Showing posts with label My Passion Unveiled. Show all posts

Are You A SOLO-TRAVELLER?

McLeodganj, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, India

These days solo-travelling is on the cards. Facebook is swamped with photos of people going to hill stations, in India or abroad. Boasting of their journeys, taking cool-selfies, sharing stories is the heat of the moment! So taking dip in the same flow, I thought I should take the honor of sharing some stories of my journey too -

A very rare kind of internship this summer gave me the opportunity of solo-travelling to rural and urban North-India. Well, now I wonder what exactly does it mean -"solo travel". Haven't I been already going places on my own. Or does my boy-friend or someone else accompany me everywhere? Where exactly does the "solo-travel" start from? My entire family drops me to Delhi airport where my flight to JFK is awaiting - and where my entire paternal or maternal families come to pick me up at the JFK airport - can be called some solo-travel stunt? Huh?

I read many articles on solo-travel off lately, to enhance my own understanding of this term. And to my surprise I found out that I have been solo travelling since twenty years now. My papa has never been 'pro' when it comes to 'picking' or 'dropping'. He often used to tell me that who would accompany you in the US when you go there. And now it seems he was right!

So it turns out to me that my first visit to Delhi almost 6 years back was a first serious 'solo-trip'. Nobody came to pick me up at the busiest New Delhi Railway Station. And that continued on and on. Since then, I have solo-travelled to my hometown almost a hundred times in last 5 years.

However, my recent trip to Mcleodganj, a small town located in the narrow-high-hills of Himachal Pradesh, is a most memorable solo-travel stunt so far for me!

In north of India, if a woman (an unmarried one) travels alone, it's a different experience altogether. You have to be careful of just so many things. People judge you; they ask you non-sensical questions (are you single? what have you come here for? what kind of work exactly?); etc etc

An Indian girl in foreign or a foreigner girl in India probably would have much better experience. But an Indian girl in India travelling alone is a curse to bear! From the taxi-driver to the hotel manager, from children to oldies- all look at you with some strange look in their eyes - a look I couldn't understand what it pertains to. On my way from Dharamshala to Pathankot, the TTE asked me, where are you going to from Pathankot? I gently said - "How on earth is that your business?" Well, he might be a genuine person trying to genuinely help me for I-don't-know-what, but that's how it is. They take the liberty of asking you personal questions even more so when you're alone! My best friend suggested me that I could act like a pregnant woman, as I already have swelling tommy to support that stance, and could take advantage of being less-judged, less-harassed, or less-horrified etc.

Nevertheless, I won't say that I had only bad experiences. I met some very amazing people on my journey - from a doctor-family in the train to a struggling-family of two brothers in Pathankot to solo-traveller Navneet. On my way from Delhi to Pathankot, I learnt a lot of stuff about Power plants because of my conversations with this sweet guy Navneet who kept talking about his work and personal life experiences as if were old friends for long time. He later helped me to get to my bus to Dharamshala.

On my way back to home, I had to spend a couple of hours in Pathankot to catch my connecting train to Delhi. I chose to roam around the market than sitting idly at the platform. I happened to arrive to a small shop that sold women's accessories of all types. My little conversation with two brothers, who run that shop, made our bond so strong that they both came to drop me to my train and waited there with me until the train left at 11:30 p.m.! It felt as I had some relatives there to see me off and take care of me in the best possible manner!

In last one month, I have travelled to more than 10 cities across four states of India -from the west coast of Mumbai to North-Valleys of Dharamshala, it was an experience worth relishing. Putting up in a cottage, facing the mountains, feeling the rain and reading my favourite Ayn Rand to myself is something I am going to remember always!

If you're traveling solo or in-company, don't forget doing one thing - having FUN!

Cheers.
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WHY YOU SHOULD CHOOSE TO GO TO A VILLAGE AS A NEXT HOLIDAY SPOT

It's horribly cold in Delhi, and we are told to carry not a lot of sweaters as there is a pleasant weather in Jhansi, Madhya Pradesh (MP). All of us are excited. Though, I am not a big fan of company-outings, but I have agreed to go on this retreat. Basically for two reasons: First - it's compulsory! Second - I am sure it's going to be a different experience for me.

So, here we are - at the railway platform - a group of close to 100 fellows of Teach For India, along with 30 odd students selected from all over Delhi, to accompany us in our Mid-year retreat of Jan-2016! It is an entirely different momentum that one can feel in the air, when all of us are together - at one place. Fellows from all walks of life are ready to create another chapter in history.

I am, as always, feeling indifferent about the trip.  However, I look forward to the different activities we are going to do in Jhansi and Orchha.

Day 1 -
As soon as we step out at Jhansi platform, we get inside another bus eagerly waiting there to take us to Orchha. I knew this is going to be a hectic day! How could I forget what happened in the training-institute in Pune! For all the beauty, I loved the institute, I never loved the part that I had no real time to enjoy it! "God - I shouldn't have come", I kept thinking to myself.

After reaching at a dharmshala-cum-hotel, we have an hour long break; and then we would leave for Taragram - a developed, fully-furnished, kind-hearted and welcoming village in heart of India.

TARAGRAM - There is something very different in its air. I have never been to a place so peaceful before in my life. Everyone is working, busy in mundane tasks of life - yet nobody seems to be running in any race, as we do here in Delhi. It's clean; it's pure; and it has a soul that I wanted to meet always. There is creativity; there is culture; there is technology; there is labor; and above all, there is peace!

We explored different work units of Development Authorities (DA), a semi-govt. organization that works for the development of Taragram, since 1996. The Arts-and-crafts unit, I found most amazing. I could not believe the handmade items I see at most costly shops in Select City Walk mall are created in the streets of a village, unknown to us all.

MANDOR VILLAGE - 
After a quick visit to all four units of DA, we have left for a visit to another nearby village - Mandor. They say it's the largest village of MP, but I didn't find it very advanced or developed. However, I see that DA is working great there. They are running literacy programs for women, and also enabling their people for employment. I hope for more development for the largest village of a state, but I need to realize that wherever they are right now -however small it may look to me - it's a great achievement for them. They have come a long way, from being nobody to being an entrepreneur today! Salutes!

Now we have come back to our hotel in Orchha. As a miracle, we have a couple-of-hours break to relax, or visit, or make friends. You see, every time we have a get-together at TFI, there is always atleast one person very interesting whom you meet, and you want to talk to, and you want to be friends with - no matter how cold and indifferent you are! And that's the beauty of our diversity.

We took a walk to the river side. Though it's not very fancy, but I like to hear the sounds of its waves. They ask questions that you have never thought about, and they also solve riddles that you could never elsewhere do. You have to just sit here, either alone, or in some nice company!

We come back to the hotel, and we have a surprise game-night. It sounds wonderful. We have a chance to vent our feelings and frustrations out here by role playing. It is fun, and we come closer to our groups by being our true selves.

Day 2- 
I am hoping for a great day, today. I had a good night sleep yesterday, after the game-night. We have come to know that we are going to a Gaushala today. I am really excited now.

GAUSHALA - We have various different activities planned for today. An amazing job by our program managers and retreat team! Of all the great things, I found fodder-feeding activity most attractive. I signed up for it, instantly.



It was great to go to farms, cut fresh fodder, break it into smaller pieces in a handmade chopper, and finally feed to the cows. Nothing in the world can beat the smell and touch of fresh green leaves, and the live experience of feeding the most sacred animal of all.
We have no idea where the entire day spent on. Hopping from one place to other, enjoying its beauty, and admiring its creativity and grandeur, we went to attend our last session of the day - India - of my dreams!

Many of us, including our kids, shared our unique idea of "India - of my dreams". I felt a little overwhelmed by the level of openness with which people came and shared. But I'm happy to be a part of discussion where we talk about India. It seems to be a lost word these days. We are too busy in our daily-life work, career aspirations, personal life issues, health, satisfaction, that we have forgotten our country altogether. We dream of going to US, to places that are holiday spots, that have bigger and better university, but we don't dream of our India anymore. Patriotism is the least talked about thing in our curriculum these days, I realized.

On reflection sessions, we are being asked many a times in TFI, "What did you learn about yourself in last (few) days/ months?" Here it has been asked again. I find this question always overwhelming, and sometimes annoying. How can you expect from someone to learn something about herself in one or two days? It seems to me only a formality sitting in those sessions and answering for sake of it. I came back home with a lot of thoughts whirling around my head, but no answers to any of them.

ORCHHA FORT- The rest of the day was ours. We went to the Orchha fort, and saw light and sound show. It was amazing to feel the history again, and to know the great victory stories of our ancestors. We had food in one of the tourist-restaurants, and some very nice time spent with some very nice friends.

Day 3 -
We are going to Taragram again today. We have to check out from the hotel here, and leave for Jhansi platform from thereon. We have a couple of sessions, and time to shop in Taragram. It's a relatively light and relaxing day. I am enjoying this part very much.

JHANSI FORT- We have a very small window between our train and Fort closing timings. We are rushing to see the fort. I am very happy that I didn't miss this great opportunity. It’s a privilege to witness a place which has given shelter to one of the bravest women of our country - Rani Lakshmibai, grand-daughter of Peshwa Baji Rao. It was great to learn about our history deeper, and explore it alive.

WAY BACK TO DELHI - For the first time in the history of TFI, our multiple generations are travelling in one train - alumni, staff, program managers, fellows and kids - all at one platform. We did a small demonstration of our kids' skills at the railway station.

One question has been occupying my mind all the time - is there anything I learnt about myself in last 3 days? Is it even possible to do so in such a short duration?

For some unknown reasons, I feel a lot more peaceful today. I feel proud to be a part of the movement that is working for the country, for our children, for fighting the crisis India is facing for decades now, for trying to eliminate the education-inequity!

All I know at this moment is that I am happy that I joined TFI; for there is a different peace and content in my mind at this time that I never had in my life ever befor
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Pieces of My Life @ Teach For India


WE GOT HIT BY THE TRUCK (LOADED WITH LOVE) 

BECAUSE WE WERE -

Sorry readers if you didn't get the joke; This was for my "TFI-FRIENDS" (QUICK VOCAB: TFI - TEACH FOR INDIA); You might need to join TFI to understand our countless senseless yet high-in-humor jokes ;-)

SO HERE I TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY OF SHARING PIECES OF MY LIFE AT TFI

1. Nature-



The passage to the flame university campus from pune railway station where our 5 weeks summer institute training was supposed to be held seemed like a beautiful corridor of a hill station in northern India. I felt as if I were on some paid vacation to a heavenly resort in God’s own country.
Nature seems to be a permanent resident of this valley. 
Sun seems to wake up and sleep off in its fluorescent lap. Wind seems to start blowing from the movement of leaves over its long, trailing, dense trees. Birds, dogs, frogs, snakes and humans (of course) seem to live like a happy-family in its warm and conducive ambience. 

2. People


Almost every hour you meet someone new, someone interesting, someone who bores you, someone who catches your attention, or someone you get a crush on. ;-)

I met people from almost all regions, backgrounds, experience, age, color, or anything-else-you-can-think-of. Sometimes, the conversations over dinner tables led me think that I don’t belong here. Or maybe they didn’t belong here. But then I also met people who were echoing my inner feelings, thoughts, choices, interests, disinterests. It was hard to digest that consistent inconsistency in people. However, to my surprise I ended up making lifetime friends from both sets – who I liked always and who I didn’t like that much initially.


I was also amazed to see the energy and devotion in people who have been part of TFI for quite some time now. I felt very little when I saw them working hard day in and day out for us to feel better – BETTER! No one defines the better. It can go from stretching whole night for making charts, to planning next sessions, to thinking hundreds of energizers, to just sitting with fellows to hear their stupid or great problems.

3. Clouds of Doubts


Everything seemed mesmerizing; the only, yet the most prevalent, problem is that you wouldn’t get any time –any time at all- to appreciate the beauty, to talk to that someone- to like it or hate it! And that is the time from when the real fun begins

I felt crazy for first couple of weeks. I have never been a great planner in my life. And here all of a sudden, I am expected to plan every minute of my day. God help me and everyone who has the same feeling.

After attending each class of 75 odd minutes, people used to run around the campus here and there to find their next destination. It seemed as if some war has been kicked off in the border or as if you have to take the next metro which is the last metro apparently.

There were times when I doubted my own interest in the cause, in the way we work here, in the commitment we are expected to offer, in almost everything that was happening. But there were also times when I was sure that that is the place I have wanted whole my life to be in..

4. Fun Time


I have never seen so many colors in my life at one place. I have never realized that colors can add so much to one's life. At TFI everything has colors, and colors give life to everything.

If you're super lucky, you will also have your birthday falling in the summer institute itself. I am sure you cannot have an 00:00 am birthday celebration with just a-month-old-friends from all corners of culture, passion, humor, or rigor anywhere else in the world. On your way to the Mess next morning, a bunch of folks whom you have rarely talked, will be singing a Happy Birthday Song for you!! I can bet it happens only at TFI!!!!


5. Hope


This article will remain incomplete without my mentioning of those tiny eyes I met on day one of our summer school. I cannot be thankful enough for having those kids as my very first kids for 4 weeks, and for my whole life now. Because the first experience only happens ONCE! And that always is the most special one..


I don’t know if I could teach them anything, but I am sure they have taught me a lot. I see hopes, dreams, joy in their eyes – I see trust, unflinching trust, for me, for we all. I see unconditional love in their words and work. I see future of my country in their little hands. I see them reaching their potential one day. I see them shaping what India would be 10 years down the line. I can go on and on as this list is never ending.

I am thrilled to get an even bigger classroom of 100 beautiful pairs of eyes that are waiting for me now in the heart of capital. I hope I reach to my potential to take them to theirs!!!

Here I try to summarize my greatest takeaway from the institute-

In the world where you can be many things, I hope you be kind. In the world where you can bring many things, I hope you bring peace to your mind. In the world where you can build many things, I hope you build relations. In the world where you can give many things, I hope you give happiness. In the world where you can get many things, I hope you get love!!!
 A quick note to my old readers-
I am sure you must have noticed the change in my presentation style (all the colors, shading etc). Well, again it's the TFI Effect. For all my life I thought I was bad at creativity, but now I guess I was wrong! ;-) Get your wings on, and fly high to discover and live your passion .. 

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