Dakar Has Taught Me...

In what has felt like a blink of an eye, I am leaving Senegal and heading to Argentina.  Dakar vastly exceeded any expectations I had; I have simply been so moved by the people, the pace of life, politics, music, dance, children, language, beaches—the list goes on and on. The memories I have made here will stay with me my entire life, what a feeling. While sitting in the airport I have made a small list of things I have learned in Dakar, perhaps this will give you a taste of what life has been like for me here:

Dakar Has Taught Me…

-          To say Yes

-          That you can learn from every day, even when it may seem uneventful

-          Strangers can be incredibly kind

-          That it is difficult to find the balance between a relaxed mind and cautious mind

-          Eating fish with bones is a challenge I have yet to master

-          To always wear sunscreen

-          That I have a new sister, a brother and an extra set of loving parents

-          Sometimes being a beach bum for seven days straight over spring break is perfectly acceptable

-          That I have a new found interest in politics

-          Laughter is a cheap, healing medicine

-          Night swimming is as fun as it seems

-          Fruit from street vendors is far better than supermarket produce

-          How incredible it’s been to wake up to the Islamic call to prayer for the past 34 days

-          To hydrate, hydrate, hydrate

-          That dancing till five am is one of the best work outs I’ve had here

-          Music is ingrained in this city

-          Greeting people fully, whether a family member or cashier, is deeply emphasized here and something I believe is important to bring with me back home

-          That even in West Africa, you can find a Passover Seder (at the Israeli Embassy…it was amazing!)

-          Sharing is caring

-          That I would like to learn to speak a different language fluently

-          Jet skiing is an exhilarating rush

-          I am changing, using new vocabulary, asking different questions and looking at the world in a new light

-          I love living by the water

-          My village family showed me communication does not have to be verbal; connections and understanding can created in other forms

-          That I would like to use my cell phone less when I return home, and maybe even turn it off from time to time
-    Leaving your camera at home for the day and just taking mental pictures, only for yourself, is equally as important

-          That sometimes it’s so pleasant to just flow through the day and forget about a timely schedule. Ex: Question: What time is dinner? Answer: When it is ready.

-          I’m afraid I’m going to forget the tiny, yet incredible moments  

-          The children here are some of the most beautiful I have ever seen

-          That my mama’s laugh will always make me smile

-          I’m a very good bargainer, even in French!

-          Time flies

-          …When you’re having fun

While I enter into the last leg of our trip, I am filled with thought and emotion. First and foremost, I am so excited to see my parents and sisters who will be vacationing in BA this week. A reoccurring realization for me throughout IHP has been that I would not be who I am without the love and support I feel from my family. Whether you live in hut in a rural African village or an estate in India like Manu, family has continuously presented itself as having principal importance to the people I’ve met here.  I am so grateful and deeply appreciative to feel the same way because I know this is a blessing rather than the status quo.

I am also very excited to explore a new city! Buenos Aires will be extremely different than Dakar and Delhi, but that is just what makes this program so special; to be able to compare these vastly different cities through my own experience. I feel ready, confident, and a little intimidated but that comes with any new adventure. I am entering Argentina with an open mind and a desire to challenge myself to learn all that I can. I want to use the skills I have gained through this program thus far and apply them to reading Buenos Aires; our final destination.  That’s another thing I cannot begin to come to terms with, IHP is ending in five weeks! I sense that a reflective blog post about this fast approaching end will come soon, but for now I will stay present in this moment of excitement and readiness for my concluding adventure.  

I will write next from Buenos Aries!

Lots of Love,

Rachel

It Takes a Village

It has been one week since I returned back from Kerr Alyugae village, I still haven’t fully processed my experience but a few things I am certain of is that it was a once-in-a-lifetime, remarkable and unforgettable moment in my life. I lived in a hut compound with a husband, his three wives, and eleven beautiful children (Senegal is a Muslim country which practices polygamy, hence the three wives). I ate from a communal family bowl with my hands, I slept in a bed 4 other family members, I took bucket showers, learned African dance, picked lettuce from the garden and fell asleep under the stars, just to name a few moments. One highlight was feeling completely unplugged and so free. I star-gazed with the children and showed them shadow puppets, which they thought was hysterical and absolutely loved. Another extraordinary moment was waking up at 5 am to see the silhouette of my Mama praying at the foot of the bed. The sunlight was seeping through the door frame, and her body bowed up and down so rhythmically and beautifully; it was truly breathtaking

My family was so loving and spoke no English. But yet, we were able to communicate and make it work. I realized that no matter where you come from, you can always find a universal language in laughter. I really felt connected to my village family even though from the surface it looked like we couldn’t understand each other. My experience in the village was tremendous; I was proud of myself for managing the circumstances and enjoying it as much as I did. I felt like I was a part of an incredible community that lived a simple life, yet happy life. The village functioned so well without all the advancements we’re provided with in western societies. It made me feel appreciative for the life I have, but also made me realize how little materialistic things matter. It really all comes down to family, support and leading a happy life however you choose.

Music and dance ceremony when we arrived

My hut and siblings!

Children of the Village

"Kitchen"

Mama in the community garden

Our hut compound

Mama and Siblings

My munchkin!

Dancing

Dinner with the wives

Papa

Saying Goodbye

Since My Return

Since my return from the village, I have continued to have a fantastic time in Senegal. My days have been filled with class, site visits, guest lectures, beach, wondering through markets, spending time with my host family, meeting local people and more beach. I have also been learning a bit of French! Next week is spring break, a group of seven friends and I have rented a beach house in Saly, Senegal. Rest and relaxation on the beach, with great friends, under one roof- what could be better?

Election Update

Macky Sal, the opponent of current president Abdoule Wade, won the election by an astounding 4:1 ratio.  Wade peacefully accepted his defeat and Sal will take his new position as president today (Independence Day)! The Senegalese people are excited and hopeful to see change in the future. It has been remarkable to be here during this momentous time in Senegalese history.

Express Yourself

While I have been abroad I have turned to creative writing as a means to process my thoughts and express myself. Last week, I encountered a beautiful and unexpected experience while alone in my homestay. I wrote a poem about it that I would like to share with you:

Only Here

Laying motionless on the rooftop

Plugged in: music softly kisses my ears

A faint breeze tickles my arms

The 4 pm sun bakes my skin gold

Fingers tap against the tile

I could be anywhere

The deep, calming voice of a man brings me

away from my music

I cannot see him, cannot smell, cannot touch

Projecting from a loud speaker,

his voice sweeps through the streets below me

and flutters up to the sky above me

The voice is steady, rhythmic, beautiful

What is being sung?

The language is unfamiliar

“Hayya ‘ala s-salah”

Arabic

The Call to Prayer

I delicately strip the buds from my ears

The voice becomes louder, more beautiful

I rise, eyes remained closed, hands at heart center

The sun soothes, the sun sings, the sun warms my

young blood

Sun salutation- I dive to the floor

Body bends, body arches, body lengthens

I move to the rhythm of the steady, beautiful voice

Body bends, body arches, body lengthens

A light sweat traces down my spine

Body bends, body arches, body lengthens

The voice subsides

My movement stops

My lips begin to curl into a smile

I open my eyes

I see the mosque, the ocean, the streets of Dakar

I could only be here

--

Lots of Love,

Rachel

Asalaam from Dakar!

Bonjour/Asalaam (the official language in French and the national language is Wolof)! I have to be honest, I had no idea what to expect when traveling to Dakar. After one week in this manageable, vibrant city I am pleased to report that I have fallen in love with this place. Dakar is entirely different from Delhi; where Delhi was large and dense with people, Dakar is very small and less crowded. Where Delhi was chaotic and busy, Dakar is incredibly mellow and relaxed. Dakar sits on a peninsula on the most west point of Africa, so the majority of the city boarder’s water. The beaches are magical; it has felt amazing to have the sand beneath my toes just steps away from the classroom door. The Senegalese people are extremely kind; every person I’ve met has modeled an exuberant white smile that contrasts the gorgeous shade of their dark chocolate skin. The colors—of fabric, fruit, graffiti, and beaches—are stunning and captivating. Yup, I have definitely fallen in love with Dakar.

Something that has certainly added to how joyous my time here has been is my host family. I am living with Mama, Papa, and my host siblings Didi and Junior. Mama is a loud and proud Senegalese woman who immediately kissed me and held my hand the entire afternoon on the day we first met. She always wears the most gorgeous traditional Senegalese outfits; it excites me every morning to see what print she’ll wear that day. Papa is a lovely man, a high school French teacher, whose soft spoken sweetness balances out Mama’s roaring laughter. Didi, is my sassy 23-year-old host sister who’s studying to be a doctor. She, like her mother, has been affectionate from day one, but she carries herself with a certain confident attitude which I absolutely love. And last but not least, my 18-year old host brother Junior is a true gem. He is the best English speaker in the house and has taken on the role of my French teacher and translator. He and I bond mostly over our shared love for music; from Drake to Adele to Shania Twain, he knows every song! It has been wonderful to live with a full family, a different experience than what I had in Delhi. Senegalese culture is defined by the phrase “what’s mine is yours,” I truly feel this living here; Didi and I share clothes and I often help set the table for dinner. I already feel very much a part of this family.

My time in Dakar so far has been filled with many afternoons on the beach, shopping through markets, talking to local people and exploring different neighborhoods. Dakar is different from Delhi in that there are not many touristy things to do here; it is much more of a city to wander in, and see what you come up with. Last week, a few friends and I headed to the beach ready to bake in the sun. After arriving by the water, we soon realized that the beach is much more of a social setting, rather than a place to plug your headphones in and forget about the world around you. We met many young, kind, local people at le plage who taught us Senegalese dance moves while they played the drums and other African instruments. We had such a great time, laughing and dancing with our salty hair blowing in all directions. We were the only foreigners there, but rather than feeling alienated by this, I felt warmly welcomed as I were a local myself.

Another very exciting aspect to our experience in Dakar deals with the political climate here. The current President, Abdoulaye Wade, is a very controversial figure that many, if not the majority of Senegalese people are unpleased with. His term was due to end this year but he argued that he had the right to a third term (based on reasons too intricate to get into here) and the Supreme Court agreed. This caused uproar for many people here; they feel that he has not provided for the country in the way he had promised. For example, rather than putting money towards health care, clean water and housing, one of Wade’s largest projects during his 12 years in office was the construction of an African Renaissance monument the size of the Statue of Liberty. “And for what? Why?” exclaimed my Senegalese friend Sohkna when explaining this to me. Even so, Wade continues to have many supporters, as does his opponent, Macky Sall. The elections, which will determine the future president for Senegal, take place this Sunday. It is such an exciting opportunity to be here at a pinnacle time in the history of this country. I will keep you updated on the results!

An academic theme of our time in Senegal is to study the influences of urbanization. To do that, we will compare our observations of city life to that of a village. Tomorrow, my fellow IHPers and I are leaving the capital city of Dakar for a rural village, seven hours way by car. We will live in the rural desert  for three days with new host families, using all five senses to gather information on village life in West Africa. This will be a very raw, authentic and a once-in-a-life-time experience. I don’t know quite how to mentally prepare myself, but I know I am feeling excited, present and ready to soak it all in.

In my last post, I commented on how my time in India would be hard to beat. What I’ve realized here in just one week is that one does not need to surpass the other; they are two very different experiences which are already holding different meaning and bringing out new feelings in me. I look forward to continuing my travels through Senegal, to meet new people, to get lost, to find my way, to swim, dance, taste and explore with an open heart.

“It is better to travel well than to arrive” – Buddha

A few pictures from Dakar below!

Lots of  love,

Rachel

Feel So Alive

Hypnotic

Last weekend, eight friends and I traveled to Agra, India to visit the world famous Taj Mahal. After a sleepy five-hour car ride (departing at 6 am) we arrived, and the images I have only seen in books, magazines and photo albums came to life. It’s rather difficult to articulate how absolutely stunning this monument is; the white marble gleams and the intricate details make your eyes wide and jaw drop. It was simply magnificent. While touring the Taj, I continued to think about how romantic the whole thing was; it is a mausoleum built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife. Although he was certainly a controversial figure, I couldn’t help but think that this wonder of the world represented much more than state of the art ancient architecture, it was an act of love.

My friends and I a full day of all things touristy in Agra and headed back to Delhi that evening. It was the 

closest to a road trip we’ve had; snacks, music, laughs and napping. Both the journey and the destination were equally significant for me that Saturday.

Hopeful

During a neighborhood day activity last week, my classmates and I explored an urban village outside of Delhi known as Aya Nagar. I chose to visit a nonprofit in the village called Jan Madyham. The organizations mission is to help young girls who are mentally and physically disabled to become self-sufficient and gain skill sets they have never been given the opportunity to receive. Some of the programs of the NGO include classes on cooking, pottery, sewing and “self-help.” The murals on the walls painted by the 52 young girls partaking in the program were thoughtful and beautiful. My heart was filled with both joy and sadness while at Jan Madyham; I was so happy to witness local people helping each other making their part of the world a better place. However, I was sad because these health problems are not unique to Delhi; so many people suffer from these same disabilities all over the world.  My visit to Jan Madyham strengthened the part of me that believes I want a career in helping people; whether on a local or larger scale, I would like to make an impact in making life better for people. I am hoping that through this experience on IHP I will gain more of a sense of what kind of people and through what channel I would like to make a difference.

IHP urges us to look with a critical eye at what we see going on in the city around us. There have been many moments where I feel the future looks unpromising based on the roles of particular actors in planning, politics and the economy. My visit to Jan Madyham made me feel genuinely hopeful for the future.  It enlightened and empowered me that if we have the desire, we can easily make a contribution to create a better world.

Heavy Heart 

For the last two weeks of our program in Delhi we have moved out of our homestays to stay in a hotel all together. Living together has been utterly enjoyable and so much fun. However, saying goodbye to Auntie was not an easy thing to do. Auntie Nalini was truly a blessing; she opened up her home so generously to Sam and me and cared for us like we were her own daughters. I felt such sincere love from her, and I believe she felt it from me too. We parted over a lovely farewell dinner where Auntie held my face and spoke sweetly to Sam and me; “May you live happy lives, may you have prosperity, and may you remember your Auntie loves you always.”

Holi

Holi: the festival of colors. The Holi festival has an ancient origin and celebrates the triumph of good over evil. The colorful festival bridges the social gaps that are deeply ingrained in the city. It is essentially a day where the entire city shuts down for people to throw powdered colors at each other. It is also a day eat, drink, hug, laugh, dance and play. Manu’s daughter, Piya, invited a few friends and I to “play holi” at an amazing farmhouse outside of Delhi. The yard was covered in colors, as were the people. There is no event in the United States to compare this to, it was unlike anything I had ever done before, but it was fantastic. It was so freeing to just let my hair down and not care about the mess. It was a food fight of sorts, for the 20 million people of Delhi. We had such a blast, playing and dancing throughout the day.

Happy

As I reflect on my five weeks here in Delhi, the first word that comes to mind is happy. Happy about where I am, who I’m with, what I’m doing and why I’m here. I am looking at the world through a new lens, asking different questions and critically analyzing the answers. I am absorbing new knowledge about cities, people and myself. I feel like I am in the right place at the right time. I am taking with me a million impressions- of color, energy, care and hope. From dinner conversation with Auntie, to watching Vihar dance his heart out at CHETNA, to practicing yoga at sunrise, to dancing at a wedding, to visiting the Taj to gazing at the full moon on Holi, I have had the most incredible time here. I am both excited and nervous as we reach the second leg of our trip and travel to Dakar. I am feeling more confident in myself as a student, traveler and teammate than I did when I landed in Delhi, and I am excited to see how these new parts of me will show themselves as I adjust to an entirely new country and way of life. India will be tough to beat, but I am feeling very optimistic about the journey that lies ahead.

P.S. I am posting this entry from the airport in Dubai! What to do with a ten hour layover in Dubai from midnight to 10 am? A few friends and I took a taxi ride into the city for a drive through tour and ended at a public beach, dipping our toes in the Persian Gulf at 3 am! It was such a freeing moment, I felt so present and invigorated dancing by the edge of the ocean. Fiona, Jesse, Ashley, Sam and I sat on the sand and I lead a group meditation for a few minutes; it was thrilling yet so peaceful. As I walked on the beach with Ashley, I recited to her a line from one of my favorite songs; “Everybody dies but not everybody lives.” In that moment while inhaling the fresh ocean air, I felt so alive.

P.P.S. I am sorry I can't post pictures right now because the internet is too slow and all of my prompts on the screen are written in Arabic! I will add pictures to this post as soon as I can. My apologies!

I will write next from Dakar!

Namaste.

Lots of Love,

Rachel

A Week in the Life

Although I am staying very present in the moment and soaking up my time here in India fully, I cannot believe that I am already in the midst of my third week here! This past week was filled with new knowledge, endless laughs, wonderful company and memorable experiences. While in Delhi I have been on a constant endorphin high; very happy and overstimulated. I am feeling much more comfortable than when I initially arrived and feel a small sense of pride in myself and my peers on how smoothly we have navigated and negotiated our surroundings. Here is a little glimpse into what this past week was like for me:

Tuesday, Feb 14

DIY Day! Do It Yourself. My classmates and I had the day off from class to wander and explore. A few girls and I decided on spending the day at Suraj Cun Mela; a crafts fair on the outskirts of the city. Over 300 vendors from all over India come to this annual fair to sell beautiful Indian goods. The fair was similar to many things I have seen here in Delhi; it was colorful, extremely dense with people, loud and overwhelming. I haggled for a few treats here; a scarf, bracelet, ring and skirt! While In Suraj Cun, it was very interesting to note how many people asked (or didn’t ask) to take pictures of me and my girlfriends while we walked through the fair. We were constantly being snapped, I was confused by this and it felt rather invasive. Was it because we looked different? White? Female? Dressed differently than the Indian women around us? These questions continue to swarm in my head as this has been a reoccurring situation for us in Delhi.

After a full day of exploration in Suraj Cun, Sam and I came home to yet another lovely meal and conversation with Auntie and our homestay sister, Annie. We discuss a variety of topics during dinner but a continuous theme is how similar our lives are in relation to Auntie and her family. “We’re the same, you and me,” Auntie says across the kitchen table. Prior to this abroad experience, I completely “otherized” India and felt as though the people here were entirely different and exotic compared to me. What I have uncovered is that culturally there can be many differences, but at the end of the day, we are all truly very similar- we all strive to provide for ourselves and families, create a happy home, stay healthy and gain new knowledge. This revelation really struck me, I almost felt silly for thinking the way I did previously. Whether you are from India, Senegal, Argentina or America, we’re all people, it’s really that simple.

P.S. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Wednesday, Feb 15

Class all day! Wednesday we had our Culture and Society course as well as Politics and Development (and our daily tea and lunch break!) In class, we discussed the theme of citizenship and who in a city feels a sense of belonging or membership. Do all people have the right to the city? Does the city exploit some in the hopes of becoming a serious player on the global scale? Do given cities have one definition of citizenship?  These and other questions filled our class discussion as we bounced ideas off each other and stimulated our minds with new concepts.

After class, a group of us headed to a rooftop hookah bar nearby to sit in the warm sun and get to know one another better. We have only known each other for about a month now, but already we have become extremely close; we've shared inside jokes, deep talks and everything else in between.  IHP’s learning community is more like a family, and I feel so fortunate to be a part of it.

Thursday, Feb 16

Market Day! On Thursday, our class broke out into several groups to explore different types of markets in the city and get a sense of the economic activity in Delhi. We observed the differences between informal and formal activity, the use of private and public space as well as how individual workers are socially enabled to go to work. In Gole Market, I interviewed a number of businesses owners (predominately men) who told me that they were able to come to work because their wives were “housewives,” taking care of the children at home. There is major gender inequality here in Delhi and I have been so struck by this numerous times. Women simply do not receive the same opportunities as men and there is an expectation for them to be kept covered by both staying inside the home and wearing conservative clothing. The Delhi metro even has a car exclusively for women because of complaints of feeling unsafe and harassed. We have debated in class whether this is a solution to the problem or whether it is feeding the issue further by isolating women to a separate section. 

After our excursion through the market, a few girls and I went to a café in my neighborhood for coffee and conversation. On our way out of the café heading home for dinner, the bright lights of an orange and red tent across the street caught my eye. A smile began to pour out of my mouth as I motioned to girls to follow me towards the tent. A tent like that is a sign of an Indian wedding, a dream of mine has always been to attend one, so without hesitation I peeped my head through the draped doors. The wedding had not started yet but the food was set on the buffet tables, a Bollywood music band was setting up their instruments and henna artist were unpacking their station. It was beautiful! The colors, lights, fabrics—I was blown away. What was even more breathtaking was how kind and generous the groom and his family were! They invited us in for drinks, henna and dancing before the guests arrived! Indian hospitality brings generosity to a new level; I have seen it here through the warmth of this particularly family, Auntie and the Singh’s.

Although we could not stay for the wedding because we had to get home to our host families for dinner, my friends and I had the best time at the “pre-party.” Uncontrollable smiles beamed from all our faces. It was a spontaneous and exciting adventure, a great memory for the books.

Henna at the wedding!

Aly and I

Groom's family and friends!

Friday, Feb 17

Class again! We gave presentations on our Market Day excursions through a mapping exercise.  Julia and Cebe joined me, Sam, Annie and Auntie for dinner!

Saturday and Sunday, Feb 18 and 19

A weekend in Chandigarh! On Saturday, five friends and I traded in the busy city of Delhi for the planned, peaceful city of Chandigarh, just 3.5 hours north by train. Thanks to our dear friend Manu, we were invited to stay at his guest house and were given a very special opportunity to explore and compare this city in relation to Delhi. We did everything from boating on the lake, to visiting the famous rock and rose gardens, to camel riding, to museum visits, to nightlife excursions! It was a truly exceptional weekend filled with endless laughter and memorable moments. Although Chandigarh itself is a green, planned, tranquil place with rich history, one thing I learned this weekend that no museum visit could have taught me is that it’s not necessarily about where you’re going but who you’re with that really matters.

"If you think about it, your favorite memories, the most important moments in your life... were you alone? Life's better with company." - Up in the Air

A few pictures from the weekend below!

Lunch when we arrived

Swan Boats!

Camel Ride

Group at the Rock Garden

Rock Garden

Rock Garden

Dinner...yum!

Rose Garden

Max, Julia, Me, Sam, Cebe

Namaste.

Lots of Love,

Rachel

Keep on Dancing

My first week in Delhi has flown by like a zooming rickshaw, yet the days have been so full with new experiences and unforgettable moments. Our schedule has been enjoyably intense, so having a rather slow-pace weekend to explore India independently was lovely…and so much fun!

After catching up on a few hours of much needed sleep, a couple of friends and I headed to a famous market called “Dilli Haat" on Saturday. The fair was filled with tent vendors selling all types of typical Indian knick-knacks; colorful scarves, thousands of skinny bangles, handmade purses and everything else in between. The marketplace was bright, beautiful and full of life. That evening we found ourselves exploring a neighborhood busy with young people. We stumbled upon a glamorous roof-top restaurant amongst ancient ruins and opted for some delicious brick oven pizza (no judgment, Indian food is heavy after a while!)

Sunday afternoon I had the extraordinary pleasure of being invited for lunch at the Singh’s, dear family friends of the Glick’s. The story goes that while Manu (Mr. Singh) came to study at Boston University roughly forty years ago, my great grandmother, Edith, cared for Manu like he was one of her own. Whether it was a Jewish holiday, laundry or if Manu was sick with a cold, Nana Edith always extended her home to him. She was Manu’s Boston “Auntie,” she loved him very much. Edith thought she was just helping a “poor Indian boy,” little did she know that he would grow up to be the Chairman of Max India, and one of the most successful business men out there. Manu’s kind and genuine heart combined with his deep gratitude for Auntie Edith’s generosity resulted in our families remaining very close ever since. In fact, he is making arrangements to be in Boston for Edith’s 100^th birthday this April!

Now that the roles have reversed and it is a Glick who’s the college student in a new and unfamiliar setting, Manu has played the role of my “Uncle” while I have been here; so selflessly sweet and loving. It was such a treat spending time with him and his family this weekend, they are such a rare breed of warm and bring a whole new meaning to hospitality. Manu is the type of person who truly hugs you with his eyes; he and his children are so graciously kind. My friends and I had a great time and wonderful conversation with Manu and his family about life, destiny, urban planning and Delhi belly, just to name a few topics. We felt so welcomed and relaxed; it was a perfect day. I cannot mention Manu without giving a sentence on how extraordinarily beautiful and modestly luxurious his home is. From a student perspective, it was incredible to witness the stark contrast between the concentrated wealth of India as well as the wide-spread poverty I have only studied about in textbooks.

Speaking of wide-spread poverty…This afternoon my classmates and I visited the Federation of Street and Working Children, an NGO in Delhi known as CHETNA. The mission of the organization is to offer children who are working on the streets better opportunities and an enhanced quality of life through education, health and theatre programs. CHETNA strives to protect the rights of underprivileged children and make their lives mean more than just mere survival. Our class met many young teens who take part in this program, but one boy named Vigar struck a chord with me. He told us about his troubled past living in an abusive home. He ran away to the train tracks at eleven years of age, and met a group of fellow young boys who made a living by picking up plastic bottles left by passengers to sell to recycling businesses. He made sixty rupees a day doing this, but spent fifty to feed his substance abuse addiction. Vigar was ultimately rescued from this fatal lifestyle by the people of CHETNA and since then his way of life has completely changed. At seventeen, Vigar is happy, healthy, and receiving a proper education. He has also found a new passion through the theatre program; dance. I was nearly brought to tears watching Vigar perform for us, his white smile beamed so bright against his dark hazelnut skin as he moved his limbs like it was second nature. Today, I witnessed such a pure form of joy; a young boy dancing beyond his troubled past into a promising future. Vigar taught me that even when life can be dark, scary and seemingly worthless; you have to keep on dancing.

"Turn your face toward the sun and the shadows will fall behind you." -Maori Proverb

A few pictures from my weekend are posted below!

Namaste.

Lots of Love,

Rachel

A few of us out to dinner!

Roof Top Restaurant: Amour

Friends plus Tara

Me and Veer

Neera, Veer and Friends!