Walking in the footsteps of a giant

 

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That day I thought I was at Ghandi Smriti but it turns out this garden is the location of his cremation, not his assassination.

A couple days later I visited the location where he took his last steps that led to the place of his assassination….

 

 

 

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We all heard of the heroic hunger strikes that rallied this once divided country- it is because of this heroism, this selflessness that many of us look to Mahatma Ghandi for guidance in the difficult struggle for social justice. “ Be the change you wish to see in the world”.

Ghandi is a social justice giant. Today I walked in this giants footsteps.

Ghandi Smriti in the heart of New Delhi is a breathtaking tribute to the one and only. People come from all over the world to pay homage, to walk the walk.

In the centre of this vast garden and walkways is a marble centerpiece and an ever burning flame marking the location of Ghandi’s assassination in January of 1948.

 

The air is filled with the scent of gorgeous flowers and the sound of chirping birds- both of which were super prominent to this Torontonian coming from cold, cloudy skies.

The energy within the garden was one of humility. I wasn’t the only one who felt as though I was literally walking in the footsteps of a giant.

I paused at this engraving on the wall surrounding the main tribute… the Seven Social Sins. Simply put but incredibly powerful.

If I could have lingered all day I likely would have.

Throughout the day I had the opportunity to stop at a number of prominent monuments throughout the city.

My second stop: Humayun’s Tomb.

The tomb of Mughal Emperor Humayun and a UNESCO World Heritage site. My driver tells me it is a mini Taj. And it was a BEAUTIFUL sight.

Third stop. India Gate- the national monument of India built in 1931.

It commemorates the lives of 90,000 soldiers of the Indian Army who lost their lives while fighting for the Indian Empire.

Ohh and I saw a snake charmer….

Ugh!

My experience here in India to date has been limited to a small city surrounded by the Aravali mountains. The city comes with a number of new sights but also a number of complexities.

Although I was a “tourist” today my eye for inequality did not take to the back burner. My stomach sank when I watched a family collectively sorting through a massive garbage pile likely salvaging plastics bare hands and feet and my heart ached when I watched the small children begging to the hundreds of tourists flooding about while their parents or “leaders’ lingered in the background collecting their rewards.

These were just quick glimpses that reminded me that while I am permitted to marvel at the beauty and the history- what I am most connected to is the development that this country still desperately needs. The worlds 2nd largest economy in the world.

All in a days “work”.

On the map

Delhi bound (indicated with a black star) tomorrow evening… Udaipur bound  (Red square) on the 11th.

A new chapter

The last year I have been blessed with many incredible opportunities. I have faced challenges and been rewarded with many successes. I am constantly surrounded by good people with huge hearts and am always backed by a strong support network on the home front aka my family. As I prepare to begin my next chapter it is on those opportunities and those successes that I reflect upon and that incredible network  I rely upon.

I have taken a new position with Me to We (same organization) as Manager of Leadership and Trips Programming in our India office. I will be spending much of Spring and Summer in India with occasional stays in Kenya and a return home in the fall with a 2 year contract.

As you have read from past trips, I admire India.I love the culture, the communities we work in have really captured my heart and I am passionate about the opportunities we provide young people to travel, give back and learn first hand about poverty, development and the responsibility that comes with global citizenship.

This is by far the biggest challenge I have ever taken on, I fully expect to have highs and lows. I expect to long for a drink with friends, a lazy movie night with the girls, a snuggle with my puppies, a walk in the woods with my brothers, a warm hug from my parents  and the smiling faces of a bustling office BUT the confidence I have my relationships and in my ability to ROCK this new position and support our team in India through exponential growth and development will carry me through!

I head off on Sunday for a month returning for a month in Toronto before the big move in May.

The next chapter begins in a matter of days… read on!

With beauty comes challenges

This region of India is beautiful. Not always the typical definition of beautiful- given the heaps of garbage piled in alleyways due to lack of garbage disposal and the smelly water that runs down the roadways- but beautiful its own way. And I am so thankful for the opportunity to come back. I love the colors, the hustle and bustle of the city, the chaos of the market. I love the breathtaking mountains and the little smiling faces we pass. I love its complexity and its culture, a culture I have yet to figure out completely- another thing I love about it.

This trip was not without its challenges, I had a difficult group that challenged me to facilitate in a different way and to modify my “routine”.  I facilitated alone which came with a new set of challenges, and  I facilitated during the Christmas season-  my FAVOURITE time of the year (this was a selfish challenge of course!).

But nevertheless the trip was a success. I want to share a little bit of my trip through some of my favorite pictures.

The blessing ceremony with the local priest.

The “water walk” with the local woman

The Bagad community

The group after completing their goal on the build site

The Kumbhalgarh Fort (the worlds second largest wall  after the Great Wall of China)

Monsoon Palace

Mt. Abu

I don’t think I could ever say I “did” India and I hope I get the opportunity to keep coming back.

Now as I prepare to begin the trek home  I am really looking forward to everything Christmas…. family time, Christmas movies, hot chocolate, snuggles with the pups, relaxation and ME time…. OH and giving everyone the little treasures I collected here in Udaipur!

Namaste Udaipur

After the 20+ hours in flight to get to Hong Kong the last thing I wanted to do was get on another plane a week later to make the trek to India. But someone was looking out for me… on both flights I snagged myself a free seat beside me- which mean I could SLEEP! Such a blessing!

My only mishap was the food! Flying with Jet Airways- an India airline means the food is almost always Curry infused ( I can handle curry but really… airplane curry? not the best!). I opted for the Vegetarian option (I am seriously contemplating vegetarianism after my stay in Hong Kong)- the first bite brought me to tears… yes TEARS. I have experienced spicy curry- but this was like no other. It hurt… it burnt… I cried like a baby! I don't know what it was and I was too embarrassed to ask as I watched all the people beside me gulping it up. Needless to say I went hungry that flight and even opted for McDonalds French Fries when I landed.

But I have been relatively mishap free since I landed in Udaipur! My group does not arrive until the 10th (tomorrow) which means I have had the opportunity to work alongside the Free the Children/ Me to We team here in Udaipur!

I have wandered out here and there… once to the grocery store but I couldn't escape the glaring eyes. I also couldn’t figure out how to weigh the fruits and vegetables so I walked out empty handed- such a goof!

Yesterday Honey (my co- facilitator here in India) brought me to visit the community we will be working in over the next two weeks- Bagad. It is a very different landscape than the last community we stayed in- our group will be helping to finish up some last minute work on the school building which is set to open in January.

And to then today I ventured out to the market  in the “Old City” that I came to love during my last trip. Cows milling about, motorcycles and rickshaws galore, friendly people demanding your attention and new found friendship. Although I was alone this time I didn't have one moment of discomfort.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While in the Old City I  had the opportunity to visit a good friend of mine, Ricky. He was our in country facilitator during my last trip in August and he no longer works for Free the Children. So I was so thankful for the opportunity to visit with him!

We chatted, caught up and then walked further to the lake where we could watch the sunset…

 

To get home I took my first Rickshaw or “Auto” as they call it here… another first on this trip (mind you Ricky helped me negotiate the price and gave directions!) I still felt very adventurous!

Now back at the office I am anxious for my group to arrive tomorrow, looking forward to getting to the community and getting to work.

There is no phone reception or internet access there so I am officially offline now until Dec 23rd!

Please keep our group in your thoughts and prayers- no sicknesses and safe travels!

All the best and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Lamma Island

It came recommended as we sought our a refuge from the hustle and bustle of the big city.

Our partner at HKIS knew us as veggie lovers- as we sought out any veggies possible in the carb infused food of HK. He and a couple of his colleagues recommended a veggie/organic cafe on Lamma Island called The Bookworm-SOLD!

We woke up this morning to our cloudiest day yet- not ideal for an island escape but given it is our last “full” day in the city we decided to go for it.

Ferries are not my ideal form of transportation, relinquishing control over an open body of water- NO thank- you. But life would be dull if I didn’t step into the challenge zone every now and then ( a reference my fellow facilitators should know all too well!). Although it was a bumpy ride I endured just fine and it was totally worth the risk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lamma Island is about a 30 minute ferry ride away from Central Piers in HK, but that 30 minutes leads you to this small island with NO CARS!

As we disembarked the ferry we were greeted by all the bicycles that commuters had left behind.

and this very welcoming graffiti…

This is an island that specializes in seafood-go figure we were headed for an veggie/organic cafe! I am ALL for seafood- in fact I would say it is one of my favorites… but not the biggest fan of its display here in HK. Clams, prawns, crabs, lobsters…. have your choice…. literally.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And then we found it… The Bookworm Cafe.

And  it was all it was cracked up to be…. and more!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The best meal I have had in HK so far.

We spent some time admiring the pier and the coast…. but the rain pissed on our parade and we escaped back to the Bookworm for a peppermint tea and organic Carrot Cake  before running (literally running) to catch the ferry home!

Thank you Lamma Island for welcoming us!

Until next time…

Today was the day…

The day we had been waiting for…

The reason we were flown all the way out here…

Today was the International Service Summit at the Hong Kong International School.

Check out the view at this school…

(Middle School students who came out this morning for a leadership workshop- such a fun group of kids)

Over the past couple days we have been conducting informal workshops within the school’s Upper Primary, Middle and High School but the real purpose of our trip was for me to conduct the keynote address at the 2011 International Service Summit and for my work partner Jill and I to conduct a number of short sessions on what Me to We and Free the Children have to offer youth people who are passionate about making a change in their local and global communities. There were 21 student groups and organizations (Me to We being one of them) representing themselves and the 150+ students in attendance had the opportunity to pick 5 or 6 and find an organization whom they wished to partner with for their Personal Action Projects.

And I’ll be honest with you- I was super nervous when I woke up this morning. To amp myself up a bit I grabbed the paper copy of my speech and headed to the Star Bucks a couple blocks away for a taste of home and comfort where I re-read what I had written weeks before We Day season.

And as I mounted the stage this afternoon- the nerves didn’t dissipate. Which is odd, over the last year and a half I have delivered over 80 speeches- but for some reason this was different. The first 30 seconds of my speech was a flop but as soon as I settled in- everything ran smoothly. I got a great response which later translated into 6 sessions jammed packed with students who are eager to get involved!

(The group after the Service Summit- inspired and motivated!)

( A couple of superstar youth who brought the Vow of Silence to HKIS)

It was such a successful day and such  an amazing opportunity. I try not to take for granted the incredible opportunities presented to me through this current position and I think this particular trip will remain a memory and point of personal success for some time.

(Jill and I with Marty Schmidt- the man responsible for the Service Summit and our incredible host)

Jill and I are both thankful for the warm reception we received from HKIS, particularly the educators who we got to work with. A number of them treated us to a traditional Chinese meal tonight. (This was another source of anxiety for me as this spoiled Canadian girl ignorantly feared the potential of “ mystery meat” but the meal turned out to be INCREDIBLE.There was a number of questionable meat options which I steered away from, but I had very tasty veggie options and walked away full and satisfied.)

(Note the chicken head on the plate to the right-ugh!)

Although our job here is done we have a couple days left in Hong Kong before I head to India and Jill heads off on another adventure. We received some more recommendations on “must do’s” and I will continue to report back.

Stay tuned!