bangalore weinachtszeit

Christmas time in Bangalore is quite warm and comfortable.  News from home says Christmas time is exactly how I'd like to have left it: miserably cold.  While I miss Christmas activities and my cute husband and family, I am so relieved to be on the other side of the world of Utah snow.  I miss my students, too, but will be surrounded by students next week.  So far it's been a comfortable transition coming to India as a teacher.  It's nice to have pieces of my American life stay constant while away from the things that I love.

Bangalore, India is filled with ideal weather, endless culture, business & technology, good company, and although it's part of culture, it needs to stand alone: good food.  The weather is beautiful--t-shirts and pants work fine and there are rare moments in the day where I may want a sweater, but overall it's dream weather.  I love the sound of rickshaws, bikes, and cars weaving through each other like wild animals, but still in the end all making it out of the commotion unscathed.  Jingling jewelry lets you know someone is near, and adds charm to a stranger right away.  So many sounds permeate, my favorite being religious chanting.  Although the people are solemn and peaceful while they worship, there's also an element of happiness and joy in the process that comes off as a strong, almost visible feeling, as opposed to a gesture.  The sights too!  The saris, the gold, the bindis, the paint, the temples, the buildings, the hairstyles, and then there's the frumpy western business suits.  Business and technology have exploded in this city, metropolizing it and somehow inadvertently calling for western business wear.  The city is fast-paced and ever-growing, while at the same time slow and easy-going--Indian style.  Although I've heard many lament IST (Indian Standard Time), it's actually another charming part of the culture I'd love adopted in the U.S.  Probably less teeth would grit to alarm clocks until the inevitable trip to the sanatorium.  IST is evidence of the unique love and value Indians have for human life.  Meetings can go longer because it's okay to really sit down and get to know the person, which has been another treasured experienced while being here.  Such great company!  Both deep and shallow conversations have developed into lifelong friendships with people from completely different backgrounds, but similar feelings about love and life.  And lastly and most superficially, the food is rich, spicy, multi-textured, and so pungent that it tells a story.  FOOD'S HERE NOW.  SO THERE'S JUST NO REASON TO BE ON THIS POST ANYMORE.

LET THEM LIVE WITH DIGNITY

http://pathway.org.in/let-them-live-with-dignity/

Britany Barnes

By Britany Barnes

Pathway, Chennai is a place where a work of powerful love is being done, unbeknownst to many in the world. Several students with disabilities attend special education classes there, as well as participating in vocational classes and even paid work by creating beautiful works of art—from jewelry to nativity sets. No matter the severity or type of disability, all staff expect something great from every student. High expectations have made all the difference at this magical place. Many times throughout my tour of the facilities, I found myself choked up at the special work being done by very special people, both staff and students.

What was most charming about Pathway, Chennai and Chandra was the attitude of “ability,” rather than “disability.” Chandra never used negative words like “dis” or “unable” to describe the students skills, nor did she praise them like little children; she simply spoke of them as they are, human beings making a contribution to the world. She explained the importance of giving the world a more accurate view of what people with special needs are capable of and how they are indeed assets to the world. It is not her desire to yield sympathy of any kind from the public, only a better understanding of our responsibility to care for and love all people and value the contributions they make, despite obstacles their disabilities might make.

I felt a powerful jolt while sitting in the room with Chandra viewing the students’ final work all in glass cases when Chandra held her index finger up and said with a sincere expression, “Let them live with dignity.” What is most profound about her statement is the word “let,” which implies that there lies a responsibility for all mankind to pave the way for a change in thought, a change in action, a massive change in well-set norms. It’s time we let all kinds of people in our world live with dignity by first loving them, and next learning to understand and appreciate what they have to give. Chandra, Prasad, and all the people at Pathway are embracing that responsibility by dedicating their lives and hearts to this great work, and they do it with a sense of dignity, love, and the most humble gratitude.

seminary in india

My biggest surprise has come from realizing that students want to come to school, as well as seminary and church.  Seminary and church both seem so optional here, yet they all attend and are excited to be learning about the gospel.   I taught seminary five out of six days last week and was surprised to have several—dozens—of students find me in the hallways during the day I didn’t hold class to ask why there was no seminary.  Finally, after the 10^th student asked, I responded with a question in the sweltering heat of the hallway of an afternoon in Chennai, “Well, don’t you usually just do 2-4 times a week?”  This 17-year-old, less than 5-feet-tall, 10^th grader responded, “Yes, but we would like every day, please sister.”  Thinking she was definitely joking, I laughed loudly in her face, but was quickly dismayed to see she had stood completely still, save for a twinge of confusion in her demeanor and facial expression.  I immediately shut my stupid, loud mouth and said, “You are you being serious?”  She said earnestly, “Yes, sister, please.”   Seminary is being taught early in the morning during a study hall period wherein the students could have extra time to work on assignments, study for tests, or enjoy talking to their friends.  The assembly room is filled each morning for seminary; dozens of students come to my seminary classes, eager to learn, with only intrinsic motivation.  Their teachers don’t care if they go to seminary (they’re Hindu or Catholic), the directors are nowhere on sight until at lest 11 o’clock (hours after seminary has ended), and no one reports who went to seminary and who didn’t.  I’ve been completely blown away by the attendance, participation, and determination to attend seminary among these young Indian teens.   I can’t say I’d have the same attitude and behavior were I in their sandals.  Was that funny?

pathway in chennai, tamil nadu, india

http://pathway.org.in/

This time I am in the state called Tamil Nadu in India and have been completing various tasks while I’m here, primarily contributing to the development of a new volunteer program for Pathway School.  I have spent most of my time at Pathway (and the farm), a school serving 200 orphans, which in India means destitute, having a single-parent, or having been abandoned by both parents.  It has been made clear that priority goes to those who are the “poorest of the poor,” or students who would have never had an education or living quarters even slightly resembling what they have at Pathway.  On campus there is also a special school serving 30 students with severe disabilities.  The students there create beautiful crafts and works of art using recycled resources from the farm, while also attend special education classes, vocational classes, and physiotherapy sessions. 

Pathway is a matriculated school, recognized by the government as such, and has highly qualified teachers serving the children, all of which have at least their bachelor’s degrees.  The students at Pathway are following the footsteps of their leaders, making plans to acquire college educations as well, and some are planning to serve missions after college.  They are ambitious, studious people who seem to constantly be looking for ways to help lift burden.

I have had a more difficult time adjusting to the climate and time change here than I did when I lived in Bylakuppe, Karnataka.  It took only one good night’s rest for my body to acclimate to the changes in Bylakuppe, and I was totally able to carry on throughout the day just as I did in America.  Here I have trouble keeping my eyes open, even just at 12 in the afternoon.  The heat and humidity cause gravity to wrestle my eyelids down at the most inopportune times, even while attempting to teach a class.  So far I have taught seminary, English, and teacher trainings, and it seems I will continue to do so for the remainder of my stay.  The children are very receptive, especially those that understand more English than others, but the adults are even more receptive and learning at monumental rates.  The students participate the best they can, though most of them are still shy at this point and testing the waters of my behavior management system (of which I have no real formal system…).   The teachers and administrators sit intently and furiously write notes, similar to the teachers I trained in Bangalore and Bylakuppe.  They ask several questions showing their excitement and genuine interest in the topic, and always thank me and express detailed sentiments regarding the gratitude they have at having learned so much in such a short time.  Intrinsic motivation permeates the learning environments at Pathway.

The volunteer program is still in its early stages of development, but after meeting with the board of directors I feel I’ve seen definite promise.  The program will be a great asset to Pathway and will be a mutual benefactor between Pathway and volunteers.  I’m excited to be a part of the program and make it strong and healthy.

That's it.  I'm tired.

Mentored Research Conference

The Dean of the McKay School of Education

Dr. Gordon Gibb, my thesis Chair 

I presented at BYU's Mentored Research Conference and by some miracle won an award.  There was money attached, which was a lovely surprise, but more than anything I was happy to see that people have interest in my research.   Also, my thesis has been defended, the oral exam passed, and now I'm just anxiously preparing for another trip to India next month.   If I have my way, I'll be at these places in this order:

http://www.pathway-india.com/

http://www.lorven.org/

http://www.karunahome.org/