Pride

The women's organization helps women in the village find employment or start their own businesses.

One thing I have noticed as I visit the homes and workplaces of women in the village is that they are proud to show me their products and processes used to create their products. I can tell it’s important work to them as they explain each detail of every piece of the product. Yesterday I visited a smaller community outside the village where there is a group of 10 women that come together in one house. They have started their own business of making and selling incense. 

To make the product, each woman had her own role in the process. One would fold the packets, the next put the incense into the packets, the third would place the packets into the boxes. Lastly, a woman would take the boxes and wrap them in packaging. It was a regular assembly line right in the living space. They showed me the materials, how to package them, the different types of boxes. It was really amazing to see them working so efficiently together. They smile as they talk about the work and I can tell they are proud of the product they are making.

 Here the women are placing the pieces of incense into packets for the boxes.

Going to a Men’s College is better

The head of the woman’s organization has a 21 year-old daughter named Sweetie. She is 22 and just completed her degree in engineering. I asked her if she went to a women’s college for her degree and she said proudly, “No! I went to a men’s college.” It seems that the quality of education may be perceived as better at a men’s or co-ed university. Sweetie’s best friend is staying with us for a few days before she goes off to get her Master’s degree also in engineering. She is leaving the village and moving to the large city of Chennai to attend school. She told me that this will be her first time ever attending a co-ed institution. In the past, her schooling has been with females. I asked her how her mother feels about her going off to school by herself. She told me her mother is coming with her. They have rented a small apartment near the university in Chennai and she and her mother will live there together. Her father passed away 6 months ago and I am wondering if that has anything to do with her being able to go to the university.

My impression is that going to a men’s university, or co-education, is perceived as being superior.

 Today we visited a co-ed college (somewhere - don't ask me where...about a 3 hour bus ride from the village). Srivani, a friend of a friend, has just graduated in business from this school and we went to meet her as she got her official certificate today.

Sweetie and Friends

I am having fun with the young ladies staying and living in the house. Sweetie lives here and her friend is visiting so they like to take me shopping and show me how to get around. Sweetie has a motor cycle and so far we have fit three of us on it at one time. That is Sweetie driving, I sit in the middle and her friend on the back.

Young women in the village like to put Jasmine flowers in their hair. Sweetie said it is for the nice smell and for beauty. They gave me some to wear yesterday as well. Hear, Sweetie models the flowers.

Kullies

It’s hot and there is no air conditioning anywhere, so everyone wants to get some kullies. You can go to little shops in the village and request a kullie and they will ask you what kind you want. It basically represents a cold drink; mostly soda or juice in a glass bottle, but cold, bottled water can also be a kullie. You pay extra for a kullie versus a room temperature bottle of water or soda. Most kullies come with a straw. I have been ditching the straw and just drinking from the bottle, but I can tell this is really strange behavior to the locals. I am just not sure of the origin of the straws…

The shop owner is bringing out Kullies for us to drink.

Nursery Rhyme Time

On my first day in the village I was taken through the city so I could see the different projects the organization has implemented. Mary is very proud of the day care for children ages 2 to 5. Women can drop off their children at the day care who are too young to go to school. There is a big emphasis on teaching English to the children.

So I met the teacher who was lovely and then went in to meet the children. One of the little girls immediately burst into tears upon seeing me and would not stop crying no matter what anyone did. I felt really bad. So I watched the children sing and they did little rhymes. The teacher then asked me to teach the children a rhyme. Oh my, I didn’t feel qualified, but thought how hard can it be? So I picked Jack and Jill, which looking back was probably not the best choice. It doesn’t really make any sense and trying to act it out makes even less sense. So I am standing in front of the children singing and dancing and they are staring at me with BIG bug eyes looking scared. I must have spent 20 minutes trying to role play Jack and Jill. I even got a little boy to be Jack and one to be Jill. They just stood there in shock. I needed An and Jenn to help me!!

After the rhyming the teacher asked me to review the alphabet with the students. New books had been ordered and within them was  each letter matched with a picture and a word that represented the letter. I could tell the books were culturally appropriate until we got to the letter K. For this letter, the book had a picture of a Kangaroo. I don’t think Kangaroos are common to children in India so all the kids are looking confused and saying Kanga??? What?? So I decide to using my acting skills and become a Kangaroo, I have been to Australia after all. I bounced around the room and hung my arms in little hooves. The kids sort of got it I think because they started to hop around as well. Success!

Me with the children. We tried to get them to line up, but this is what we got. :)

We hope you like spicy food!

I have landed in my new home in the village of Virudhunagar and am trying to learn and adjust to new environment. (did I mention it's hot?) I am staying with the founder of the women's organization at her house with her husband, daughter who is 21 and small white dog named Rinky. I knew they were good people when I saw they had a small indoor dog the same size and color as Mr Smith. Upon my arrival they started asking me questions about Rinky's behavior. Apparently he does not like Indian people, but he prefers foreigners like me. I told them they will have to ask Rinky what that is all about.

In addition, they think I am crazy because everything they try to feed me is SPICY!. They tell me the food is not spicy and I tell them, yes, it's VERY spicy. This seems to happen at every meal. I hope I get used to it. AND they said I don't have to wear the scarf. Yay!! Did I mention it's really hot?

Can you help me come to the United States?

I was asked this question a lot when I traveled to Africa and have already been approached by hotel staff here in India about helping them come to the United States. It's hard. I try to explain how challenging it is to get a work visa to come to the United States, but they really want to try.

I know Americans complain about the current state of the US and the government, but I know I am lucky to have been born there. Today a nice young man told me he wants to work in the US and start his family there, not in India. It must be challenging for them here to try and make money and get ahead.