Amma’s Ashrum
This weekend I traveled to Vallikkavu which is a remote coastal village in southern Kerala. It is the well known spot for Amma’s Ashrum. Amma is the word for mother and she is internationally known as “the hugging mother”; although her real name is Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi. She is an integral part of the Indian culture, and although people didn’t understand my English when I said Amma’s ashrum, they all understood “the hugging mother”. The Amritapuri Ashrum is an international community which consists of more than 3,000 people who are permanent residents. They are monastic disciples and families from all over India, Europe, America, and more dedicating their lives to serving the world and following the teachings of Amma. For many other people it is also an international pilgrimage center for those seeking solace, inspiration, and inner peace for however long they wish. Thousands of people come to this ashrum to hug Amma, receive advice, and her boundless love. While Amma is at the ashrum she makes herself available day and night for those who are seeking her darshan (blessing), and to advise the disciples and volunteers who manage her humanitarian projects. She also leads the evening prayers and devotional singing, sits with residents for meditation, and holds sessions about her teachings. During the year she travels to different countries to simply hug people. Regardless of their race, religion, sex, beliefs, and status, Amma tenderly caresses anyone who comes to hear. In this simple yet powerful way Amma has transformed the lives of many, helping their hearts to blossom. In the past 37 years, Amma has hugged more than 27 million people from all parts of the globe. Recently she has addressed the Parliament of world’s Religions in Chicago, the United Nations in New York, and the Global Peace Initiative of Women Religious and Spiritual Leaders conducted at the UN in Geneva. There she was awarded with the 2007 Ghandi-King Award for nonviolence. Her extraordinary acts of love and self sacrifice have also inspired her to do countless humanitarian acts such as provide distaster relief for thetsunami, build free homes for those living in the slums, build orphanages, provide free food, medicine, and pension, sponsor weddings for the poor, provide free legal aid, build hospitals and universities, and build centers and temples for those devoted to her teachings.

Amma’s Teachings
Amma’s messages are universal and quite simple. She does not profess a particular religion, but says that her religion is love. She doesn’t ask anyone to believe in God or even to change their faith. She simply asks them to inquire into their own real nature and to believe in themselves. She is quoted as saying, “Love is our true essence. Love has no limitations of caste, religion, race, or nationality. We are all beads strung together on the same thread of love.” “In the end,” Amma says, “Love is the only medicine that can heal the wounds of the world; it is love that binds everything together. As this awareness draws within us, all disharmony will cease and abiding peace will reign.”

My Experience
I had never heard of the hugging mother before, yet I was intrigued to see why thousands of people were flocking to hug her from all parts of the world and giving her billions of dollars worth of offerings and money. Surprisingly, any money and gifts she is given, she gives it away to others. She instead uses for her ashrum and also for her many humanitarian projects. I had no idea what to expect, yet I consider myself to be a person who is open to new experiences. When I arrived at the ashrum, I saw pink buildings that consisted of the hospital, temple, shops, food centers, and also places to stay. I was impressed by this small community, which has a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere. I was also taken back by the beauty and simplicity of it. Interestingly enough, it is the same place that Amma grew up during her childhood.

I met Lalitha aunty there, and she let me stay with her in a room on the Indian side. There is a “Western” part which is for the foreigners from America, Europe, etc., as well as an Indian part for those who are residents of India. The accommodations and food are different for the westerners and Indians because but they are free to eat what they would like and also mingle with each other. There is no segregation or discrimination in the community, and to validate my point I saw a transvestite and also some people who appeared to be mentally ill. All of them are accepted and considered part of the community.

I was floored when I walked into the large building where Amma was giving hugs because thousands of people were sitting, standing, and waiting just to hug Amma. Lalitha aunty told me that people wait from morning to night just for a hug. Fortunately for me, my aunty had connections with the people there and I was able to get a pass and hug Amma after an hour. After waiting in the line, I was eager and also nervous to meet Amma. Thoughts raced through my head such as what do I say, and how do I act? I had seen her picture but even though I was five feet away from her I couldn’t see her face because people were swarmed around her. Fortunately, my question was answered when people in white simply pushed me and told me to kneel in front of Amma. I kneeled and the people in white pushed me again and told me to hug her. I didn’t see her face because it all happened so fast but people translated and told her that I was born in India, adopted to an American family, and now residing in the U.S. While we were embracing each other, I couldn’t think of anything else but of how good she smelled. She smelled beautiful, like incense and flowers combined. I had no expectations and no inspiration to say any words; I was simply letting things happen in their natural flow. I heard Amma say something in Malayalam over and over again softly to me. Later, I interpreted that she was saying “pure, pure, pure”. After embracing me, she looked at me and simply laughed, it was a joyous laugh that was music to my ears. I finally got a glimpse of her face. She had white hairs mixed with her black hair, and a nose ring that dazzled in the light. Looking at her face, I had the feeling I was looking at a mother, a grandmother, and a child all in one person. I have never felt this way towards another human being before. She then gave me her darshan which was a small planton (banana), hard candy, and a small paper package. The paper package had powder in it which people spread in their hair, between their eyes, and in their hair to represent blessings. I can’t quite say what it was, but something changed in me that day. It led me to be more considerate and compassionate towards others, and to also re-evaluate my spiritual life. I finally understood why thousands of people want to see and hug Amma. Her simple embrace is worth more than money and any other material thing, because it opens up people’s hearts to peace and compassion within themselves and towards others. People see Amma in different ways. Some see her as a mother, others as a guru or a god. I now see her as someone is the epitome of what we should all strive to be, someone who is selflessly serving God and humanity.

If you are interested in reading more about her teachings you can visit her homepage at www.amritapuri.org . Also, she is visiting the U.S. after her birthday next week and of all places she is visiting Fairfield, Iowa! If you are able to I would encourage you to see or hug her just for the experience.

Application to Real Life

After returning from the trip, I opened up the newspaper and found an article that expresses in words the feelings that I felt from my experience. The article was titled "To Feel or Not" with a subheading "Are we just being used when we are kind and compassionate?" was by Usha Jesudasan. Here is a summary of the article. “My grandmother and mother have been wonderful role models as I journey down the path of ahimsa (ahimsa is another word for truth or love, it is also the practice of non-violence). My mother told me a story one day when I was frustrated. I felt frustrated because it seemed that my mother was being used and taken advantage of by others when she was being kind and compassionate. She said, “A holy man bathing in the river, noticed a drowning scorpion. He lifted it out but before he could put it down, the scorpion stung him. The man was in great pain, yet he carefully placed it on the ground. People laughed at his stupidity. “What did you achieve? You spared the scorpions life only to get yourself bitten.” The man replied, “I did what I had to, according to my nature: rescue it from drowning and give it life. The scorpion did what it had to do according to its nature: sting me.” Often we look the other way from a beggar or an appeal for help because we don’t like to be cheated. Our hearts want to respond, but we are unsure if our help will actually reach them or if they will truly benefit. Once when we stopped at a traffic light, a young boy ran up to our car waving a packet of colored wash cloths for the car. The person I was with shooed him away as I dug into my purse for some money. I was a little surprised by her ferociousness. The boy looked at me with soulful eyes. “Please buy a packet,” he said. “It’s for my books.” I know many children like him who sell flowers, car cloths, spinach and other things early in the morning before they go to school. Yes, they are a nuisance, they pester us at the wrong time, when we have no change or when we are stressed. Life is hard for them, but they go on hoping that today will be a better day…that they will sell one more packet or cloth than yesterday. Reaching out takes them a little nearer to the road of independence, economic stability, and personal dignity. Ahisma people are not just those with hearts, but are those with hearts that ask nothing in return.”

Kotayam
On the weekend I traveled to Kotayam by train. It took one hour to reach by train but I was so mesmerized by the beautiful sights that the time flew by! I stayed with a family who has a daughter who is also adopted like me; therefore we have a connection which surpasses normal friendships! I had a nice time while I was there, visiting churches and different universities. The highlight of the trip was going to Kumakaram, a popular tourist resort. The beauty of India is evident in this small town!


Kerala, the Queen of South India
Kerala, with its exotic beaches and scenic beauty that makes one in unparalleled captivity of emotions, is no doubt a holiday destination for thousands of tourists across the globe. Likewise, Kerala attracts hundreds of students from various universities and community colleges from different parts of the world primarily due to its unique status in educational affluence and rich culture. Keralites attempt to integrate different cultures. A vibrant collection of arts make a qualitative change in the lives of the Keralites. The industrial city of Cochin hosts a large number of exhibitions. The anthurium exhibitions are a full of hobby growers to turn commercial. It is full of vivid and artistic flowers, ecstasy for sure! This exhibition is organized by Ernakulum district Agri Horticultural Society. Anthuriums create a royal touch to weddings and festival season.


Onam Festival
September 2 is “atham” the Malayalam auspicious day for the Keralites. It marks the beginning of flower decorations which will last until Thiru Onam September 12. The flower decorations are known as “pookkalam”. It is one of the main features of the Onam festival. The flower decoration competitions are conducted in organizations like banks, industries, universities, and schools. “Athapookkalam” is a beautiful depiction of the artistic talents of women in Kerala. If you have ever dreamt of visiting Kerala in your life, let it be during September at this festival season. The confluence of the rivers and the moonlit nights, the boat ride beside the boundaries of Kochi city, and across the sea remains a dream that came true in my heart! Laying pookkalam was formerly a women’s domain. Women in traditional attire called a “mundu and “neriyathu” surround a variety of flowers on the designated spaces on the floor to lay “pookalam" (The picture with me in the white and pink outfit is of me in a mundu). These flower carpets are so wonderful. Of late, the men also join with women in this event. These pookkalams are breaking down the walls that segregated men and women leading to better understanding for a better society. Visitors from different countries learn through observation and participation the meaning of customs, traditions, habits, food preparations, general life, and the style of the Malayalees. All these are my persisting attractions!











Dancing and entertainment at Trikkakara Temple









The Onam festival is celebrated from September 11 to September 14, with each family in Kerala. September 11 is first Onam. September 12 is second Onam which is also known as Thiru Onam. September 13 is the third Onam. Then, September 14 is the final Onam. Thiru Onam, September 12, is the most important day in the festival season. Ornam festival is also known as the king’s festival. People believe that Mahabali, the famous and fabulous king who ruled Kerala, ensuring peace and prosperity to all, arrives back to his kingdom to visit his people on Thiru Ornam. People offer him Ona Sadya (feast) with rice and different types of vegetable curries. On the day Keralites eat their sadya in green banana leaves. There are several kinds of celebrations some of which include a flower show, dance music, and new movies to entertain people. Those who can afford new clothes buy them and wear them on Thiru Ornam. People also give clothes as gifts. Friends and relatives, sons and daughters arrive from different parts of the world. Elephants are decorated and exhibited at many temples. Trikkakara temple is a temple that is known for these celebrations. People are in ecstatic moods, one has to experience all these to save them in memory!






The Hindu Times
This week I was ecstatic when I opened up the newspaper and saw a picture of me with my dance class! The name of the paper is "The Hindu Metroplus Weekend. It is a regional newspaper for the city of Kochi encompasses lifestyle, food, music, fitness, events, and entertainment. There was an article in the middle of the newspaper and there was also a small feature on the front page! This article explains about how our dance teacher, Geetha, combines dance, yoga, and aerobics to create natya vyayama, a workout that involves the mind and body. I’m the one in the red shirt, and my friend Leeza is the one in the yellow shirt!

Janaseva Sisubhavan (children’s home)
I started volunteering at the children’s home, an orphanage for 2 days a week. Janaseva Sisubhavan, means children’s home, which is primarily sponsored by the public. I learned how to ride the bus to Janaseva Sisubhavan by myself which is an accomplishment that I’m proud of! I first went with Sarada Aunty, but the second time I was apprehensive about commuting and transferring buses to reach my destination. I was apprehensive because I did not know the regional language and I was also wary of the sexual harassment that can occur on the bus. When I arrived at the orphanage children were running towards me grabbing my clothes, trying to hold my hand, and wanting to be the one that had my attention. They were really adorable, and I wish that I had enough hands to hold them all. Deepa is the name of the woman who was nice enough to give me a tour of the orphanage. She speaks little English, and I speak little Malayalam, so we are perfectly ‘made for each other’, both learning from each other! There was also another volunteer I met who came from Australia. Nadia was traveling by herself and I was surprised that she traveled 1 hour from Fort Kochi where she lived to the orphanage. She was so excited to hear me speaking English, because no one could understand her Australian accent. Fortunately for me, people are able to understand most of my English at the functional level and I can also speak some functional Malayalam. However, she decided that she did not want to volunteer at Janaseva anymore because of the language barrier, one hour travel to reach the orphanage, and also because she felt that she would be of hindrance instead of help to those children. From this I learned that it is important to first understand another culture in its way and slowly adjust to such a culture to the optimum possible ways, instead of trying to make the culture adjust with newly inducted elements including persons like us. English language is not always inevitable to communicate and help others. Language of heart can facilitate communication especially among children. I must have more patience and tolerance to navigate through another culture. I am learning many things and I realized that observational learning is a powerful learning method.

Stories of the Children
There are many stories of how the children came to the orphanage. In most cases, the parents have abandoned them in various ways. Some are involved in the beggar’s mafia, which is a group of people who employ young children as beggars. The children have to earn so much money per day for the dons (head persons of the mafia), if they do not they are abused, tortured, or starved. Sometimes they are burned with acid in order to create sympathy in passerbys to earn more money for the dons. Some children are involved in the street circus which is a traveling act done on the streets in the city. The children are made to perform dangerous and deadly tricks in which the people in charge believe starvation is necessary in order to perform the tricks correctly. In other instances, child labor is involved in which a household hires a child for labor against their will, often starving, torturing, or abusing them. After hearing and reading these stories, I couldn’t help but feel anger towards the people who inflicted such pain on children. What kind of a heart a person has to inflict injury through cruelty to hurt a child? How can anyone harm those innocent children for monetary gain? How can any one make them starve to perform dangerous tricks which are enjoyed by others? It tore me apart to realize to what extent people can be cruel to children. Children are innocent and vulnerable to cruelty because they can not by themselves ensure protection. They deserve love and care, not torture and pain. Here is the story of Velmurukan, a child who was placed at the boys home at Janaseva Sisubhavan. Velmurukan was born in a small hut, a slum in Sithannur village in Tamilnadu. His parents died when he was a small child. From his early days onwards, he and his sister were under the custody of their grandmother and uncle (father’s brother), who did nothing but curse them, beat them, kick them and made them starve. His uncle, who was a drug addict and drunkard, always used to beat them brutally. One day Velmurukan’s uncle took him to Kerala, for selling him to Dharmaraj, the don of the beggar mafia. He was handed over to Dharmaraj, at Aluva Railway Station. After that he never saw his uncle. Dharmaraj took him to a group of beggars, where he found about 10 children of his age, and was asked to beg and give the money he collected to Dharamaraj. Velmurukan did not know what to do and wandered in search of his uncle in the streets of Aluva. Imagine the exhaustion of Velmurukan who could not locate his cruel uncle. He was also totally ignorant of the art of begging. Obviously, he did not get any money. At night Dharmaraj came fully drunk, and knowing that he had no money, dragged Velmururkan to the railway track, some distance away. He beat the boy and when the boy cried aloud, Dharmaraj forcefully closed his mouth and threatened to kill him if he dared to speak. Then he took a bottle, poured the liquid on the boy’s body, dragged him to the open cabin of a goods train, and lastly set fire on him. Velmurukan could not remember anything after that. When he regained consciousness, he was in the hospital bed. Mr. Jose Maveli, the director of Janaseva Sisubhavan, took the responsibility to treat him and later took him to the children’s home (taken from Janaseva Sisubhavan’s magazine, “Drops of Tears Turn to Blossoms”). For more information, check their website at http://www.janasevasisubhavan.net/

My Past
Coming to Janaseva, the children’s house, for the first time I had an emotional experience. It wasn’t the orphanage that I was at when I was adopted, yet the feelings were the same. It brought back past memories, and I had tears in my eyes when I saw those children. There were ten three year old children getting fed, and questions ran through my mind of my time spent in the orphanage in Pune. What did I look like at the age of three years? What kind of personality did I have? Was it difficult feeding me? I looked at the children, all of them were so innocent and exquisitely beautiful. I wondered how people could leave children that were so full of hope and light. I know that regardless of whether I am of any help to the children, being at the orphanage will be a personally fulfilling experience for me.

Location
In the Asian continent, I’m staying in Kerala which is a southern state. There are 17 districts in Kerala. I’m in the middle part of Kerala which is the Ernakulum district. In the district, Kochi is the fascinating city which is known as “Queen of the Arabian Sea”. For all who are reading my blog I would like to thank you for taking the time to read it and please feel free to comment!

Betrothel
On Saturday, Sarada Aunty and I went to a Christian betrothal, which is also known as an engagement. We drove 2 hours to get there; it was on the outskirts of Kerala where it is mostly village life by the water. It was really beautiful, yet life is very simple there. It was held in a very small church near the waterfront. Inside, there was a huge arch above the altar with intricate designs which was impressive. There were about 500 people that attended, yet the ceremony lasted only for 10 minutes! The service was in Malayalam, so I didn’t understand. Basically Sarada Aunty explained to me that the girl and the boy expressed their consent for their wedding in front of the priests and their relatives, witnessed by a large number of people at the church. The wedding was already scheduled for a week later. After the engagement, there was a sumptuous meal for everyone who attended which is paid for by the bride’s family. When the wedding occurs, the groom’s family has to pay for the meal. Many families of the lower income group in the Indian society usually go into debt paying for this, and also for the dowry (a large sum of money given to the groom before the wedding by the bride’s family) that the bride has to give. If the bride’s family does not give a dowry, then there will be no marriage. Many of the bride’s families are in an excessive amount of debt because of the dowry system. That is why many people in India want to have boys and not girls because the families believe that the boys will bring more money to the family than the girls. People really spend a large amount of money for occasions such as birthdays, engagements, weddings, etc. For them it is a way to celebrate with friends and family, but it often leaves many people in debt. The church was near this waterfront.

The Movie Awards
Then on Sunday night we went to the Jaihind film awards. It was an award show for selected Malayalam film stars, which consists of the actors/actresses/music directors/ singers in Kerala state. I went with Sarada Aunty and her friend Leela Aunty, from whom we got free VVIP passes from (that’s right, VVIP not VIP!). Leela Aunty is a well known journalist figure in Kerala. She is known for her fierce writing regarding women’s rights, and for also being the first woman journalist in Kerala. Her status earned us 3rd row seats. I admire her because not only is she bold and courageous in her writing, but also in her character. She is a cancer survivor. The doctors told her she only had 6 months to live, and she vowed that she would not die. It was especially powerful to see how much she is respected everywhere she goes which was apparent at the film awards ceremony. I really enjoyed the film award function that night. There were thousands of people, which added to my excitement. There was also incredible music, beautiful dances, and I was able to see famous people. Of course I didn’t know their level of fame, but it was still exciting! Here is a picture of me, Sarada Aunty, and Leela Aunty at the film awards.


Dance
I also started a dance class in the city which combines dance and yoga. The instructor is Mrs.Geetha Mammen. The women in the class are in their 30’s and 40’s. Many people tell me that women in this culture rarely exercise. So they are surprised to hear that I regularly exercise. I could tell, because when I ran outside, many people looked at me funny! I really enjoy the dance class because it trains me to focus on my mind and body. We concentrate on our breathing, stretching, and moving our bodies to the rhythm of the music. After the class I felt very energized and empowered! I go to the dance class with another girl whose name is Leeza, which is pronounced just like Lisa in the U.S. Even for her, this was her first time to attend an exercise class! I enjoy the interaction between us because she is close to my age. It is interesting to hear her perspectives on different issues especially when we compare the differences between the two cultures that both of us live in.

Harmony
What’s interesting about India is that it is has so many different cultures and religions that live in harmony. I walk among Muslims, Hindus, and Christians everyday. Most people in India know what religion or culture a person belongs to by their language, dress, or name. However, it is not so easy for me to differentiate between them. Not only that, but each state in India has a different language. Most people in India know at least 2 languages, if not 3. Most people can speak their state language and also English. Most of the states also have a different language. Here in Kerala, all people speak the language called Malayalam. I’ve learned some functional Malayalam which helps me with the basics. I’ve also learned how to write a little in this language. I was forced to because all the buses to get to the city are labeled in Malayalam! It’s harder than I thought, because instead of having different symbols for each letter, this language has different symbols for each syllable. For example, I have to ride a bus to Aluva everyday. There is a symbol for A, a symbol for Lu, and a symbol for Va.

Fun
This is a picture of Angel Ammama. This is Sarada Aunty’s mother in law. In Malayalam, Ammamma means grandmother, so that is what I always call her. She is one of the funniest people that I have ever met in my life! There is a reason why I call her Angel Amamma instead of just Ammama. One of the first few times I met her, I went into her room and saw a picture of her when she was about 19 years old with her husband (she is now 79 years old). I commented on her beauty, and she told me that she was the most beautiful person that she’s ever seen in her entire life! She went on to say that she was so beautiful that anyone who saw her fainted at the sight of her! Lastly, she ended by saying that she was an angel, and her husband was a god. I laughed so much! If I say that I don’t want any more food she looks at me and says eat, eat, eat more! I tell her I’m full, and she says drink, drink, drink. You are becoming a stick. Every time I see her she says to me, “You want food? I get you food, whatever you want I will get.” Then if I ask her to help me with something like locking the gate, she’ll say to me, “I am very old and very weak. I don’t know anything, I am going to die soon.” Even though she is physically and mentally in good shape for her age, she always says this. Her name means “happiness” in Malayalam, so I guess that fits because every time I see her she makes me laugh!

Family Life
This a picture of Umma, she is the housemaid for Sarada Aunty and her mother in law who also lives with her. She does the cooking and washing, and usually stays from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Most people in the U.S. would only consider a maid if they have extra money for one. Here in India, most people that are of middle class hire a maid. The people that are not educated even with primary school education usually are hired as housemaids. Pramila Aunty and Sarada Aunty said they hire the maids because if they do not employ them, they will not have a job. More over, the services of the house maids help the working women a lot in lessening their stress from multiple roles. They said that the maids are a little expensive, but the maids help them out by cooking and also in return they (the maids) are able to have salaried job and can take food home, if they want to, for their family. Otherwise if they are not employed, they do not have any option besides prostitution or being trafficked or surviving poverty. Also, they are helping stop the cycle of unemployment for the uneducated women. How blessed we are! Even I have to attest to complaining about going to work and not liking the job because of coworkers, not enough money, or even because I had to go to work when I could’ve gone shopping! The bottom line is we have many options for employment, even if we don’t have a college education. Here, it is very difficult to find a job for uneducated mothers. There is no welfare system for those living in poverty. I don’t think that many of us could imagine turning to prostitution as a way to put food on the table. So let us always be grateful not only for our jobs, but also our education. In this picture, Umma is cutting up vegetables for our lunch. Umma and Ammamma are very good friends.

Washing by Hand
The most important thing I learned how to do this week is wash my clothes by hand! Here in India, people wash their clothes with a special bar of soap or soap powder, and two buckets. Some families have washing machines. But expensive and colorful clothes are handwashed for preserving their good looks. They transfer the clothes from one bucket to another until they are sudsy and clean. It definitely takes some work, and once I got sore arms doing it!

Toilet and Shower
Also, the same goes for the toilet and shower. People don’t use toilet paper; instead they use a shower head spray to wash themselves after the bathroom. For showering, there is a tub of water in the bathroom with a cup in it to pour on you, but there’s no hot water! These things definitely took some getting used to, but it’s a great feeling knowing that I am conserving water by doing this and also that I can live without the technology. They believe that showering in cold water makes them healthier in the hot climate. Here’s a picture of me washing my clothes, you can tell it’s a hard task by the look on my face!

Mad traffic
I can’t believe the traffic here! I feel like an accident is about to happen just about every second! The forms of transportation include an auto-rickshaw (which is like a golf cart with a cover over it), cars, buses, or scooters. The scooters are definitely the most dangerous because they weave in and out of traffic paying no attention to cars or pedestrians. The problem is that there are few signs or stoplights, and no one is ever in the right lane! Reckless driving is allowed; in fact, you have to drive like that in order to stay alive!

It's been 2 weeks since I've been here, and already I've learned and experienced so much! Coming here was quite an adventure on the airplane because of the time involved in the flight, so I was quite tired when I got here. I didn't realize how big the time difference was until it took me about a week and a half to adjust. It's 12 hours difference from here!

My Home

I'm staying with Pramila Aunty, her husband, and her grandkids who she is watching over their school vacation. I really appreciate their company and their hospitality as I adjust to this culture. I especially enjoy playing with the kids Kannu and Ammu! I also spend half of my time at Sarada Aunty's house. She is the woman who invited me here to India and arranged everything for me. She is a small indian woman but she is full of life! She is in her 50's and works at a nearby university as a Professor of Psychology. She also is a clinical psychologist and in her free time helps victims of child prostitution, or victims of the tsunami. She truly is a blessing ot me and I am very fortunate to have her guidance while I'm in India. The reason why I call them aunty is because in this culture, people adress older people as aunty or uncle and people of similar age as chi-chi (sister) or chetta (brother), even if they are not related. All these are considered to be terms of respect, and it is interesting in this culture how much respect is shown to older people, and also how tight knit the family unit is.

Climate

Right now it is the monsoon season which lasts from June to November. It rains almost everyday, and it is beautiful because everything is so green and full of life! Along with that there is alot of humidity, its the kind that makes me sweat doing nothing. There is so much rain that they rely on hydroelectric power, however; there is a shortage of rain this year. This shortage results in the power switching off for 1 or 2 hours every night, or even during the day. It used to surprise me because I'd be eating or reading, but now i'm used to it. You can see how beautiful it is behind Pramila Aunty's house.

Food

The food here is delicious! I'm in the south part of india, so my meals usually consist of rice or dosha (a type of flat bread), curry, fish, yogurt, and vegetables. Everyday tea (chaya) is served with milk at breakfast and in the afternoon. Even though it is hot here, the chaya tastes good and also cools my body. The main thing that I've had to learn about the food is how to eat with my hands! It's harder than I realized because I can only eat with my right hand because the left hand is considered to be dirty and only used to go to the bathroom. I've gotten pretty good at it and don't even miss silverware!

Culture and Clothing

India is considered to be a much more conservative culture than the U.S. in terms of dress and language. Even though it is hot and humid here, women wear a long loose top, and loose pants to their ankles. Their shoulders and knees are not usually shown. The men usually wear a button up shirt and pants, or a moondu which is a cloth that is worn as a skirt. It usually falls to their knees. Foreigners that come here usually wear their own clothing, but it is best to fit into the culture and wear the typical clothing because of the sexual harrasment that can occur with less conservative clothing. Even though it is more conservative than I'm used to, it's not that hot because of the lightweight fabrics, and I really don't mind because the clothing worn here is very beautiful. In terms of how society is, I find it very different from the U.S. For example, there are still arranged marriages here in which the parents find a suitable spouse for their child. They can only meet one or two times before marriage. There are still marriages in which people can choose whom they can marry, but it is usually done in the bigger cities where society is more modernized. The difference is so prevalent, that people usually categorize the terms as a "love marriage" or "arranged marriage". Arranged marriages are still more common than "love marriages". I've found that the U.S. is very open about issues such as sexuality, homosexuality, drugs, etc.; while India is very reserved about it. These things still happen in India, but it is concealed. Therefore, many things are considered to be taboo. India is truly an intriguing country that is full of beauty and mystery.

There's still alot more I'd like to write, but I'll save it for next week. Everyday is a new learning experience for me! Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and send emails, I really appreciate it and I'll keep you all updatde weekly from now on!

P.S. I just had to add this picture of this elephant. There is something about elephants that I makes me really respect this beautiful animal. I saw it on the street admist all the traffic and ran out and took a picture of it!