The Basics

Somnambulist Seeker and Sky asked if I could do a quick explanation of my trip. It couldn’t have come at a more perfect time, as this morning I received my assignment. It’s still a bit vague, but I sort of almost like it better that way. I like that it will all be new and unexpected.

Here’s what I do know for certain. I’ll be volunteering at Mobile crèches, which is a non-profit organization that provides day care facilities to the underprivileged children in the slums and construction sites of Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Gurgaon & Noida. The centre caters to the holistic development of the child, which includes nutrition, education & basic health care facilities and community outreach. I’ll be working with children from ages 3-6 and teaching them everything from their ABC’s and colors to sharing and working together in groups. I think it will be a really amazing experience.

I’ll be in New Dehli for five weeks and then Dharamsala for seven. I have yet to receive my volunteer assignment for Dharamsala, but am told it will be along the same lines. Because I don’t know very much about either place, I thought I’d just post a brief explanation taken from the Cross Cultural Website, the program through which I’m volunteering.

About Dehli: “Built on the Yamuna River, New Delhi is the capital of India and is both a thriving modern city and home to much of India's great history. For centuries, the area has been a central hub of Indian life, with roads leading to every part of the country. International travelers come to India to see some of the world's most beautiful architecture, from the Great Mosque to the Mughal Palace. Among these grand structures you will find people from all over India. Cross-Cultural Solutions was founded in India and the first Volunteer Abroad program site opened in New Delhi in 1995. Country Director and local community leader, Bela Singh, played an integral role in developing our volunteer program and the organization as a whole. This will come as no surprise to volunteers who have already visited India or know its history; from Ghandi to modern activists, the people of India exude creativity in the face of challenge. In the streets of New Delhi, you are sure to encounter unimaginable poverty, but if you are open to learning, the experience can offer insight to global issues and the resilience evident in the individuals you will encounter will inspire you.”

About Dharamsala: “Located in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, Dharamsala was founded as an Indian Hill Station during the time of British rule and did not receive much attention until 1959, when the Dalai Lama fled to the area and settled at the former hill station. Dharamsala is set in beautiful cedar and deodar forest with the Himalaya mountain range as its backdrop. The nearby snow line makes the location even more picturesque and is a popular starting point for hiking, while the temples reflect the influence of Tibetan culture that has impacted this region of India, making it a unique meeting place of two ancient traditions. The refugee Tibetan community is rich in culture and welcomes visitors; volunteers in Dharamsala enjoy learning about its customs and history and often visit the area where the Dalai Lama resides.”

They’re just brief explanations really, and don’t even begin to embody what I’m sure to discover there. I’ve already begun to form ideas and visions in my head, but am quite certain they will all be quickly surpassed. Three days. Three days. Oh what a life I lead.