Great Weather, Great Week!

Hi Everyone!

I had a GREAT week! I spent my Easter break with Becca (who I mentioned last week) and her family instead of driving all the way back to Pennsylvania. Her parents were so kind to me, and her mom had so much food for us! We spent a lot of time outside soaking up the sun, and Easter Sunday was beautiful; it was about 85 degrees and so sunny! I spent so much time outside in fact that I actually got a little sun burn… oops! On Tuesday classes started up again, and at night I had practice for the upcoming DiverCity Festival. This is the second year the Diversity Committee is sponsoring the event, and I am really looking forward to it. Basically, it’s a big celebration of culture and a chance to celebrate our differences. There will be songs, dances, food, spoken word performances, skits, and a world fashion show which I will be modeling an Indian sari for, so it should be a great night! Wednesday was another gorgeous day. There were students outside EVERYWHERE on campus: playing Frisbee, doing homework, reading, chatting with friends, napping, and just having a good time. I even saw several classes being held outside. I guess the professors couldn’t resist the weather either! One professor even had his students carry their desks outside-check out the picture. Yesterday was the last day of nice weather, so I tried to enjoy it! I also went to my volunteer site, which is always fun… after all, who doesn’t like to play with babies for two hours?!? The nice weather and a light homework load was exactly what I needed to make this a relaxing week. Next week starts the final stretch: its Spring Week so there will be all kinds of events going on, (including comedians, game shows, concerts, a carnival and a dance) then a few more weeks of classes (and lots of papers due!) then finals, then summer!

Mindful Living

Hi Everyone!

I don’t have much to update you all on since it was a short week (our Easter Break started Wednesday!) so I figured I would talk about my housing situation next year. As a senior, I have chosen to live in Special Interest Housing. Each year before the regular housing lottery, every student from each class year has the chance to form a group for Special Interest Housing and apply through the Residence Life office. This year, groups that were approved include a Spanish Language House, Colleges Against Cancer House, and a Mindful Living House. Next year, I will be a part of the Mindful Living group. The three themes of Mindful Living are community, service, and simple living. As far as community, we have “family dinners” every Sunday where a pair of roommates prepares a home cooked meal for everyone and Café nights on Wednesdays (similar to coffeehouses). Service means service both to Stonehill and the community around us. This could mean volunteering as group at a soup kitchen for the day, or organizing a trash pick-up around campus. Finally, to live by simple living, we recycle, use a compost, shut off the lights whenever possible, use hand cloths instead of paper towels, and other little things. The group is made up of 48 people from sophomores to seniors, male and female. I think it is great that the college affords us this opportunity, and I am really happy to be living with a group of people who share common interests! I am also super excited to living with my friend Becca again; she and I met freshmen year because we lived two doors down from each other and we were also roommates sophomore year. But this year, we were both abroad in the fall and this semester she is completing an internship in New York City, so it will be GREAT to be reunited for our senior year! Check out a picture

of us all the way from frosh year...

Looking Forward

Hi Everyone!

This week, I have participated in a lot of activities that require looking forward to next year, including ALANAA Brothers and Sisters training, Orientation Team training, and a Town Hall meeting.

This past Saturday, the ALANAA Brothers and Sisters had its first training for the upperclassmen Mentors. For those of you who don’t know, the ALANAA Brothers and Sisters Leadership Program is a fall Orientation Program for first year students of color, international students, and students who identify as diversity allies. The program provides these first year students with the resources to shape and strengthen their experiences here and to empower their voice at the college. As upperclassmen Mentors, we will have training this semester, move in early in the fall to train more, and then be assigned a “little” brother or sister for the First Year Intercultural Experience Program, which takes place two days before the regular fall Orientation Program. Our first training consisted mostly of getting to know the other mentors and their experiences, and reviewing readings and videos on issues of race, diversity, and inclusion. For part of the afternoon, 8 out of the 24 of us split into an “advanced” group, where we were learning more about how to actually facilitate discussions on diversity rather than just participate in them. It was a really productive day, and I am super excited about our second day of training tomorrow! I always enjoy participating in ALANAA training because it brings up a lot of meaningful issues on campus, and allows me to learn about other peoples’ experiences.

On Sunday, I had training for the Freshmen Orientation Program. The Peer Mentors on the Orientation Team have several trainings this semester and about five days of training and preparation right before freshmen orientation in June. On Sunday, we discussed the ideal qualities of a Peer Mentor and also learned about how our personalities would affect the way we work with our partners. It was great to see everyone again; this was the first time we were all together since the retreat a few weeks ago! It is also really exciting to start talking about orientation in real terms; as a third year Peer Mentor, I know what to expect, so I can’t WAIT! (June isn’t that far away right?)

Finally, this past Tuesday, the Student Government Association sponsored a Town Hall Meeting that I was able to attend. The President of the College, Father Cregan, was there, as well as several other administrators from offices like Intercultural Affairs, Student Affairs, Academic Services, Dining Services, and Health Services. The great thing about this meeting was that it was all about the students getting their voices heard; the administrators we there to listen, not to speak. There were three main topics that the SGA Executive Board Members introduced, and for each topic students simply needed to raise their hands for the microphone and speak their minds. We were able to discuss access to student services (like library or cafeteria hours, or health services), inclusion and diversity, and academic resources for smaller majors and minors (such as classes, internships, and career help). There was also time at the end of the meeting for students to address issues that weren’t covered already (such as environmental practices on campus). Overall, the meeting was extremely productive. It was a great opportunity for the administration to keep in touch with what Stonehill students are saying and thinking around campus, and I think that they really appreciated that chance. All of these events had me thinking about next year: the programs I am involved with, how I will be spending my time, and what I would like to accomplish. I can’t believe next year will be my last!

Back in the Swing of Things

Hi Everyone!

I know it has been awhile since you’ve heard from me; I had a hard time readjusting to life in the U.S., so the Admissions office was kind enough to give me some “time off” until I felt ready… but now I’m back!

Let me catch you up on my life since India… leaving my program and the other students I met there was one of the most painful things I’ve ever done. I felt a profound connection to the other 15 girls in the program, I had fallen in love with the country, and I believed I would never again have such meaningful, life changing experiences. While I was home on Christmas break, I enjoyed seeing my family and hanging out with my friends, but there were so many times where I did or said something “Indian” and people didn’t get it, or something happened and I wanted to tell the girls from my program but they weren’t there. Still, overall, I was pretty content and I figured my feelings would fade as time went on.

When I got back to Stonehill, I was so happy to be back and see everyone. I went to the Snowball Semi-formal dance (this is a picture of me and my roommate, Kate, before the dance), got involved in my clubs and activities again, and caught up with friends. But as the days went on, I started to fall back into the feelings I had when I left India. I struggled with the fact that I am a different person now than I was last summer and felt that I was not having a significant impact on anything. I also felt pressure to come back and be the same old “well-adjusted” student… like I had this amazing experience but I should just come back and pick up right where I left off.

But don’t worry, I’ve reached a turning point! A couple of things happened: I had a great conversation with one of the student life staff here about what “well adjusted” actually means, I ran for (and won!) the Student Government Association Executive Diversity Chair position for next year, and I attended the annual Orientation Team retreat. My conversation with Liza (a wise women who runs Intercultural Affairs here at Stonehill) reminded me that I can define “well adjusted” for myself, so I have chosen to define it as using my experiences to be an insightful, helpful leader on campus. One of the ways I’ve started to accomplish this is by accepting the position of Executive Diversity Chair for next year. I’ve also put together a presentation on studying abroad in nontraditional countries with a few other students, and I am contributing more to my class discussions in my Buddhist Ethics class and my Gods and War class and working on an internship with Massachusetts Jobs with Justice. Finally, the retreat with the new freshmen orientation team (check out the picture of me on the retreat with Mike and Dan-two new members of the orientation team) reminded me that there are still meaningful, life changing experiences to be had and absolutely amazing people to meet- just in a different capacity then what happened in India.

Last week was Spring Break, and I had an amazing time catching up with friends. I attended the Scranton St. Patrick’s Day Parade and, since I am 21 now, I even got to celebrate at a popular bar downtown-check the picture on the left to see how crowded it was! When it is all said and done, I really feel like I am finally back in the swing of things. =)

I'm Packing Again!?! Really?

So its a Saturday night, and I find myself packing...again! It feels like yesterday that I was settling into my apartment here in Delhi, but in reality it has already been 24 days! I remember when a month seemed like such a long time, but now I am left wondering where the days went. And I'm not just talking about my independent study period; my whole abroad experience has felt this way. Arriving in August, December seemed SO far away to me, but here it is. At the same time, I have experienced so many things that it seems impossible that I've only been here for 3 months. Time is a tricky tricky thing! I literally have only two weeks left in India, and I am ready to make the most of it! Tomorrow I am taking a train to Darjeeling (a city known for great hikes, tea plantations, and Buddhist monasteries) to meet up with some of the girls from my program and do some "touristy" activities. Then a week from today, we will take a train back to Jaipur. In Jaipur we will all present our projects, complete some wrap-up activities, and even have a formal banquet for our host families. Then, on December 12th, I will board a plane and head back to the United States. I already know that I am going to cry, and it will be a very bittersweet experience. I am really looking forward to seeing my friends and family in the States, but I will also be heartbroken to leave this beautiful country and say goodbye to all of the wonderful people I've met here. My traveling won't end there though. The day after I get home, I am driving up to visit Stonehill! It may seem crazy, but I have a lot of friends who are studying abroad next semester, and this will be my only chance to see them before they leave! I'll be at Stonehill for 3 days, and then I am looking forward to hanging out at home, seeing my friends in Scranton, and getting to know my new dog, Sookie (take a look at the picture my mom sent me)!

Body and Beauty in India

Since my arrival in India, I’ve noticed a few differences in Indian body image and beauty perceptions, but things really came to my attention this past weekend. Unfortunately, I contracted a bacterial infection from something unsanitary that I must have eaten or drank, and ended up in the hospital for 3 days this weekend. It wasn’t a big deal, I just needed to receive IV antibiotics, but while I was there, there wasn’t much to do besides watch TV, so there were definitely some things about beauty and body image that came to my attention through movies, TV shows, and especially commercials.

Skin color is a major focus of the commercials that show on Indian television. Here, the lighter your skin, the more beautiful and admirable you are. There are all sorts of lotions and face creams you can buy that will supposedly make your face and skin 5 shades lighter. Most of these commercials have the same plot: A young woman is unhappy-she is dressed in unflattering clothing, wears no make up and her hair is usually pulled into a simple pony tail. She laments to her beautiful, well dressed, light skinned friend with long flowing, shiny hair. This friend suggests “Ponds White Beauty” (yes that is an actual product) or something like it. The girl uses it, and suddenly not only does her skin turn lighter, but her whole life improves. Her hair and clothes are better; she has more friends, etc. Finally, the commercial ends after this girl gets attention from a man; sometimes staring, a date, or even a marriage proposal!

These commercials stand in stark contrast to the advertising for tanning that I, as a white middle class female college student, am bombarded with in America. The tanning industry in the United States collects roughly 5 billion dollars in revenue this year. Falling into the target consumer group, I am “told” through media and advertising that pale is sickly and unattractive, and clothes look better and sexier if you are tan. Even in the middle of winter, I should still have a “summer glow”.

So my question is: why can’t we just be happy with what we have? Indian people, in my opinion, are beautiful people; there is no reason to mess with this by trying to be “fair skinned”. Same thing goes for fair people in the U.S. Why is one complexion supposedly so much better than the others? In my opinion, all “shades” of people are beautiful. This sounds cliché, but for me its truth. How boring the world would be if we were all the same color! I have a vague idea of where these conceptions of “superiority” come from (historical and cultural context, socio-economic perspectives, advertising, etc.) but I sure wish there was a way to undermine this trend.

A more positive trend that I noticed was the actresses in movies and television here. While their hair, makeup, and clothing are usually close to perfection (much like in the U.S.), their bodies are much more realistic. Western culture has become notorious for super skinny actresses; the kind of girl who’s ribs and spine are easily seen, who has a super flat tummy, no hips, and perfect legs. Not to say that this describes every “western” actress or celebrity out there, but if you are being honest with yourself, you will admit that this does fit the majority. Indian actresses however, while still slim, have hips, and even a tummy! This gives a more realistic image, rather than the “skeleton” look. Don’t get me wrong, I am not bashing skinny people; some people are born with great genes, have a great metabolism, and/or eat right and exercise properly, and that’s wonderful and healthy. I have a problem with celebrities who are so skinny that there is no way they are eating normally, or they are exercising excessively. It sets unrealistic expectations for girls and women. So, in this regard, it is great to see more realistic women on the big screen here in India, and it’s even greater that these women are considered beautiful and physically attractive. I hope this trend will continue in Indian media, despite western influence. That’s all for my little rant, hope you at least found it interesting!

The First Taste of Goodbyes...

I’ve handed in my last assignment, taken my Hindi finals, packed my bags, and said goodbye for now to my host family. All of the major “To Dos” are crossed off. I am going to the capital of India for one month by myself to research and write on a fascinating subject. I am gaining independence and adding another city to my list. I am even producing a research project for my portfolio. So why this pesky feeling?

I know why. Because I’ve handed in my last assignment, taken my Hindi finals, packed my bags, and said goodbye for now to my host family. All of the major “To Dos” are crossed off. I am going to the capital of India for one month by myself to research and write on a fascinating subject. I am gaining independence and adding another city to my list. I am even producing a research project for my portfolio.

This means leaving the nest all over again, so who wouldn’t be nervous? The routine I’ve had for the last two months is gone, and that means so are my teachers and staff (for the time being). I am also saying goodbye to the 15 girls who’ve been with me through the ups and downs of this crazy experience, and the family I’ve shared a home with. Who will tell me how much a rickshaw ride from the mall to the cinema should cost? Who will walk to Café Coffee day with me after class? Who will meet me in the Old City for shopping on a Saturday? Who will give me the name of the best tailor in the city? Who will talk me down when I am thinking about all of the readings we have due? Who will I talk down? What 15 girls will get ridiculously excited over a new jar of peanut butter with me? We all knew when we signed up for this program that there was an independent study project awaiting us, but what we didn’t count on was the dependency we would come to have on each other. They truly are my security blanket: we are there for each other through every small victory, outrageous cultural difference, funny story, and bad day. It is going to be a major adjustment living in a big city without them, but at the same time, I know this will be an incredibly rewarding experience culturally, academically and personally. And most of all, I know that THEY WILL BE THERE WHEN I GET BACK. Until that glorious one week reunion in December, I will save up my humorous stories and cultural challenges, and I know that they will do the same for me. But we won’t talk about the real goodbyes that will shortly follow when we all return home to the states, because that is just too much to think about.