Rural Site Visits

I want to explain some of my experiences during training in detail. First of all I cannot begin to describe how amazing this group of Fellows is. I am in constant awe of their ambition, intelligence and passion. I truly feel privileged to be apart of this group. In addition to being well accomplished, these fellows are so much fun to be with. We have all been together for a little over 12 days but feel as if we have known each other for years. We have had a blast together through all our experiences and will see each other at our midpoint meetings, end point meetings, and in between travel. Some fellows are in the same city, some are in cities alone, including me.

As far as experiences all the speakers were motivating and a wealth of knowledge. We got the amazing opportunity to assist Rotary International with a polio vaccination for young children. What a truly incredible experience! We were driven about an hour outside of Delhi to a different state. From there we went to three different stands in various areas that were passing around polio vaccinations. Polio has been eradicated in most areas but has been difficult to eradicate in India. At each booth they take children ages 5 or younger and give them a simple two drop vaccination and a black marker on their finger to show they have had the drops. After this the volunteers go to each and every house in the next few days to see if every child has been given the vaccine. The child needs to have this about 25 times to be fully vaccinated, so the volunteers will do the same thing next month. I was able to give a child a vaccination, which was the most incredible feeling. These towns were so excited to see the volunteers and to see us helping. It was heart breaking how poor some of these children were but it gave me a lot of pleasure to give them excitement for a day to see the “Americans”. These kids love digital cameras too, they beg you to take a picture of them and then show them. I got trampled by kids multiple times to take a picture of them. The other people in the slum areas were so appreciative of us visiting. In the last area (which was predominantly Muslim) the Imam had us come into his house and though it was obvious that everyone had very little, they gave us a crazy amount of fruits, and sweets. Our picture was taken a million times and then we were asked to give information about our projects in India. It was an honor to be invited into the Imam’s house and even the mayor (a female) was supposed to meet us but we unfortunately ran late and missed her. Finally everyone gave us the necklace of flowers, a long cloth as a gift and a plaque with a picture of Krishna. I can’t begin to describe how much of a privilege it was to visit these areas and interact with the people. It was both heart breaking (because of the poverty) and beautiful (because of the love and hospitality) at the same time.


Another experience was rural Rajasthan right outside of Jaipur. We took a bus and then a small jeep into our sleeping accommodations because the bus would not be able to get through the roads we took. Our accommodations were a small school in the middle of nowhere. People were so hospitable, forcing food on us and offering us amazing tasting chai. We were in rooms of five with lizards and bugs everywhere and Indian style toilets (a hole in the ground) but we still all woke up in the most peaceful state of mind to beautiful music and gorgeous nature. From there we went to a rural site to observe the schools. Different grade levels were in one very small room with one or two teachers maximum, teaching each group a different lesson. They lack materials and books; however this school even being established for these kids was a big step. I got to sit and help some little kids how to add with the little Hindi skills I have and got the opportunity to recall the simplicity of childhood without video games, TV, computer, etc. with a simple gave of “duck duck goose”. I had a blast teaching these kids, especially this beautiful little girl named Kali. She was so beautiful and intelligent and I realize that she will never be told that in her life. Later we walked around the village and felt the hospitality of those around. We also saw the young girls working endlessly on a loom for rugs. These girls cannot go to school every day because of work, however they have night school for three hours

We got to go to another site which was my favorite experience. In rural villages NGOs (Non government agencies) attempt to go and provide livelihood for the people. In this village people farm a lot, so the NGO went in and taught the women how to save and invest. Now the women all have weekly meetings of how to progress. They save money and their husbands do not have access to it. The women (in response to this) had to take a lot of disapproval and abuse from their husbands who did not initially approve of their group formation. They have worked hard to keep their program going besides their husbands’ resentment and possible retaliation. Many of these women expressed how they do not like what they do and do not want to have to deal with their husbands beating them and coming home drunk. They do not have any running electricity or even a restroom in their houses. Though they deal with this from 5am to 10 pm each and everyday these women were still happy and so hospitable. At first introduction they sang a song for us then asked us to sing an English song for them. We couldn’t think about anything besides a melody of “Row Row Row Your Boat” which we did in three separate groups, the video is hilarious! These women took us in the field to show us everything and immediately were crawling all over me. They held my hand as we walked and overwhelmed me with questions of my marriage, what I am going to be doing in Hyderabad, who I am planning to “unveil” my wedding veil to. These woman were all over me, to the point that once we were walking back they were all pulling me in the opposite direction to stay. The sweetest thing was they straight away pulled out corn from their crops to give us some, though they hardly have any food for themselves. These families hardly have anything and even then, when my flip flop broke, they offered from me to take theirs. This flip flop accident did allow for my first bollywood moment to happen as the tour guide from the NGO that was taking us around, took off his shoe for me to use and walked around bare footed. I was even dubbed one woman’s sister. I loved this experience so much. It was so beautiful to watch these strong women and was inspiring to see the initiative these NGOs that I will be working with are taking.

From these experiences I already feel like a different person. My eyes have been opened up to a world I have known about but never understood. It is difficult to go to a club at night or even a nice restaurant and see the attitudes of the rich, and see how much they actually have, then go to areas like I mentioned above and see the poverty and despair. It is a constant struggle to watch the separation in India. On another note, India does really have that power everyone speaks about. It is beautiful in so many ways and the hospitality is beautiful.