Journal entry date: November 10, 2003
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Few Glimpses
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Since the beginning of the week I conducted
cooking class, so I am going to throw some light on the choices
which is available in this country. In countries such as India
grocery shops are often known As 'Provisional stores' where
one can buy ingredients which is useful for cooking. But grocery
stores in the United States have even cooked food stuffs. The
only difference between the grocery and the supermarket is that
there is more number of choices in the latter and it has even
ingredients all over the world. The area of the shops is also
vast. So you can cook any kind of food you want as long as you
know to cook them . When I was cooking, I realized how in our
countries women complicate themselves by cooking all the time
.If women had to be empowered the first thing they should do
is 'free themselves from the kitchen '.American food has lot
of salt. The only good part in their food is that they have
a lot of green salads. The other difference is that sweet is
served at last as 'dessert' where as in our countries sweet
would be the first item that they would serve. I no wonder doubt
with so much of choices in the food it would definitely lead
one to obesity. Because even if they had to burn the energy
there is no scope for many to walk since most of them own cars.
So since the food is not taken as medicine, they end up paying
a lot for their medical insurance.
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In work:
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On Monday I was quite happy because I
had an opportunity to cook for a score
(20) As a fund raiser event for jagriti. (to meet some of our
expenses in Newyork and Washington).The only job I did was to
complete the report. See even though I spent few long hours
in cooking I do not consider that as work (that is an Indian
mind).On Tuesday with the help of Mauni I started volunteering
at the public school in the mornings .In these public schools
children from Mexican find it hard to cope up with their studies
because for many of them the mother-tongue happens to be Spanish.
So few of them take a back seat in their studies .Many of the
Mexican parents too think that they it the responsibility of
the teachers and they have no part to play in their child's
education. The Principal of the school having heard from me
about the kind of work she asked me to spend time with the few
fifth graders who had some problem in interacting with the class.
So the whole of last week in the mornings I am helping those
girls to read and slowly helping them to speak up. The monitoring
system in the school and in the civic society is so hard and
fast that their is zero percent dropouts in the Primary school.(The
other reason is that the federal law is also so strict that
it sees to it that no child drops out of school) When a lesson
is taken in the class it is not just reading out of the lesson
but the have even the facility of audio-visual facility which
helps them to deal a subject matter for a quite sometime and
when it comes to science it is much more useful. Every classroom
has a television, overhead projector and a small library.
On Wednesday I had an opportunity to see the volleyball team
at Girl's Inc playing versus a middle school team .In this country
sports is part and parcel of their life. Volleyball is popular
among women .It so happens that if a child plays for the high
school she gets a scholarship for the college education. The
college education is quite
Costly that every parents send their children to get involved
in sporting events from a very early age. Most of the girls
from GirlsInc-Carp had got scholarship for their higher studies.
Having started to volunteer in schools I wished to see the transition
that girls undergo after attending GirlsInc-Carp and it was
so obvious that many children really are outspoken in the classrooms,
express themselves freely and are really bold. That was so obvious.
On Thursday I was trying to know more about the internet and
Aaron was helping me out
On Friday after my working hours I went with Patty Bliss to
spend the weekend with the family.I did not realize that I would
have so much of reception for my cooking in the American households.
On Saturday she took me for shopping and I bought dresses for
kiddies and my God the prices are so high mainly because many
of the materials are imported from various countries. I did
not sneeze much in the mornings during the weekend because their
houses were on the plain.
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Social and cultural events.
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On Sunday, by noon I got back
to my host family and auntie took me to the symphony and later
in the evening she took me to dinner where I relished a vegetable
dish with lot of greens in it. Later in the evening I went to
watch the country dance and I told to myself that this would
be the last one which I am attending, In the country dancing
I was so strange because I never made an attempt to dance which
would given a strange feeling to the people who were dancing
because everyone who comes there wish to dance and not to be
a spectacle.
On Tuesday in my host family few women singers came together
and sang old hymns mostly with biblical text more than the religious
part they focused more on the harmony that the songs created
.Even though I do not have very good vocal chords for singing
I was one among the group joining in the chorus. They also sang
a iddish (the language which they spoke when Jews came to Germany)
song It was really good to hear.
On Saturday evening Patty took me to Mikki's place where we
had an informal meeting with Rashi kallur(works in Citi bank
and my corporate sponsor for this Bridging worlds program) .Since
Patty is also the board member of Girl's Inc she was able to
discuss more about it.
To be continued.
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Journal entry date: November
3, 2003
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The first day of this week
was so important to me because I was invited to the board meeting
of Girl's Incorporated. Oh! What a vast difference between the
meetings of this country (in non-profits) when compared to my
own country. The board members were on time the accounting system
is so transparent, that they discussed about it with an outsider
even like me. It is no wonder these organizations grow over
the years, because apart from outside funding every active board
member tries to generate funds using their own influences. When
the president of the board invited me to present Took that opportunity
not only to present but also to express my plans to begin Girl's
incorporated in India. In India there were women's club initiated
during the early decades of the 20th century, which over the
years had emerged as one of the strongest women's organization
in the country (All India Democratic Women's Democratic Association).
But for the Girl's nobody had ever thought of starting a club
or a house, which would really make her a better decision maker.When
the meeting got concluded Mr. Winfred (the president) told me
that after their project in Oxnard they would consider of doing
something in India. I do not know when this might take place
but I have sown the seeds in their mind. When companies like
Coco-cola would find market in India, am sure that even good
institutions such as Girl's Inc would one day find its way to
India.
On Wednesday before our staff meeting I had a meeting with Devorah,
who is the director of the teen programmed in Girl's Inc and
a long time volunteer of Girl's Inc.She works with the juvenile
prisoners .She told me that a child is taken into custody for
reasons such as not attending the school and being a runaway
from home or it may be like who is charged of murder. The children
between the age group of ten and twelve become the potential
ones for selling drugs and weapons (rifles). In this country
it is so easy get access to rifles. The other threat for children
is the formation of 'Gangs'. In Ventura a county near Santa
Barbara their was around 17 killings in 2002. If one could probe
into the killings and if one think as to who would be enemies
of these children it is so awful to find that if a policeman
arrest them for being runaway from home, or the teacher who
was harsh with them or sometimes racist feeling become their
ultimate targets. In these juvenile homes in a month there are
around 45-60 cases are registered. I won't say it is high because
in countries such as ours there won't be cases of weapon selling
among children but definitely there are no hard and fast rules
to monitor the Public so closely. In one-way here the monitoring
system is highly scrutinized but the other major reason for
many children to get trapped is because for most of them the
family unit is not so strong or it is sometimes parents get
engaged too much in their work that they hardly get any time
to monitor their kids. One should also bear in mind that they
also come from single parent families. The gang system is even
prevalent among girls and the worst thing about the gangs here
is that to prove as a member of the group, the boys really are
beaten and sometimes it leads to hospitalization and among girls
they get raped by each member of the boys group. If one analysis
the psychological reason behind that they somehow wish to get
the attention of others seldom realizing that they destroy themselves
to get the attention. Among Girl's many of them find refugee
in older men (Relationship with minor girls is totally against
the law) but they do it because those men are able to buy things
they need. Any way the important outcome of the meeting was
that Devorah had got permission for me to be one of the guest
speakers in one of the juvenile homes. Devorah had one major
complaint about these homes is that children who have done minor
or major crimes are together and sometimes the ones who come
inside the home for committing minor crimes get an opportunity
to learn more things from the other ones.
I am also preparing to design a brochure for Girl's Inc
Few Glimpses:
On Tuesday when Mauni was driving me to the Girl's Inc I found
out that the Sun was completely red and when Mauni told me that
it was because of the smoke I could not believe. Yes in Southern
California there was a big fire, which damaged around 3,300
homes. It was not the natural disaster but they suspect the
Arsonist. Arsonist is generally described here as male, under
18.white with subnormal intelligence and social misfits. They
only suspect and in one of the dailies it was told that it is
difficult to find out the real culprits because evidence would
be damaged by fire and this artificial ignition of fire remains
still a myth. Thank God it rained on Friday, which would have
really helped the fire extinguisher. Thought only in countries
like ours most of the time the slums are set to fire with vested
interest in the area by the big shots or sometimes due to inhabitants
who are mostly like arsonist set fire to the place. So east
or west people are the same everywhere.
Social and cultural events. On Tuesday uncle and aunt (my host
family) took me to the Prague chamber Orchestra. Many of the
participants were from high school students sometimes when circumstances
make me to cancel few programmes I really feel bad about it
because for many of the programmes aunty would have already
booked for me and Iam sure that many a times it is not reimbursed.
On Thursday evening Mike took us to meet a family where the
grandmother was taking care of six of her grandchildren. Both
their parents were arrested for using drugs and those kids were
really happy to meet Mikki, because apart from running Jagriti,
Ilearnt that Mikki was also helping those children and was also
helping their parents to get legal aides. In my eyes the grandmother
looked like an angel. Vicent&Victoria the elder ones were curious
to know about things from our countries and when they drew our
flags even the younger ones too kept them busy in drawing. So
the little ones always follow the footpath of the elders. So
that is the reason Think they should be the best role models.
When we entered the house the first question Vincent asked us
was whether we would have like anything to eat or drink (which
is so an unusual question in American hospitality) When I left
the home my heart was heavy, because raising 6 children is not
an easy thing to do.
From there we went to meet Friends of wev (women's economic
ventures). This group was a serious group most of them had retired
from active business. During the interaction a question was
raised by one of them, which was unique. Since in our presentation
both of us (myself and Indira) told that we wish to remain single,
the question was that if getting married (for women) in this
social work is so difficult how was that the good things we
have would be passed on to the other generation. For anyone
with question like that I have one answer For passing on good
things it is not necessary that we have to give it only to blood
related people, we should be even more thinking wider if we
are working for people directly. It does not matter as to whether
they are your own as long as they start owning you as theirs.
On Friday from 8.30 in the morning to 12.30 we had the opportunity
to spend time with the eighth graders in a private school .It
was the Halloween day and most of the children had dressed up
for the occasion (This is the day before the all saints day
where they believe that all the ghost wander around and that
was very obvious from the attire they had, this info is only
for readers outside the united states).
(To be continued)
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Journal entry date: October
29, 2003
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It was during the third week
of October, I had an opportunity to spend time with of our fundraiser
Pam, I was so annoyed because in places I had worked the only
form of fundraising was to write proposals to donor agencies,
but here they have individual donors, state funding, few foundations,
the money from the philanthropic community and surprisingly
even from the beneficiaries. (In our countries there are few
sections whom we serve always think that they are always privileged
to be at the receivers end and never give a fraction of what
they get). Even though if the programmes are meant for them.In
Girl's Inc they organized a programme called the 'taste' even
though the community participated was not the beneficiary, these
were the philanthropic group who in a way wished to benefit
through the money which they got through the bidding and auction.
It is also an important point to note that United states as
a Christian nation have something deep rooted to help the have-nots
.or in simple terms if they have two they give away one.
In the same week Ruthie, the incredible leader spared some of
her time to discuss something about the strategic planning.
Here in this organization not only the staff's are given the
jobdescription, but they are even given strategies which would
be really helpful to fulfill the job description. In the board
they also have equal representation from each level to raise
their voice and they all work together to make things happen.
It is really not a one person
show. Since this organization is one of the affiliates
of the national organization of the U.S, it is more organized
even in paper and It had just got one specific role over these
years to make girls strong, smart and bold.
I had also started working on page maker and Photoshop this
week. There were also programmes in our organization which also
brings in parents into the organization to see such as Fun nights,
where they given opportunity to see what their children had
learnt during their time in GirlsInc-Carp.
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Social and cultural event:
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On Friday my host family took
me to Camerata Pacifica and on Sunday they took me to the Santa
Barbara Symphony even though I did not understand the notes
I enjoyed the music. The evening ended up with our dinner in
a French restaurant, and especially on Sunday evenings the bearers
come up with as many suggestions possible simply because they
really do not have what you really ask for. But finally we ended
up having what was really good for us.
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Few glimpses of American
life:
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In Santa Barbara County on
every Saturday we have 'Farmer's Market' (This is the place
where they buy the organic food, which is free of pesticides).I
heard that every place in the U.S have such places on different
days where the community buy things .For me it was so strange
because in countries like India, there are U.Scompanies which
supplies & advocate artificial fertilizers and pesticides for
our farmers, and back home their own kith and kin try to buy
things which is grown organic. Here I would like to draw an
analogy from India where people who are owners of steam boats
always try to buy fish from the catamaran fishermen because
the steam boats always stays in the middle of the Sea for days
together and most of the fish they market are considered as
old and not so healthy, but majority of them end up eating the
fish which is brought down by the steam boats because it is
available in plenty and the prices are cheap. But one thing
that needs appreciation of the Farmers market is that at least
they revere their own Farmers by buying things directly from
them where in our country because of the middle men and the
drought monsoon the situation of our farmers is terrible and
there are often instances where they commit suicide as a family
when the monsoon fails as many of them are in debts. (They borrow
from money lenders for the seedling and other equipment.)
The other good thing I learnt from this country is that every
morning whether inside their home or outside they greet eachother.Really
few formalities have positive strokes.
The other good lesson one had to learn from the U.S is their
volunteerism, whether it
is School or workplace the community has a sense of belonging
and volunteering their time and energy is part and parcel of
their culture. They also have something called garage sale,
when the family splits for some reason or when they have excess
of things they bring it out for sale, which in one way stops
the influence of middle men.
(To be continued)
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Journal entry date: October
27, 2003
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In work:
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On Tuesdays and Thursdays Ms
Marni drives me to office and she is also one of the founding
members of Jagriti International. She also volunteers in the Canolina
School. So this paved way for me to go inside the school to
see the transition that the GirlsInc-Carp undergo after attending
the School enrichment and the other reason is that I could also
understand the Public School System.
The classroom I visited was groups were two grades were together
the first and the second. In the second grade, the teacher had
just then finished taking a lesson on Kindness and the children
were asked to write what they think of kindness and what they
would like to know from kindness. For the first question they
were able to answer, and I was wonderstruck because in India
we do not have such syllabus which discuss something about such
values (Now I understand why volunteerism is so embedded in
their life)The teacher was helping out a Spanish speaking girl
,who was in her first year of learning English. and since the
size of the class was small they were given individual attention.
When the first graders were given some work the peer group was
helping them out and these kind of mixed groups with few strength
were found in expensive experimental schools. We also came to
know that there are few other sections in the first graders.
So in short in our education system if they employ more teachers
many of our kids would not become drop-outs.
The teacher in the meantime awarded points for the table which
was silent and working on their own and the second graders were
given sometime to finish their work and the teacher read out
the sentences which they have written without disclosing their
names.
In the meantime she also announced the kids that few of them
would get awards for being helpful to others, and she also added
that they would receive this before the entire school and even
the awardees parents had already been informed about this.
From there I moved to the fifth graders and I met them in the
theater where they were personifying some characters and enacted.
From there they were taken to the classrooms and were asked
to take up some breathing exercise to keep them relaxed. From
there they were taken to the kinder garden where they were helping
the young ones with reading. And later they were left to play
and I spoke about the situation of children in our countries.
In all these classes I found that the children who were attending
GirlsInc-Carp were really bold in expressing themselves.
In United States, children have so much access to the learning
materials, and the teacher tries to keep them engaged in as
many activities as possible (both indoors and outdoors) This
keeps both the children and the teacher busy.
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Social and cultural Activities.
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On Tuesday my host family took
me to Santa Barbara Orchestra, I was really able to enjoy the
music of the four seasons .I was able to understand it much
better because I have heard the music as background in few movies.(I
am deeply indebted to them for what they do) On Thursday I relished
the taste of the Nepali food cooked by Indira.In one of my earlier
reports I forgot to mention that Patty bliss arranged a Lunch
with Kavitha Ramdas (CEO, GLOBAL FUND FOR WOMEN) and I was able
to understand the American Politics through their discussions
(bit of a political science class).Later in the day we attended
the symposium
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Think
globally and act locally. .which was hosted by Santa
Barbara Foundation for their 75th Anniversary. It turned out
so important because Kavitha Ramdas in her address noted that
it is the Jagriti International which is really thought globally
and had acted locally, mentioning our Emerging Leaders Programme.Since
many of them gathered were local community benefit organizations
(that was the term given to non profits in the Symposium) it
would have made really Mikki feel glad because among the gathering
there were few who were approached by Mikki for the Emerging
Leaders Programme.
(To be continued.)
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Journal entry date: October
14, 2003
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(Every detail of my report
is unbiased and is portrayed not to offend any of the American
or their cultural practices.Characterisation of few, is truly
my own feelings and I hope every reader reads it with pleasure
and I request not to generalize things as I have just made an
attempt to hold as a mirror of my days in the U.S)
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Few Impressions
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Of the many women whom I met
all these days it was next to the nuns in the Vedanta temple
it was Patty Friedal and Patty Bliss in whom I was able to see
their inner self on their face. It is so amazing that they even
share the same name. I met Patty Bliss, for the first time when
I went to GirlsInc-Carp, every time she uttered my name it had
so much of 'sense of belonging' and when we spoke in Casa-de-Maria
I had a chance to dine with her for Lunch and she was quick
in delivering things and one common thread that runs in both
the Patty's is that they were more an open book (they shared
a lot about their family) On that day I was happy when I heard
that Patty Bliss had donated 500dollars to Jagriti.But till
28th of September I did not knew that it was Patty Bliss who
would take the job of getting me back home after my work in
Carpinteria.I am really indebted to her because she considers
us(emerging leaders)as a treasure. At this point Iam even reminded
of the Wallins who not only drives me in the morning but they
are so kind that if they had told me that if I have any trouble
I can always call them. I am recording all these details because
for a reader it may appear simple but it makes a big difference
for people who are involved in it. Right from the time I landed
in the United states giving a 'bear hug' was one the first things
I learnt, but when few men were introduced to me either I shook
hands and when they came friendly I told them that I would prefer
them to wish the Indian way that is bringing both your hands
folded just across your chest as an mark of respect.
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Social and cultural activities
of the week.
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My host family really gives
me a taste of America during the weekends. On 6th for the Sunday
evening they took me to the American traditional dance (square
dance) before leaving for the programme they showed me the steps
and I chose to watch. The most beautiful part of the programme
was that young people who otherwise say that elders are too
much for them, Ifound that both elders and young ones dancing
trying to keep pace with each other for such long hours dancing
together.
On Monday I had the pleasure to cook for my colleagues in GirlsInc-Carp.There
was of course a change in the taste may be even though I got
those in the Indian market many of the processed stuff had lot
of preservatives which may be one of the reasons for the change
in the taste.
On 12th in GirlsInc-Carp we had the fundraiser programme known
as the 'Taste' my God I was able to see the overwhelming community
participation how much ever the total population of Carpentaria
may be approximately
Fifteen thousand and fairly so many started donating in the
form of kind, a week before When I asked few of them as to .Is
this the phenomenal pattern all over the U.S they said that
the Santa Barbara county, people are more concerned about their
community and even in other parts of the U.S they said the community
participation is more when compared to the other countries .So
that is the reason I think 'U.S
is the envy of the world and owner of the Pride. My host
family also took me a concert by Peggy, a famous singer of the
Western world; I think her name was Margaret. She was singing
the old folk songs of America by switching on from one musical
instrument to the other (This was the first time I have seen
somebody playing a harp).I does not know how many more things
I would say that it was my 'first time experience'
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Weekly Report
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This week I learned about the
Science and Maths programme in GirlsInc-Carp.Every year during
March -April science exhibitions takes place. So this programme
intends to invoke the scientific temperament among GirlsInc-Carp.
Anna, the real etymologist I think definitely shapes the young
minds to make them future women scientist. In India children
are only taken to Zoo's, but her in GirlsInc-Carp children are
taught to handle animals and make them friendlier towards it
.Every Monday the children come and provide food and clean them.
At this age I was only able to handle crickets, rats but definitely
not a chameleon or frog. Where as the children were able to
do it.
This week I had also worked on my typing.(but it really needs
improvement)Since few of our colleagues left for Las Vegas I
was attending to very of the front desk work but once again
our organization got volunteers from the nearby college to attend
to the work in the absence of the other. An elderly person Jin,
who is also the mother of one of the staff volunteered to do
some tasks .In one way every one over takes one another in Volunteering.
As per my plan last week I was not able to get hold of Pam ,to
know about fundraising stuff as she was busy with actual fund
raising programme ,in a way I was able to have a first hand
experience of what fundraising in reality is all about.
This week I would spend sometime with Ruthie Tremmel to know
more about Planning of a project and monitoring.
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Journal entry date: October
12, 2003
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Domestic Violence Solutions
was the last organization of the day. This organization reminded
me of Renuka (our director) who always wished to have an intervention
center such as one of these because whenever any women reported
to our office because of domestic violence, we were really not
in a position to provide temporary shelter.
On 13th of September, it was important to all of us because
that was the time when every one of us had to talk before the
Public. But somehow having understood the enormous expectation
of Jagriti& the seriousness, every one of us with our own shortcoming
managed to speak. There was one another thing, which was a tonic
for us, is the yoga, which really made us cool. The panel discussions
on education was lively (thank god everyone of them stayed until
it was over, howmuchever the group was small it was a serious
group) Finally when they departed they left something in our
hands which I think will safeguard till we get back home in
December). It was on this day I met the cofounder of Jagriti
Ms Lindsay Shields Greene.
On Sunday the 14th Patty Friedal along with Mikki took us for
Lunch in Tajcafe and it was interesting to see Chris (patty's
son a fifth grader in Montecito having his first Indian lunch)
I should not compare one with the other but still of the children
I met in America, he is such a such a calm and respectful child
(sometimes to bring out the best in others I have no options
but to compare)
On the same evening I had the opportunity to dress Ms Pakistan
(Ayeesha), Ms Afghanistan (Sadiqa) and have course Ms China
(Jin). It was so beautiful to see all the Women in sarees. (Proof
for these is the photos in our October newsletter)
Once again our journey began we went to the Pacific Institute
for Health in Los Angeles. It was good to see every woman who
have got enough field experience and were talking from their
hearts about the difficulties faced by women especially when
they comprehended about the situation of women in Latin America.
Mind boggling discussions of the day. In a way it helped to
understand the fixed agendas that the donor agencies come up
with
On Tuesday we went to Universal studio, oh! My God it was like
seeing all the movies in the same place because the settings
of movie from time in memoriam was displayed. I was able to
understand how they risk themselves to produce fake things especially
the (water world). In the same evening I found I had acene on
my face and even however Mikki was friendly to us when it came
to the point of asking something I was drawn into my shells
like a snail (Ayeesha, later helped mikki know about it and
immediately Mikki got medicine for the same). This is how our
depth ness also developed as sisterhood in the days to come
On that day I learnt two lessons one was to speak for ourselves
and the other is that even small things such as acene makes
you worry when you are in a new place altogether.
In the same evening we had an elaborate Indian dinner hosted
by Mikki's father in LA.
The next day we went to Palm Springs and stayed in Hotel Holiday
Inn. We were expecting Mary Ann who supported in conducting
workshops in India and Nepal Since she did not turn up we were
left to ourselves and it was during that time we felt that a
network need to be established among ourselves (among the present
emerging Leaders). The following day we had an opportunity to
do our presentation before the Chamber of Commerce .It was before
the meeting we had time to interact with those members in the
Lobby hall. In the evening MaryAnn took us to a Mexican restaurant
and gave us dinner.
On 19TH we were in the fantasy world yes the Disneyland .For
people like me this was leaps and bounds. Whenever I went to
these places I was remained of my mother and brother who always
wanted to be in such places to enjoy things. Anyway people who
deserve the most do not get it and people who are seldom worth
of things get it. In the evening we reached Lindsay's place
and every home almost made us feel that we are at home. Thanks
to Geoff who really kept us lively with his political criticism
and all the help he did to us before every meeting.
On 20th we had brief presentation on the shores of Bay, which
was recorded so well When I spoke I did not even realize that
I was talking before a Camera) Thanks to the whole community
who live like one extended family. Later in the day leaving
behind Pushpa and Ayeesha (for they had to go to their respective
organizations Washington D.c and Minniaples.At this point I
had to thank Mikki for no one at this age and accomplishment
did so much, especially when she took us to San Francisco it
was not a compulsion but she knows that people like me and Indra
would hardly get a chance to see these things. In sanfrancisco
we stayed in Presidio inn .The same evening Mikki's long time
friend who is a nurse took us for sight seeing .The next morning
we continued sightseeing in the bay and headed towards Anne
firth, founder of the Global fund for women it was worth million
dollars to interact with the visionary woman.
The next day we left for Global fund for Women and spoke to
Ann and Megan who were in charge of Asia-Oceania regions .In
spite of the busy schedule &appointments Kavitha Ramdas joined
us in the middle of the discussion and felt that Networking
of regional groups would be more effective, so as an response
Bridging world -2 leaders who had already formed a network in
spirit are now planning to submit a proposal to the Global fund
for our next group of Emerging leaders. Mikki thanks for the
comfortable stay and drive that you had done to us.
On 24th we spoke to the Soroptomist group in LA.leaving Kabitha
in women's funding network the day before after our meeting
with them. Soroptomist was a 90 member group comprising of Businesswoman
and that was our last PowerPoint presentation in the first three
weeks. Most of them were involved in Health services for the
community and when instances were citied they were moved and
whether they understood or not they were appreciative for the
things we do as women. So in short we were almost educating
the American public on the happenings that take place in the
development work in India, Nepal, Afghanistan&Pakistan.On 25th
we had a small presentation in Long beach before the garden
club whether the experience interested or not the jewellery
impressed them (jewellery made out of women's group) interested
them the most so in a way it was useful to us. Finally Mikki
and Sadiqa left for Santa Barbara to be on a show and Indira
and myself spent our weekend in Lindsay's house and made a big
mess in the Kitchen in the name of cooking. On 26th we also
had a meeting called the 'reviving of the feminine spirit' and
I think that was the only meeting in which I spoke naturally
without any preparation or just by recalling my memory. In my
next journals I would like to introduce Patty Bliss and few
others who are the real philanthropist
To be continued.
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| Journal entry date: October
9, 2003 |
Dear Mikki,
Yesterday the rest of the report did not go through Bettine's
e-mail. Lawrence had sent it from his email. Did it reach you?
Please let me know about it. Today I am sending just the report
of our meeting in Montecito school, which I think is the only
instance which I forgot to include in my yesterday's report.
On 15th September through Patty Friedel, we had an opportunity
to meet students of the fifth and sixth grades. I was very glad
because children were always my interest, partly because I work
for them too. The principal introduced us, and each one of us
were given a couple of minutes to talk about us. When one of
the emerging leaders from Afghanistan was explaining to students
as to the plight of children in Afghanistan, she citied an example
where a child was given some money by her parent and left the
open ended question of guessing what the kid would have done
with that money. I was taken back by the response one of the
students gave (The answer was probably a gun). The afghan woman
included everyone of us was taken back with the answer. But
this was learning for us. It was really good to see children
free of fear and confident even before strangers, which is totally
different from our students where they are always coy and fearful
before strangers.
It was here we met Patty Friedel's son Chris. At the end of
the programme children came to us and shook hands with us. Few
of them even asked about my attire (saree) and they were shocked
to hear that I was clad in a five and a half yards cloth. The
teacher said that they would measure and see when they go back
to their classes).I was so happy when the superintendent came
to me and told me that he was really impressed with the story
I told. It was about the journey of a boy who belonged to a
ordinary fisherman family, rouse against the odds to the level
of chief scientist and now the president of our country.
Bye, see you in the evening!
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Journal entry date: October
8, 2003
|
I really have to thank the
Jagriti International for giving me my first opportunity to be
on a plane. It all happened because of Jagriti's eligibility
criteria for this internship programme. I was the only person
in the second level in the grassroots organization and my organization
(CWDR) forwarded my application to the Jagriti International. When
I first arrived in Los Angeles I first met Ayesha from Pakistan
and Patty Friedal, who was full of life and briefed us about
Disney Land but it was later when we learnt that she was the
one who sponsored us for Disney Land. Later she was the one
who drove us to Mikki's place, which was up in the mountains
(my ears popped up as we went above). Mean while we were joined
by friends from Nepal and Pakistan. From the 7th of September
till 27th of September Mikki's address was our home. The first
day before our dinner as our ritual we were asked to bring flower
to decorate the vase. There were two things which striked me:
one was a quotation from Margaret Mead as to how small groups
can make big difference and it was clear when each one of us
brought one flower and made the vase complete, another observation
was that how one could decorate their flower vase at others
expense (just a cranky idea)
The very next day we broke the ice when we were asked to get
to know the person we knew the least and in that way we got
introduced to each other. It was so interesting to meet a few
acquaintances who were volunteers working for Mikki, that they
have traveled so much, and they were open when they said that
they have half-brother and half-sister. It was after that a
reporter from Santa Barbara appeared on the scene and took some
interviews, since this was the first time I really don't even
remember of what I spoke, but I was able to see in the next
day paper as to what I spoke the previous day. One thing lingered
around me of what the reporter said that not all American live
this way (referring to Mikki's beautiful house). In the afternoon
we went to the Mission and right from that day their was one
person who was always with his third eye (video camera) anyway
we knew that he was doing a promotional video for Jagriti, but
I was completely embarrassed because these things were really
new to me.
In the afternoon we went for our field visit to WEV (Women's
Economic Venture) As bees would surround the flower, the young
women at WEV, like bees, made a quick arrangement to discuss
with us. Judith was quick in delivering things and each one
of us shared about ourselves, and there was a brief discourse.
At this point I felt that OH! This is how they work quickly
in the United States. That night I had a taste of American food
(thanks Stacey, you helped me with the fork and knife)
The next day the imaginary Marsha Bailey (we were not able to
meet her when we went to her organization the previous day)
appeared and handed over to us few guidelines, which even after
a score of presentation remains a bible. On the same day we
were asked to use the microphone, and using it in front of the
group was a bit difficult because our sound echoed, and I was
bad in hearing because of the echoes and it was very loud all
the time. For the lunch at the Vedanta temple - thank God I
got some Indian stuff. Their face was like angels on earth.
The same evening I was given the opportunity to give my Power
Point presentation Late in the night I was asked to speak before
the camera for the promotional video and I always wanted to
thank Jagriti and Mikki but constantly forgot to do that on
occasions so I now take this opportunity to do that. In the
video presentation I was beating round the bush and I do not
know how useful it was to the foundation.
On the 11th of September we walked on the shore hand in hand
to reminding each of us that 9/11 will not happen anymore. In
the evening we were asked to write a letter to ourselves. We
are really testing Mikki because till this day few of us have
given our letters, in which we are supposed to write our fears,
expectations and what we are really looking forward to.
In the evening we were in Patty Friedal's house for the dinner.
As is very typical American culture, I forced myself to go to
each of them to get introduced, and Mikki was particular that
not too many of us group together (among the emerging leaders).
It was here I met my host family
On September 10th we visited the Girl's Inc (my host organization).
I am open to learn and unlearn things in Carpinteria (I have
written more about it in my weekly report) From there we moved
on to the Transition house (I do not know why I PAID very less
attention to the things which may be because my question was
that when people are not able to support themselves why then
they have a family).
To be continued.
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Journal entry date: October
3, 2003
|
It was on 28th of September my internship
in the Girls Incorparated of Carpinteria began. On the very
1st day my acquaintance was with Asa,the cultural team director
who introduced me to the rest of my colleques with whom I would
be working for the next two months. In Girls inc every person
working their is going to be my mentor because every one is
'work specific' and they are all master's of their own.
The first half day Ialmost spent in reading the documentation
trying to understsand their programmes which is designed in
such a way to empower the girld child into strong,smart and
bold.It is children from two Public schoolswho get beniffited
out of the Girls Incorparated.between the age group of 6-18.Programmes
on the whole is called the 'Afterschool enrichment Programme'.By
12 noon children in the kindergarden comes to Girl's Inc.Most
of the time it is Jackie(the most energeticand highly motivated
person along with Adriana(the instructor for kindergarden)takes
the responsiblity to bring children to the Girl' Inc. and around
2.20 in the afternoon the other grop of adolescent girls is
brought by Lourine and Mary lewi.So being the first day I was
with the Kindergarden and I found that they have access to lot
of Learning materials and most of the time the job of the instructor
is to facilitate.Smart room is the place where the children
get the oppurtunity to know more about the Lifeskills.(It was
similiar to our Montessori method of Teaching)In the late afternoon
I spent my time with the cultural team who were preparing a
play with Asa for the Hallouine(Iwas excited to hear about this
social event,which for me appeared to me as one of the reinvention
of fairy tale).In short these are the few things I learnt during
last week
1.As I told my organisation (Girl's Inc) that I need to learn
computers,From tuesday every 1st hour in the morning with the
help of (Aaron) I learnt to format edit page layout ctc in MIcrosoft
word threough the Educational training method.
2.In the evening I make use of the computer center run by City
college to send my personal and official mails.
3.After going through the documentation now I have a fair idea
to Format schedules to internal and externalevaluation of our
organisation.
4.The idea which I had accumulated over this week is to carry
back home the systematic and scheduled way of following things
how much ever simple they are.
One of the lesson learnt during this week was that in Girl's
Incorporated whether it is the Member in the board of Trustees
or the common person their participatin in the working of the
organisation is the real masterpiece. Durin the next week Iam
also looking forward to work with Pam a parttimer who is in
charge of Fundraising&Grant making.As I also went with Jackie
to pick up children from the satelllite schools,Ihope I would
be asssuming that duty because few of my collegues are leaving
to Las vegas to attend conference of the Girl's Inc. If any
of you readers are interested to know more about Girl's inc
or any of you who didn't understand the work through my writing
you can visit at www.girlsinc.org and that is also one of the
reason why Ihave not written much about things which is already
written in the website.My report would be incomplete if I do'nt
mention about my host family.They are Mrs Bettine&MrLawrence,the
former is a musician and the latter is a artist .Both are new
to me not the people even the profession ,but they have almost
become like my parents because they help me to understand both
about the culture and food of America.It is always our dining
table which becomes our seat of learning about various things.This
weekend they took me to Madama Butterfly a popular Oprah,where
I was able to see many of the white collared Americans.and for
the Sunday night Iam going to experience Santa barbara counntry
dance society,(American folk dance)(I will also include my experience
in the next week report)
My thanks also goes to Ruthie Tremmel ,Executive Director a
down to earth person who constantly saw to that Iam engaged
in the most interesting way.
Scotlin
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