tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82012834682342887712024-03-05T02:34:46.445-08:00ITSA InternationalITSA International is an award winning, youth led organization that creates socially responsible youth leaders through critical thinking and social action helping students create their own community-based projects. ITSA teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04608565097391443554noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201283468234288771.post-63649101652477285372014-08-04T06:24:00.001-07:002014-08-04T06:24:18.653-07:00From ITSA House to Host Family: Experiencing a new side of Ahmedabad<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:DoNotOptimizeForBrowser/>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Cambria","serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">After
nearly 6 weeks of living together in the ITSA house, the thought of home-stays,
of separating from the house and each other, was daunting for some of the seven
ITSA interns. I was excited to be welcomed into someone else’s home and curious
about my home-stay family, but I was also nervous to leave the area we all knew
so much about—to say goodbye to the chai wallah on the corner who I buy tea
from each morning and to the little street-food shop down the street where we
buy midnight snacks, pav vada and veg puffs. More than anything, I was sad to
not be living with the other interns, who by now are an adopted family. The
thought of saying goodbye to our late night chats, our morning race for honey
cornflakes, our movie nights and Bollywood music sharing sessions, the thought
of moving out, was difficult. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Of
course my being nervous didn’t change the fact that, when Saturday rolled
around, the team was dropped off one by one at our respective host families.
The wonderful Hilary, an India team member, explained to my family my spice
requirements and the hours I’ll spend at the office, hugs abounded, and then I
was alone with my host family. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">It’s
different living in someone else’s home, rather than your own, but also
wonderful; the amazing home-cooked food (often way too much of it, the food is
too good to refuse!), experiencing new fun things (like playing Quarm for the
first time, which I was horrible at!), and, most of all, getting to be a part
of a new family. In trying to integrate myself into my host family’s lives and
world, I’ve learned so much about daily life in Ahmedabad that I hadn’t seen or
known before. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">My
family, for example, is Jain. Growing up loosely somewhat Christian, sort-of
Jewish, and mostly ethical humanist (check it out: </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethical_movement"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethical_movement</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">), I’ve never been seriously religious or
spiritual. Spending time with them, whether it be in the morning when my host
father does blessings around the house, in the evening when we go to temple, or
just seeing how hard they work to protect each creature (Jains are pure veg and
don’t kill any animal, including bugs), has allowed me to imagine a childhood
experience much different from my own. One where I grew up surrounded by
tangible religion, in as small a sense as incense burning in every store and as
large as the Hindu prayers done in schools. One where I grew up believing
wholly in that religion. One that is very different from the, often more
cultural than religious, reform Judaism (and other religions) I grew up around
in New York. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">It has
been really powerful for me to see and interact with the dynamics, on a
mechanical and personal level, and values of my host family, not just in order
to reflect on their positioning within Ahmedabad’s culture (i.e. how can this
family teach me about what it’s like to grow up and live in Ahmedabad?), but
also to examine my own upbringing. In speaking to my host family and host
student about every topic under the sun, I’ve noticed different forms of
cultural and familial indoctrination that I’ve been raised with, as well as
freedoms (or lack of indoctrination) I’ve received as part of my upbringing. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">So, even
if moving out was scary, even if saying goodbye to my chai wallah and street
food vendor was hard, and even if no longer living with the other interns is sad,
my home-stay experience has been really meaningful so far (as well as fun!).
Being truly immersed in the lives of a family, including sharing a room and going
to school one day with my host student, as well as eating meals with my host
family, has been challenging, thought-provoking, and, at the end of the day, a
chance to learn about myself and others in a personally powerful way. </span></div>
</div>
ITSA teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04608565097391443554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201283468234288771.post-42916420091478484382014-07-31T06:32:00.003-07:002014-07-31T06:32:44.283-07:00More than just a field trip<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]--><b id="docs-internal-guid-7af12713-8c7f-6303-53ea-b57397bcf8b2" style="font-weight: normal;"></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1xO-WbsEHL1IyShbHE_iIO9x9vO1px18aiG51P8TY1X-FDa2HdcJQy1GAB2nWedQlN1Hzqa6Dxy8PXzZrBYdJpEscIqai7gkz2e16K37fi_rmpQDE4jo1BPUjfLNAvQBU89KEUl5mgzxO/s1600/IMG_1121+edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1xO-WbsEHL1IyShbHE_iIO9x9vO1px18aiG51P8TY1X-FDa2HdcJQy1GAB2nWedQlN1Hzqa6Dxy8PXzZrBYdJpEscIqai7gkz2e16K37fi_rmpQDE4jo1BPUjfLNAvQBU89KEUl5mgzxO/s1600/IMG_1121+edit.jpg" height="368" width="400" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7af12713-8c7f-6303-53ea-b57397bcf8b2" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7af12713-8c7f-6303-53ea-b57397bcf8b2" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In our most recent workshop, we went on a field trip to the museum of conflict, better known as “The Conflictorium.” Their description reads as: </span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7af12713-8c7f-6303-53ea-b57397bcf8b2" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7af12713-8c7f-6303-53ea-b57397bcf8b2" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7af12713-8c7f-6303-53ea-b57397bcf8b2" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“The Conflictorium, Museum of Conflict is a space that invites people to participate, co-create, experiment, collaborate, study, read and engage in a process of meaning making.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><b> </b></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So come here to showcase or appreciate up-and-coming talents-musical, intellectual, artistic-or use this free spaces for any other activity that relates to the city or makes us grow as people…”</span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7af12713-8c7f-6303-53ea-b57397bcf8b2" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7af12713-8c7f-6303-53ea-b57397bcf8b2" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7af12713-8c7f-6303-53ea-b57397bcf8b2" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7af12713-8c7f-6303-53ea-b57397bcf8b2" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7af12713-8c7f-6303-53ea-b57397bcf8b2" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7af12713-8c7f-6303-53ea-b57397bcf8b2" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7af12713-8c7f-6303-53ea-b57397bcf8b2" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7af12713-8c7f-6303-53ea-b57397bcf8b2" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7af12713-8c7f-6303-53ea-b57397bcf8b2" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7af12713-8c7f-6303-53ea-b57397bcf8b2" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7af12713-8c7f-6303-53ea-b57397bcf8b2" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7af12713-8c7f-6303-53ea-b57397bcf8b2" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7af12713-8c7f-6303-53ea-b57397bcf8b2" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7af12713-8c7f-6303-53ea-b57397bcf8b2" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7af12713-8c7f-6303-53ea-b57397bcf8b2" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And they do a stupendous job of that. The museum tackles the issue of conflict by situating it within the context of Gujarat and its histories of resistance and struggles for social change. In doing so, they aims to replace the culture of silence omnipresent in Gujarat, with “conversation and constructive reasoning.”</span><b id="docs-internal-guid-7af12713-8c7f-6303-53ea-b57397bcf8b2" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7af12713-8c7f-6303-53ea-b57397bcf8b2" style="font-weight: normal;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-7af12713-8c7f-6303-53ea-b57397bcf8b2" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><b id="docs-internal-guid-7af12713-8c7f-6303-53ea-b57397bcf8b2" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The exhibits were obviously informed by extensive historical knowledge and research. Yet, instead of merely reciting “historical facts,” many of exhibits presented this information through non-conventional artistic methods. Just presenting the information differently spurred so much
dialogue amongst our field trip groups and forced us all to re-conceptualize matters that we had previously covered in our workshops. I can only speak for myself, but I feel as if the Conflictorium
successfully in meaning some of its aims. </span></b></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWx_czvvFz7agK7hQZhvLmQoGDjfMIIC_ndeqcqdoMy9k43eKgmQ6f4M1_L0QrEth9Q3DXBnHMp0vLT6JmTSklFjcELN_N7SMVonQkPpve2TLmo3iKw85JNXO7dKoL-0bD4LLCe3Pj9J8/s1600/IMG_1188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWx_czvvFz7agK7hQZhvLmQoGDjfMIIC_ndeqcqdoMy9k43eKgmQ6f4M1_L0QrEth9Q3DXBnHMp0vLT6JmTSklFjcELN_N7SMVonQkPpve2TLmo3iKw85JNXO7dKoL-0bD4LLCe3Pj9J8/s1600/IMG_1188.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7af12713-8c7f-6303-53ea-b57397bcf8b2" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7af12713-8c7f-6303-53ea-b57397bcf8b2" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Managing the trip once we arrived was somewhat messy due to unforeseen changes in the exhibits. Despite this, these mix ups became a small detail in comparison to the fun we had throughout this trip. It was a wonderful change of pace from our typical workshop format and a more drastic change from the structure of classroom in participants’ schools. Of the students i spoke with, all of them expressed excitement and enthusiasm about our trip. In light of it all, I would gladly organize another trip to this museum.</span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA33q6dXmtWygoavrYhcLXR7zh2FkorMak0wykdQ4vPzKLCQ4ASBSBaIsO_h5odT9VCP8-Lx8O9YjlA_MiKyUSttkXOW8Us7-xKJ_EOAfA0WqB69AEqErR_WIRlGcOn2j-hwMCdv6x8_q4/s1600/IMG_1120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA33q6dXmtWygoavrYhcLXR7zh2FkorMak0wykdQ4vPzKLCQ4ASBSBaIsO_h5odT9VCP8-Lx8O9YjlA_MiKyUSttkXOW8Us7-xKJ_EOAfA0WqB69AEqErR_WIRlGcOn2j-hwMCdv6x8_q4/s1600/IMG_1120.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-x-EE1Rjpx94%2FU9pCeVPJZhI%2FAAAAAAAAARE%2FUnHBZxDc7vs%2Fs1600%2FIMG_1188.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWx_czvvFz7agK7hQZhvLmQoGDjfMIIC_ndeqcqdoMy9k43eKgmQ6f4M1_L0QrEth9Q3DXBnHMp0vLT6JmTSklFjcELN_N7SMVonQkPpve2TLmo3iKw85JNXO7dKoL-0bD4LLCe3Pj9J8/s1600/IMG_1188.JPG" -->ITSA teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04608565097391443554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201283468234288771.post-48964230792315192952014-07-25T00:09:00.002-07:002014-07-25T00:09:43.443-07:00Beyond Black and White: Seeing Education in a New Light<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:DoNotOptimizeForBrowser/>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !supportAnnotations]--><!--[endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Cambria","serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh4TsDr8EZb0FdztbWeWoTAGPQQtqqDL-GMMVCTysGESo9Ddgmya24RMTBg0PYUSUSHOleDapYZXsfoq9qDDUULHOn0BWdgCMIvyUVvl8J5KITBC4pj1GnZYcsHcVxzS8w_nHhF7TR_CS-/s1600/DSC_0939+edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh4TsDr8EZb0FdztbWeWoTAGPQQtqqDL-GMMVCTysGESo9Ddgmya24RMTBg0PYUSUSHOleDapYZXsfoq9qDDUULHOn0BWdgCMIvyUVvl8J5KITBC4pj1GnZYcsHcVxzS8w_nHhF7TR_CS-/s1600/DSC_0939+edit.jpg" height="196" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">“But
what is the right answer?” a workshop participant asked me. We were having a
small-group discussion on possible ways to socio-economically uplift <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="mso-comment-date: 20140724T1714; mso-comment-reference: GM_1;">Dalit women</a></span><span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: comment;">, </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">who are considered to be untouchable in the Indian caste system. A year back,
I probably would have chosen the ‘best’ answer that had been offered during the
discussion and urged students to think about why it was right. And if I were
participating in the workshop, I might just have asked that question too. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">But
there needn’t always be the<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>right
answer, especially in the classroom. It took my first year at Swarthmore and my
time at ITSA to realize this. At Swarthmore, my courses challenged me to think
in new ways, although it was not until ITSA that I became</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"> more aware of how my college experience has changed my expectations and assumptions about classroom
discussions, activities, questions, and more. My interactions with workshop
participants have not only been revealing my expectations, but also reflective
of their origins. This has helped me understand how I have evolved as student
and how I can improve my facilitation skills during ITSA workshops. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">I
studied in a school that followed <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="mso-comment-date: 20140724T1717; mso-comment-reference: GM_3;">a similar curriculum to the ITSA workshop participants, the CBSE</a></span><span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"><a class="msocomanchor" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8201283468234288771#_msocom_3" id="_anchor_3" name="_msoanchor_3"></a><span style="mso-special-character: comment;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"> Indian curriculum Although the CBSE demanded a lot of hard work, it did not necessitate students
to critically engage with the syllabi to thrive academically. The need to know
what is “right,” and perhaps more importantly, to be able to exclude what is
not “right” is something I can easily relate to. Right. Wrong. Black. White.
That’s not how social issues spring up. That’s not how they are solved. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">I
had known that one of the reasons ITSA had been founded was because of the lack
of emphasis on critical thinking skills in most Indian classrooms. It was only
in the past few weeks that I understood this reason. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
ITSA teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04608565097391443554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201283468234288771.post-52351382766804935932014-07-20T00:37:00.004-07:002014-07-20T00:47:39.180-07:00Old Habits Die Hard: The Stubborn Specter of Traditional Education<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCS3uvI2TmdY6qaULXaUfl2bnOvjxVYQDUk92SCtFpqhyphenhyphenqJd-AJTINi-kOZukFK0nmu_NereEcr12vsIoM8OkP4mOfC-fg1rOTUwPn_TOgOIc4-14rEe2hv4LdKNsOATSQQyFDOX9JMPbQ/s1600/20140705_20+edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCS3uvI2TmdY6qaULXaUfl2bnOvjxVYQDUk92SCtFpqhyphenhyphenqJd-AJTINi-kOZukFK0nmu_NereEcr12vsIoM8OkP4mOfC-fg1rOTUwPn_TOgOIc4-14rEe2hv4LdKNsOATSQQyFDOX9JMPbQ/s1600/20140705_20+edit.jpg" height="190" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">There’s a reason this organization is called ITSA and not SAIT, and it’s more than just verbal aesthetics. It is no coincidence that “independent thought” comes before “social action." Whatever social action we try to inspire and foster in our workshop participants is subordinate to independent thought. When we talk about “igniting the flame of social change,” there is no question that that flame is located squarely in the human mind. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-size: small;">And in our experience, the best way to foster independent thought is through an egalitarian classroom environment. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-size: small;">We create this environment in many ways – student-generated safe space rules, equitable facilitation, flexible and tailored curricula. The most salient of these, however, is the physical arrangement of the classroom. At ITSA, we recognize that the battle (for lack of a better word) between traditional and progressive education is fought largely over the physicality of the classroom. Indeed, the physical classroom environment has, in many ways, been the line along which the traditional/progressive split has occurred. As far back as 1938, John Dewey warned that “the fixed arrangements of the typical traditional schoolroom […] put a great restriction upon intellectual and moral freedom.” </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Realizing the correspondence between mental and physical states is what prompts us to discard the traditional schoolroom in favor of the discussion circle. So great is our aversion to traditional schooling that even the chair, an otherwise harmless piece of furniture, is discarded. Our workshops occur largely on the floor – not out of some misguided radicalism, but simply because the pull of years of traditional education is so strong that we must differentiate ourselves from it as fully as practically possible. Only this way can truly new ways of thought occur in both us and the participants. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-size: small;">You might think that one or two workshops conducted in this way might be enough to shake off the reflexive impulse to fall back into traditional modes of schooling and learning. But experience has shown otherwise – most starkly during our July 18 workshop. We had just conducted an activity that required chairs – one of very few such activities, and were having a discussion afterwards. The activity itself had gone very well – students had had productive group discussions and, as always, raised some very good points. For the discussion, we thought it would be too cumbersome to go back to our circle just to make a few comments, so we stayed in the arrangement we had been in during the activity. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-size: small;">As it happened by the end of the activity most of the chairs were turned in the direction of the board, where a workshop leader was writing down what students were saying. It seems that his superficial resemblance to the traditional classroom was enough to re-ignite the habits of traditional learning in full force. We began our discussion, and students did something they had never done before – they stood up to speak, they faced and spoke to the “teacher," often even when responding to points others had made. It was but a short discussion, and we soon switched back to the circular arrangement, but it was a stark reminder of the mammoth deterministic power of the physical classroom. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-size: small;">A few unfortunately arranged chairs, a workshop leader, and a board had threatened the fundamental structure of the ITSA classroom. </span></div>
</div>
ITSA teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04608565097391443554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201283468234288771.post-74275051899151100962014-07-16T08:01:00.000-07:002014-07-16T08:01:11.907-07:00Confronting Social Mores, One Stereotype at a Time<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Being in Ahmedabad with ITSA has certainly caused me to think more
critically about how I perceive others based on social cues. Although much of
this thought has occurred in adjusting to city life here, the “Stereotype-Rank
Game” used in the ITSA workshop curriculum, helped me to further reflect on
these interactions.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
To play, participants are given a post-it note with a certain occupation
on it – for example, male lawyer, female adult beggar, secondary school
student, ITSA intern, etc. Although participants can see the post it notes on
others’ heads labeling what social group others belong to, they cannot see what
occupation is stuck on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">their</i>
forehead. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_PdeCs5ebhyFVN2f6yupt-KFk762TXXcYkDs63dgHUn0692_dlvNH4S63QgfQxlRytXjyuiwGvrrZ-PQoMFkT-vrk-6Eh36ecb37HNaQuuv5aoJ2uNbEsADl6ROIlZ1FIi-S3oW-sH1S1/s1600/20140710_10+edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_PdeCs5ebhyFVN2f6yupt-KFk762TXXcYkDs63dgHUn0692_dlvNH4S63QgfQxlRytXjyuiwGvrrZ-PQoMFkT-vrk-6Eh36ecb37HNaQuuv5aoJ2uNbEsADl6ROIlZ1FIi-S3oW-sH1S1/s1600/20140710_10+edit.jpg" height="219" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Participants are thus asked to guess what label is on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">their </i>forehead through noticing how
others treat them when engaging in conversation.</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZrslGRqQqPkWZJqpNqz6g1PqZN6BGK_FxlkfCOGfhevTyjdCmKuB-wjri1B6fQlqCISVhwAbbAmCDa5FQMtFX3ddIAE1Dk1e9Z3ro3U8y-LRbLIhGvbSsb8XSouU7uuObDqi-68QdiscT/s1600/20140710_8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZrslGRqQqPkWZJqpNqz6g1PqZN6BGK_FxlkfCOGfhevTyjdCmKuB-wjri1B6fQlqCISVhwAbbAmCDa5FQMtFX3ddIAE1Dk1e9Z3ro3U8y-LRbLIhGvbSsb8XSouU7uuObDqi-68QdiscT/s1600/20140710_8.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The activity ends by having participants try to sit in a circle and
guess the label on the post it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbI1mciolijHRvPZr7h1VfJgxpJck1DzyTagg2UJmk1uqaPDvy5aHa_VbnuEY_HCLTj72Bj3t5gKVzLkxZkixXW8AbcvAfAvLmuRulMF44DwIG2LzE7J-jB9gRWxo-sHHWxT5cf_Y1Kq4l/s1600/20140710_16+edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbI1mciolijHRvPZr7h1VfJgxpJck1DzyTagg2UJmk1uqaPDvy5aHa_VbnuEY_HCLTj72Bj3t5gKVzLkxZkixXW8AbcvAfAvLmuRulMF44DwIG2LzE7J-jB9gRWxo-sHHWxT5cf_Y1Kq4l/s1600/20140710_16+edit.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Ultimately, participants make a chart of how much power each individual
from a social category carries. For instance, students ranked that a school
principal possessed more power than a vegetable seller.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZo93_rXvsqmk8OqpPWH9QUvwH7yhUEuBEVtGjiC9TR9CgfeY_azCSgCdpdarYsk8tMzqHAzQ1uAnw8erMrwQIEQMvc-mGCtUVJhQqfri23ERxB9v5wW7y_Ui_GGpiBkTw8vWvo6349Qq/s1600/20140710_23+edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZo93_rXvsqmk8OqpPWH9QUvwH7yhUEuBEVtGjiC9TR9CgfeY_azCSgCdpdarYsk8tMzqHAzQ1uAnw8erMrwQIEQMvc-mGCtUVJhQqfri23ERxB9v5wW7y_Ui_GGpiBkTw8vWvo6349Qq/s1600/20140710_23+edit.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
It’s interesting because both times that I saw individuals play these
games – the workshop facilitators played it while preparing for the workshop,
and the secondary school students played in the workshop -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was striking because it drew attention to
just how many social cues others provide in order to identify how they should
treat others. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I noticed that when both workshop participants and the ITSA interns had
an easy time identifying what occupation they were, but <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">how </i>they discovered this information varied. Despite the
differences in upbringing of the Indian workshop attendees and foreign interns,
their interactions took on a similar character. For instance, individuals who
were beggars in this activity discovered this information because of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">body language</i> of others, such as when
others in the activity would not make eye contact with them. On the other hand,
individuals playing roles such as school principal inferred the occupation on
their sticky-note through <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">verbal </i>cues.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Watching the interns and workshop attendees play this game proved to be
a timely reminder in thinking about how social inequities are reproduced through
daily interactions. Inequities do not just exist through material means, such
as through differences in access to health or housing, but also within
interpersonal interactions. Words become a special form of currency reserved
for those deemed powerful enough to provide a response; principals may fall
into this category, while beggars do not. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Although the activity is known as the “Stereotype-Rank Game,” it
touches uncomfortably close to the unspoken assumptions underlying everyday life. </div>
</div>
ITSA teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04608565097391443554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201283468234288771.post-76603661100745319092013-08-04T05:24:00.001-07:002013-08-04T05:24:29.826-07:00Closing Ceremony<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Today was the closing ceremony of the ITSA workshops 2013!<br />
<br />
I just have to say that I am so incredibly proud of all the young people who presented their newly funded projects today. It is truly amazing how you have chosen specific issues, and are really dedicated to solving those issues.<br />
<br />
Our grant winners have some really intuitive and helpful projects. A medical camp for slum communities; helping people obtain their birth certificates; holding ITSA-like workshops dedicated to women's equality and empowerment. These projects are a true reflection and continuation of what the ITSA workshops have been aiming to do the entire month of July. Inspire the children to take problems into their own hands!<br />
<br />
All of our mentors and families of the ITSApreneurs were also in attendance. I'm sure the kids were very happy to present the fruits of their hard labor to them as well.<br />
<br />
Everyone was so nice and thankful, it was amazing! I really feel like there is a true ITSA community in Ahmedabad. Especially now that projects are being continued after the summer, I hope that ITSA kids will keep in touch after the workshops end.<br />
<br />
And finally, a huge thanks to Riana and Phil for being the reason that ITSA is still alive and well today! </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201283468234288771.post-38167256712196114942013-08-02T11:17:00.000-07:002013-08-02T11:17:06.254-07:00Project Symposium<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Today was the ITSA 2013 Project Symposium!<br />
<br />
Over the course of the workshops, students have been encouraged to think about which social issues they are interested in. Then, they have to think about a project that they can implement in their community to help fix this issue. These project proposal is what the ITSA workshops are all about.<br />
However, this year, there is an exciting twist!<br />
<br />
ITSA has been awarded grant money to give to students to help implement their projects. So, students can apply to have their projects funded, and if they are, their projects WILL be implemented! Everyone is really excited about this new aspect of ITSA, because we do want to make change, in whatever communities that we can.<br />
<br />
For the Project Symposium, we mixed kids from different workshops, so that they could hear what other kids have planned.<br />
<br />
I have to say, I was <i>very </i>impressed by the presentations that were given! All of the students were very well spoken. Even those who were normally very quiet stepped up to the task, and gave coherent presentations. The topics that I got to see were on the topics of healthcare, gender equality, child labor, and education.<br />
<br />
I am sad that I was only able to sit in on one class of project presentations, I wish I had been able to see all of them!<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201283468234288771.post-77405428211503469582013-08-01T03:10:00.000-07:002013-08-01T03:10:09.467-07:00Rajkot<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
For a few days, the ITSA team is going to Rajkot! We had an intensive two day workshop series at the The Galaxy Education System (TGES). After a very eventful, yet
comfortable, sleeper bus ride, we finally made it to Rajkot. We had prepared everything
for the days to come. But first it was Isabel’s 21<sup>st</sup> birthday! So we
had to have a midnight celebration with cake, naturally. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next day, we were ready to go. We got to the school, and
began the workshops with activites and discussions that are now ITSA classics,
pointing out power and wealth inequality, as well as the costs of development.
It was great to see the same activities that we had been doing for weeks worked
just as well with kids from different cities, and ones who hadn’t necessarily
chosen to be there. All of the kids were very involved in the discussions we
had. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjru674LiUHF6tPmvFriahGyzmnPAE6IeNV2GGn6zRTT6yKDFMkASp6QPsXAXz92LAI4SlnjM7F4XtOB5uYfCdegC9MPgdZFtDP4wDhzzue5BNHfalUJn7jBLG3ouIYrj3LcVyPo_kPgkw/s1600/DSC_0091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjru674LiUHF6tPmvFriahGyzmnPAE6IeNV2GGn6zRTT6yKDFMkASp6QPsXAXz92LAI4SlnjM7F4XtOB5uYfCdegC9MPgdZFtDP4wDhzzue5BNHfalUJn7jBLG3ouIYrj3LcVyPo_kPgkw/s320/DSC_0091.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1SQ7CQd9aKmW8n8Wou0QdYgLzJwt7e8njnXZd8uXSqXGsgdCY-yyha2ohl8nJngnBfGoUb5Fh1ePGQbOviAVCLTFcb7xTI8GLw_mhbF1_lSCScudfacXloxwGm-vJv8tjPKH27AOEnNU/s1600/DSC_0071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1SQ7CQd9aKmW8n8Wou0QdYgLzJwt7e8njnXZd8uXSqXGsgdCY-yyha2ohl8nJngnBfGoUb5Fh1ePGQbOviAVCLTFcb7xTI8GLw_mhbF1_lSCScudfacXloxwGm-vJv8tjPKH27AOEnNU/s320/DSC_0071.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next day, we took a field trip! It took us a bit to get
there, but once we reached it, it was so worth it. <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Vishvanidam</span> is a place where children from slum
communities can go to get help with going to school. It is a warm supportive
environment for the children to be in. It also acts as an orphanage to children
who don’t have anyone to look after them. I was with the girls, who talked to
the girls at the Vishwanigam. Personally, when I was in ninth grade, I would
have been really awkward and shy, being thrown into a situation where I had to
talk to kids my age that I didn’t know. But the TGES girls had no qualms about
anything. They began with singing songs, and dancing with the girls from
Vishvanidam. It was a great way to break the ice with them. After that, they
got to asking more important questions, like which subjects they thought they
needed help in. By the end of the trip, the TGES girls were planning to go back
in a couple of weeks for Friendship Day, with Chinese food, music, and
speakers. It was great to meet students that are so self-motivated. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was great to feel like ITSA is spreading outside of the
city of Ahmedabad, even if only to a city a few hours drive away. </div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201283468234288771.post-67572878265483575792013-07-29T01:04:00.000-07:002013-07-29T01:04:33.635-07:00Mural Painting!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here are some pictures from Sunday, when all the ITSApreneurs painted their murals! We had one mural dedicated to gender equality, the environment, human rights, and economic inequality. They all turned out beautifully!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPjsNUy7a83IVnvQGySsmozWzztAPqziY0wP99RYURsobf_gab3_ATWTTc7bxCNFfMiPBAPZGruUeNIyUG41ddDTOleTAQNTmEJ35OzLiWMXKT3whrLYfJYfJnLqM2Tmny4Nk3ZvqWfrg/s1600/DSC_0153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPjsNUy7a83IVnvQGySsmozWzztAPqziY0wP99RYURsobf_gab3_ATWTTc7bxCNFfMiPBAPZGruUeNIyUG41ddDTOleTAQNTmEJ35OzLiWMXKT3whrLYfJYfJnLqM2Tmny4Nk3ZvqWfrg/s320/DSC_0153.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDMkRb4eDZcTWLFfVMOqq-zvjmh-pJuX4yji5ZUw_eakeXzWqL2aEHjCBMmHvmWB-RT0tAxW4ueBVK8KQmVSzUeZb544JJ0PQdsu0yiWX4QqTE0lyV1EyLgCGTu0stkomCzzMcqmU0Fq4/s1600/DSC_0144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDMkRb4eDZcTWLFfVMOqq-zvjmh-pJuX4yji5ZUw_eakeXzWqL2aEHjCBMmHvmWB-RT0tAxW4ueBVK8KQmVSzUeZb544JJ0PQdsu0yiWX4QqTE0lyV1EyLgCGTu0stkomCzzMcqmU0Fq4/s320/DSC_0144.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-EThC9je5LAyDbBWx_gQIEUWs9Wcw_CVlFxws8U2IjUaQL9ZFiHPfnNw5Oq14EPlmN1ve5PDLT07HhSDgqHZikpwRK6gmrmy6sA3QMX3zXgjdw73eOR53TjcVplPqtStNY2EEH5RjYEU/s1600/DSC_0217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-EThC9je5LAyDbBWx_gQIEUWs9Wcw_CVlFxws8U2IjUaQL9ZFiHPfnNw5Oq14EPlmN1ve5PDLT07HhSDgqHZikpwRK6gmrmy6sA3QMX3zXgjdw73eOR53TjcVplPqtStNY2EEH5RjYEU/s320/DSC_0217.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHr-h8ROAD1KGWdLeJZ6-HTrSzdD48Mqd1afYUDsrkw-v4tEVXo3oGI3zPU43u5svDLZ8aGfKxb-dYzHmW6xlZ2vjVzS2-pGLBcsJWTgFL35EsCNwbjj_o2cXpBG1q6_fqdblYYLpYOw/s1600/DSC_0212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHr-h8ROAD1KGWdLeJZ6-HTrSzdD48Mqd1afYUDsrkw-v4tEVXo3oGI3zPU43u5svDLZ8aGfKxb-dYzHmW6xlZ2vjVzS2-pGLBcsJWTgFL35EsCNwbjj_o2cXpBG1q6_fqdblYYLpYOw/s320/DSC_0212.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201283468234288771.post-25283728792566442342013-07-21T01:49:00.002-07:002013-07-21T01:49:21.728-07:00Saturday Event--Development in Gujarat<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
ITSA hosted its second Speak Off this Saturday. We didn’t
have a guest lecturer this week, and we still had a great discussion. There
were no shortages of opinions. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqqLD4E2ijSrkdkRuZhPx-W1qjoE1O1HUHbpyXKcFn9ZQ-26TByMVQPwkZO-C68lKxx2qBZGlPK9jRtLUIPpY-mN9GhSln0PJvCwhpUprfM4oj14YO9O_rRZTuLecOjW83eff3ShNUI8/s1600/DSC_0286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqqLD4E2ijSrkdkRuZhPx-W1qjoE1O1HUHbpyXKcFn9ZQ-26TByMVQPwkZO-C68lKxx2qBZGlPK9jRtLUIPpY-mN9GhSln0PJvCwhpUprfM4oj14YO9O_rRZTuLecOjW83eff3ShNUI8/s320/DSC_0286.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There
was a good point brought up about balance in development. There has to be a
balance between the old and the new, the urban and rural, the social and
economic development. If there is too much of one without the other, the development is not going to be sustainable. In the context of Gujarat, and Ahmedabad specifically, the
consensus was that there is too much economic development, and not enough
social development. We hadn’t really talked about social development before,
even though it is especially relevant to an NGO like ITSA. The balance is
needed in development if it aims to be sustainable.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>At
one point, a comparison between India’s development and America’s development
arose. America is a young country, and in less than 400 years has become a
completely developed country. I think that there is an interesting comparison
to be made, in terms of how we developed so quickly, but it was also much
easier to develop America because it was a completely new country. India has a
culture that is thousands of years old, and traditions surrounding that. I
think it is much more difficult to Westernize a country that so clearly has
it’s own unique history. India has to figure out how to balance their beautiful
ancient culture with a newer, more modern culture. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Now
that the economy is globalized, India wants a piece of it. But while trying to
catch up with more developed countries, there is a disconnect between the
resources that India gives away, and those which it keeps. The downfall of a
globalized economy is that countries, especially the US, are no longer able to
sustain itself solely on American products, everything is imported. India has
resources that are exported to other countries that depend on them, while India
is also trying to sustain a huge population. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Personally,
I have never talked that much about development, I have never taken a class on
it or anything like that. Growing up in New York City, real development doesn’t
really happen, only gentrification. But India is literally building up around
us, with huge buildings suddenly appearing. On our road, there are multiple
construction sites where we have watched buildings rise floor by floor. Development
has to be more than just buildings. It has to involve the whole community, and
include those from all social strata. </div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201283468234288771.post-66646284184889932102013-07-17T01:48:00.001-07:002013-07-17T01:48:17.558-07:00Temples & Wells<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The ITSA interns took a tour of some sights around
Ahmedabad; we went to the Sun Temple, the Step wells, a replica of a famous temple, and
the Gurudwara. It was amazing to think of how old all the landmarks are. India
is one of the oldest cultures in the world, yet I know so little about it. I
need to learn more!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There were some beautiful carvings in and around the temple,
depicting various scenes. I find it fascinating that there are over 3 million
gods in Hinduism, and that the same 3 million gods are still a part of the
Hinduism today. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnnrH-OJg0je_aYmspk6tPWA2n9VRr_2ngqPCEL81akLQvw_0zAKyPsjWd8hdv3DU1c2mPpvtYCAEN5FvWgdTIhVOhpjNLlwPkqYoY1jO8nde7yDNKcD-9IfOY0sNx6N8o0lxpyTadJMk/s1600/DSC_0019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnnrH-OJg0je_aYmspk6tPWA2n9VRr_2ngqPCEL81akLQvw_0zAKyPsjWd8hdv3DU1c2mPpvtYCAEN5FvWgdTIhVOhpjNLlwPkqYoY1jO8nde7yDNKcD-9IfOY0sNx6N8o0lxpyTadJMk/s320/DSC_0019.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOtZxNNGYGf2FktCIUE9EsSaSpi1xsKSWUO56HKnzaz5SfcP2B_6V8zAEJP-hUWLxcqcBY930-nrYxq3AY0G02zFx2Jk13qu4SYPGriE03hP53yA00UcyOuYoyfcObywi4Evc9jtxNnic/s1600/DSC_0023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOtZxNNGYGf2FktCIUE9EsSaSpi1xsKSWUO56HKnzaz5SfcP2B_6V8zAEJP-hUWLxcqcBY930-nrYxq3AY0G02zFx2Jk13qu4SYPGriE03hP53yA00UcyOuYoyfcObywi4Evc9jtxNnic/s320/DSC_0023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2UusL_5KGfMCtE9a091hrzfRHK-JCpXDTasHJtiK66QWRpIUNOjG4ijWhmv-DYqQcKxI32sxIwQHMG3k2n-HY-hSgNwHeSBKpfch25HqUxzbBN8CHbjsRt04YjTdtkdBA0G0M1Si8s7Q/s1600/DSC_0032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2UusL_5KGfMCtE9a091hrzfRHK-JCpXDTasHJtiK66QWRpIUNOjG4ijWhmv-DYqQcKxI32sxIwQHMG3k2n-HY-hSgNwHeSBKpfch25HqUxzbBN8CHbjsRt04YjTdtkdBA0G0M1Si8s7Q/s320/DSC_0032.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think that of all the places that we saw<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that day, The Sun Temple was my
favorite. It still amazes me that something that old could exist, but kind of
in the middle of nowhere. It is centuries older than the entirety of the United
States! It puts history into a very different perspective. To see how much has
changed from the original culture in India, while in America is seems like it
is stuck in the past sometimes. Some of the carved scenes showed how revered
women were in Hinduism, because they were the ones who birthed the children.
Now, India is known for being dangerous for women. Where did that change
happen? I guess that if a culture is around for a long time, there is more room
for it to change. Change is necessary, but how does a culture become more
conservative than how it started out?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Step Wells were also very beautiful. It was not what I
was expected. I thought there would just be a few wells, with a simple temple
around it. I did not think that the temples would be built <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">down</i> into the ground. They are five stories deep!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuKKsM8Y8z7pIVjo0hAbDRrc9efDJ9_a5HhRsCivYSH-G9zft3qMVleAnWGILftFGgG8GuG8K_FFvZeCTTeEiz60NhbDa7Y-sjthPARE1Xpb7kVNNvMzCcxvnsZTJWPkBgICl8PohXKlY/s1600/DSC_0055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuKKsM8Y8z7pIVjo0hAbDRrc9efDJ9_a5HhRsCivYSH-G9zft3qMVleAnWGILftFGgG8GuG8K_FFvZeCTTeEiz60NhbDa7Y-sjthPARE1Xpb7kVNNvMzCcxvnsZTJWPkBgICl8PohXKlY/s320/DSC_0055.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We didn’t have a tour guide for the Step Wells, so I had to
do my own research when I got back to the ITSA flat. I found that even though
the wells are very beautiful, they were used for somewhat ordinary purposes.
People went there to bathe, drink, and wash clothes; they also held rituals
there. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is also a legend attached to the Stepwells. A Hindu
king, Rana Veer Singh, was attacked, and killed by a Muslim king, Mohammed
Begda. The Muslim king took over his territory. He wanted to marry the Hindu
king’s beautiful wife, Rani Roopba, so he proposed. She agreed to marry him,
but only if he would finish building the Stepwell. He agreed, and finished it.
He reminded the queen of her promise, but because Rani considered her goal
completed, which was to finish her husband’s Stepwell, she drowned herself in
the well. Tragic, like all legends seem to be. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After this, we went back home and even fit in some work later in the day. Workshops are still being made, we can't believe that there are only 2 weeks left of workshops! </div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201283468234288771.post-25123085384458840122013-07-11T05:23:00.000-07:002013-07-11T05:23:36.724-07:00Exploring Ahmedabad<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
On our day off, the interns decided to explore the city of
Ahmedabad a little bit more. There are so many malls in Ahmedabad! And while it
can be interesting to spend time in a foreign mall, we were a bit tired of them.
We wanted to see the real Ahmedabad. A new addition to the ITSA library, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">101 Ways to Experience Ahmedabad</span></i>, gave us some good ideas on
where to go and what to do. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First, we started off at <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><a href="http://www.hansiba.in/" target="_blank">Hansiba</a></span>, the SEWA Co-op Shop. The shop was named
after the oldest SEWA artisan. Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) is an organization
based in Ahmedabad, which has helped women from surrounding districts get their
wares sold. The store was filled with so many beautiful things! The pillow
cases, the figurines, scarves, and clothes. It was hard to choose only a few
things to buy for gifts! Sixty five percent of the profits of the store go to
supporting the artists who made the artwork. We were all glad that we could
positively contribute back to the artists. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next stop was <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><a href="http://gramshree.org/" target="_blank">Gramshree</a></span>, which we found all on our own! It was within walking
distance, so we decided go for it. For those who don’t know, Ahmedabad is not a
pedestrian city. Most of our transportation takes place in auto-rickshaws. Also,
addresses are pretty difficult to find when you don’t know where you are going.
There is no numbered system like in the States, and most addresses consist of
nearby landmarks, like “near ISCON mall” and that’s it. Once you get to the
landmark, you have to find the destination on your own. The address that we
were trying to find was 4<sup>th</sup> floor, Shopper’s Plaza, opposite
Municipial Market, Vastrapur. But we found it, with the help of some people
along the way. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once we got there, we were pleasantly surprised again! It
was a lovely store, with some really beautiful clothing. All of the profits
went to Gramshee, which is a non-profit organization aiming to empower rural
and slum dwelling women. , After the store, we went to a Havmur, right across
the street. Most of us got to taste yet another Havmur flavor, Litchee
Strawberry! We are on our way to tasting all of the flavors! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All in all, it
was a great shopping day, with all of our money going towards good causes. </div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201283468234288771.post-47298198829725696342013-07-09T01:29:00.000-07:002013-07-09T01:29:14.462-07:00Opening Ceremony!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few days ago, it was the opening ceremony! It was so
amazing, it was such a great turnout! In the end, we had over 100 students
combined in all of the workshops! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First, we started with everyone signing in, and receiving a
folder with two worksheets, a notebook, and a pen. Then the parents and the
students were separated into two different groups, with the parents going to
the auditorium, and the kids beginning their first ITSA workshops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 88.0pt;">
While the parents were listening to
a great speech that Riana gave, the new ITSApreneurs were getting to know each
other in their workshop groups. There are three groups; Sustainable
Development, Economic Inequality, and Intersectionality & Access. They did
various activities that introduced them to certain social issues, and allowed
the workshop leaders to see which topics concerned the students the most. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 88.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 88.0pt;">
There was a great speaker at the
parent’s presentation, David <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Udry</span>.
He is the principal of the first school that ITSA ever worked with. He said some really great things
about how ITSA teaches the 4 things that are crucial to education—critical
thinking, creativity, community, and communication. I completely agree with
him; those aspects are intertwined with ITSA’s core curriculum. He gave a great
talk, and was clearly very excited that ITSA was still alive and running. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 88.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 88.0pt;">
After the parent’s presentation, I
was able to go in and sit in on a couple of the workshops that were happening.
While the classrooms were pretty packed, it was great to see that so many students
were interested in what ITSA has to offer. In some of the small group
discussions that I heard, even when there wasn’t a facilitator nearby, the
students were still avidly discussing problems and possible solutions. I think
that’s the most accurate measure of how attentive students are!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 88.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 88.0pt;">
After the workshops, all the
students came together in the amphitheater of Anand Niketan Satellite, which is
a beautiful campus. We took group and class photos, which all turned out great!
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 88.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrPVBiqLssJDfuyjtMqS1C5RuVTuQLEUpoaQeQvvAvp7U_isO5gRipBQaedm2JiJ_SFlgR7IepIjr7no4n_S6dWJwb6t8i7NxtVhKdB7h9kazgiTXeRY3531uIOU5M4h0JEq9jKhETr4/s1600/DSC_0171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrPVBiqLssJDfuyjtMqS1C5RuVTuQLEUpoaQeQvvAvp7U_isO5gRipBQaedm2JiJ_SFlgR7IepIjr7no4n_S6dWJwb6t8i7NxtVhKdB7h9kazgiTXeRY3531uIOU5M4h0JEq9jKhETr4/s320/DSC_0171.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 88.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 88.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 88.0pt;">
This year is going to be so great!
Welcome to the ITSA family everyone!</div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201283468234288771.post-54983980639904308552013-07-03T23:40:00.001-07:002013-07-03T23:40:32.723-07:00Rain & Cricket<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s RAINING!! Finally!!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For the first time in two weeks, the rain is coming down.
Last night, at around 10:30, when all the interns were just sitting around in
their pajamas, we heard the pitter patter on the roof. We ran outside to
celebrate!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was so freeing to be out in the rain, to just feel it on
my face. It rarely rains like this in the city, with the rain just pouring down
for more than a few hours. My favorite kind of rain is the summer rain. We were
all a bit stir crazy from being inside all day, and working on curriculum. I
think all the other interns felt the same. We had a little dance party outside,
to let off some steam. It’s been crazy hot here, and pretty dusty. Now that the
rain has come, things can cool off, and the air can be clearer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We also played our first cricket game! Shuklaji, the
security guard at Anand Niketan Bodakdev, taught us to play! There is a pretty
big language barrier between Shuklaji and us. He speaks very little English,
and we speak barely any Hindi. But with the help of Apurva, we were able to
learn! Highlights of the game include three 6 hits in a row, and Shuklaji
hitting the ball all the way over the school building. We were all laughing at
Shukalji’s antics on how we were doing in the game. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Good six!”, he would yell when one of us hit the ball out
of the boundary line. (For those of you that may not be familiar with cricket,
when the hitter hits the ball out of the boundary line without it touching the
ground within the boundary, it is worth 6 points). He would dive to catch the
ball, and try to teach us the correct batting stance. We all appreciate that he
is trying to connect with us on a real level, and not just be the anonymous
security guard.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The workshop leaders are still preparing for the opening ceremony on tomorrow. We still can't believe that they are starting tomorrow!</div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201283468234288771.post-45038982583817466502013-07-03T02:41:00.000-07:002013-07-03T02:41:05.922-07:00Field Trip, part 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I said in the earlier blog post, the people in the first
“Hollywood” slum seemed to be optimistic, and united against the common enemy.
However, in the other places that we visited, the same cannot be said. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After a traditional Gujarati lunch, we took a 30 minute
rickshaw ride to the very edge of Ahmedabad. Because I was so full from the
lunch, I closed my eyes for a short time in the rickshaw. One moment we were in
the city, where everything smells like spice, with a small amount of exhaust.
When I opened my eyes, I smelled chemicals. It felt like we had completely left
the city. There were warehouses, and smokestacks that rose into the sky. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYUL8tFkmxU015UZ-AOXzog5IPmPsMxMwAOlWKG_aMdEa0oTsL59yozzyLw3Sd4GNvtjEaQogPc4-JpU9JuvFCy8iRPKZTJbjfNLFEVG18nrTOOj_e8KxnVB08Zh1yjYVhWhHdwhcZAc/s1600/DSC_0163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYUL8tFkmxU015UZ-AOXzog5IPmPsMxMwAOlWKG_aMdEa0oTsL59yozzyLw3Sd4GNvtjEaQogPc4-JpU9JuvFCy8iRPKZTJbjfNLFEVG18nrTOOj_e8KxnVB08Zh1yjYVhWhHdwhcZAc/s320/DSC_0163.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The rickshaws took a turn off the main road, and there was
row after row of warehouses, with not a person in sight. Then, huge gray
concrete angular buildings appeared out of nowhere. Honestly, I felt that it
was a bit futuristic, in a bad way. The buildings looked modern and functional,
but the society was not as advanced as the buildings seemed to be. The
buildings were very imposing, and seemed to be the complete opposite of the
community we had visited a mere 2 hours ago.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4EQtLWaqy7cHMTp87cTHopu5ItyQAHBpRQqHVsVP-UCDHKVm9kBZhphMNWVeWs2ljZmVZnxtFMO96kJw6iK56_UF_-Vatg8J9QjH9-4QFrvoWwP949Rggi6VAh9gZKslAAuK5_FYMK48/s1600/DSC_0164.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4EQtLWaqy7cHMTp87cTHopu5ItyQAHBpRQqHVsVP-UCDHKVm9kBZhphMNWVeWs2ljZmVZnxtFMO96kJw6iK56_UF_-Vatg8J9QjH9-4QFrvoWwP949Rggi6VAh9gZKslAAuK5_FYMK48/s320/DSC_0164.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When we got there, people began to crowd around us, much
like the earlier community. Small trundle-like beds were brought out for us to
sit on, while on lookers crowded around us to listen to the conversation Beena Mam
was starting. The whole conversation was in Gujarati, so the interns only
understood what was being translated for us. We heard them talking about how
they got uprooted from their homes on the riverfront, and the community that
they belonged to. Many of them did domestic work in homes nearby. But because
of their relocation and where they are now, the cost of going back into the
city for work is more than what they would actually be making. This forces them
to work in the factories, which are very dangerous, and they do not know how to
navigate. Their water is extremely dangerous, and makes them sick. It was a lot
to take in as an outsider, and as someone who is not in the powerful position
to help them. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As a team, we all felt that there was some miscommunication
to the people on what our role there was. While we were just visiting, the
people may have misinterpreted “foreigners” with “help”. While they were
telling us about all their hardships, we felt as though there was nothing that
we could actually do. Debriefing with the team this morning, I think we all
felt better discussing the point of the field trip, which was not to feel
pitiful about how we can’t immediately help them, but savor the fact that
ultimately, the more people that know about their hardships and spread the word
is better than none. </div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201283468234288771.post-81178032248663032912013-07-02T08:50:00.000-07:002013-07-02T09:15:43.781-07:00Field Trip!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today was quite a day, and I am still in the process of
thinking about it. I will try to paint a clear picture to all of you. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We got up, and went to St. Xavier’s College to meet up with
the rest of the ITSA team. We met up with Bina Mam, who helps slum dwellers
fight for their land and rights. The government is constantly trying to destroy
the slums, and relocate the dwellers, but she tries to get legal aid to those
living in the slums, so that they can take the government to court. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhwY1KJCDBf018SOXlNmlvEyej9C_axWI1ekx1hyphenhyphenP0SR1jcWTCe6_SWq1WrdUfsRv2Jk9OGGFZqnjiH9pBZiX7U2hqBm5Typ53kYgvree5NgMmPF2Cw1sEhUQm-ue4NjkpmceyICOF7tA/s1600/DSC_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhwY1KJCDBf018SOXlNmlvEyej9C_axWI1ekx1hyphenhyphenP0SR1jcWTCe6_SWq1WrdUfsRv2Jk9OGGFZqnjiH9pBZiX7U2hqBm5Typ53kYgvree5NgMmPF2Cw1sEhUQm-ue4NjkpmceyICOF7tA/s320/DSC_0007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The first stop on the trip was the “Hollywood” slum, as they
are called because the women that live there are especially beautiful, and
their amazing jewelry (nose rings, toe rings, anklets, bracelets; you name it,
they were wearing it). They told us the history of how they came to be on that
spot of land, and their struggles with the government. Many of their houses
have been torn down, but they just keep rebuilding. They don’t actually know
who owns the land that they are living on, and the government still hasn’t told
them. But they are the seventh generation of people in that slum! They also
said that they were known for being very honest people, which has helped them
in the eyes of the law. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They have upcoming trials, which they have been preparing
for. We wish them the best!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They were all so amazingly warm and kind. They were very
open about the struggles they have faced, but they still were optimistic about
the future. Compared to some of the communities that we saw later today, and which I will talk about in a different post, these people were very united. They acknowledged that there are several different denominations within one slum, but they all agree to come together and join forces against the government who is trying to destroy all of their homes. This was a sharp juxtaposition with other internally displaced people that we also visited later in the day. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Their trade is to make Ganesh idols, and other Hindu gods. The city needs them to do this, but they just want to get rid of their "ugly" homes. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Slums do look ugly from the outside, but once you are inside, you can see that it is a lively thriving community. People were happy to show us their homes, and allowed me to take pictures of them. I will leave you with some of the best from the day!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrnzKNX9rzWY6pAFkoXH-qwHNHdUpUsAvlj46TvcgBMvLuQc6d40yzvTnUH2pDD7xG6TY0j4Rlb067zt5uiu2tAQHJ9HEpd4iCqulxISxH4ogW8U3I7_7oYGn-yoIw_AAAc4F6b45HYWU/s1600/DSC_0066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrnzKNX9rzWY6pAFkoXH-qwHNHdUpUsAvlj46TvcgBMvLuQc6d40yzvTnUH2pDD7xG6TY0j4Rlb067zt5uiu2tAQHJ9HEpd4iCqulxISxH4ogW8U3I7_7oYGn-yoIw_AAAc4F6b45HYWU/s320/DSC_0066.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhLO9MlsIYfeCoDElEP2GJJmT5ampJ8VfxkAByYSJ9CImDy4ZooZPYdEuky5-_wkzx1IUY15SON_OhEru9cir0a_pS0hQ8JhHVaQzYS_FkiXAE_quzC21ZtDEY1fLz17n-9kBPK74ut0/s1600/DSC_0133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhLO9MlsIYfeCoDElEP2GJJmT5ampJ8VfxkAByYSJ9CImDy4ZooZPYdEuky5-_wkzx1IUY15SON_OhEru9cir0a_pS0hQ8JhHVaQzYS_FkiXAE_quzC21ZtDEY1fLz17n-9kBPK74ut0/s320/DSC_0133.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg26puDNE7IPJI3A7aqg4uE1n6lQg33-Oi683eElmExk7BtqV5VcJxan1DZZ9kUNjBI06jLv_0B3AChFakik272EDmqH6QALDCg0cXUso_PzpiWdkzWxPUWfDl7UH_nfRwJo8240AFiD0o/s1600/DSC_0144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg26puDNE7IPJI3A7aqg4uE1n6lQg33-Oi683eElmExk7BtqV5VcJxan1DZZ9kUNjBI06jLv_0B3AChFakik272EDmqH6QALDCg0cXUso_PzpiWdkzWxPUWfDl7UH_nfRwJo8240AFiD0o/s320/DSC_0144.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201283468234288771.post-35355636080713039312013-07-01T04:39:00.001-07:002013-07-01T04:40:05.877-07:00The Two-Week-Iversary<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b>Hello readers, I am a new addition to the ITSA travellog! My name is Sadie, and I am a rising senior at Bard High School Early College. I'm excited to be working with ITSA this summer!</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Today is the two week anniversary
of arriving in India! It is crazy to think that it has only been two weeks—it
feels like it has been so much longer. My first impression of India is that it
is a vibrant culture, with the old traditions mixed right in with the new. This
was exemplified when I went to the Ghandi ashram and saw business men walking
around Ghandi’s house, talking on their cellphones. Or to see some women
dressed in shorts, while others are wearing full saris. Also, as an outsider,
you simply have to surrender to the culture of India. An example of this has
been eating with no utensils. At first, I was a bit squeamish about eating with
my hands. It wasn’t that I was grossed out by it, but I was just a bit
confused. Will I pick up my cup with my dirty hand, or with the clean one? Can
I lick my fingers, or is that rude? During my first real Indian tiffen meal, I
finally just gave up on trying to keep my fingers somewhat clean. I surrendered
into eating with my hands, and now enjoy stuffing my mouth with delicious pahi
pouris in one huge bite! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
We’ve been exploring the city as
much as possible. We went on the beautiful Heritage Walk through the old city
of Ahmedabad. I thought that it was a wandering walk through a beautiful
neighborhood that otherwise would have gone unseen by those who are interested.
We’ve gone shopping, getting some beautiful pants with crazy prints. We’ve been
eating ice cream (I highly recommend Almond Carnival at Havmur), and enough
lychees to feed a village. We’ve been watching hilarious Bollywood movies that
are over 3 hours long. We have funny, and sometimes exasperating, rickshaw
stories to tell. Now, we have more than enough inside jokes to keep us laughing
for a looong time. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
It’s been great to go through training
with the other ITSA interns, and getting to know each other. Personally, it was
comforting to go through some aspects of a Bard Thinking & Writing
Workshop. The free writes are a time to just let the mind wander, and it really
helps me organize my thoughts and to get them down on paper. Once they are
there, it makes it so much easier to sift through them. I associate these free
writes so closely to BHSEC, and to home, it felt like I brought a part of by
daily New York City right into India. Also I highlight for me was getting an in
depth lecture on the Indian education system. Honestly, I had no idea how it
worked. After getting a lecture from an English teacher from Anand Niketan
Silaj school, I had a much better perspective on what ITSA was trying to
change, and had a betunderstood the kind of pressure students my age are under
to perform well on the Board Exams. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Some of the best moments that have
happened these past two weeks were during the discussions that have happened
when the whole group was together. We got into some deep topics like violence, safety,
and a multitude of others that I can’t remember anymore. It was gratifying to
be in a space where everyone is bright, and excited to talk about social
issues. The discussions were a great pre-cursor to starting the workshops, and
brainstorming ideas to talk about with the students. I feel like everyone is
happy to be here, and pumped to facilitate with the students.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Now it is time to get down to
business! Putting training to the test, the workshop leaders are beginning to
develop their curriculum. It’s going well, and from what I am eavesdropping
from the meetings going on around me, they will be thought provoking,
inspiring, and fun! There are some field trips in the works, and some mural
painting as well. We can’t wait to meet the students this Friday!</div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201283468234288771.post-82963986119723450712013-01-30T20:54:00.000-08:002013-01-31T00:33:09.004-08:00ITSA Goes to Latin America!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">New team member Isabel Sacks blogs about working with ITSA and her project in the Dominican Republic.</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Before starting
my freshman year at Swarthmore, where I am now a sophomore, I took a gap year
and spent four months living and teaching at a beautiful, bright blue school
nestled among the sugarcane fields of rural Dominican Republic called Santa
Maria del Batey. Founded in 2000 by Augusto Casasnovas and run by several nuns,
the school serves the children of Dominican subsistence farmers and Haitian
sugarcane workers, who live in housing clusters called <i>bateyes </i>(hence the school’s name). SMB is the only high school in
the immediate area and provides its students not only a quality education from
grades K-12, but daily breakfast and lunch and health care. From August to
December 2010, I designed and taught my own English curriculum to the third and
fourth grades and served as an assistant teacher to the school’s full-time
foreign language teacher for the fifth through twelfth grades.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9zr66tt7Dg8eYYcfub2bI3x1eHKAtTMxOUVHClV1Ab51L-3PPFW3x5T4h1Fgkw7lZM7BVKjd0Jwgar2DVOJ52akxkowRAeojyhHwwyaDjlAgoGq8PG5lB7UgbEK_Pct3lA2RLwnBUjy3/s1600/165499_1702313472829_6951665_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9zr66tt7Dg8eYYcfub2bI3x1eHKAtTMxOUVHClV1Ab51L-3PPFW3x5T4h1Fgkw7lZM7BVKjd0Jwgar2DVOJ52akxkowRAeojyhHwwyaDjlAgoGq8PG5lB7UgbEK_Pct3lA2RLwnBUjy3/s1600/165499_1702313472829_6951665_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">The school’s logo, painted on an outside wall.</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In December, I
was lucky to be awarded a Lang Opportunity Scholarship work with ITSA to spread
its methods quite literally across the globe, from Ahmedabad to Hato Mayor. The
Lang Opportunity Scholarship, which also supports ITSA, is awarded annually to
six sophomores at Swarthmore College. It provides funding and resources for
Scholars to “conceive, design and carry out an Opportunity Project that creates
a needed social resource and/or effects a significant social change or improved
condition of a community in the United States or abroad” (<a href="http://www.swarthmore.edu/lang-center-for-civic-and-social-responsibility/lang-opportunity-scholarship.xml">http://www.swarthmore.edu/lang-center-for-civic-and-social-responsibility/lang-opportunity-scholarship.xml</a>). This summer I will be working with the
ITSA workshops, in particular the new Faculty Fellowship Program, and then
implementing the method at Santa Maria del Batey in the summer of 2014. The
ITSA Faculty Fellowship Program, currently under construction, will incorporate
teachers directly into the ITSA model; they will work side by side with ITSA
interns to conduct the workshops.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In my mind, the
ITSA method is really important in any school or community, anywhere in the
world, for two reasons. First, it raises awareness of social justice issues—blatant
or invisible, across the world, next door, or in our own lives—and what we can
do to address these issues. Second, the development of critical thinking skills
through participation in the ITSA workshops makes learning more interesting, empowering,
and useful for students. Although I believe that any school could benefit from
ITSA workshops, they are particularly applicable to Santa Maria del Batey
because of the school’s context (based on my observations and interactions
during my four-month stay and three shorter trips). Many students face poverty,
malnutrition, violence, abuse, and/or gender discrimination. Religion and
Haiti/DR relations cause tension in the community. Electricity and running
water are unreliable and most of the students’ parents are illiterate. Despite hardship,
though, about 20 teachers and 400 students of all ages travel daily to the
school on foot or by motorcycle, sometimes from several miles away, and make
learning happen. The students are highly driven to succeed, while the teachers
are committed to their students’ academic and personal well-being and the state
of education in the DR on the whole.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have enormous
respect for the teachers of Santa Maria del Batey, most of whom have been teaching
at the school since its founding, and I will therefore be partnering with them
to replicate ITSA at the school. Their dedication and knowledge of the
students, school, and community will facilitate the success of the project. I
can’t wait to work with ITSA this summer and then return to my home away from
home at Santa Maria del Batey!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-E9akMqyymVY1jMUfVp63W8l0SuILVLkku_sOWsOyFcf-8V1JoMligppbNeNQW8U9gTNnAsdeh3REmOTyykOzWWkS351YxrcNBaIHNK4vluDYohUJmNFuXQ33rk5ydYeED6ubDCH2jHt/s1600/166291_1702308432703_6522235_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-E9akMqyymVY1jMUfVp63W8l0SuILVLkku_sOWsOyFcf-8V1JoMligppbNeNQW8U9gTNnAsdeh3REmOTyykOzWWkS351YxrcNBaIHNK4vluDYohUJmNFuXQ33rk5ydYeED6ubDCH2jHt/s1600/166291_1702308432703_6522235_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">The fourth grade class in 2010, with me and four of the elementary school teachers.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhATk0LIvnGa8cfVrk0QQtwDMFJVn3XktjrCu_sNI2yzQaCf0WiSvJT11Q5qnWwlkLH6hYaqTOGBSglgDnjvEVxjQdS5cws8yr4GypUvW7qwVPSHGpR5ubmIfE4Mb_CKRyTc6LdwiF-rz12/s1600/164568_1699958053945_3643687_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhATk0LIvnGa8cfVrk0QQtwDMFJVn3XktjrCu_sNI2yzQaCf0WiSvJT11Q5qnWwlkLH6hYaqTOGBSglgDnjvEVxjQdS5cws8yr4GypUvW7qwVPSHGpR5ubmIfE4Mb_CKRyTc6LdwiF-rz12/s1600/164568_1699958053945_3643687_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Me and several girls from the eleventh
grade class in 2010, in front of the school.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpe7a06b1_STtfZkU1J02Moa2Da7g7XPUWKqwQg24Va9QOzLlwWwQZdmsmbOpxjRga8Y-BewaX8DV7ROl4s05A_gnePWhln-Z4hBf4kUnX_22ga4u1C8By_SP1db3c1oMZgfqlLGbR5xuh/s1600/74386_1632822895608_3144576_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpe7a06b1_STtfZkU1J02Moa2Da7g7XPUWKqwQg24Va9QOzLlwWwQZdmsmbOpxjRga8Y-BewaX8DV7ROl4s05A_gnePWhln-Z4hBf4kUnX_22ga4u1C8By_SP1db3c1oMZgfqlLGbR5xuh/s1600/74386_1632822895608_3144576_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">The eleventh grade class in 2010, with me
and several of their teachers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvuTToSka741b1nl4ZGilER4nChho9BWXvNgkBEEH5ZpjMkOZkl9EctTJZu3x7g2sqJLlnhxGdzCQuOk5graig1vUGc-yoTRHPrxoDSQyuv2BxikuXCZEO5mJOIXx2AzKKQHgJA7yCEHGD/s1600/598626_3892880315631_535576275_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvuTToSka741b1nl4ZGilER4nChho9BWXvNgkBEEH5ZpjMkOZkl9EctTJZu3x7g2sqJLlnhxGdzCQuOk5graig1vUGc-yoTRHPrxoDSQyuv2BxikuXCZEO5mJOIXx2AzKKQHgJA7yCEHGD/s1600/598626_3892880315631_535576275_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment--><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">The class of 2012 (eleventh
graders in 2010, as pictured before) at their graduation last June.<!--EndFragment--> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
ITSA teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04608565097391443554noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201283468234288771.post-69928036128957189402012-11-03T01:21:00.000-07:002012-11-03T01:21:08.174-07:00Article about ITSA published in the Bardvark!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQKEVgIBuuIIk2RzfwVwLH_60QMZQ1XI9RM9z-i9B_T4XiSvO2GFDi5xyJFiIstXfqHxRB4bEqincfrma179L-Z7rCEFQuHWb07vHTEUbQVoH_-NmxV5DJ55xEnQ5HDEIxJeUpxpARm0Tf/s1600/ITSA+Article+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQKEVgIBuuIIk2RzfwVwLH_60QMZQ1XI9RM9z-i9B_T4XiSvO2GFDi5xyJFiIstXfqHxRB4bEqincfrma179L-Z7rCEFQuHWb07vHTEUbQVoH_-NmxV5DJ55xEnQ5HDEIxJeUpxpARm0Tf/s640/ITSA+Article+1.jpg" width="494" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWw06Y19wDdtgWMxOGQK8YjpBGq8DStFDTnWSetTaMV0GyFrVG8lx4C3no73IAeNa4Nl6uH50nw5E_sspvTbuxZQOZfAKWpVKZzZlO4jGNxlm2JTSHlQda2L9JLZAAp-RB_cPTUGCG-edW/s1600/ITSA+Article+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWw06Y19wDdtgWMxOGQK8YjpBGq8DStFDTnWSetTaMV0GyFrVG8lx4C3no73IAeNa4Nl6uH50nw5E_sspvTbuxZQOZfAKWpVKZzZlO4jGNxlm2JTSHlQda2L9JLZAAp-RB_cPTUGCG-edW/s640/ITSA+Article+2.jpg" width="494" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30xs7jWB_lKY1S0TNGB7qoYiF4mJoOmwWgpf1_CsJkmzZjn_QERTAPE1U-VtzFbrZfhwDA1FFuw3vVp7MfV0CPP1TMzLwhsPL72_jkvb7_SEdRfQq5wLBAvrn1CBbBDz2wqdPhYgDP0Ip/s1600/ITSA+Article+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30xs7jWB_lKY1S0TNGB7qoYiF4mJoOmwWgpf1_CsJkmzZjn_QERTAPE1U-VtzFbrZfhwDA1FFuw3vVp7MfV0CPP1TMzLwhsPL72_jkvb7_SEdRfQq5wLBAvrn1CBbBDz2wqdPhYgDP0Ip/s640/ITSA+Article+3.jpg" width="494" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
ITSA teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04608565097391443554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201283468234288771.post-53010076644069883352012-08-09T07:09:00.000-07:002012-11-03T01:28:05.473-07:00Reflections upon Summer 2012 - Natalia Choi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Team member, Natalia Choi reflects on her experience in India working with ITSA Summer 2012</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>691</o:Words>
<o:Characters>3939</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Independent Thought & Social Action in India</o:Company>
<o:Lines>32</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>7</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>4837</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
text-align:justify;
text-justify:inter-ideograph;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial;
mso-ascii-font-family:"맑은 고딕";
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:"맑은 고딕";
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
I guess the word I would describe my overall experience with India would be
“Up Close.” This word has been in my head since the first day of the trip when
little kids came knocking (and some climbing) on our van for money until the
last night when our group gathered in a circle at night to share things we
appreciated about each other. Being with around 12-20 people throughout
the trip (I realized just how around people I had been when I was waiting alone
in the Delhi airport for 12 hours…), we were first of all, physically “up
close.” Everyday, we shoved ourselves into the 9-person “tourist vehicle” van,
squeezing in and sitting on top of one another. Our record I’d have to say was
the time when we left the drive-in theater when we fit 10 people in a small
compact vehicle meant to fit maybe 5~6 people at most. And since we stayed
together as a group most of the time, we spent A LOT of time with each other
especially at Riana’s grandparents’ apartment which acted as the headquarter
office for ITSA in India.<br />
<br />
During my time in India, I also met wonderful people like my host
family, Riana’s family, the ITSA India team members, and my workshop students.
From them, I got to learn a little more about the Indian culture and also
realize the culture I’m coming from. I’ve especially enjoyed meeting Riana’s
grandmother “Dadi” who has fed us (almost literally since she stood over us at
each meal to make sure we were getting plenty of chapatis to eat). Though I
wasn’t always able to meet her standard for eating enough, we bonded over time
and made chapatis together during the final week. My host family was also
amazingly sweet and made me feel right at home making me the best masala chai
and packing me a delicious tiffin (a stacked metal lunch box) full of yummy
vegetables, rice, and chapatis for lunch. The many Indian college students who
also volunteered with ITSA were also really vital part of our “ITSA family.” As
our guides, they helped navigate the crazy-ness that is India by helping us
bargain, to not get lost in the streets, and to take rickshaws. As our friends,
they introduced us to the latest bollywood hits which we danced to together and
celebrated festivals like Holi and Diwali.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/img_6782.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-198" height="345" src="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/img_6782.jpg?w=460&h=345" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px none; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="IMG_6782" width="460" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Riana's Family, and their home crashers<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The students I worked with in Ahmedabad and Rajkot also made this whole
trip experience rewarding and inspiring. It was amazing to see how the lesson
plans which we imagined were actually implemented to give ideas and thoughts
for the students. I was especially excited for the lesson plan on modern day
slavery since it is an issue that I had been much interested in. In this
lesson, we first started by asking the students whether or not they thought
slavery still existed in India. We had mixed opinions, some saying a definitive
yes, some maybe in certain areas of the world, some “not in India.” So when
students were given a fact sheet statistics and facts on modern day slavery,
many were surprised by the magnitude of the problem. Through watching a video
on child trafficking and continuing discussions about the effects of poverty on
the security of human rights, students gained a deeper understanding of the
complexity of the issue. Students also created a web with words like illiteracy,
corruption, and globalization connected to slavery in order to learn about how
interconnected issues were in society. I also shared my experience on leading a
Fair Trade campaign during my high school to show them that high school
students are very much capable of contributing a positive impact on the world.
It was exciting to see how much students progressed throughout the workshops in
understanding issues we discussed (slavery, corruption, gender discrimination,
and environmentalism) and also in gaining a sense of social responsibility.
Students cumulated so much energy to do something for the world that all the
60+ ITSAprenuers (workshop students) signed up to pursue social action projects
at the end. <span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Having worked with such an enthusiastic and bright group of
students like our ITSApreneurs, I have gained more faith in the power of
education and also hope for a better world.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/img_6184.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-200" height="345" src="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/img_6184.jpg?w=460&h=345" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px none; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="IMG_6184" width="460" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 17px;">How could I not? Doing my classic Natalia presentation spreading awareness about Fair Trade</span><br />
<div>
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Often times it seems that it’s the sites, the great monuments and museums
that we pose in front of that we remember most after travelling. But I think once
we get to spend more time in a place, it becomes the people we interact with
and get to know that we remember most. Travelling with a large group in the
second most populous country for five weeks, I think I’ve gotten to encounter
people who’ve left a mark on the way I see the world. I’m grateful for having
had such opportunity to meet such a fun and eclectic mix of people whom I’ll
miss,<a href="" name="_GoBack"></a> but at least I have plenty of wonderful pictures
(2000+) and unforgettable memories to look back on and smile on.<br />
<!--EndFragment--></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/img_6540.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-197" height="345" src="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/img_6540.jpg?w=460&h=345" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px none; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="IMG_6540" width="460" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Social Action Team in front of our 60 foot long mural!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: black; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: black; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc_1104.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-201" height="307" src="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/dsc_1104.jpg?w=460&h=307" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px none; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="DSC_1104" width="460" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; text-align: left;">My lovely host family!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: black; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: black; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/img_6733.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-202" height="345" src="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/img_6733.jpg?w=460&h=345" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px none; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="IMG_6733" width="460" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 17px;">Celebrating Diwali on our last night</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: black; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: black; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/img_0936.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-203" height="306" src="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/img_0936.jpg?w=460&h=306" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px none; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="IMG_0936" width="460" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celebrating Holi, the festival of colors!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: black; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_197" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); margin: 10px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 470px;">
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/img_5908.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-199" height="613" src="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/img_5908.jpg?w=460&h=613" style="background-color: transparent; border: none; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="IMG_5908" width="460" /></a></div>
</div>
</div>
ITSA teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04608565097391443554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201283468234288771.post-28262424426489612272012-08-07T07:33:00.000-07:002012-11-03T01:22:23.460-07:003 Idiots & ITSA Reflections<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1.5em;">From Natalia Choi's Blog, the Little Yellow Dandelion (www.littleyellowdandelio.wordpress.com), as she reflects upon watching the Bollywood movie 3 Idiots & her inspiration to work with ITSA:</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">From what I gathered from the cover photo (three men on silly chairs that looked like butts), I expected a comedy of sorts with maybe some feel-good message about life. But a student of mine also had told me that the movie really represented what was going on in India. She didn’t tell me exactly what that was, but I was intrigued.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/220px-threeidiots2.jpg" style="-webkit-user-select: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 3 idiots DVD Cover</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Like any Bollywood hit movie, there was inevitably wild yet coordinated dancing scenes with songs that get stuck in your head for days. That was obviously to be expected. There were also lots of comic scenes with cleverly engineered pranks by the three main characters of the movie. But the movie also contained honest depictions of the real danger of mental stress fueled by the Indian education system and other societal expectations. I thought the movie exposed lines all very familiar to most Korean students: “Study your way to bring your family out of poverty,” or “Choose a stable lucrative careers so as to not burden your family who’ve sacrificed so much for you.” The movie shows that such educational mottos not only were hindering students from following (or even finding) their passions, but also were causing them to end their lives. This is an issue that is not just unique to India. According to Wikepedia, India had 43rd highest suicide rate in the world, whereas S. Korea has the 2nd highest and the U.S. 41st (I was surprised to discover that Lithuania had the highest suicide rate in the world). It seems to me that this issue is getting worse and worse each time I come back to Korea. I hear of suicides by celebrities, young students, working dads often enough to keep it lingering in the back of my mind. Banners declaring a bully-f</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1.5em;">ree zone hang in front of schools and swimming pools. “How do we stop this madness?” I wonder and wonder thinking a banner won’t do. The key line in the movie “All is well” was repeated throughout the movie in times of frustration, panic, and stress in order to give the courage to find a solution in such times.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So I must say “All is well” while patting my chest so as to not get too disparaged when lost for clear solutions.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Remembering my experience leading ITSA workshops in India, I feel that what ITSA did was part of the solution: creating a friendly, supportive, and open environment for learning about ourselves and society. A place where questions and mistakes are as valuable as knowing the book answers and getting a high grade (or “mark” as it is referred to in India), where classmates are fellow friends and learners rather than competitors, where students could learn material they’ll actually remember the week after their exams.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When signing up to intern with ITSA, Korea had been in my mind. I had always wanted to do something to reverse the crazy cycle of the Korean education system in order to allow students to enjoy learning and make an environment where classmates weren’t regarded as their competitors. I just didn’t know how… until I ran into ITSA. I remember reading about ITSA in an email and thinking “This is it, I can be a part of the change now. I don’t have to wait until I’m in a high position in the government to make such a change!” Recalling the faces of the high school students I’ve met (looking younger than expected since they say that in India kids look younger longer) and the conversations in which I learned about their education system (how they have to declare their track in 9th standard and take standardized Board exams which determine their college admission), I remember feeling frustrated by my inability to rescue them out of the constricting education system. Students knew that it was too early to decide what to do with their lives, that standardized tests were not effective measurements of knowledge, but I couldn’t offer them a way out. But later I realized that maybe just exposing them to an alternative classroom experience in which they question questions, learn from their fellow classmates not just their teachers and books, and relate their knowledge to themselves and their lives is enough to re-energize their curiosity and keep an open mind, the key to being a true learner.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As usual, I’ve rambled on for much longer than I intended to when I sat down to write this blog post while the movie was still fresh in my head… So to wrap it up… GO WATCH THE MOVIE IF YOU HAVEN’T YET! Though it addresses some serious issues, it does so in a remarkably human way, weaving comedy so naturally and giving you laughs and hope throughout the movie!</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Until then, thanks for reading my rambles! <img alt=":)" class="wp-smiley" src="http://s0.wp.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif?m=1129645325g" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" /></span></div>
</div>
ITSA teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04608565097391443554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201283468234288771.post-9114464722930517182012-07-23T09:00:00.000-07:002012-11-03T01:23:09.114-07:00Musings at the Gandhi Ashram <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Team member Julia Meyer writes about her thoughts at the Gandhi Ashram:</span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSRM797pzlJ7g6xt4Mp1Zzg0iUJel32DlY2c3awQO3z4gkn-SHMaBJ6fq3jtpNaBEYLDmQlXMYpBO6ysGMG941U7ICKf7vFYktQMivk72zHlg-LPMbRiGSIwyfAKB5Mga3CuKFNkIEERN9/s1600/0256385_3820481314051_1623977171_o.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSRM797pzlJ7g6xt4Mp1Zzg0iUJel32DlY2c3awQO3z4gkn-SHMaBJ6fq3jtpNaBEYLDmQlXMYpBO6ysGMG941U7ICKf7vFYktQMivk72zHlg-LPMbRiGSIwyfAKB5Mga3CuKFNkIEERN9/s320/0256385_3820481314051_1623977171_o.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Piling seven people
into a five person car (and five people into an eight person van), we finally made our way to the <b>Gandhi
Ashram</b>. The premise is modestly
designed: a series of bungalows overlooking blue, algae coated water. The lake, now polluted, is entirely
still. I leaned my torso forward
over the concrete ledge. My vision
of the immobile pool was perfectly framed by bridges supporting two-wheelers
cascading their course.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvExPcJpG1zsBKRIKWAf64_YAQeFgKc7UxIFvSSYgx3wf-_zJecmOiYt1AEj2QF4ftW0bc4eSQTlYj9TIjRcpoir6mQG5SYfABJFFJKO7eJoP6EMJrDfFPm-nAhH6GWhmbs8ItJoBtQ-fO/s1600/0411568_3820486554182_2142341095_o.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvExPcJpG1zsBKRIKWAf64_YAQeFgKc7UxIFvSSYgx3wf-_zJecmOiYt1AEj2QF4ftW0bc4eSQTlYj9TIjRcpoir6mQG5SYfABJFFJKO7eJoP6EMJrDfFPm-nAhH6GWhmbs8ItJoBtQ-fO/s320/0411568_3820486554182_2142341095_o.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mahatma's Room</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidm6T-hyMdRCyX1Tt8j4x3yY2QGolwfoeChDjo6W8fNkTJAv29zRc9fCvQtsr5ilAhdYwPIeWbu0Iu-FXJYPCNwvH3CBtciwtvyojk_69jO307FHp7sbkUg_-_Oi0Ll4vCCke4Nk7w8d6T/s1600/P7221454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidm6T-hyMdRCyX1Tt8j4x3yY2QGolwfoeChDjo6W8fNkTJAv29zRc9fCvQtsr5ilAhdYwPIeWbu0Iu-FXJYPCNwvH3CBtciwtvyojk_69jO307FHp7sbkUg_-_Oi0Ll4vCCke4Nk7w8d6T/s320/P7221454.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> There
was something about the image of the stagnant water encapsulated by the hurried
vehicles. Modernity rushing
forward, pulling nature to a stagnant stop. It was painful to watch, but there was something beautiful
about the serenity of dead water.
I pulled out my camera to capture the moment. Fumbling over the composition, I struggled to include both
bridges and the detail of the algae coated blue. I finally had to settle for two separate images: the first
looked directly down towards the water, the second was broader view of the
land-scape, however, even within these two photographs the color was less vivid
and the lens was too far to capture the motion of the crazed two-wheelers. Once the shot was on my camera the
impact had disintegrated and the moment was meaningless.</span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZe3w7jzno2kVR9xZUmQ01zxX1izOAB2t7_x9mzBkWGQDLvpGA8QGvq7ZMUlHDNn13nRboBJs3mhguLC3jgE6KQYA-n_FS-8we_xj2DnOWsIAQXvB55LoHEx2ZWc5jmobKg4162s4I0UKI/s1600/P7221455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZe3w7jzno2kVR9xZUmQ01zxX1izOAB2t7_x9mzBkWGQDLvpGA8QGvq7ZMUlHDNn13nRboBJs3mhguLC3jgE6KQYA-n_FS-8we_xj2DnOWsIAQXvB55LoHEx2ZWc5jmobKg4162s4I0UKI/s320/P7221455.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> The
previous night I had just finished reading Susan Sontag’s </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman Italic";">Regarding the Pain of Others</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">, where she describes the fleeting power
of a photograph. Unlike a
painting, a photograph claims to render the truth. The viewer sees the image, is forced to consume the “diet of
horrors,” but once the photograph is removed from their field of vision the
viewer moves on, apathetically able to return to the routine of their daily
lives. The impact of these
photographs is completely ephemeral.
Not only does the viewer quickly forget the power of what they have
seen, the image also leaves them feeling helpless and unable to make any sort
of change. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Last
Friday in the workshop I was conducting we began a discussion about the
difference between sympathy and empathy.
One of the participants explained how it is obviously easier to
sympathize than it is to empathize.
She eloquently described how empathy doesn’t mean one has experienced
said event, but it does mean that they are able and willing to imagine it. Looking at these two images on the
screen of my puny digital camera I’ve began to wonder the<i> power of a
photograph</i>. </span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">For the past month all
of the ITSA interns have been seriously committed to divergent, creative
thinking, yet in many of the workshops I’ve found myself incorporating photographs
and videos. Of course, these are
intended to motivate the students and when I watch the series of images I
myself feel empowered to make a change.
But how long does the memory of these images last? Our visual recollection is much weaker
than the memory of our other senses and I worry that the moment the video or
slide-show is turned off the sentiment will fade. We don’t have to smell a
simulation. A photograph does
nothing for the imagination.
Sympathy is as ephemeral as a bubble and without the chance to
internalize the pain, empathy is left dry. These students are overloaded with images to a point where
they’re rendered meaningless.
Occasionally there is the image that does manage strike a cord. It will vibrate inside you for a moment
like the string of a guitar shooting up your spine. Traveling through your ears, it fills your brain with a
painful hum, but as the vibrations simmer the sound numbs. Imagination, however, digs us deeper
and deeper into despair. Embodied
pain has a way of sticking to the soul and it’s our ringing core that pulls us
into action. </span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
ITSA teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04608565097391443554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201283468234288771.post-26754102350473052202012-07-18T06:21:00.000-07:002012-08-20T09:57:23.001-07:00Student & Teacher Workshops at SN Kansagra School, Rajkot Photo Journal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here's a photo journal by team member, Natalia Choi, about her experience in Rajkot where ITSA went to work with The Galaxy School. </span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here is a brief recount of the trip:</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Monday: 5 AM rickshaw-ride towards the bus stationt, 3-hour bus ride to Rajkot with booming bollywood music from movies, student workshops with 30 students at TGES school for 4 hours, dinner at Chokhi Dhani (an amusement park-like, “traditional village” experiencing place where you watch shows, ride camels, get your fortune told, dance at a discotheque with chaperones...)</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1.5em;"> </span></div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_155" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); line-height: 18px; margin: 10px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 378px;">
<a href="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5437.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" class=" wp-image-155 " height="277" src="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5437.jpg?w=368&h=277" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px none; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="IMG_5437" width="368" /></span></a><br />
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 17px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On the bus ride to Rajkot</span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5427.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-157" height="277" src="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5427.jpg?w=368&h=277" style="background-color: transparent; border: none; display: block; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="IMG_5427" width="368" /></a><a href="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5426.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-156" height="277" src="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5426.jpg?w=368&h=277" style="background-color: transparent; border: none; display: block; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="IMG_5426" width="368" /></a></span></div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_158" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); line-height: 18px; margin: 10px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 310px;">
<a href="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5461.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-158" height="225" src="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5461.jpg?w=300&h=225" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px none; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="IMG_5461" width="300" /></span></a><br />
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 17px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Riana and I</span></div>
</div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_159" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); line-height: 18px; margin: 10px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 235px;">
<a href="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5394.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-159" height="300" src="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5394.jpg?w=225&h=300" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px none; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="IMG_5394" width="225" /></span></a><br />
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 17px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sites from an early 6AM bus</span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_160" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); line-height: 18px; margin: 10px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 310px;">
<a href="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5500.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-160" height="225" src="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5500.jpg?w=300&h=225" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px none; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="IMG_5500" width="300" /></span></a><br />
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 17px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Student Workshop on Monday in Rajkot, talking about human rights, the education system, and social hierarchies</span></div>
</div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_180" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); line-height: 18px; margin: 10px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 470px;">
<a href="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_52021.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-180" height="345" src="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_52021.jpg?w=460&h=345" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px none; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="IMG_5202" width="460" /></span></a><br />
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 17px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">ITSA Team!</span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_161" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); line-height: 18px; margin: 10px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 310px;">
<a href="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5216.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-161" height="225" src="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5216.jpg?w=300&h=225" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px none; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="IMG_5216" width="300" /></span></a><br />
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 17px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Camel ride in Chokhi Dhani</span></div>
</div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_162" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); line-height: 18px; margin: 10px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 310px;">
<a href="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5275.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-162" height="225" src="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5275.jpg?w=300&h=225" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px none; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="IMG_5275" width="300" /></span></a><br />
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 17px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">At dinner with our freshly done Henna!</span></div>
</div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_178" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); line-height: 18px; margin: 10px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 332px;">
<a href="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5594.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" class=" wp-image-178 " height="241" src="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5594.jpg?w=322&h=241" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px none; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="IMG_5594" width="322" /></span></a><br />
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 17px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">puppet show</span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Tuesday: Early excursions to Hingolgadh to eat local Gujarati food, touch snakes, see wildlife, see old fortresses and villages</span></div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_163" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); line-height: 18px; margin: 10px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 235px;">
<a href="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5632.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-163" height="300" src="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5632.jpg?w=225&h=300" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px none; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="IMG_5632" width="225" /></span></a><br />
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 17px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">the snake man at Hingolgadh</span></div>
</div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_164" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); line-height: 18px; margin: 10px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 624px;">
<a href="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc_0482.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" class=" wp-image-164 " height="412" src="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc_0482.jpg?w=614&h=412" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px none; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="DSC_0482" width="614" /></span></a><br />
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 17px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">real cobra</span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_165" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); line-height: 18px; margin: 10px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 310px;">
<a href="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5656.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-165" height="225" src="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5656.jpg?w=300&h=225" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px none; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="IMG_5656" width="300" /></span></a><br />
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 17px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">making friends</span></div>
</div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_179" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); line-height: 18px; margin: 10px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 470px;">
<a href="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5788.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-179" height="345" src="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5788.jpg?w=460&h=345" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px none; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="IMG_5788" width="460" /></span></a><br />
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 17px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">what I eat everyday</span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_168" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); line-height: 18px; margin: 10px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 470px;">
<a href="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5694.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-168" height="345" src="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5694.jpg?w=460&h=345" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px none; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="IMG_5694" width="460" /></span></a><br />
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 17px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">All the trees that you seen in this photo are connected as one tree</span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_166" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); line-height: 18px; margin: 10px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 470px;">
<a href="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5357.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-166" height="345" src="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5357.jpg?w=460&h=345" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px none; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="IMG_5357" width="460" /></span></a><br />
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 17px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The group by the 600-yr old tree</span></div>
</div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_167" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); line-height: 18px; margin: 10px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 470px;">
<a href="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5361.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-167" height="345" src="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5361.jpg?w=460&h=345" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px none; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="IMG_5361" width="460" /></span></a><br />
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 17px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">new favorite hobby, swining like Tarzan on trees</span></div>
</div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_169" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); line-height: 18px; margin: 10px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 470px;">
<a href="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc_0623.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-169" height="308" src="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc_0623.jpg?w=460&h=308" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px none; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="DSC_0623" width="460" /></span></a><br />
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 17px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">seeing wildlife</span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_171" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); line-height: 18px; margin: 10px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 470px;">
<a href="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5739.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-171" height="345" src="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5739.jpg?w=460&h=345" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px none; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="IMG_5739" width="460" /></span></a><br />
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 17px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">lots of cacti</span></div>
</div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_172" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); line-height: 18px; margin: 10px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 470px;">
<a href="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc_0657.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-172" height="308" src="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc_0657.jpg?w=460&h=308" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px none; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="DSC_0657" width="460" /></span></a><br />
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 17px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Martha making friends</span></div>
</div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_177" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); line-height: 18px; margin: 10px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 470px;">
<a href="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5764.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-177" height="345" src="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5764.jpg?w=460&h=345" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px none; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="IMG_5764" width="460" /></span></a><br />
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 17px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">the group visiting villages</span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_173" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); line-height: 18px; margin: 10px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 470px;">
<a href="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc_0689.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-173" height="308" src="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc_0689.jpg?w=460&h=308" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px none; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="DSC_0689" width="460" /></span></a><br />
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 17px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">goats!</span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_181" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); line-height: 18px; margin: 10px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 470px;">
<a href="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5799.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-181" height="345" src="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5799.jpg?w=460&h=345" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px none; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="IMG_5799" width="460" /></span></a><br />
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 17px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Old palace</span></div>
</div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_182" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); line-height: 18px; margin: 10px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 470px;">
<a href="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5798.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-182" height="345" src="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5798.jpg?w=460&h=345" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px none; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="IMG_5798" width="460" /></span></a><br />
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 17px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Cassie and I</span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Wednesday: Student workshop at a beautiful resort-like school then bus-ride back home to Ahmedabad</span></div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_186" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); line-height: 18px; margin: 10px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 470px;">
<a href="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_55121.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-186" height="345" src="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_55121.jpg?w=460&h=345" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px none; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="IMG_5512" width="460" /></span></a><br />
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 17px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Workshop 2 at Rajkot</span></div>
</div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_187" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); line-height: 18px; margin: 10px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 470px;">
<a href="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_55191.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-187" height="345" src="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_55191.jpg?w=460&h=345" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px none; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="IMG_5519" width="460" /></span></a><br />
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 17px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our students at Rajkot</span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_185" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); line-height: 18px; margin: 10px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 470px;">
<a href="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5804.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-185" height="613" src="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5804.jpg?w=460&h=613" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px none; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="IMG_5804" width="460" /></span></a><br />
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 17px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">that is the school campus behind us, not a resort…</span></div>
</div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_183" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); line-height: 18px; margin: 10px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 470px;">
<a href="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5810.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-183" height="345" src="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5810.jpg?w=460&h=345" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px none; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="IMG_5810" width="460" /></span></a><br />
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 17px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">ITSA team!</span></div>
</div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_184" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); line-height: 18px; margin: 10px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 470px;">
<a href="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5811.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-184" height="345" src="http://littleyellowdandelion.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5811.jpg?w=460&h=345" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px none; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="IMG_5811" width="460" /></span></a><br />
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 17px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On a school bus!</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
ITSA teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04608565097391443554noreply@blogger.com1State Highway 25, Sadar, Rajkot, Gujarat, India22.3038945 70.802159922.1863665 70.64423140000001 22.4214225 70.9600884tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201283468234288771.post-85894556985246100672012-07-09T08:53:00.000-07:002012-08-20T09:57:23.004-07:00A day of ITSA-ing!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Just another day at the ITSA headquarters in Ahmedabad by team member, Arden Feil:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> This
morning I arrived at Riana’s apartment around 11am to find the rest of the
interns busy working on their curriculums for this Friday’s workshop. I quickly
joined up with the rest of the Social Action and Justice team and we got to
work planning for the workshop. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzw7ncJuAZOlf8G0NkeO-EWdw8tvyUBARB70ALmQhx62ErS2-REAC3xhDwrNjLscIiGaiFMAR2V5ip_6Lou-kX9gltusHilQp3Z5QYMCKmY5JiQDByoMh9hv8fo2VCUjPBl8L3yPtIQmWF/s1600/541426_3770237497987_1486823948_n.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzw7ncJuAZOlf8G0NkeO-EWdw8tvyUBARB70ALmQhx62ErS2-REAC3xhDwrNjLscIiGaiFMAR2V5ip_6Lou-kX9gltusHilQp3Z5QYMCKmY5JiQDByoMh9hv8fo2VCUjPBl8L3yPtIQmWF/s320/541426_3770237497987_1486823948_n.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Squeezed into the ITSA mobile!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Our upcoming session will cover gender issues
and we made considerable progress in designing activities around the topic.
After a nice lunch we all headed over the apartment in Paldi to continue
working. Admittedly, by that point we were all a bit exhausted, so we were not
nearly as productive as we had been in the morning. We relaxed and napped for a
while (some of us even went in search of coconuts!) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">We did get a good amount of
work time in too, and our lesson plan is pretty much complete for Friday. At
about 6pm Riana and some of the India interns came and drove us over to Law
Garden—a big outdoor market with vendors selling tapestries, clothing, and
jewelry. It was definitely hectic and overwhelming, but also very exciting and
exhilarating. A lot of the interns, including myself, found nice gifts to bring
back for our friends and family. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNFzl9rJQROhhcKTqCwWemMkzfyD6asSZ7O95QrhzgzsJdBcnaLKXwnnBqygGJrWvMkEuaMBwwX1K2qiSwlfO9bM3hD2InZv8Wdmc8UekERwGhm1kZ-BCcAW2iUe-SY9LwwJLQhm8tQ5Mb/s1600/202443_3770303619640_1318815871_o.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNFzl9rJQROhhcKTqCwWemMkzfyD6asSZ7O95QrhzgzsJdBcnaLKXwnnBqygGJrWvMkEuaMBwwX1K2qiSwlfO9bM3hD2InZv8Wdmc8UekERwGhm1kZ-BCcAW2iUe-SY9LwwJLQhm8tQ5Mb/s400/202443_3770303619640_1318815871_o.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colors! Colors! Colors!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGoSSP33ad7bdIUYFDghCCgvZFFou8solKr7zoQLgdVz83vU_fnQLyFxD5U0i1AnebREMmEUeC7-G1m8jBvuNXn2s4Q1WV7tGoObFQdf7t_RHPysjwfrgfQKQGbnJMzUXAUxYWWQbDYBq/s1600/243619_3770286619215_1201055648_o.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGoSSP33ad7bdIUYFDghCCgvZFFou8solKr7zoQLgdVz83vU_fnQLyFxD5U0i1AnebREMmEUeC7-G1m8jBvuNXn2s4Q1WV7tGoObFQdf7t_RHPysjwfrgfQKQGbnJMzUXAUxYWWQbDYBq/s320/243619_3770286619215_1201055648_o.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tejas helping navigate multiple sellers at the same time!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsPBsO50tT9_3J4tG-2jCAQXfJw1jCeb2U5_Qdfvev6wvWE5WQkRpEEZRgSJB7GXaaXOP31Ot_J6oR4N9_YE-7kXWtFRoJj0ZsMcgsdDX8Xvkw0KcsaPKN6jWAc8KmlgQZzy6HyN34-YEz/s1600/287896_3770304299657_555011035_o.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsPBsO50tT9_3J4tG-2jCAQXfJw1jCeb2U5_Qdfvev6wvWE5WQkRpEEZRgSJB7GXaaXOP31Ot_J6oR4N9_YE-7kXWtFRoJj0ZsMcgsdDX8Xvkw0KcsaPKN6jWAc8KmlgQZzy6HyN34-YEz/s200/287896_3770304299657_555011035_o.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Neil getting his bargain on!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLp2JpW3LYBjoh7XP0E0RPTPl8OLP1ho-o52W7miZi8OczhhMqZWqRO3yXwAkqPe5m0AvECWQKujay8UZRQxnOdLGHaEWNYOe7n_SHszSit_HyjANVnBK2dU0PYmaC7FUcUCrDncuewnLj/s1600/329463_3770247858246_1033383686_o.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLp2JpW3LYBjoh7XP0E0RPTPl8OLP1ho-o52W7miZi8OczhhMqZWqRO3yXwAkqPe5m0AvECWQKujay8UZRQxnOdLGHaEWNYOe7n_SHszSit_HyjANVnBK2dU0PYmaC7FUcUCrDncuewnLj/s320/329463_3770247858246_1033383686_o.jpeg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5U3JFKq8N8PjcQzarRJGSnUhnvK2Fd2R8dhf07ChD_74eB5xHXIGUalER0gH2Bo3mibfdxA4eJlE5th5tu73FKkpV5mBkRIiART-fNatmksKNgy2A2_Ruoi8-2tCS87ZHq-lBppGu63Y/s1600/616809_3770246018200_668668832_o.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5U3JFKq8N8PjcQzarRJGSnUhnvK2Fd2R8dhf07ChD_74eB5xHXIGUalER0gH2Bo3mibfdxA4eJlE5th5tu73FKkpV5mBkRIiART-fNatmksKNgy2A2_Ruoi8-2tCS87ZHq-lBppGu63Y/s320/616809_3770246018200_668668832_o.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">We left the market just as it was getting dark and went to Swatti Snacks for dinner. We ordered a bunch of different dishes, which were all delicious and interesting to try. I’m now back at my host family’s house where I am enjoying some of my last nights before I move into the apartment in Paldi with the rest of the interns. Today was pretty calm and easy going; we got time to just hang around as well as have valuable preparation time. I think I speak for all of the interns when I say today was one of many great days we’ve had in </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHgPYpkH8HvrqK9mIdp_C_miwnMAWKcP3YB2BZV5AMihRIjU2undXv5Jjap5dqJDfxK2OzZ9vrGpWC9CqD5TIUdHI6TXQp7qOEBqaw84aqo6MZ2_mUGcrktxJqBzeEb3krn9c96EpqIuPZ/s1600/614857_3804461513566_1128832385_o.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHgPYpkH8HvrqK9mIdp_C_miwnMAWKcP3YB2BZV5AMihRIjU2undXv5Jjap5dqJDfxK2OzZ9vrGpWC9CqD5TIUdHI6TXQp7qOEBqaw84aqo6MZ2_mUGcrktxJqBzeEb3krn9c96EpqIuPZ/s320/614857_3804461513566_1128832385_o.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riana demonstrating to us the special technique to Pani Puri eating!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHN6EnOpG39L-EUEw9k2DOJfxEFkfCxQasaNAQpKLav5tLioY9RU26ThDJWU5MvrD1dMRSX5z_5OSX-0iHTUYNoh87c2Ot3eFv8Z8r-cDOOqeWGWOGYJMei0Vuu43ahUVJy_FKlwV8knNs/s1600/428533_3770305379684_683570948_n.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHN6EnOpG39L-EUEw9k2DOJfxEFkfCxQasaNAQpKLav5tLioY9RU26ThDJWU5MvrD1dMRSX5z_5OSX-0iHTUYNoh87c2Ot3eFv8Z8r-cDOOqeWGWOGYJMei0Vuu43ahUVJy_FKlwV8knNs/s320/428533_3770305379684_683570948_n.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Swatties (Swarthmore College students) pose under Swati snacks!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;"></span><br /></div>
</div>
ITSA teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04608565097391443554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8201283468234288771.post-62400915030862775982012-07-04T02:49:00.002-07:002012-07-04T22:44:05.731-07:00Heritage Walk: First Experience of Old Ahmedabad for ITSA's International Interns<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Team Member Natalia Choi reflects on her day:</h3>
<span lang="EN-US">It was an especially hot day today in
Ahmedabad. I mean everyday is hot, but today we didn’t have as much air
conditioning since we were out and about the city unlike the past few days when
we mostly stayed indoors resting and preparing for our workshops).</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvAz86SgD-Pmkll7PzynQaJJSdDDOt6mHGJmvc1BBwD5fWI-y6ne1Nuklc3iOFCpsj66oNcnbhmSbCh1J_4-i8-E5jS-nd7pJ4yv7G4LxJyMGxjRMSO9mge6ZkPjxSr3PMXqKoaO2xfDT/s1600/IMG_4942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvAz86SgD-Pmkll7PzynQaJJSdDDOt6mHGJmvc1BBwD5fWI-y6ne1Nuklc3iOFCpsj66oNcnbhmSbCh1J_4-i8-E5jS-nd7pJ4yv7G4LxJyMGxjRMSO9mge6ZkPjxSr3PMXqKoaO2xfDT/s320/IMG_4942.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guide, Nirav Patel, explaining the history of the Jumma Masjid<br />(Mosque) on the Heritage Walk in Ahmedabad</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-US">The day started out early at 6am because we
wanted to avoid some heat and crowd for our Heritage walk through the old city
of Ahmedabad. [We avoided neither the heat nor crowd…] As we waited for Aiyub,
our driver to come pick us up, we spotted several monkeys on the roof of a
building nearby. They were huge! I expected to see the little monkeys like Abu
from Aladdin, but they were close to human-size (maybe I’m exaggerating a bit,
but they were not small cute creatures). Then came my turn for the rickshaw
ride! Karen, Pavithra and I loaded up in this yellow-green rickshaw and our
rickshaw weaved and honked our way through bikes, motorcycles, and cows toward
the Old City of Ahmedabad. Because I didn’t have a layer of glass separating me
from the outside, I felt that everything was even closer. I must say I am
amazed that I have not been in or seen an accident yet given the chaotic nature
of the streets. The cars seem to build their own system as they go. There seems
to be no marked lanes, and rarely do we run into traffic lights. Here, our tour
guide told us that to drive, one needs three things: good breaks, a good honk,
and good luck. And from what I’ve seen, that seems to be true.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US">Though it was before 8am when we arrived at
the temple (the starting point of our walk), there was no time for the morning
calm. The place was packed with vendors selling their fresh produce, women in
their beautiful saris, men biking through the crowded street. I had expected to
encounter more tourists in this historic attraction, but soon realized that we
were the only ones. We had become the focus of attention and many curious gazes
followed our group. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmIh-IENVPw-tT6X9Qx_9TDOaoMYKmA41YuM2GzIBnKO7WTujcPKVNZhf8c3UUTxk82vc-Pnv14QcTODP9YTah9b2U5vsbgXeIdklILTP3ECc6trcD9fhgOnE-SlxefYGL2db4QJuL67ji/s1600/IMG_4843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmIh-IENVPw-tT6X9Qx_9TDOaoMYKmA41YuM2GzIBnKO7WTujcPKVNZhf8c3UUTxk82vc-Pnv14QcTODP9YTah9b2U5vsbgXeIdklILTP3ECc6trcD9fhgOnE-SlxefYGL2db4QJuL67ji/s400/IMG_4843.JPG" width="400" /></a><span lang="EN-US">We waited for our tour to begin upstairs
where we had some distance to look at the site from a birds-eye view. It was
nice to see and taken in everything and not be seen. Our tour guide arrived
with a huge eager smile and began a presentation introducing Ahmedabad’s
history dating back to the 15<sup>th</sup> century. He was proud of the city’s smart
planning (ex. buildings made of stone-wood walls which survived major
earthquakes; doors leading to secret passages that only locals would know) and
peaceful state (there are no “defensive” architecture). It was interesting to
learn about how commerce and business helped maintain peace in the region
because they formed business partners. For example, because the British relied
on Ahmedabad’s textile industry, they developed and maintained a friendly
relation. The Old City was divided in “pols” which are little neighborhoods
that was originally organized based on profession/religion but later came to be
based on class. Each pol has a gate, a public board, a temple, and a bird
feeding tower. I was impressed by how people were sensitive enough to build these
bird feeding structures to compensate for the birds losing their homes as the
city expanded and cut down trees. Our walk took about 2-3 hours and we saw
temples, a plethora of stray dogs, beautifully colored walls (very pastel-ly I
thought), and then ended our tour at a mosque. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb1KXFXajIBHW3HnlNdbTj6XWiVq3jx_lCU_iQ1wsSuc9PUYsBEgXwe6-0-NCxsi7-dwwLYJnd1r36LdbmM_u7BaqFuhLF3PD6KVWSh_DsOb8EEB_gdNj8F0TCFibHtkQaokbrOCUzzBxL/s1600/IMG_4960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb1KXFXajIBHW3HnlNdbTj6XWiVq3jx_lCU_iQ1wsSuc9PUYsBEgXwe6-0-NCxsi7-dwwLYJnd1r36LdbmM_u7BaqFuhLF3PD6KVWSh_DsOb8EEB_gdNj8F0TCFibHtkQaokbrOCUzzBxL/s320/IMG_4960.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDq2-AgZlUMTVVpy7YoAh9sZ2cm7m0iJsvD1lk9v5uWVQeppnVBhr8UAtizJUfmFC-Kdwd_QXeOEdyxHWj5I5TRIuUMEQEU1AZVz1VAc4D5hyphenhyphenucMbOvFjESt90U5QGIfG0aHiCdYf8T79w/s1600/IMG_4859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDq2-AgZlUMTVVpy7YoAh9sZ2cm7m0iJsvD1lk9v5uWVQeppnVBhr8UAtizJUfmFC-Kdwd_QXeOEdyxHWj5I5TRIuUMEQEU1AZVz1VAc4D5hyphenhyphenucMbOvFjESt90U5QGIfG0aHiCdYf8T79w/s320/IMG_4859.JPG" width="240" /></a><span lang="EN-US">The rest of the day was spent viewing some
Indian paintings and sculptures at the Institute of Indology, eating a scrumptious
lunch at Havmor, a nicely air-conditioned restaurant, and resting at Riana’s
great aunt’s house. Then we headed back to Riana’s apartment and dinner (a salty
popped rice dish called bhel and sev puri, a taco-like dish) and returned to
our prospective homes (for some, their host family’s house, for others, the
ITSA apartment or Riana’s place) afterwards. Whew, what a full, wonderful day!</span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4PvhPn3UffRsnAoQUpQDo48x9cMnPb76OBCZnetJb_VOE080uX5-Tw0QxKksRq7Gx9aGB_XytEyPjg_dwX8nsBmd_VeAtZUDM9ozj4IX5nbk_InpZuFd-i2meGbmj4iMmi2Xb6uxg_l9A/s1600/IMG_4916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4PvhPn3UffRsnAoQUpQDo48x9cMnPb76OBCZnetJb_VOE080uX5-Tw0QxKksRq7Gx9aGB_XytEyPjg_dwX8nsBmd_VeAtZUDM9ozj4IX5nbk_InpZuFd-i2meGbmj4iMmi2Xb6uxg_l9A/s400/IMG_4916.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>ITSA teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04608565097391443554noreply@blogger.com1