Peddie In India 2010

Golden Temple Group Photo

2010-03-20T10:13:00.000-04:00

Our group of adventurers posing for a photo at the Golden Temple

Commemorative Head-Coverings

2010-03-20T10:05:00.000-04:00

Head-coverings are required at the Golden Temple. In this picture, four of the girls are modeling their specially-purchased Golden Temple headscarves.

Ritual Purification

2010-03-20T10:02:00.000-04:00

Some of the girls washing their feet in the footbath at the entrance to the temple compound. The Golden Temple can only be entered with freshly-washed bare feet.

The Golden Temple

2010-03-20T09:59:00.000-04:00

Our last stop in Amritsar was the Golden Temple, the center of the Sikh universe. Our guide, who was a Sikh, did a great job of explaining the rituals and symbols, and the bravest of us even tried the prasad, the blessed food that pilgrims receive upon leaving the temple. (It tasted a little like maple and brown sugar oatmeal.)

Tragic Evidence

2010-03-20T09:36:00.001-04:00

Bullet holes left behind by the massacre.

Jallianwalla Bagh

2010-03-20T09:24:00.000-04:00

Our group visited Jallianwalla Bagh, the site of the infamous Massacre of Amritsar depicted so vividly in the film Gandhi. It was a very moving experience.

We Could Win It If We Could Understand It

2010-03-20T09:13:00.000-04:00

DAV tried very hard to teach us to play cricket, a game so inscrutable that I have to bring in a guest speaker (Mr. Watkins) to explain it to my Modern India class. In this picture Eleonore is about to get a great hit (although none of us knew exactly what it meant when she did).

Team USA

2010-03-20T09:03:00.000-04:00

Tino showing his national pride in a heated basketball game against Team India. Note the exceptional off-ball movement of the rest of the team. USA, USA, USA!

The Chairman

2010-03-20T08:56:00.003-04:00

Dr. Lakhanpal, grandfather of Nikhil and Rahul, addressing the assembly. Dr. Lakhanpal is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

Song and Dance

2010-03-20T08:38:00.003-04:00

The arts are obviously a big part of the curriculum at DAV. We were greeted in the lobby by a traditional Punjabi dancer, and were expected to join in. Once we were in the assembly hall, we were treated to further performances of song and dance. This girl is entertaining the kids with a Bollywood-style dance. During this dance, the master of ceremonies whispered into my ear, "Sir, your lecture is next. Can you please tell me the title of your talk so I can introduce you?" I had three minutes to prepare my own little song and dance. :-)

Unexpected Welcome

2010-03-20T08:26:00.001-04:00

Our casual visit to DAV International School in Amritsar, a school supported by the Lakhanpal family, turned into an unexpectedly formal event. We were greeted as esteemed visitors with garlands, sandalwood tikhs (forehead markings) and even a film crew documenting the occasion. This little boy is welcoming Eleonore with a traditional tikh.

Group Photo with Our Hosts

2010-03-20T00:06:00.002-04:00

An after-dinner photo with the Lakhanpals.

Dinner at the Lakhanpals

2010-03-19T23:57:00.000-04:00

Eating a delicious home-cooked Indian meal at the Lakhanpal home in Amritsar. Mrs. Lakhanpal (grandmother of Rahul and Nikhil) is standing in the background.

A Good Sign

2010-03-19T22:30:00.000-04:00

The giant sign greeting anyone entering India.

Closing the Gates

2010-03-19T22:17:00.000-04:00

The end of the ceremony, when the border is closed for the night.

Symbol of Unity?

2010-03-19T22:05:00.000-04:00

Curiously, the loudest applause of the evening was at the moment that the two flags crossed, when it was difficult to distinguish which flag was which. Is this a symbol of the Indian desire for unity? I'm not sure, but it's interesting that they chose to lower them in a diagonal X fashion rather than having them on flagpoles.

Flag-Lowering Ceremony

2010-03-19T15:26:00.002-04:00

The two border flags are lowered simultaneously.

Pakistani Women

2010-03-19T15:15:00.001-04:00

This is the women's section in Pakistan...men and women sit in two different sets of bleachers on the Pakistani side. According to our guide, this is relatively new; apparently, the Pakistanis are becoming more religiously conservative (our guide used the word "radicalized").

The Border Ritual

2010-03-19T15:00:00.001-04:00

Part of the daily border-closing ceremony. The troops closest to us are Indian, while the ones in black are Pakistani. Note that both are wearing traditional Punjabi headdresses, an interesting symbol of Punjabi solidarity. The people in the background of this picture are Pakistani spectators and tourists sitting in the VIP box in Pakistan.

Peering Into Pakistan

2010-03-19T14:46:00.001-04:00

We sat about 50 yards from the Pakistani border, and about 100 yards from the people watching the ceremony from their own set of bleachers on the Pakistani side.

Chak De India!

2010-03-19T14:34:00.003-04:00

Melinda, Stephanie, Hope, Charlie and Caity enjoying the Indian women dancing to Bollywood tunes while they wait.

Mother-Daughter Nationalism

2010-03-19T14:29:00.000-04:00

While waiting for the ceremony to start, Indian people lined up to take turns running the flag back and forth in front of the crowd. This is a mother and daughter running the flag together.

Watching Wagah

2010-03-19T14:13:00.000-04:00

Eleonore, Tino and Chris in the bleachers getting ready to watch the border-closing ceremony at the Wagah border crossing.

International Commerce The Hard Way

2010-03-19T14:04:00.002-04:00

These trucks passing the kids as they walk to the border are for international commerce betweeen India and Pakistan. Trucks drive goods to the border where they are unloaded and walked across then reloaded onto other trucks waiting on the other side. The two countries apparently make it too difficult to actually drive the goods across the border. No danger of a South Asian Union anytime soon.

The Road to Pakistan

2010-03-19T12:34:00.001-04:00

The six girls on the road to the Pakistani border, where we witnessed a highly entertaining display of Indian (and Pakistani) nationalism at the daily border closing ceremony.

Vocational Training

2010-03-19T12:29:00.000-04:00

Older girls learning to embroider, a money-making skills for these girls, most of whom won't proceed past the eighth grade.

Checking Out the Curriculum

2010-03-19T12:22:00.000-04:00

Alison taking a peek at the workbook the kids were using to learn to read and write in English.

Ganesha's Free School

2010-03-19T12:06:00.002-04:00

We visited a free school for low-income children sponsored by Mrs. Lakhanpal (grandmother of Rahul and Nikhil). This is a typical classroom. "Ganesha's Free School" is a rough translation of the school's actual (Hindi) name.

Amritsar Teaser: The Golden Temple of the Sikhs

2010-03-17T21:20:00.000-04:00

We have a full day ahead of us, but I'll add Amritsar posts when we get back this evening. Here is a picture to tide you over in the mean time.

The Obligatory Overnight Train

2010-03-17T21:10:00.002-04:00

Kids hanging out on our overnight train to Amritsar. The verdict on this quintessentially Indian experience? "It was pretty gross." Despite the gross factor, though, the kids stayed positive, had fun together and arrived in Amritsar in good spirits.

Leaving the Himalayas

2010-03-17T21:04:00.001-04:00

Looking upstream, you can see that Rishikesh is in a beautiful Himalayan valley. An brief jeep ride into these foothills provides a distant view of Mount Everest. Unfortunately, we had a train to catch.

Festival Crowds

2010-03-17T20:26:00.000-04:00

We shifted our itinerary from Haridwar to Rishikesh to give the Kumbh Mela a wide berth but, as you can see from this picture, we were still exposed to its overflow. On the positive side, the kids were able to experience the festival atmosphere surrounding the world's largest gathering of human beings.

The Holiest Souvenir

2010-03-17T19:24:00.000-04:00

Hope and Charlie collecting gangajal (holy Ganges water). Remember not to drink that!

Henna in Rishikesh

2010-03-17T19:20:00.000-04:00

Melinda having henna applied after the Ganga Aarti ceremony.

Lakshman Jula

2010-03-17T14:56:00.000-04:00

The famous suspension bridge over the Ganges River, connecting our hotel with the Hindu temples and ashrams on the other side.

Across the River

2010-03-17T14:51:00.000-04:00

The Hindu temple across the Ganges from our hotel. This temple was a multi-story temple with shops mixed in among the shrines. Our very helpful guide explained this to us; when Stephanie asked him why there are shops mixed in with the more religious elements of the temple, he replied: "For shopping!"

Teaching the Teacher

2010-03-17T14:32:00.001-04:00

I was invited to sit down with Gopal for a chat about the yoga lifestyle for the benefit of the students. I suspect that "You know quite a bit for an American" is a nice way of saying "You don't know much for an Indian"...I mostly listened while he talked.

Snortically Challenged

2010-03-17T14:28:00.000-04:00

I had to invent a new politically correct label for Stephanie's disability. In this picture, Stephanie is being gently scolded for her inability to snort correctly.

Snorting Yoga

2010-03-17T14:25:00.000-04:00

Eleonore and Melinda having trouble keeping a straight face while practicing a breath-expulsion technique that amounts to energetically snorting out one's nose.

Hope @ Peace

2010-03-17T14:21:00.000-04:00

Hope in a seriously relaxed state.

Gopal

2010-03-17T14:13:00.002-04:00

Gopal explaining Hindu philosophy in between yoga positions. He did a great job of making yoga accessible to high school students who might not have time to "fully embrace the lifestyle," giving the kids practical pointers about ways to use yoga to improve focus, concentration and energy.

Cobra Pose

2010-03-17T14:08:00.000-04:00

Tino, Charlie and Caity striving for enlightenment through a sincere rendition of the cobra pose.

Yoga with Gopal

2010-03-17T14:03:00.000-04:00

Our yoga session with Gopal, a local yoga master.

Ganga Mata

2010-03-17T13:58:00.000-04:00

Our hotel in Rishikesh was on a cliff overlooking the Ganges River, or Ganga Mata (Mother Ganges) as she is known in India. The breathtaking view made this an inspiring place to practice yoga.

Welcome to Yogaville

2010-03-17T13:51:00.002-04:00

On the banks of the Ganges River, nestled in a valley in the Himalayan foothills, Rishikesh bills itself as the yoga capital of the world. Famous for its association with the Beatles, who wrote The White Album at an ashram here, Rishikesh attracts Indians and Westerners alike to traditional and New Age versions of the ancient Hindu practice of meditative yoga.

Our Home Away From Home

2010-03-17T13:41:00.000-04:00

Chris, Charlie, Hope and Caity relaxing in our posh tour bus. We have had a bus like this in every city.

Still Smiling

2010-03-16T20:07:00.000-04:00

Old Delhi can be an assault on the senses, but this group of Falcons handled it with grace and came out smiling on the other end. This is the obligatory group photo in front of the Red Fort.

The Red Fort

2010-03-16T20:03:00.000-04:00

After our rickshaw ride, we walked down Chandni Chowk to the Red Fort. This is a picture of the front of the Red Fort; the flagpole is the location of the flag-lowering and flag-raising ceremony that ended the Raj and began India's history as an independent nation.

The Narrow Streets of Old Delhi

2010-03-16T19:58:00.000-04:00

This picture shows why we needed to tour Old Delhi by rickshaw. The narrow streets are a maze of shops selling specific things (i.e. a street that sells weddings saris, a street that sells kitchen appliances, etc.), and the crowds are thick enough that rickshaws are the best way to get through safely. Alison is in the lead rickshaw and I am bringing up the rear; as you can see, our group stretches out for half a block.

Rickshaw Ride

2010-03-16T13:08:00.000-04:00

Heading off from the mosque entrance (in the background) for a rickshaw tour of Old Delhi.

The Red Fort in the Distance

2010-03-16T13:01:00.000-04:00

The Red Fort from the walls of Jama Masjid. The two impressive buildings are connected by Old Delhi's main thoroughfare, Chandni Chowk, which is perhaps India's most famous street market.

This Way To Mecca

2010-03-16T12:55:00.000-04:00

This is the mihrab, which indicates the qibla or direction of Mecca. All worshippers face the mihrab during prayers, including the imam. The mihrab is shaped the way it is so that the voice of the imam will be reflected back behind him to the other worshippers.

Digging the Duds

2010-03-16T12:49:00.000-04:00

Melinda and Tino enjoying their mosque-appropriate clothes, provided for them by the gatekeepers of Jama Masjid who decided that their actual clothes were too risque.

Jama Masjid

2010-03-16T12:42:00.000-04:00

This is India's largest mosque, Jama Masjid. It was built by Shah Jahan at the other end of Old Delhi from the Red Fort. Shah Jahan was obsessed with symmetry, which is why this mosque has two identical minarets; most mosques only have one. This is the same reason that the Taj Mahal is flanked by two mosques, one of which can't be used because it doesn't face towards Mecca.

Old Delhi Teaser

2010-03-12T14:15:00.000-05:00

It's almost 1 a.m. and we leave for Uttarakhand at 5:30 a.m., so I'm going to have to cut this short for now. I'll leave you with this precious gem from Jama Masjid, India's largest mosque. Only Chris and I were deemed appropriately dressed for entrance into the mosque, while these other heathens and infidels had to don some very attractive additional clothing to bring themselves into compliance with a recently-tightened dress code.

Striking Cultural Difference

2010-03-12T14:09:00.001-05:00

Read the Delhi chicken dish (the second one). We thought perhaps the menu's author was being sarcastic, but Arvind informed us that in India "being calorie conscious" means paying attention to what you eat to make sure you get enough calories. This speaks volumes, doesn't it?

The Right To Protest

2010-03-12T14:05:00.000-05:00

Given India's origins, you probably won't be surprised to know that protesting nonviolently is the right of every Indian citizen. This is a group of unarmed police officers seemingly enjoying the march. I wonder if the kids on the China trip are seeing anything like this?

Communists On The Move

2010-03-12T13:55:00.002-05:00

On our way to our next destination we ran into a protest march led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist). Groups of communists starting from various points around the city were converging on Parliament to protest recent price hikes. Most of the kids were fascinated to see real communists in action. (Chris hid under his seat.)

The Gandhi Smriti Museum

2010-03-12T13:48:00.000-05:00

We began our next day with a visit to the touching Gandhi memorial museum located at the ashram where Gandhi was assassinated.

Waiting In Line

2010-03-12T13:39:00.001-05:00

The group waiting in line to get inside the Taj. (There are no pictures allowed inside, sorry.)

Taj Smiles

2010-03-12T13:24:00.000-05:00

Caity, Charlie and Hope posing on the pathway to the Taj.

Happy To Be Here

2010-03-12T13:20:00.002-05:00

Melinda, Stephanie and Eleonore in front of the Taj.

Shah Jahan's Permanent Love Letter

2010-03-12T13:18:00.001-05:00

Pictures never do it justice, but here's one anyway.

The Finished Product

2010-03-12T13:13:00.000-05:00

An inlaid marble table. Like everything at this workshop, it was beautiful but way out of our price range.

Agra's Treasure

2010-03-12T13:09:00.001-05:00

We went to a marble workshop where we were able to witness the process of inlaying the marble with semi-precious stones. This craftsman is created the recessed niches for the stones.

The Inner Sanctum

2010-03-12T13:05:00.000-05:00

The inner palace where Akbar lived with his beloved wife, Jodhaa. (See the Bollywood epic Jodhaa Akbar for a great version of this love story.) Note the basil in the middle of the courtyard, something that exists in every traditional Hindu home. We discovered that, among other things, basil cures cancer if you combine it with milk. Hmmm...

Chess Anyone?

2010-03-12T12:59:00.000-05:00

These students are in the middle of a life-sized chessboard used by Akbar for entertainment. What did he use for pieces? Why, his young singing girls, of course. They attended a special singing school for girls, and in their spare time they doubled as his chess pieces. I tried to get the kids to do this for me but they weren't buying it.

The Birthplace of Din-i-Ilahi

2010-03-12T12:53:00.003-05:00

I hesitate to do this because it will reveal how ultra-nerdy we are over at my house, but this picture is for my two older children, Beth and David. For those of you who aren't as in-the-know as my 11-year old daughter and 9-year-old son, Din-i-Ilahi is reputed to be the world's smallest religion, a faith created by Akbar that combined the teachings of the four great religions of his time. Akbar refused to force any of his subjects to follow his religion (including his Hindu wife), and only spread it to a few friends. It's also a beautiful building...

Having Fun in Agra

2010-03-12T12:44:00.000-05:00

The whole group together in Fatehpur Sikri.

Hands-On Learning

2010-03-12T12:39:00.004-05:00

Some of the girls getting a closeup look at Akbar's architecture.

Arvind the Great

2010-03-12T12:36:00.001-05:00

"Akbar the Great" might be a stupid nickname for Akbar (whose name means "great" in Arabic), but Arvind the Great is definitely fitting. Arvind is a former college professor who served as our tour guide for the five days we were in Delhi and Agra, and he was FANTASTIC. We learned a lot more about India from Arvind than simply the history of the sites we were touring...he was our India guru.

Akbar's City

2010-03-12T12:28:00.004-05:00

We began our visit to Agra at Fatehpur Sikri, the city built by the great Mughal ruler Akbar.

Train to Agra, Part Three

2010-03-12T12:24:00.000-05:00

Melinda and Stephanie on the train.

Train to Agra, Part Two

2010-03-12T12:22:00.000-05:00

Tino and Hope sitting across from Caity on the way to Agra.

On the Train to Agra

2010-03-12T12:20:00.000-05:00

Three quick pictures to make sure everybody gets a closeup so their parents can see that they're all happy and healthy. The front row is Charlie, Eleonore and Chris on their way to Agra; Caity is hiding behind Chris (journaling as usual...Caity definitely gets the Most Prolific Journaler Award).

Thank You eBusinessware!

2010-03-12T12:15:00.000-05:00

I promised our new friends at eBusinessware that I would put them on our blog (and a Falcon never breaks a promise). These are the people who made our visit to Gurgaon so special...thank you all so much!

The Obligatory Taj Mahal Photo

2010-03-11T23:51:00.002-05:00

The one picture that every group that goes to India must take.

Globalization in Practice

2010-03-11T23:47:00.000-05:00

We visited a glittering high-end mall in Gurgaon for comparison with the street markets near our hotel in Karol Bagh. I took this picture from the most popular restaurant there...notice the McVeggie Sandwich, the McPaneer Salsa Wrap and the Chicken Maharaja Mac! Is McDonald's changing India, or is India changing McDonald's?

International Women's Day

2010-03-11T23:42:00.000-05:00

They were celebrating International Women's Day at eBusinessware during our visit. My wife might recognize this picture (although you would have to add three children!). We thought it was very interesting that the superwoman in the picture is blond...nobody there had an explanation for this.

Globalization 101

2010-03-11T23:36:00.001-05:00

We began our first "globalization day" with a lecture by an Indian college professor who specializes in globalization and outsourcing issues. Kids learned the basics of globalization and how this connects to the things we would be learning in Gurgaon. Excellent presentation.

Touring a Call Center

2010-03-11T23:31:00.000-05:00

Visiting one of India's most prominent call centers, the Daksh call center owned by IBM. We had to sign a confidentiality agreement and give up our cameras at the door, so there are no pictures of this visit. Students really enjoyed watching young Indian customer service representatives taking train reservations and chatting about the latest soccer match with British people calling their "local" train company. The people I'd been talking with the previous day about my ATM card -- in an online customer service chat with Bank of America -- were right upstairs.

Witnessing Globalization in Gurgaon

2010-03-11T23:23:00.001-05:00

In the conference room at eBusinessware, Mr. Midha's software development firm in Gurgaon, where we were able to witness globalization in action. One of our students was able to identify the exact work unit that is now doing the job that his mother used to do at Merrill Lynch! (Don't worry, she has a better job now.)

Highlights Now, More Later

2010-03-11T23:15:00.000-05:00

Internet access at our hotel has been frustrating, and I apologize for the long delay in blog postings. I only have time to post a few highlights now, but I will have more time to add pictures and a journal entry around 11 a.m. Friday your time (at which point I will delete this message). Thanks so much for your patience. - Brad

Chatting While the Adults Conspire

2010-03-09T22:02:00.001-05:00

Kids from the two groups chatting together at a reception for our students. The adults were in the next room working out the details of Modern's visit to Peddie in May.

Modern's MLK Picture

2010-03-09T21:58:00.000-05:00

I like to show visitors to Peddie the picture of Martin Luther King, Jr. during his historic visit to Peddie to give a speech in our chapel. This is Modern School's version. Given MLK's connection to Gandhi's teachings, I think this is an interesting parallel.

Why Don't We Have Cricket Grounds?

2010-03-09T21:54:00.000-05:00

The combined group touring the cricket grounds. We were able to watch some of a cricket practice and admire Modern's pool (our new pool has them beat, but they have a three-tiered diving platform!).

CDLS

2010-03-09T21:49:00.001-05:00

Our able tour guides showing us a mural created by students from 19 countries at Modern School's last Community Development and Leadership Summit. Peddie will be sending a small delegation of students and faculty to attend the next summit in November of 2010.

Our Friends From Modern School

2010-03-09T21:44:00.000-05:00

Our kids became the first group of Peddie students to visit Modern School, our new sister school in New Delhi. This is a picture of our group posing with some of their seniors. A small group of Modern School students and teachers will be visiting Peddie in May.

On the Other Side of the Lens

2010-03-09T21:40:00.001-05:00

Charlie, Eleonore and Melinda posing for some of the boys at a more permanent community center for street and working children in Paharganj. The girls were trying to take pictures of the children, but the boys were more interested in playing with the digital camera.

Tell My Wife I'm Bringing Home A Surprise

2010-03-09T21:34:00.001-05:00

The temptation to adopt this entire group of boys was overwhelming. Tuition remission still applies, right John? Unfortunately, our Falcons had to endure one of the "hardships of the privileged" today; being filled with emotion in the face of desperate poverty, then taking a few pictures and walking away. A hard lesson for our first morning.

Evicted

2010-03-09T21:29:00.000-05:00

A government notice announcing the arrival of the bulldozers in the morning. Most of these people, who were squatting near the railroad tracks, didn't know where they were going to go next. Saalam Balaak Trust didn't have a way to house them.

Clowning Around

2010-03-09T21:24:00.001-05:00

Three boys from a ramshackle school built alongside the railroad tracks, operated by Saalam Balaak Trust. The boys were having a lot of difficulty concentrating because their makeshift homes were scheduled for demolition the next day to make way for the Commonwealth Games in October. (It's good to know that India is learning something from China.) Unfortunately, they had to cut their lesson short when the power went out.

Spellbound

2010-03-09T21:16:00.003-05:00

Tino listening to Brijesh tell stories about growing up as a street child in Kanpur and New Delhi. Brijesh was our guide for a tour through the eyes of street children provided by a nonprofit organization that works with some of New Delhi's poorest residents.

The Peddie-Mobile

2010-03-08T08:37:00.001-05:00

These are our wheels in Delhi. A comfortable place to experience India's rapid modernization...while sitting in traffic!

Hindi Class

2010-03-08T08:33:00.001-05:00

Arvind, a college professor from Varanasi, teaching us some basic Hindi phrases on our first morning in India.

Rooftop Restaurant

2010-03-08T08:29:00.001-05:00

Melinda and Hope enjoying breakfast on the roof of our hotel.

The Falcon Has Landed

2010-03-08T08:14:00.002-05:00

After two years of planning, our first Peddie trip to India has finally arrived. One small step for these eight students, one giant leap for Peddie School! This is our band of fearless Falcons at the Lakshmi Narayan Temple, one of the most famous Hindu temples in India, where we received blessings for our trip from a Hindu priest.