July 19

I think I can speak for everyone in our group when I say we are all very excited to be going on this study tour of India. What an adventure!!

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Welcome to India Field Studies Blog for 2013!

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Sad to leave India

I am in Varinassi, which they say is the oldest city in the world (3000-5000 years old). We arrived here by train from Kolkotta at 5 am, and upon reaching the Ganges river one could not believe how vibrant and busy it was a 6am.....people were packed in the streets....all in search of the water from the Ganges which they believe is sacred.....people were bathing, praying, singing, meditating.....and you name it. I was amazed by the business and vigor of the people so early in the morning....when I just wanted a shower, and clean sheets to lay down upon. The spirituality of the people is to be admired.....and I guess that is what strikes me is that the people of India have faith....there are many religions but they all believe in "GOD".....he or she may take many different forms but they still believe. They pray and then they pray more.....and that is something I aspire to do more of.....PRAY! Pray that love will fill my life and flow out to all those I meet. I guess you could say I needed to come to India to appreciate even more how much I value LOVE!...and today being my last day I find that I leave with mixed emotions...some might find it odd but I feel sad to be leaving......even though I so look forward to GREEN space and some QUIET time....but whatever the case I will never forget my time in India or the people who touched my life and my heart while I was here......I will carefully place them in my heart and fondly think of them as I fly home and return to my very simple life in Canada.
sadily my trip has ended on a sour note of sorts as my flight time conflicted with the train arrival time and I have to fly out of Varinassi instead of take the train with everyone else .....which costs more and changes the entire dynamics of my trip....but perhaps I needed this alone time to reflect and well shed a few tears on my own.
For those who shudder at the thought of visiting India...I will say it is not an easy trip and that being flexible and open minded is a must....a sense of humor also goes along way....but I learned about my and life certainly outwayed the heat, traffic, cockroaches, mice, and well so many differences from Canada.
The fact is I am blessed to live in Canada, no material things can provide the gifts that my time in India provided me with. I am humbled to have visited a place so different from my home and feel privledged to have been moved by the people I met along the way.
Namaste

Being Present

Only one more day left in Kolkota then we take the train to Varinassi. Today we were able to be taken out to the slums of India. We visited a school set up along a railway line for people who live right along a rail line...talk about a humbling experience to realize that these people do not have running water, electricity, or any sewer system in sight...and as they lkive here you realize that where they moved from is perhaps even worse then their present conditions. The school was as simple as it can get at least 20 kids in a tiny room with 1 teacher and hot can not describe how I felt today. I was amazed with the grace and pride these children sang us songs and shared their work...one boy could not stop smiling.....and you can't help but ask yourself how it is possible to be so unhappy if a boy is so grateful and proud of what he has? I also was able to see sister Cyril again she affirmed in me how one can be present for everyone you meet....which is something I try so hard to do but fall short on so many occassions....after meeting me only once she remembered our conversation and made a point of speaking to me about the girl I had befriended at the school.....I only spent a few short hours with her but sister Cyril instilled in me that those few hours meant more than I will ever know and affirmed what I was feeling that it was a shame that I was not staying longer to get to know her more. Presence?? What will that look like back home...how will I cultivate that in my life? Sister Cyril asks for nothing in return she jsut gives....which can be difficult yet when I look at her I see how fullfilled she is because in doing this she sees the rewards later on.
Anyway I am off tomorrow to work with special needs children at one of Mother Teresa's buildings...no idea what is in store but I guess that is the power in this trip.....walking with my arms wide open waiting to see what gifts are in store for me.
Much love to everyone.
Joanne

From my facebook account

This is what I posted on my facebook account after a list of comments about my time at Jesu Ashram (a care center for lepers, HIV, and TB):

thanks everyone! I will need your prayers! xoxoxo
This gives me strength for what's to come. Following this I felt guilty for all the individuals with TB and HIV I also came across with who I was scared to shake hands with or hug or anything. Walking away and feeling like you have turned your back on someone God has possibly put in your path to show your love to is heart breaking. I knew that when given another opportunity I had to be stronger.I went to the sisters of charities today to sign up for some volunteer work this Friday. I felt like I should be in a home of dying individuals in need of God's love before they pass. When I went to the volunteer registration place the organizer said that I would be needed at an orphanage and I thought well that's in easy way out but a part of me felt like it wasn't where I was supposed to be. So I prayed to God and asked that He put me where He needs me. I would give the sister my two options and I asked that He use her to put me in the right spot. Well I was the last one called and so the sister said I get to pick and both had room for me. That didn't help! I told her I was hoping she would pick for me. She said that I would not be of use at the school since I wasn't here long enough so she placed me in the home of dying people. Right away a feeling of fear fell over me but I felt it was right. I AM SCARED but I feel this will force me to draw strength. Please pray for me.Miss you all. xoxoxo

Embrace Panic

2 days in a row this is the closest to a routine that i have right now.....today was a hot day for me even though I spent most of the day in an airconditioned bus but after experiencing an Indian thunder storm it seemed as though things caught up with me as I sat and waited to be put on a list at the mission house for mother teresa's missionaries of charity....i will be going on Friday to help out with some special needs chilren in one of the houses....not sure what to expect but it will be nice to be around kids again and to warm up to the idea of teaching again.
The rest of the day.... while rushed was really informative as we visited some temples both of which were the most beautiful that I was able to see on my journey so far.....they were quieter and serene...not as crazy as the others that I have visited so far....if i could have I would have sat and found a place to mediate at the Krishna temple all day long.....it was so peaceful and there was GREEN space......as I walked I could feel as this wonderful clean energy around me and I so wished that I could have spent more time there....it was a great place to reflect on my journey so far.....and some might find it odd but I feel a sort of sadness that the journey is ending......
As my favorite quote states " Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take but by the moments that take your breath away"......and I certainly have had those types of moments here...perhaps that is why there is apprehension and sadness....as I so long for such moments back home in comfortable Canada. The question to ask is how does one do that everyday in a place that so many would do anything to be able to visit let alone call home. I know with my head how blessed I am and hope that in coming to India I learn to feel with my heart just how blessed I truely am also.
I however will not miss crazy taxi rides in Kolkata one bit...I had the taxi driver from hell who had no idea where he was taking us and a 15 min drive took over 30 min. So when drivers don't follow traffic rules, it is hot/ stuffy, you are sweating in places you didn't know existed, and are breathing in scents you would rather not take in.....it ended up being the most unbearble experience ever.......needless to say my travel sickness kicked in...not to mention PANIC......and I am sure that i freaked out my travel companions as I had a mini panic attack. I just felt likeI could not breath and so wanted the trip to end.......for a farm girl used to open space this trip was the worst nightmare yet, and no amount of trying to be strong worked today......which in the end was probably a good thing as it reminded me that I am human. So as bad as it was I guess you could say I learned something about myself and will still be taking a taxi sometime tomorrow....praying that I get a different taxi driver. All the best to you.

Joanne

Journal Entries con't

July 25 @ 2:04am
Faith has brought you here (India) and faith will lead you in your spiritual journey.

July 29 @ 2:54 pm
Jaipur

Jaipur is beautiful. We arrived to a rainfall which was celebrated by this pink town. All the walls of the street were pink (actually a run down kinda red). Children were playing in the water that was flooding the streets. We stayed at the Holiday Inn where we were able to use their pool then eat at their restaurant (called cum bar). This city is covered by pink buildings. The first building was the city palace and it was very British with it's huge chandlers, carpets, and royal outfits. Here the "royal" family was definitely treated like kings and queens with full service (natural air-conditioning, heavy gold clothing for the queen who was transported via wheel chair due to the weight of her dress, a maze of rooms, and water that had to be brought in from outside India.) I found the decor and architecture more lively here with the colour and peacock doorways. then those in Delhi. Following this we went to the carpet place and it was neat to see all the steps taken for high quality carpets. I bought my first two saris here.
It was neat watching the people celebrate rain here. Children were in the streets playing in the water overflow, store owners sat back as water flood into their shops, and many came out of their homes and shops to stand knee high in the water and be grateful for the rain fall. It was like driving through a parade. We definitely do not have this same appreciation for rainfall in North America. We run inside and lock the door keeping the rain out and ourselves dry.

Day 2 in Jaipur

Today we took an elephant ride at amber fort and ran into Kirt the chef on tv. This is the second famous person I ran into here! Am I really in India? The art work here was amazing with the silver and gold trim walls. The golden triangle has given me so much beauty to look at. From the mosque, mosoleums, Taj Mahal, and palaces I have seen more beauty then I would have ever expected. Little did I know about the history that exists here.
A part of me feels, however, that I am still missing out on something however. I came here on a spiritual journey to build on my relationship with God and the His calling. I see the beauty here but I feel more guilty then anything for all the graces of experience I am receiving and the lack of work I am doing for Him. I definitely know He is here with me and I recal the high tower we climbed at the mosque where I stood in a small circular room above the city and feeling the wind blow right through me. It was so amazing. It felt like His presence in the wind blowing all around me. That still remains to be the most spiritual feeling I have had since I got here and that took place on day 2 and I am almost a week into this trip...