Maybe the Best Day of My Life

Saturday was one of the most interesting, powerful, and overwhelming days of my life, so the idea of summarizing it in a blog post is a bit daunting, but here goes nothing--

I woke up at the crack of dawn (yes, sixth day in a row) and joined my fellow Youth For Seva volunteers by 6:30 am. Together, we made the 3 hour ride from Hyderabad to a little rural town center that serves the 22 surrounding villages. At the primary care center, we distributed glasses to villagers who had gotten their eyes screened by volunteers the month before. My daily life in Hyderabad does not lend itself to such positive interactions with bone-thin, toothless farmers and construction workers, so this was a really unique chance to meet a different population of Indians. Most were so so excited to be getting free glasses, and such emotions overcome all language barriers. I really don't know how some of these individuals have been crossing the street when I saw how strong their prescriptions were. There was lots of sitting around, but over all, it was a very feel good morning!

In the afternoon, I went with a few girls from YFS Health sector's to meet with the principle of the girls school a few blocks away that serves 500 girls from all of the surrounding villages. We told her all about our project and asked for permission to do an awareness talk next month. She, and all of her teachers, we so receptive and enthusiastic, it was really incredible! And the school was so big and well maintained and organized.. better than a lot of the urban schools actually.

After the meeting, they gathered the middle school age girls together and we introduced ourselves. With my fellow volunteers and the teachers serving as translators, I ran a ice-breaker game I know from Camp Mosh. It was really incredible to see 200 or so Indian schoolgirls playing a familiar game I play with Americans every summer, though of course it did look a little different across the world with ten times the people. When we were all warmed up, I explained that I am from America and am studying in India. Swati, my team leader, had the idea of allowing the girls to ask me a few questions about America.

At first, they didn't know what to say, so a teacher started, and asked me how the educational system is different in my experiences in the US and India. The teachers and volunteers translated between me and the schoolgirls. Soon enough, their questions started pouring out-- Why are you in India? Why isn't your hair braided? Whats your favorite Indian food? What do you like about our village? What do you like to do when not studying? Whats your favorite flower? Have you been to the statue of liberty? Do women wear saris in America? What do you eat in America? Are there beggars in America? Is there caste? Honestly, how did they think of these questions! Kids are amazing, across the globe. I told them so much about myself and America. I explained the concept of a sandwich, told them that cows are only in farms in America and never roam the streets (the exact opposite as in India), told them that not everyone in America is rich, explained that we have groups of different groups of people by your skin color or language or religion or how much money you have, its just not called caste.

Explaining my religion was the most interesting. The conversation with the teacher attempting to translate my response went about as follows--

      Teacher:  She asked if you worship g-d?
      Me:  Oh jeez, haha, um tell her-- yes, but in a different way.
      Teacher:  What do you mean? What's your religion?
      Me:  Im Jewish actually. You can tell her that my religion only has one G-d.
      Teacher:  Oh, so you mean Jesus. Youre Christian.
      Me:  No, its one g-d, but not Jesus
      Teacher:  Who is it then?
      Me:  Um, just g-d, just the lord.
      Teacher:  He doesnt have a name? What does he look like?
      Me:  There are no pictures or idols or names or anything. Its just g-d
      Teacher:  (confused face)
      Me:  Its more like Islam that way. No picture, just one big g-d.
      Teacher:   (head bobble, kind of a gesture of "ok")
      Me:  You can tell them that, like in hinduism, we have a temple we go to for worship
      and rituals, just in a different way.

      Teacher:  (face of recognition as she turns to translate to the school)

SO INTERESTING. Who would have thought that I would identify with Islam as a way of explaining my religious beliefs. So incredible.

After I thought that I had survived the worst on-the-spot interrogation, the no-longer-shy middle schoolers decided that I should sing an English song. Really, I should have seen it coming, SO Indian. (As I explained regarding Diwali, everyone sings here, not just certain people who are considered talented or something.) But I suddenly just couldnt think of a single English song. My mind went blank and my nerves started rushing through my blood. They were insistent and I had to refuse really adamantly and try to explain myself to Swathi. I am really not a performer, and the whole thing had already been quite enough for me, so I got serious and told her to stop asking before things got really awkward. I think she saw the desperation in my face and moved on.



In some ways, I did feel uncomfortable about the afternoon's activities. Especially when we were taking pictures before I left. The girls started reaching to shake my hand, and then literally almost trampled me in a stampede of twelve year olds trying to touch me. It was a little too much like "The Leah Show". Its hard to explain, but somehow, all of the attention kind of felt like I was being objectified or fetishized for my race and nationality. I kind of wanted to say, "I'm not so interesting, I promise, I'm just another human being like each one of you girls sitting out here." But Swathi felt really good about the whole day, and helped me understand why. These girls probably haven't gone far outside of their village before, and so it is very exciting to have a visitor show up from all the way across the globe. And, I wasn't perpetuating superficial stereotypes, I was actually educating them about another part of the world and providing a unique cross cultural experience. Plus, the afternoon set up a good dynamic between the school and YFS, who will be back next month to educate the girls of health and hygiene. And Swathi was so happy that I got a chance to experience what she considers, "the real India."

After we left the school, we drove ten minutes to this big lake/dam that provides energy to the area's villages. It was so peaceful and beautiful under the just-setting sun. The perfect end to the day! The trip home was long and exhausting. On the final stretch to my house, the city bus so was crowded that my perpetually-bloated stomach was being pushed into the handrail and strangers' bodies were squished up against me from all other sides. Fourteen hours after this journey had begun, I was just so so tired and really wanted to be safely home. All of the sudden, I had tears welling up in my eyes. My head had too many thoughts and my heart had too many feelings and my body needed food, water, and rest. But, I just took a big swallow and a deep breath and was totally fine, as I thought to myself, welp, "I think I almost just overflowed."

P.S. One of my fellow volunteers brought an amazing camera and took so many pictures, so I may make another posting just sharing great pics
 from the day when I get them all from her.