Katie Revell\’s India Blog

This is not a post as such, but rather just a way of getting round the internet madness that has befallen this little cybercafe. We’re supposed to complete something called a “mid-year” report (you’d be right in thinking this is supposed to be done in the middle of the year, but we didn’t get it until a couple of months ago, and then we were travelling, and…); however the Project Trust site is not working, so I tried to send it through hotmail, which is also not working, and neither are either of the email accounts of the guy who runs it. Having already lost one version this morning, I’m not in the mood for walking away from this one.

So, excuse me for using this site as a makeshift holding zone until I manage to send it on its way (or, in case anyone from Project is reading this, you could just copy it and send it to Laura…please…).

Anyway, feel free to read it.

 

 

 

 

YOUR COMMUNITY AND HOST COUNTRY

 

1. What have you found particularly stimulating/interesting about living in your country?

 

India as a country is stimulating just because it’s so vast, and therefore contains so many contrasts. As a “traveller”, this is particularly apparent: there are so many different ethnic groups, each with its own culture, language, food, architecture, and so much geographical variation that it’s stunning to think it’s all held together as a single country! At the same time, there’s always a distinctly ”Indian” flavour running through everything.

 

At the project, I’ve found people’s mindsets and opinions the most interesting things. My idea of “the Indian psyche” before I came was probably a product of magazine articles, television and primary school projects, so it’s been facinating to learn what people actually feel (and here, of course, there can never be any generalisations). Lofty issues contained under the banner of “development” I find especially interesting, and it’s surprising to find that they aren’t just constructs of the Western media: they actually are things people talk about in everyday conversation.

 

In particular, “women’s issues” has been a big topic for discussion. There’s no doubt that there is still vast inequality between the sexes, and this in itself has been interesting to see. However, the idea that all women necessarily subscribe to Western ideals of gender roles has been rubbished through conversations, for example with my students, many of whom are totally comfortable with a very traditional life. At the same time, I’ve also met several modern-minded, well-educated, ambitious, opinionated women who would be disgusted to think that validation comes in the form of marriage and childbirth.

 

I’m very interested in “the environment”, and being here has also been facinating from this perspective. India’s environmental problems are plain every day when you walk down the smog-choked, rubbish-strewn, over-crowded streets, and there is a lot of apparent awareness. However, with both these, and most big issues, the fact is that rhetoric can only go so far and is rarely translated into action. Indians are excellent at talking and holding conferences and roping in corporate sponsors to print placards proclaiming the importance of ”awareness”, but they often tend to stop here. I’ve found this immensely frustrating, but also motivating.

 

Along the same lines, the politics of the country has been interesting - from the most petty disaggreements between ministers to the world-changing issues that are debated. Again, the corruption and resultant lack of real progress is depressing but interesting all the same.

 

The overarching idea in all these areas is contrast and extremes: India contains the whole spectrum of wealth, health, education, opinion and belief, and this is what makes it an amazing place to be.

 

 

2. What have you found particularly difficult/surprising about living in your country?

 

The general Indian lackadaisical attitude can be very trying. I have got used to the relaxed way of doing things but at the start it was very frustrating, especially when we were trying to establish exactly what it was we were doing at the project. Even now, when you’re trying to get something done, the lack of urgency is sometimes exasperating.

 

As always, however, this is not always true, and contrasting with this is the sometimes extreme impatience of Indians. When waiting in a queue, walking down the street, crossing the road, they can be selfish, blinkered, stubborn, awkward and downright illogical, with everyone just trying to do what they need to do and with no regard for the person in front of them/walking down the pavement/trying to get past their car. This is frustrating.

 

The heat.

 

The mosquitoes.

 

The state of communal areas: the mindset seems to be that if something or somewhere is not the explicit property of someone, then it’s no-one’s responsibility to maintain. Hence the filthy streets (which generally double-up as pissoirs) and stinky washrooms (which also work as rubbish bins). If everyone just did their part…

 

 

 

3. In what ways have you involved yourself in your community so far?

 

Probably the most effective way is just through the banal activities of everyday life: going shopping, buying fruit, asking at the chemist for nit lotion, selecting fabric, getting a grape juice from that place on the corner. This is how I’ve got a handle on the area and the people in it (and them on me).

 

Our involvement with SKCV has also been helpful. Through the organisation, we’ve been involved in various community events like the city-wide Children’s Mela as well as all their “programmes”. Likewise, teaching the staff at another NGO, Navajeevan, has put us in touch with another sector of the community.

 

We are very friendly with the people at the Atheist Centre, who have provided much support and help to us.

 

In the College “community”, just talking to people (and being talked to) has been the main way of getting involved. I try to go down to the dining hall when the girls are having supper and catch up with them, and our evening conversation classes offer another opportunity to get to know the girls better. The Scottish Dancing classes, though short-lived (but perhaps to be resurrected) were also a really good way of interacting with the students outside of the classroom. Likewise, going to yoga with the degree students and attending the many College events reinforces our place in the community.

 

 

 

4. What ideas have you got for getting involved further in your community?

 

I’d really like to set up a regular slot at the local juvenile home, since this is something which really interests me. I’d intended to do this before the Summer but didn’t manage to (and am kicking myself slightly because of that), but I intend to look into it when we get back to Vijayawada.

 

At the college, I’d like to re-instate the Scottish Country Dancing club if there’s enough demand, and I also want to try to establish some sort of debating or discussion group. I’ve had some really good debates in my classes and would like to give those girls who would like to the chance to talk about those issues which interest them outside of the classroom (especially given the lack of opportunity for this in most of their classes).

 

 

 

 

5. What do you consider to be the main differences between your host culture and the culture back home?

 

 

Obviously, the position of women and relationship between the sexes is a major point; the contrast has been apparent both at the project and also while we’ve been travelling. At the project, the increased concern about young women’s security and resultant reduced independence has been challenging at times (but also interesting). While travelling, the very skewed perspective of some men has been likewise. At home, most of my friends are male; here, I find myself subconsciously suspicious of young guys unless either there is some “official” connection, or they are English-speaking, educated, world-exposed metro-dwellers. It’ll be nice to not be so conscious of the “I’m a girl, you’re a guy” thing: I think this is one of the main differences.

 

People’s generally laid-back attitude is, again, interesting and sometimes difficult: I’ve certainly adjusted to a more relaxed pace but when things actually need to be done it can be infuriating. There’s much less adherence to, and concern with, rules: people are more happy to sort out disputes or confusions between themselves than to engage lawyers or insurance people or police. This can be refreshing, but also frustrating when you realise it’s probably largely because of the ineffectiveness and corruption of those parties.

 

In the UK, there is much less of an extreme gap between the poorest and the best-off. Although there is inequality, we do have a system which limits quite how low people can go. In India, the whole range is there, from struggling-to-survive to chauffered-car-and-guard-on-the-gate. What’s more, these people exist side-by-side: there’s not quite the same geographical definition between the classes.

 

 

6. Briefly outline which areas of your community/ host culture you are going to explore in your community report . What are you going to do to investigate these topics?

 

Not sure yet. I’d like to look at people’s mindset (locally and then nationally), especially related to things like women and the environment and other issues which will affect the country as it “develops”- actually, I guess I’d like to focus on the whole “development” thing. What does it mean, why is it necessary (or otherwise), what evidence of it is there in the local area, what is/will be the impact, etc etc etc.

 

 

 

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THE LANGUAGE

 

1. What is the local language?

 

Telugu.

 

2. How confident are you at using it?

 

Not nearly as much as I’d like to be. I find it difficult to sit down and learn languages and since we’re working and living in a place where everyone wants to speak English to us all the time, I haven’t picked up as much as I’d expected. I can get by on the street and with everyday stuff but would struggle beyond that.

 

Speaking: (What depth of conversation can you have? Barter in the market, chat with friends, hold a discussion)

 

Barter in the market; very basic chat.

 

 

Writing: (Are you able to write in the language? Your name, a note to your headmaster, a letter to a local)

 

Nothing at all. But then it does have a totally different script.

 

 

Listening: (What can you understand? Announcements/ directions, listen to the radio)

 

Can understand basic words and phrases - again, enough to get by with everyday stuff. Can get the gist of things on the TV.

 

 

Reading: (What can you read? Posters, street names, newspapers)

 

Nothing.

 

 

3. How do you intend to develop these skills over the next 6 months?

 

I’m not planning to spend too much time sitting working at it. I’ll make sure I practice it in everyday situations but in terms of working at learning, I’d prefer to concentrate on Hindi instead.

 

 

 

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YOUR WORK

 

1. Briefly describe the main work related responsibilities that you have at your project?

At the college, we have a timetable of classes, each of which lasts around 55 minutes. We have about 2 college classes a day, and then do an evening class in the hostel. Recently we’ve also been supervising study for the younger students. We only have each class once a week since we’re slotted in to study periods. In addition to our college classes, I work three afternoons a week at the NGO SKCV and one evening at another NGO, Navajeevan.

 

2. What aspects of the work at your project give you the greatest satisfaction?

 

When students are genuinely interested in whatever it is we’re doing, that is by far the most satisfying thing. I do a lot of discussions and debates and exercises which try to get them to use their imagination, and it’s fantastic when they respond. There have been some really good classes when debates have got heated and the girls have been really keen to put forward their views - there’s so little opportunity for this is the general curriculum that it takes a while for them to get into it, but when they do, it’s worth it. It’s also nice when there’s a bit of joviality, some “banter” between me and the students. Basically, the satisfaction comes from being taken seriously by my students, when they respond positively to whatever it is I’ve cooked up for them to do and put some effort into it.

 

At SKCV, the same is true, but obviously the level of output is much lower. Getting the kids to focus can be very difficult so when we have a “good” day and they cooperate, then that’s satisfying. On top of that, when they pick something up - and moreover when they understand it enough to use it - and then when they remember it a few days later, that’s great.

 

 

3. Which aspects of your project do you/ have you found most difficult? Why?

 

General laid-back Indian attitude - trying to get things done, especially at the start, was rather trying. Everything can always be done “tomorrow” or “later” or after some time” (and this often means not at all). The blind focus on “getting the grades” also makes things difficult: even when things seem like a really good idea, it can be difficult to get students involved unless it relates directly to their final official result. Initially, the lack of agreement about our role was a challenge - we were trying to establish ourselves as some sort of teachers but in the context of living in student accomodation and being viewed by the staff body as students. Also working as a partnership - or, when things are specifically the concern of one partner, ensuring that this is clear and the other isn’t pulled in unnecessarily - has occasionally (unsurprisingly) been another challenge.

 

 

4. In what ways do you intend to develop your role over the next 6 months? e.g. Secondary project, extra contribution at your main project?

 

I’d really like to start going to the juvenile home - this was something I intended to do before the holidays, but didn’t manage to. At the college, I’d like to set up some sort of debating or discussion club since I’ve had some really good debates in class and would like to give those girls who are interested the opportunity to discuss the things about which they feel strongly, outside of a classroom setting.

 

 

 

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PERSONAL

 

1. In what ways do you feel you’ve gained personally from the last six months?

 

Uh…where to start? Without wanting to sound like a complete cliche, I have learnt a lot. I probably considered myself reasonably worldly-wise before I came, but I now have so much more perspective and understanding of the issues about which we hear in “the West”. I know a lot more strongly about the kind of field I’d like to go into, and why; my convictions about what I think is important have been strengthened.

 

Travelling has been great; my mind is just so filled with amazing places and cool people and colour…It’s given me more confidence and desire to travel in the future (although it’s also taught me when and where caution is a good idea).

 

I’ve met so many wonderful people - Indian and “Western”, with whom I’ve had some fantastic conversations and from whom I’ve learned a lot. Many of them I know I’ll never see again, but that’s how it should be; many I hope will remain friends for a long time.

 

Seperate from the whole India thing, I’ve had a lot more time to just read and write and think and generally be a brooding teenager. This, coupled with the vast array of people I’ve met and the beliefs I’ve therefore been exposed to, has helped to crystallise what I think. I’m not saying I’ve had any massive flashy-lights epiphanies, but I’m a lot more sure, and comfortable, about what I believe.

 

2. Is your year going as you expected? If not, how is it different?

 

I can’t really remember what I expected. India itself was rather unexpected and before I came - even after training - I wasn’t really able to entirely adjust my mindset into ‘going-to-India’ mode. The project was more problematic at the start than I’d expected - there was far less rigidity that I’d imagined. At the time this was frustrating and a little daunting, but I think it has also given us opportunities we wouldn’t otherwise have had. Being the first year of the project, it’s not surprising that things have taken a while to bed in, and hopefully next year’s volunteers will have a slightly smoother ride. That said, I am actually quite grateful that the lack of predecessors gave us more flexibility to make the project what we wanted.

 

We’ve had a lot more time to travel than I expected and this has been really good [see above for amazing people, amazing places rhetoric...]. It’s also meant my finances have been trickling away faster than I’d hoped, but I’m only here once, etc etc.

 

I think I’ve gelled better with people than I expected. On training I felt a little like the outsider, but I’m now really close to several of the other vols and have had some very good times with them…

 

I’ve learned less of the language than I expected - partly through lack of application and partly because I find it easier to learn when I’m “immersed”, which I’m not.

 

 

 

3. Is there anything in particular which has surprised you about the way you have reacted to the challenges you’ve met?

 

 

There have been many things that seemed major at the time and are now distant memories, and it goes to show that most challenges are surmountable, given time. I’d like to think I’ve generally been pretty diplomatic and level-headed when dealing with problems, although I know that this has sometimes instead been timidity and has meant I haven’t made my voice heard.

 

 

 

 

4. Which skills or personal attributes do you hope to develop over the next 6 months?

 

I’d like to “loosen up” a bit more: I think I’ve already come a very long way, but I do still find myself keeping quiet or not doing things that I’d like to because they might cause friction or present new challenges. Pick more daisies, as they say…

 

As a teacher, I’d like to just become “better”: more relaxed, better at improvising, more authoritative.

 

 

 

5. How do you intend to achieve this?

 

Just by having more confidence in myself. Looking at what I’ve achieved already and at the things I would’ve found difficult at the start which are now second nature.