India's President on the Move in the US

Having now had firsthand experience, (though by no means an expert), about education in India definitely causes me some ambivalence hearing about the Indian Prime Minister's visit to Silicon this past week.  The reason for this is that I now know, that despite what seems like a vast amount of Indian nationals working in the technology industry in this country, it really is not even a drop in the proverbial bucket when one considers the population in India..1.2 billion people, and that a whopping 800, 000,000 of them are between 18 and 35 years old.  That's the country's future!!

My recent visit taught me that a great portion of this demographic is still not receiving a quality education, and some, those who reside on the streets, are receiving no education at all.

Should Prime Minister Modi be focusing his attention instead then on trying to see how he can solicit help educating his population more fully, instead of trying to woo back the "techies" to the homeland?

Silicon Valley Wooed by Narendra Modi

There is a phenomenon that exists where one doesn't begin seeing or noticing, say, a particular type of car until one actually owns one.  I expect most of us are familiar with this concept.

For me, it's playing out in the fact that so much in the news over the past couple of months relates to India!  Of course I just got back from visiting this awe-inspiring, complex country of paradoxes back in late July.  I can't help but be drawn to many of the reports because so many of them involve issues relating to women rights, and children's education.  See for yourself.  Take a look at some of the links below.

This story reminds makes me think of many teachers I met in Bangalore and Kerala



Do You Want, or Enjoy the Right to "Loiter" Where You Live?



Can You Imagine Living in a Place as a Female Where Your Birth is Not a Welcome Addition to the Family?

Kids Can Also Become Engaged in the Political Discourse

Interacting With Students in Wandoor 1

An entire week spent in Wandoor, Kerala at the Girls GovernmentVocational High School (GGVHSS) with young ladies who were a delight to be around! Not having many opportunities (for some none at all) to interact with people from the west, they were thrilled to have us mostly to themselves for five full days!

Many were shy at first, (perhaps after being warned by their concerned teachers and school leaders not to bother us).  The girls belong to many different organizations on campus including the band, the 4H Club, the English Club, and more, and all of these were represented at the welcome parade held in our honor.  What I noticed most was pride in their eyes, amidst faces bright with genuine, beautiful smiles.

Each day on campus students (teachers, and PTA members) came out in droves "to meet the Americans."  The entire week in Kerala was an honor, a spectacular time, and a humbling experience!

Each of my colleagues and I spent our time in myriad ways: the following are some highlights: *individually teaching classes of 50-55
*students interacting with teachers (some of whom came to classrooms to observe and had  questions for us)
*spending time with education officials who sought our ideas and opinions on how they could improve their school,
*enjoying Indian, and specifically, Keralites' kindness and hospitality (we were fed beyond belief, and were made to understand that it was parents who catered our lunches each day!!
*participating in panel discussions around Wandoor and neighboring Nilambur, and being interviewed (and constantly photographed:) by the media
*visiting a plethora of cultural sites
*being hosted by the families of new friends we met

**In addition to the picture and link below, click on the Kerala tab to see more stunning and enlightening images

                                                   Tree-planting on campus at GGVHSS

Girl Power at 4H Ceremony

India's Most Southern State

Kerala is India’s southern-most state. An important coastline is the Arabian Sea! There are centuries worth of history at every turn.

It’s the most literate populace in all of India. In the humblest of neighborhoods or districts, there are advertisements summoning the pursuit of a university education.  

Schools abound in very tightly packed areas, as well as on sprawling campuses.  In Government and Public (Private) schools, classrooms have students sitting shoulder to shoulder in numbers as great as fifty (to one teacher).  This is the norm. 

I didn’t witness a profusion of technology in most of these instutions; they were not lucky enough to have air conditioning, and they don’t have an abundance of fancy supplies.  But what they lacked in these areas, these schools made up for ten-fold in student motivation, teacher commitment, parent involvement, and pride in their community and country!

 Approaching airport in Kerala..as promised, lush greenery and beautiful hillsides

 Anticipation swells as Air India prepares for landing

Click on the Kerala tab to view much more.

Food Issues

I must be honest...I entered India with a mini supermarket---only a few items..tuna in all its varieties, and granola bars of all persuasions!! Because in my mind, and based on all the well-meaning advice I'd been given, I would "not find much that [I ]could eat," and I'd "get sick eating too much Indian food."

Well let me tell you....I have not for a long time eaten such delicious, tantalizing, delectable cuisine!!! To-die-for! I'm hooked!  I LOVE SOUTHERN INDIAN FOOD!!

Biryani, Masala Dosa, Gulab Jamun..Fish..chicken..and on and on! Dishes too numerous to mention..I'm sold people..hook, line, and sinker:)  So I bought two cookbooks...gonna have to get my chef--for real--I have a personal chef-Don Brown-that's my husband:)--gonna have to get him to delve into some of these recipes---he cannot eat cumin, and Indian food is laced with this spice.

Take a look at some of what I was into

 Choosing our own fish.

 An evening out for Goan cuisine with Team India including Emily on the right (from IREX) and Robyn

 Here's the fish prepared.

 What's left of all the sweets

 My ultimate favorite--Biryani:)

 You need something to cool your tongue off after eating that crisp little roll (next to the stainless steel cup) on the Kevin's plate...SPICY!!

 Me-enjoying myself, "stepping" into this food trial a bit at a time.

Some Viewpoints About India

Sharing Some Views:

Open this link in order to see brief powerpoint sharing some perspectives on India.

Open this link to hear Maya Menon of The Teacher Foundation in Bangalore

The Entrance to a small Government School in Bangalore