After months of planning and long waiting, I will finally depart for India next Tuesday, May 26th. Rather than sending long mass e-mails to everyone I know, I decided to give blogging a try. As I am new to this, I'm not sure how interesting it will be to read, but when and if I have access to internet in India, I will keep anyone interested updated on my travels.
For those of you unaware of what exactly I will be doing on the opposite side of the globe here goes:
I will arrive in New Delhi, India and travel to Varanasi, a city of 1.3 million people where I am interning for an NGO called the Nirman Center. This is a nonprofit organization that provides equal learning opportunities for children, youth, and adults. I am told that I will be working as an English and Social Studies teacher as well as helping with administration in the school, but might also travel to other locations in order to help with theater/creativity camps. Along with this, I plan on doing research concerning the effects of religion and globalization on the Indian community. Along with working at the school, I will also be housed at the school's guesthouse where meals are also provided.
Going to India has been a dream of mine for quite some time, so this opportunity is one I'm very excited about. However, I'm not afraid to admit that I am a bit nervous. Although past experiences have exposed me to different levels of poverty and various uncomfortable living situations, I am not sure what this trip will show me. I hope the training I have will help me be an effective teacher and that I can soak in as much as I can about the culture and people of India.
DO keep in touch if possible. Three months is a long time and I do love a good letter. Okay, even a bad letter is accepted as long as I get some love from home :). My e-mail is abaracal@butler.edu and I will try to send an address and/or phone once I find out more on where I'll be.
