw. SAPID is willing to offer help as long as the people are willing to work.
We approached Dr. Meera with the intent on starting a new set of classes for GLOW girls. GLOW girls means Girls Leading Our World. We have been asked to teach a group of 15 girls in the slums of a Muslim community about the menstrual cycle and self confidence. It is common that the period is viewed as taboo. After doing some research, we learned that in some Muslim communities girls were told to live in a shack for the duration of their period because it is viewed as a "curse" or "pollution.
We have been asked to teach what the menstruation cycle really is so that girls have a better understanding of who they are. The culture here is so complex. The women work so extremely hard but yet are not viewed to be in the same playing field as men...Ultimately, the responsibilities placed on a woman are vast in comparison to that of a man, and having something that occurs naturally being viewed as sinful or dirty is damaging for self esteem.
We are lucky in the sense that SAPID has had great success with this project in the past and education is being requested...We are lucky to have the opportunity to teach these girls who probably have not had the chance to learn basic biology from their mothers.
This blog post is really long, but I am so excited to share the things that I have learned already.
We start teaching next Tuesday and will continue two more lessons the following Monday and Tuesday.
I cannot believe I am doing this.
I have never been more scared, or inspired.
Amazing! What a wonderful thing you will do in teaching those girls! "When you educate a girl, you educate you educate a generation." The good you do with them will effect so many others.
ReplyDeleteKayla, how exciting! Thanks for the daily updates. Love ya!
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