Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Temples

India is an incredibly spiritual and religious place. There are literally hundreds of thousands of temples that mark the countryside as you travel throughout India.
 Yesterday, while in the field Manjula and I took a break from work to look at a two of the temples that are pretty well known in the state of Gujarat. 



The first temple we visited, pictured above is called the Sun Temple and it is in Modhera, Gujarat. It was constructed in 1026-37 A.D.  during the reign of King Bhindev I of Patan. It is dedicate dto Surya or the Sun God. There once was a sculpture of the god in the temple that was perfectly illuminated by the sun twice a year, but a Muslim King apparently stole it because it had diamonds on it. 
It was a beautiful temple all the same and incredibly peaceful...I could have stayed there for hours and just read on the steps or the lawn, but we had to adventure on. 





The second temple we stopped at was only constructed about 20-30 years ago. There were actually still artisans there working on the details of the pillars. It was incredibly beautiful and expansive though. There were little statutes under each one of those towers, almost 200 statues in all. The detailing on this temple was really exquisite, I couldn't stop taking photos. 

 Despite not being religious and often thinking that the amount of money that is spent on the opulence of temples is contradictory to the core values of almost any and every religion...I always like going to look at Temples, Churches, and Mosques. I think it is because at the end of the day I can put my opinion aside and appreciate the craftsmanship that went into building these holy houses. 
Though I think the money could have been better spent on schools or hospitals for the poor, I still appreciate their beauty... it withstood the test of time, and inspired millions of the faithful to reverently look to it in awe and worship. 

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Discovering Something New...A Musical Instrument

One of my favorite things about traveling, is when I come across something new, something I have never seen, heard, or tasted before. 

This week while I was visiting the schools Navsarjan runs I came across this little gem. The school manager at the second school I visited (who was really quite a character) pulled this instrument out and started playing it while Manjula was going over the figures with the other teachers. 




I tried to ask them what it was called, but honestly I couldn't pronounce the name they told me. So if anyone can tell me what it is named, I would be ever so grateful. It kind of sounded like an accordion. 
It all folded down into a neat little box too, that was about half the size of what is pictured above.
 
Today I am grateful for still being able to discover things I have never seen before that take me pleasantly by surprise. 

Saturday, July 28, 2012

YOGA

I have been practicing yoga on and off for the last seven years. I first got into hot yoga my sophomore year of high school when my friend Sam (a fellow athlete) encouraged me to try it out with him, he said it was a great workout. He wasn't lying and as I left the world of competitive sports behind in high school, yoga slowly became my favorite and sometimes only form of exercise. 

My sophomore year of college Carey, my roommate, Big, one of my best friends and female role models, was a yoga instructor. Ever since taking her classes sophomore year, and watching her own practice deepen with time, I have been dying to become a yoga instructor myself. Unfortunately for me the teacher training is incredibly time consuming and expensive at Corepower where I usually practiced hot yoga in San Diego. 

Luckily for me the world works in mysterious ways and gives you what you need not what you want. Since coming here I have gotten back on the yoga kick, practicing daily again after having to take a hiatus most of this past year because of my busy schedule and lack of excess funds. Turns out everyone I work with wants to learn yoga, especially the kids. The last two days I have spent visiting the schools Navsarjan runs to teach the kids about pollution and yoga. 
Below are some photos of my beautiful students in the yoga classes I taught. 



The pose above is called Crow pose and it took me six years to learn how to do. 





Teaching these students about yoga, something I truly love, have spent a lot of time on, and think everyone can benefit from... is honestly a dream come true. Its quite comical actually, me the American teaching all these Indians about yoga... when India is the birth place of yoga.

But I strongly encourage anyone whose looking for a new form of exercise or a way to relax to take a yoga class. Yoga has been a godsend in my life, helping me stay fit and mentally sane during my most stressful moments. Yoga is more then just a form of exercise it is a way of life. It is about bringing your mind, body, and spirit into alignment so that you can live a balanced and rewarding life. 

I know yoga will be a part of my life from now on, and I honestly cannot wait to continue deepening my own practice and learning more about this wonderful ancient practice. 

NAMASTE

Friday, July 27, 2012

Why I Write


I realized that it may seem kind of weird that I write daily... especially since a lot of the blog posts I write do not seem relevant to the work I am doing here, or my experience here in particular. 
The truth is the reason I try to post daily is because it forces me to take stock of my life, my experiences, my work, the lessons I have learned, and what I have come to believe. 

While journaling is a great way to de-stress about the events of  your day, it does not hold the same reflective power. When you are writing something that can be read by the world you try to take a little extra time to make sure it is something that could bring value to their life... Whether that means it is informative, inspiration, comical, or just some good old fashion advice; you take the extra five minutes you would not normally to write something worth reading. That said, I know I often have typos and that my posts are not always that interesting to anyone else but me. But I have come to realize that is all quite alright with me, because at the end of the day I know that the impact my blog has in the blogging world will never be a very big one, but the impact blogging has on my life is tremendous. 
I blog for the same reason that thousands of others do...I blog to give voice to the thoughts I would otherwise never take the time to say and to reflect on the experiences in life that I would normally just let fade into the past as another distance memory. 

I love the blogging world. It has given us all a place to speak our mind and to share our passions. I find that the blogging world is full of inspirational, passionate, romantic, sometimes crazy, and yet totally wonderful people. Perusing people's blogs (especially my friends) is honestly one of my favorite pastimes...It allows me to learn from the revelations of others, reflect on all that I myself have to be grateful for, opens me open to information I honestly do not know how I ever lived without sometimes, and gives me energy to go and find something beautiful in each day.

If my blog can do even a fraction of that for anyone else then I am truly grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this wonderful inspiring online community. Even if the only person inspired by Cultivating Compassion is me, then that is OK to. Because being given a space like this and taking the time every day to write brings me joy and helps me grow as a person. 

To sum it up simply above all else, I write for myself and my happiness. 
And I encourage anyone who is having a hard time or even a good time to take up a journal or a blog and write, because voicing your emotions is the only way you will ever truly learn from them and learn to appreciate them. 

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Music is medicine for the SOUL

There are many things that I have grown to love in my life time. I love what I study, my family, my friends, traveling, inspiration quotes and people, and music. I LOVE music, especially live music. There are three things I am always willing to spend my money on without question: my education, traveling, and music. 
I LOVE going to live shows! While festivals are my favorite, I love every type of concert whether it is an intimate coffee venue with less than fifty people, or a huge sell out concert with 75,000 screaming fans. I love them all. 
There is just something about being a part of the whole experience... the music seeps into your soul and takes over your body as you let the musicians determine the rhythm of your heart and feet. 
It has the ability to make you feel human again, to give life to an emotion you have felt or are feeling but never knew how to express. Being out in the audience with all the other adoring fans, makes you feel as though you are a part of something bigger... that you are not alone.
 All of the people around you know exactly what you are feeling because they feel it to. 

 (Tiesto at club Privilege in Las Vegas...I snuck backstage so I could get as close as possible.)


I worship the arts...I myself was not fortunate enough to be given the gift of music, but I have become an avid supporter going to shows whenever I possible can. I think in a world that can seem so big, in which we can feel so distraught and alone... It is important to remind ourselves from time to time that we are not alone and that feeling something is not only human but good for the soul. We can do this by going to a good show and getting lost in music. Music is medicine for the soul. 

 Until the day I die, I will love music and praise those talented enough to pluck at my heart strings and refresh my spirit for the days that follow their show. 
While all art may express that which makes us human. To me... music gives voice to the secrets of the heart and the will of the body on a wave length that everyone can appreciate and fall in line with... and because of that I will always and forever love music. 

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Nurture vs. Nature

Lately I have been thinking a lot about the Nurture vs. Nature argument. It has long been debated that our personalities are either a result of our own nature (meaning we are born with a predisposed personality) or as a result of the nurture we receive from our family and the environment we live in as we are growing up. Most people believe that it is some combination of the two that really determines what type of person we become. While nature may predetermine some personality traits like whether we are an introvert or an extrovert; the nurture we receive will encourage some personality traits and discourage others. The nurture portion of our rearing is what makes siblings have similar value systems despite having different personalities. 

India is an incredibly patriarchal society. Women here are often considered second class citizens, especially in the more rural parts of the country. Even if parents can afford to send their children to school, they are usually unwilling to spend that money on their daughters' education. Sons are the sought after child, the ones given the place of honor. Such gender discrimination is not new to me, but it is something that has never really pertained to me. My parents raised me to be a strong independent woman. They always told me I could do anything I wanted to, as long as I was willing to work for it. 

As I watch these girls accept their fate and their role within their families and Indian society, I can't help but wonder how different my life and my personality would be if I had been born here instead of in Bothell, WA. 
Would I still be a strong independent woman? Or would I be like a majority of the girls here who gladly accepts their role as house wife and baby maker?
 I would like to think that I would be different... that I would fight for my right to an education and try to act as a leader to other women in the area to do the same... But honestly there is no way of knowing. If nurture is half of what makes our personalities, then would my inherent nature as an adventuresome strong woman have been overridden by a society that normally oppresses such women. 


 Luckily for me, I have come to realize that the Nurture vs. Nature argument is irrelevant for me. Because I was born into a society and a family who encouraged me to be a strong woman and to dream big. I will never have to worry about being forced into a role I do not want to play. I have the freedom and the power to determine my own future...my own life...And I couldn't be more grateful for that freedom which is denied to so many others, especially to other women. 

Today I am grateful for my freedom, my family, my childhood, and for the opportunity to be myself, a strong independent womn with big hopes and dreams. 


Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Good Ol' Einstein and Churchill

I read somewhere that inspiration is like showers, it should be repeated often if you really want it to work. I myself am a huge believer in looking to influential people from the past and present for inspiration. I love find quotes from famous people that embody what I believe to be true. So without further adieu I give you two quotes I really love by Albert Einstein and Winston Churchill.

"We need an essentially new way of thinking if mankind is to survive. Men must radically change their attitudes toward each other and their views of the future. Force must no longer be an instrument of politics... Today, we do not have much time left; it is up to our generation to succeed in thinking differently. If we fail, the days of civilized humanity are numbered." 
-Albert Einstein

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."
 -Winston Churchill


We need to change the paradigm we live in...We must no longer think only of ourselves, but of ourselves as part of something bigger...like a puzzle piece that has its specific part to play to make the bigger picture complete. Only when we learn to work together will we be able to truly make peace within ourselves and the world at large...So take Churchill's advice and try to make a life and not just a living. 


Monday, July 23, 2012

Dwarka...for a Weekend Away

This past weekend I left DSK to my friends (Manisha, Bachu, Jagruti, Drakhi, and Avana) at there homes in Dwarka, the birthplace of Lord Krishna (the Creator God in Hinduism). We left after work on Friday at 5p.m. and got back this morning before work at 5:45a.m. It was a short trip, but one filled to the brim with new experiences, good food, lots of good food, and tons of picture taking.  
Sushma and I took a sleeper/luxury bus to Dwarka. It left at 10p.m. and we arrived to the girls village at 8:30a.m. The boys in the picture are Sushma's cousin's sons, they dropped us off at the bus terminal. Luckily for me I slept the entire way, despite being eaten alive by bugs. It was my first time on a sleeper bus and honestly I would definitely recommend it, it was super cheap and I woke up and I was where I needed to be. 
Me after a quick bath, stuffing my face with some delicious breakfast they prepared for us the minute we got there.  
I was definitely the first white person this village had ever seen. After working in rural India for the past month I have gotten used to people staring at me constantly, but it was still kind of crazy having my visit be such a big event. Everyone one a picture with me. 
They took us all around Dwarka the first day, so we could see the main tourist attractions. The funniest part was honestly the entourage that came with us. Two Dads (because the girls are not allowed anywhere without a chaperon), eight girls, and three little kids. First we pilled in a Good Carriage aka a fright type truck to get into town, then we all piled into a Scorpio SUV. 
The first stop was to Old Dwarka to go on a boat ride. It was really funny how scared Sushma was of falling in. I was literally probably the only person on the boat who new how to swim though. 
This was a temple that we went to on the second day. It was up on a hill and took 299 steps to reach to the top. It had a panorama view of the ocean and all the villages and roads below.  
They were constantly trying to feed us, and it was really hard to say no. But the food was a nice change from the stuff I get at DSK. 
Pictured above are Drakhi and Jagruti's older sister, little brother and mother. They parents have twelve kids. Actually all the girls I went to visit are related to each other. Its common here for brother's and sister's kids to marry each other so property can stay within the family. 
All the little kids were so cute, and all ironically four years old. They all just wanted their picture taken. 
The two above who are the same age are actually uncle and nephew. They were best buds though, playing together constantly. 
The girls' farms were only a kilometer away from the ocean, so we walked there the second day to collect sea shells. At first all the women were so scared when I went to go put my feet into the water....but then after an hour of collecting shells everyone got in.  
Sushma was literally like a little kid, the amount of enjoyment they were all getting rolling around in the sand and water was priceless. I tried to capture it on film, but I don't think the pictures did the moment justice. They were giggling and screaming, loving every wave as it crashed into them drenching their saris. 

I even learned how to milk a cow... though I think I would need a lot more practice before I could do it full time. 
They even convinced me to wear Jagruti's engagement Sari. They all wanted pictures in my clothes so they figured I would want to dress up in theirs. It was a beautiful sari, but very itchy and not really my style. But they all said I looked like a doll...so I guess it was worth it since it made them happy. 

All and all it was a perfect get away. I got to see the girls homes, meet their families, really experience village life, and see another part of India. And I got back in plenty of time for work this morning.
They were all really so sweet though... they gave Sushma and I plenty of goodies to bring back with us like buttermilk, nuts, fruits, sea shells, curd, and most importantly an open invitation to come back whenever. I told the girls if I was around I would go to their weddings which are all scheduled for two years from now. 
Oh! and second best part. the entire weekend for both me and Sushma, including souvenirs cost under $50...got to love India. 

Friday, July 20, 2012

There's Something About Flowers...


My love for flowers started at some point when I was a child, I can't remember when it started exactly, but my love for them has only grown the older I got. It might have all started when I used to help my Mom plant her flower pots for Mother's Day or when my sister became a florist. A job which I would later take, and grow to love. There is just something about their color, their aroma, their soft texture...that just makes a person smile and instantly feel less stressed.  


Today was an especially stressful day and I found myself missing the flower I normally pick up on my way to the office. 

For the better part of this last week I have been preparing a Concept note for the European Union 2012 Call for Proposals. It was only yesterday that I realized the deadline for the concept note was today and not the 22nd like we had thought. So I spent the better part of the morning trying to convince my coworkers that we had to send in the concept note without the director's approval. I had Martin the founder (and technically the director's boss) look at and edit the concept note and finally got his permission to send it in. Sending in a concept note without Manjula's permission is usually never done, but I did not want this wonderful organization to miss out on the opportunity to get some much needed extra funding for its programs. 

 After dealing with a deadline, language barriers, one Man's a vow of silence (Martin is currently taking a vow of silence for a month to finish some projects), and some ill at ease employees; my nerves were pretty worked up. I decided to walk back to my room to get some air and pick one of the plumerias that grow outside of my room. As I put the flowers soft petals to my nose and breathed in deep I instantly felt better. There is just something about flowers that instantly can make you feel better. 

So if you ever wonder what you should get a friend whose been stressed out at work, working really hard, just finished a project, or just because you love them...think about getting them a nice bouquet of flowers...ones that smell good are especially calming.  

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Building Friendships Beyond Language Barriers

For the last month almost (can't believe its almost been a month already) I have been spending my evenings with the girls pictured below. They always made sure I ate, even when there wasn't enough food for the rest of the girls. Then we would sit on the lawn outside my office and they would ask me questions (Sushma would translate), teach me Gujarati, I would teach them english or yoga... but somehow despite a language barrier a friendship was formed. But yesterday I had to say goodbye to the last of them as they had finished their classes and had to get back home. I am going to visit them this weekend in their village and they are all incredibly excited, and truth be told so am I. It will be nice to get off DSK campus, have some home cooked meals, and see a different part of India. 

Them trying to teach me how to use their machine, I couldn't even thread the needle that morning. 

I know its blurry but it was just such a perfect moment. 
They had their last meal at DSK with Sushma and I in our office. 
I am really going to miss seeing their faces around campus though. Out of all the girls here they took the time to get to know me, to try to learn english, and to invite me to their home. 

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

10 Rules for Being Human

I found this gem of knowledge back when I was still in high school, and I have gone back to it often to remind myself about what life is really all about. But in keeping with the belief that whenever we find something inspiring, real, or true we should share it with the one's we love...I thought I would share it with you all today.  I hope it helps you as much as it has helped me. 

  1. You will receive a body. You may like it or hate it, but it's yours to keep for the duration of your life on Earth. 
  2. You will be presented with lessons. You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called, "life."
  3. There are no mistakes, only lessons. Growth is a process of experimentation, a series of trials, errors and occasional victories. The failed experiments are as much as a part of the process as the experiments that work.
  4. Lessons are repeated until learned. Lessons will be repeated to you in various forms until you have learned them. When you have learned them, you can go on to the next lesson. 
  5. Learning does not end. There is no part of life that does not contain less. If you are alive, there are still more lessons to be learned. 
  6. "There" is no better than "here". When your "there" has become "here" you sill simply obtain another "there" that will look better to you than your present "here".
  7. Others are only mirrors of you. You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects something you love or hate about yourself. 
  8. What you make of your life is up to you. You have all the tools and resources you need. What you do with them is up to you. 
  9. Your answers lie inside of you. All you need to do is look, listen, and trust. 
  10. You will forget all this at birth. 
By Dr. Cherie Carter-Scott

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

A New Day!

It is amazing how much can change in a day. The last couple days I was honestly starting to feel a little bored and lonely. Sushma had gone home to visit her family, and I finished the last book I brought with me...leaving with me with a lot of free time to think.
I let my mind wander through past memories and future plans, thinking about everything but the present. I knew that at moments my time here would be challenging, but the most challenging part is honestly the time alone. I am a really social person, and being away from everyone I love can be hard after a while. But yesterday I found this quote by Budda, "Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment."

This struck me for some reason, and I began to think about what this present moment means for me...It means a chance to learn how to be alone, an opportunity to notice the small things in life (like the plumerias outside of my room which I stop to pick up and smell as I walk to my office), to do yoga daily and focus on my physical health, and most importantly to learn about a different culture.

The only thing we can really control in our life is our attitude...Every day might not be beautiful, but we can definitely find something beautiful in every day. So today, I changed my attitude and went to work with a flower in my hand and a new sense of determination in my heart. And today turned out to be a great day. I had a wonderfully successful meeting with the director of the non-profit "Friends of the Environment", and the training we are collaborating on is now set to happen within the next month. I went to the store and bought four new books. Then I got invited to a friends house for a delicious home cooked meal tomorrow.

So lesson for today: a positive outlook is everything.

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity, an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty"~Winston Churchill

Today I re-found the wonderful opportunity I have been given here and it only took a change in outlook. 

Monday, July 16, 2012

My Love for Books

As a child I used to love to read, I would eat through books, staying up way past my bed time just to finish a good book. In grade school we used to get these book catalogs once a month, and I can still remember running home to my Mom to ask for pretty much everything in the catalog...and then the excitement that came when I finally had my new books. I used to sit on the floor in my room and alphabetize the books on my bookshelf, lovingly giving each one of them a place of honor. I know kind of weird, but I really did love reading. I loved the places these books took me, and the friends that they gave me. I never felt alone when I had a good book to turn to. 

But the further along I got in school the more and more reading became an obligation, an assignment, a task that I would rush through just so that I could move onto the next one. 
Especially this past year after reading literally hundreds of pages a week, I often felt too burnt out to read for pleasure. 

But I am happy to report that I have re-found my love for literature. Since being here I have finished four books. Whenever I start to feel lonely or bored I turn to a book, and instantly I feel comforted. As I  breeze through the pages I am transported to another person's life, another time, another place, and I feel at home. Like a good friend, reading has welcomed me back like no time has past. 
My only wish is that I would have brought more books to read.


Sunday, July 15, 2012

A Workaholic!

I have become a bit of a workaholic since getting here...well actually I was a bit of one back home too, but I have taken it to a whole new level recently. 
I have always been one of those people who would rather be busy then bored, and normally that means I commit myself to way to many clubs, organizations, projects, or whatever I can really...taking on more then is ALMOST manageable just so I am never bored. 

After three weeks I think I have finally gotten into the swing of things with my research and my work with Navsarjan, and it feels great. The fact is I came here to work, to learn, to get some experience in the field, and to help make a difference, and that is exactly what I am doing. I work six days a week like everyone else at Navsarjan and have Sundays off, usually. (Today I went with the lawyer to take more photos to document the pollution  case we are currently working on.)
 It feels good to be excited about the work you are doing, to feel as though you have a purpose, and like you are making a difference in the world. 
I just keep coming up with more programs, workshops, surveys, and research items I want to work on...it is kind of crazy...but a good crazy a passionate kind of crazy. 

This type of work is what I am truly passionate about. 
And I think to myself "how lucky am I to have discovered it at such a young age?!" 
This passion is going to take me many places in life, and I can't wait. 



Saturday, July 14, 2012

A Simple Reminder

Found this quote on Pinterest and it was to good not to share:

"Life's too short 
to be anything but happy. 
Kiss slowly, love deeply, 
forgive quickly, take chances, 
give everything, and leave 
with no regrets.
Forget the past with the 
exception 
of what you have
 learned from it, 
and remember
everything happens for a reason."

Yep...that about sums it up, I'd say.  

Friday, July 13, 2012

Meet Some of the Dalits

I realized that I have been writing a lot lately, but haven't posted any pictures in a while...So today's post is all about introducing you to some of the people I work with the photos I have taken. 
These photos were taken on a field visit to one of the poorest Dalit communities in all of Gujarat. We went because the Panchayat (village government) had caught off these people's access to the community water wells and they were being forced to drink polluted water. 
They were very sweet though and held a village meeting, that we were the honored guests at.










This girl was particularly cute, she followed me around the whole time, and kept pointing to things for me to take pictures of.