New York to New Delhi

My stomach usually figures out that I'm nervous before my mind does. My thoughts have been on smaller things -- buying a pocket knife, the weather in Helsinki for our 10 hour layover. But my stomach tells me that these next six weeks are something I have no way to prepare for.

I've been to India nine times now. I've been in the mountains and stood in sweaty lines at temples. But I've never slept in villages, tilled the soil of desi farms or spent hours with children that have swollen bellys from malnutrition. I've never stood in 108 degree heat if it was not in transition from house to shopping.

And while I've studied about corrupt Monsanto seeds and Gandhian philosophy in the air conditioned auditoriums of UF, the practice of something so simple yet intense is going to be much different. How will it feel when I see the weathered faces that result from greedy multinationals?

So here I go, with less luggage than I've ever traveled with and less sure-footedness than I'd like to admit. With two days of internet in five weeks and a cell phone that will only work sporadically, I will be connected in an entirely different way. Stay tuned.

India Intinerary

Ahmedabad, Gujarat

Introductions of participants and of the program. Introduction to ‘education’ in India. Introduction to ‘Gandhian’ thought. Experiencing the reality of the slums of Ahmedabad. Experiencing the ‘spirit’ of service being lived and feeling the power of relationships, love, and positive thought. Becoming inspired. We will be staying at the Environmental Sanitation Institute (ESI) campus.

Baroda, Gujarat

Agriculture and farmer issues in India. Organic farming. Potential of naturopathic treatment. We will be staying at the Vinoba Ashram where our meals will be provided. We will be staying at the Vinoba Ashram where our meals will be provided.

Sakad/Sendhawa, Madhya Pradesh

Exploring alternates in education. Create your own project. Active participation in farming, teaching, cooking, health treatment, etc. Experience of living in a village and exploring rural life. Adivasi (tribal) rights. Session with inspiring leaders pertaining to social justice issues and people's movements. Exploring various notions of development and progress. We will be working with and staying at Adharshila Learning Center

Melghat, Madhya Pradesh

Helping doctors fight malnutrition and disease during the monsoon season. Building toilets and running water system. Being introduced to a grassroots development organization. We will be working with and staying with Melghat Mitra

Delhi

Interactions with college counterparts involved in social work. Glimpse at social, environmental, and developmental concerns and inspirational work by people within their own communities. Experience of the reality of living on the streets. We will be staying at the International Youth Hostel where most of our meals will be provided as well. We will be working with the following organizations: Manzil, SWECHHA – We For Change, and Jamghat.

Ram Garth/Dehradun, Uttaranchal Pradesh at Bija Vidyapeeth Campus

In-depth look at farming issues in India through a series of workshops on India’s Green Revolution, farmer suicides, use of pesticides and fertilizers, the possibilities of organic farming and its benefits and environmentally sustainable living. Participation in organic farming, gardening, and composting. We will be staying at the Bija Vidyapeeth .

Kempty/Mussoorie, Uttaranchal at SIDH

Interactive sessions about decolonisation and Gandhi, and further exploration of the self, the other, society, nature and the inter-relations of each. Introduction to Jeevan Vidya philosophy. Supplementing this with exposure to village life and re-looking at the purpose of education. Exploration of our own sense of responsibility and contribution through daily, hands-on work (shramdaan). Tuning into our senses through activities such as rafting and trekking in nature. Holistic picture. We will be staying at the Society for Integrated Development of Himalayas (SIDH) campus, where most of our meals will be provided.

Delhi (August 1 – 3)

Debrief. Evaluation. Feedback. Planning for 'what next?' We will be staying at the Scholar’s House of Jamia University, where most of our meals will be provided.

9 to 5

As a part-part-time secretary, I have learned that my iPod must be charged to full in order to get through a day of shredding, filing, more filings, unexpected physical labor and other behind-the-scenes doctor office activities.

Nineties buzz ballads get me through the medical charts, and Thievery Corporation takes me from boxing Super Bills to filing insurance claims. I'm the only person in the office who dances at her desk, but I think the weary patients enjoy the weirdo temp girl as the leaf through Chemo Today and last years Time magazine.

Sometimes I turn the wheel left and tune in to the conversation of the other secretaries and office managers which usually consists of dieting woes, lunch orders and kid stories. Somebody's son is looking for an engagement ring, another is skipping school, and Amy's boyfriend is sending her Eminem music online. Everybody crowds around her desk to listen.

It's interesting to watch this schedule of waiting for Friday and moaning on Monday and getting drunk on Wednesday because it's in the middle. And by interesting I mean it motivates me to make sure it never becomes a reality for more than a couple of weeks in the summer.

In other the news, a weekend with Ashley and the beach and the pool and the sticky Floridian outdoors was delightful. It's nice that home base doubles as a vacation destination.

Seven more days and my backpack will be my office. I need to renew my Schengen Visa.