November 1st 2003

Hi all….
Sorry for the delay in getting the website up. There have been various computer problems, as well as lack of time, and the fact that we are outside of Bangalore in southern India, in a little town called Whitefield. Internet, while available, is at least a 20 minute walk away. For the time being at least the update below will have to suffice untill I can get some more photos up…they will arrive eventually, I promise…

…And before we knew it, we were in Banglore, celebrating our half way point of the trip over cups of tea (and coffee) in the cafeteria in the Eccumenial Christian Center in Whitefield.

When we left off, our faithful adventurers had just embarked on free travel. Dispersing across the country by means of planes, trains and automobiles our group members enjoyed ecclectic free travel experiences in cities varying from Calcutta to Bombay. With our solo missions behind us, we came together once again as a whole on October 12th.

After a night of hugs and stories and mosquito-free sleep, we rose from our post free-travel slumber…ready to take on yet another part of our uncharted india. This time the challenge was more cosmopoliton, more smoggy and larger than life: we were in Bangalore…

With journals at our sides and extra pencils stored deliberately in our packs we have been exploring high and low through the “Silicone Valley” of India. One of our first days out on the town we visited a call center called B2K and its cohort, a company with similar goals called MindTree. Winding through a maze of cubicles and PC’s we learned about the voices on the other end of the telephone when we call for help in times of computer strife in the United States.

Taking a break from all our field trips and lectures, we said “Good bye” to eacother once again and said “Hello” to our new Indian families for our weekend homestays. Our host brother and sisters were our age and college students at small universities similar to Lewis and Clark. When the weekend was over, our members returned to ECC groomed, showered with gifts, boiling over with experiences and ten pounds heavier.

We have taken a break from the nine to five of city life as well and headed out of Banglore in a few “extended fieldtrips.” Our first excursion was to an NGO called Young India Project that is responsible for creating micro-credit banks for women and organizing worker’s unions in rural areas. We enjoyed farm life for three nights and continued on our eating spree, consuming what seemed like hourly servings of comfort food provided by our thoughtful hosts. A wonderful trip it was; however, we learned that there is no such thing as a quick get away for our adventurers as our bus became disturbingly lodged in mud at one point. Another excursion was to an intentional community were it’s inhabitants live sustainably. Indulging in lively conversation peppered with song at some points, we observed development with a more personal approach.

With two final weeks of Bangalore exploration ahead, we leave our adventures as they are alive and well, enjoying Bangalore and their new Levi’s… the action never ends…if only their journals and the walls of hostel five in the Eccumenial Christian Center could speak…
-Kea Krause

Click on the links to the left to see photos and read our stories.

UPCOMMING
November 11th 2003 - One week of free travel to work on projects and travel to Delhi
November 24th - Two weeks in Delhi to complete and present projects
Program ends, December 5, 2003

 

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