India 2009

Jan 8th:

Market full of jewel colors Read more »

It's past midnight and I really should be sleeping but I wanted to write a quick note about my AHA moment today... we've been working really hard all week with the deaf campers here in Kolkata playing games and doing different activities relating to communication, culture, empowerment, etc. Today, I remembered WHY I entered the field of international development... why I want to work with deaf people all over the world, especially in West Africa, and why I leave the comforts of my home and am exposed to great injustice and inequality, poverty and suffering... Read more »

Sometimes I see the world as black and white in the shadow, there is so much that needs to be painted red, green and blue. I see India like a waterfall, it has a few ups, but mostly everything is going down. If I were a rainbow I’d carry this India across the gold pot. I have a dream that someday the deaf, blind, and mad will work together as one, through teamwork, communication, and trust. They will be capable of building towers and spaceships that will someday fly across the planet. Read more »

Once upon a time there was a giant named Johney. He’s shy and sometimes dislikes people who stare. The giant applied for GRO and got accepted. People think Johney is some white guy who’s 5 feet 2 with bracelets, four eyes, pimple face, with chicken legs. When everyone met at Bombay they were like, are you Johney. Yes, duh I’m the only male delegate. Walking down the street across Taj Mahal Hotel trying to order a bottle of water, the old wise man asked me if I am Indian, I said No I’m from Guyana. Ghana in Africa? No, I responded Guyana in South America. Read more »

The past few days we have been in India we have garnered stares from literally everyone on the street. Entire families, grandparents, children, wives & husands have followed us. They stop their day to day activities to come and watch us. They stare and stare and stare. When we take pictures they approach us from behind to see the images we've captured. They stand so close to us- something that would never happen in America where there is such emphasis on personal boundaries and space. Read more »

GRO... the first time I heard about GRO I did not know what it was. Now I look at GRO, now I am here, I see what GRO is. I learned there is a world with deaf people everywhere. They are poor or have no parents. There are deaf people who have no experience.  I learn from GRO then I teach deaf people. They can improve and become equal. Hearing people have experience, not the deaf people. I teach and work with them so they can be equal to hearing people. I want deaf people to grow. They can do it. Hearing people seem good with their lives and deaf people can’t have that? Read more »

At camp in Kolkata today, I did not know any campers and I did not fully understand their Kolkata sign language. Their sign language was different. It was hard to learn and to communicate with them. But I teach them so that they can understand.  Even though our sign languages are different, I can use what GRO taught me. The people at camp do not understand so I helped teach them. I spent time teaching them and making sure they learn about communication.  They enjoyed learning about communication. They got excited when they could understand me. Read more »

Soon as I arrived to Mumbai, I was faced with a multitude of sights and smells right in my face, unable to breathe in between everything I witnessed. One scene after another in immediate sequence. Indescribable, unfathomable atrocities. One smell after another all mixed up in a blender; soot, smog, body odor, urine, feces, incense, and spices. I was overwhelmed by it all. Read more »

I cannot believe its new year, 2010 already! It seems surreal that I'm starting my year in India. Today was pretty interesting day because of several pro and cons. Today, we managed to complete several days schedule for the camp with topics and activities.  But at same time, it was frustrating because I felt that some people was not taking this serious but we solved the problems and hopefully we all work together to improve our time management. Read more »

Each day continues to make me feel good about Global Reach Out. We are here to understand people, not our people but their people, their culture, their way of living and especially their needs and desires. Yesterday right before lunch, we completed an activity focused on conflict resolution. Sarah and I were in a group with two Indian delegates named Priyanka and Vikas. Priyanka is from Kolkata and Vikas is from Bangalore. First, we were to create a group name and a group dance. Our group is named Punjab because Sarah, Vikas and I learned the Punjab dance from Priyanka. Read more »