My Favorite Day

Today was one of the most memorable days of my life. We saw the Jaigarh and Amber forts (they are connected by a structural wall that resembles the Great Wall of China in that it cuts through the countryside). The sky was a brilliant blue, and it brightened the pink and yellow walls of the forts. I loved the Amber fort for its impressive room of glass – it is made from glass and mirror pieces from Belgium and it is all white and silver. What was remarkable is that the beauty also held a function (which is typical of Indian art; but inspiring nonetheless). The royal servants would light oil lamps for the royal family and the light would reflect around the room and heat it, which I think is quite brilliant.
After, I got to ride an elephant!!! I always wanted to, and I was upset that I missed out on the opportunity to ride one the night before at the beautiful hotel’s village. It was SO COOL!! I felt like a little kid again – my eight year old brother will definitely be jealous.
The best part of the day was when we visited the NGO orphanage, Vatsalya. We learned about how they took the children who lived off the street and took care of them – but above and beyond. They provide food and shelter, education, vocational training, health care, counseling, and most importantly, love and encouragement for these children. They also provide these services in an environmentally friendly manner (solar energy, biogas, the like).
To top it all off, they help oppressed women and women involved in sex trade with acquiring health services and teaching them how to make clothes, metalsmithing and jewelry, and crafts. The proceeds of the items they sell go to the orphanage, the craft business, and the women’s health care.
Vatsalya also provides HIV/AIDS education and help for those infected to truck drivers. They also speak to families who live on the street and try to inspire them and their children (primarily) to aspire for a better life and live to their potential.
I was honored to dance with some of the young ladies who live at Vatsalya and some of the little boys. I had the most incredible experience to…learn from them. To learn not only some Bollywood dance moves, or that these young ladies can dance Classically better than my Indian friends from home. As a dance teacher who has taught children ages 4-16 how to dance for about three years, and as an employee of a non-profit in the US who works with underprivileged youth ages 5-25 in business and the performing arts, I have met and taught hundreds of children from all walks of life. Few of those deserving and lovely children had the fire and energy I saw in these children today.
Today, I learned and was reminded that every child has the potential to become something wonderful and great, no matter where they came from, or what they know, or what they have experienced in the past. Every child, if given the ability and love to let their inner passions take light, can truly achieve their potential. Vatsalya’s staff are a strong and incredible team of individuals who have enabled these children and influenced them in the best possible way.
And that, my dear reader, is not a sappy little fairy tale, but an actual reality. I saw a beautiful and awesome reality today.
- Tara

The Taj Mahal!

I have always wanted to travel to India since I read A Little Princess by Frances Hodgeson Burnett – the main character, Sara, moves from India to America in the early 1900′s. Sara told stories to an African American servant girl named Becky, and while Becky became enraptured by the myths of the Raj’s and the gods, little Tara (c’est moi) did too. So commenced my fascination with India: with the food, the music, the dancing, the people, the architecture!
When we visited the Taj Mahal today, I felt like a little child again. The vendors harassed us and followed us, and I may have spent a little much on batteries, but the magic that encompassed the Taj Mahal proved to me that it is indeed deserving of the title “Wonder of the World.”
The marble’s way of reflecting the light made it look like it was glowing, and the symmetry of it all made the mausoleum look ethereal. I don’t think I can ever forget its ‘wondrous’ beauty.
The story behind it is romantic; the Raj built it for his third deceased wife to honor her memory with love. There are even some heart scrolls in the interior to emphasize this point, along with carnelian sunflowers and elaborate stone inlay and marble carvings.
I feel terribly for his first two wives, who bore no children and were not honored in the way the third wife, who bore fourteen children, was. I regret implying cynicism, but I question the Raj’s love for his third wife. Did he truly love her for who she was as his wife, his queen, or did he love her because she gave him a legacy?
I believe that no matter the answer, the structure that resulted is wondrous. That it was constructed in the name of love adds a little more romantic magic, though!

- Tara

Reflections while on the Bus to Agra

When I first arrived in India, I was reminded of a Hollywood media set or one of those amusement parks that creates little theme worlds to go along with their rides. I seriously didn’t believe I was in India, and the plane ride we took felt more like a place to watch Bollywood films and attempt to sleep.
On the bus to Agra, where the Taj Mahal is located, I can’t help reflecting on my time here in India. (Also, I am extremely knackered and you can safely assume, dear reader, that I will be napping after I write my thoughts).
India, like America, is full of a plethora of sub cultures. The North and South regions of India each are unique in their own ways (as evidenced by the different demographics, foods, clothes, and lifestyles). On top of that, India is futher divided into states. Yet there are multiple religions and bodies of people all coexisting peacefully and tolerantly; even though Hinduism is 80% of the population. The minorities are just as included and accepted – much like New York City.
One thing that has struck home with me is the woman’s role in society. It is strange to see only a small percentage of women walking in the streets of Delhi, when in NYC, women easily make up 50% of pedestrians. I attribute this to the different perceptions of a woman’s role in public and private spheres. Women’s role in India is definitely more outlined than that of the American woman’s. An Indian woman plays her main role in a domestic environment, in the private sphere; while the man is at home in the public domain, dealing with the social/economic/political aspects of life. Lately, a woman’s role is becoming less structured and she is acquiring the ability to pursue employment as she breaks from long-standing tradition.
I think the media plays a large part in the influx of women in the workforce. [Oh my goodness I was just whisked off the bus and I met a snake charmer and had a snake around my neck!!!!]
Anyway, I think the Western influences of women being featured in the workforce on television and the governmental push for a greater workforce are pushing the boundaries between the public and private spheres. The media is convincing many that this venture is widespread and therefore acceptable to go with the flow (especially for Gen-Y, whose growth has been affected by media since their youth). The recruiter of PwC India definitely commanded the room and proved to the men that women are more than capable of functioning in the business environment. It was entertaining to watch her one-up the men (make no mistake, I advocate equal roles in the workplace, it was just humorous to watch her roll her eyes and answer the question more effectively and accurately to the chagrin of her co-workers). I know that the amount of women in the workforce will exponentially increase as time goes by and technology advances and propagates more of the pro-female-work sentiment. I think it will be slow to gain momentum as Indians begin to break from traditional roles and practices.

Now, time for my nap portion of the Agra bus ride!

-Tara

Reflections while on the Bus to Agra

When I first arrived in India, I was reminded of a Hollywood media set or one of those amusement parks that creates little theme worlds to go along with their rides. I seriously didn’t believe I was in India, and the plane ride we took felt more like a place to watch Bollywood films and attempt to sleep.
On the bus to Agra, where the Taj Mahal is located, I can’t help reflecting on my time here in India. (Also, I am extremely knackered and you can safely assume, dear reader, that I will be napping after I write my thoughts).
India, like America, is full of a plethora of sub cultures. The North and South regions of India each are unique in their own ways (as evidenced by the different demographics, foods, clothes, and lifestyles). On top of that, India is futher divided into states. Yet there are multiple religions and bodies of people all coexisting peacefully and tolerantly; even though Hinduism is 80% of the population. The minorities are just as included and accepted – much like New York City.
One thing that has struck home with me is the woman’s role in society. It is strange to see only a small percentage of women walking in the streets of Delhi, when in NYC, women easily make up 50% of pedestrians. I attribute this to the different perceptions of a woman’s role in public and private spheres. Women’s role in India is definitely more outlined than that of the American woman’s. An Indian woman plays her main role in a domestic environment, in the private sphere; while the man is at home in the public domain, dealing with the social/economic/political aspects of life. Lately, a woman’s role is becoming less structured and she is acquiring the ability to pursue employment as she breaks from long-standing tradition.
I think the media plays a large part in the influx of women in the workforce. [Oh my goodness I was just whisked off the bus and I met a snake charmer and had a snake around my neck!!!!]
Anyway, I think the Western influences of women being featured in the workforce on television and the governmental push for a greater workforce are pushing the boundaries between the public and private spheres. The media is convincing many that this venture is widespread and therefore acceptable to go with the flow (especially for Gen-Y, whose growth has been affected by media since their youth). The recruiter of PwC India definitely commanded the room and proved to the men that women are more than capable of functioning in the business environment. It was entertaining to watch her one-up the men (make no mistake, I advocate equal roles in the workplace, it was just humorous to watch her roll her eyes and answer the question more effectively and accurately to the chagrin of her co-workers). I know that the amount of women in the workforce will exponentially increase as time goes by and technology advances and propagates more of the pro-female-work sentiment. I think it will be slow to gain momentum as Indians begin to break from traditional roles and practices.

Now, time for my nap portion of the Agra bus ride!

-Tara