Rotary in Action

A major part of our GSE program includes attending Rotary meetings in all the cities we visit and also attending the District Conference for our host Rotary district.

The District Conference actually occurred early in our exchange, held January 10-11 in Bhopal. This was a great opportunity for all the team members to learn more about Rotary as an organization, as we are all currently non-Rotarians and have had little exposure to the more formal governance and structure of Rotary at the District and International level. We especially enjoyed attending the District Conference at the beginning of our journey as we were able to meet many of our future hosts. The highlight of the event for our team was an evening cultural program, where dancers exhibited a variety of classical Indian dances and musicians played a combination of modern and folk songs. Our team was asked to share an American cultural performance and since no one on the team is a talented singer or musician, we tried to win over the audience with a comedic display of popular American dances. As we’ve continued our travels throughout Rotary District 3040, we receive repeated requests for encore performances.

The Rotary Club meetings have many similarities to the Rotary Club meetings our team has attended in the U.S. , especially the recitation of Rotary’s 4-Way Test. The meetings also include signing the Indian national anthem. We initially were also asked to sing our own national anthem until it became very clear that our group is rather tone deaf. Most of the Rotary Clubs we’ve met have evening meetings where the entire family attends. The Club Rotary meetings also give us all the opportunity to learn more about the many service projects of Rotary clubs in India.

The Rotary motto is “Service Above Self” and nowhere is it more apparent than in India. The Indian’s believe that anything is possible and they work hard to achieve the best for their communities. From Bhopal to Ujjain to Ratlam, the team has witnessed the impact that Rotarians can make in their respective communities. In some communities the Rotarians prefer to give money while in others they prefer sweat equity to money. The unmistakable and unifying theme is the desire to improve the communities and the world in which we all live. Some such as those in Ratlam prefer to raise money in the community instead of requesting matching funds from Rotary International; while others such as some clubs in Bhopal prefer matching funds to provide wooden benches to government schools.

Hospitals and education are among the most popular beneficiaries of the Rotarians in District 3040. These also happen to be the fastest growing industries in India due to the large population. The population demands education and healthcare, yet the government cannot keep up with the demand leaving much room for improvement of infrastructure in the form of building structures such as water wells at government schools and services such as kidney dialysis centers name only a few.

It is very apparent to the team that Rotary is a critical asset to the communities in which they serve, especially in District 3040. The work is impressive and we all are inspired to learn more about what the Rotary clubs in our District are doing and what more they can be doing in our communities and abroad. In a nutshell, India, and the world, is fortunate to have Rotarians who strive to make the community strong in spirit, mind and body.

Health Care Comparison and Rotary Involvement

“A patient is the most important person in our Hospital. He is not an interruption to our work; he is the purpose of it. He is not an outsider in our Hospital; he is a part of it. We are not doing a favor by serving him; he is doing us a favor by giving us an opportunity to do so.” This is the Motto of the Bombay Hospital. Very powerful if you ask me. Most businesses would benefit with this commitment to service. In addition to their commitment to service, the Bombay makes their Healthcare very affordable, even by Indian standards. Unfortunately, there is not a Bombay Hospital in every village of India…

What have we learned about Health Care in India?

First of all, Health Care is much more affordable than in the United States. If you look at a majority of the Hospitals in India, you will soon figure out why. Equipment is old, conditions are poor, demand for service is overwhelming, and it is difficult to keep up. As GSE Team Members, we are privy to seeing the best of the best in India; fortunately, we also get an opportunity to see where the real problems lie. Believe this; there is much need for help in this Developing Country.

Fortunately, we have groups like the Rotary Club. For the most part, Rotarians acknowledge the importance of good relationships with elected officials, and network with industry leadership to get things done. It is unlikely to visit a city in India, where you do not find a Rotary sponsored Park, School, or Hospital ward (just to name a few). The Rotary Club of Ratlam has done an outstanding job and has excelled at providing much needed support in the medical field. Just today, we visited a Rotary Food Center at the Hospital, a Dialysis Center, Burn care Unit, Eye Bank, and a Rotary Ward at a Civil Hospital. They understand how to network with the right people in order to get the job done. Action and Momentum is Crucial; and Rotarians in Ratlam are not lacking in either of these.

Secondly, when we view the better Hospitals in India, we see that Government has strict regulations on Insurance Companies in order to protect the Patient. Here is something AMERICA CAN LEARN. Of the larger Hospitals in India that we have visited, including Bombay Hospital, The Mission Statements echo the same message, The Patient is number one, and we are fortunate to have the OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THEM.

Capitalism and Lobbyists have corrupted Health care in the USA. High Medical Bills fueled by lack of Insurance Coverage, High Insurance Premiums, Lawsuits, etc need to be changed. We can learn from a Developing Country in this way. Let’s hope, as India Develops, that they don’t mimic our problems, but learn from them. Do these problems stem from Greed and Capitalism? Or is this just Negligence and Unconsciousness? We know what the problems are, yet we do not take a Pro-Active approach to providing a Long-Term and Sustainable Solution.

Let’s be aware as 2 Societies, and work as one to learn from each other. No one alone has all the right answers, but together we can find the proper Solutions. One thing is for sure, we need Organizations such as the Rotary to step in everywhere. Work hand-in-hand with Local, State, and National Government to Provide Solutions and act upon them. It is said that we all are separated by 6 degrees. I am sure that with these resources (unlimited), we can make a difference. Jai Hind!!! Jai America!!! Jai Rotary!!!

Co-Existence: The Truth is One, the Paths are Many

Tuesday evening, our team got together to watch the inauguration of our 44th president. We had just finished a Rotary meeting and afterwards rushed to the Sayaji Hotel to witness the event on TV. We were running late so we must have looked a bit crazy to the hotel guests; there we are in our red, white and blue GSE uniforms running around looking for any available television where we could see Obama’s speech. We finally settled on a flatscreen in the lobby. It was such a surreal experience. With our National Anthem blaring through the TV speakers and Hindi music being played loudly in the bar behind us, not one of us could help but feel emotionally moved. This experience triggered a question in my mind.

How could 6 individuals, so very different from one another, be overwhelmed with the same deep emotions at the exact same time? Was it a twinge of homesickness? Was it the significance of seeing America’s first black president being inaugurated? Was it Obama’s powerful words about change and acceptance that moved us so deeply? Was it the realization of how blessed we were to be experiencing such an historical event in a country so very different and so very far away from our home? It could have been any or even a combination of all these things. The amazing thing is that despite our differences and the many variables involved; during that speech we all connected on a much deeper level. We experienced history together 10,000 miles away from where it occured.

Even though we are only two weeks into our GSE program in India, we have noticed an increase in this trend of us all being on the same page at the same time. We have started finishing each others’ sentences. We can tell when one of us is upset without anything needing to be said. We all laugh at the same things, or at least we all find the same things funny. What’s most amazing though is the fact that in a country that is so diverse, and in a group of six that are so different from each other, we are all feeling, learning and growing together. I read somewhere once that, “The truth is one, the paths are many”. Our team is living proof of this. We are all experiencing the trip in very personal ways, so our paths are technically different. However, at the end of the day, we are all human, and as humans I believe we are innately good and constantly searching for truth. Truly embracing this concept has allowed us to consistently find and focus on our similarities rather than our differences. As a result, we are becoming an extremely strong and unified team. India itself represents this concept perfectly.

Since I’ve arrived I’ve decided that India is “co-existence at its finest”. What other place in the world has cows and cars sharing road space? Catholic churches next door to Muslim mosques? Highly educated citizens in mansions neighboring poor villagers in tents? And all existing in peace! With minimal conflict! And the fact that India and its people are growing stronger every day proves that open acceptance is NOT a weakness, it is actually imperative for positive growth to occur.

So, you take this incredible internal experience of growing as individuals within a group, combine it with being in a country that truly exudes unity amongst diversity, and top it off with witnessing our first African-American President communicating his similar vision of a strong and peaceful America… it’s no wonder we were all overwhelmed with emotion!

With this newfound understanding of our group synergy, I’m going to go out on a limb and speak for everyone when I say, thank you. Thank you to everyone reading this who has helped and supported us on this amazing journey so far. For us to witness the inauguration of a president so in tune with everything that we believe about acceptance and truth in a country, which embodies this concept, has been a blessing that the 6 of us will cherish forever.

So, again...thank you.

Eduacational System-Something to Ponder

The Educational Process in India, as observed thus far, seems to compliment that of the United States in only a couple of ways. Both countries have the luxury of adapting our Educational system to that of British Influence. There is a proper grading system, standardized testing, and a goal to reach college and a post-graduate degree. We could both learn from each other in many ways. I can see that our cultural differences have influenced our Education System's respectively. Here are a few things to ponder as we have observed thus far...

· Indians seem to achieve post graduate degrees much more than Americans. It seems that everyone we meet is either working on their Masters Degree or they have completed their post graduate. Most 10 year olds we meet already know what subject they want to get their post graduate degree in. Due to the Developing Nation status that India still holds there is a lot of competition; Competition for jobs, education, industry, and the like. With all this competition, it creates lower wages and better accommodations. This is one of the reasons for their superior Health Care System.

· There is a competitive nature in the classrooms of some of the schools observed; similar to that in the movie Harry Potter. Children are meant to be competitive from a very young age. They fight for the best grades, and there is a lot of pressure put on them as soon as they enter the System.

· Indians go to school 6 days a week, and many of the middle class students get tutored for 1.5 hours every day, 6 days a week. This has both positive and negative attributes. The students have much more time for additional electives within the school, which provides for a more well-rounded student, but on the other end of the spectrum, there is tremendous pressure on the students, and this sets the stage for the rest of their lives. Most Indians go on to working 70-80 hours per week on average. They have a strong value towards family and work. When I asked a local in Indore what he did for fun, he answered..."What do you mean"? "What do you mean by Fun"? Our culture has the opportunity to go fishing, skiing, golfing, etc. Indians spend most of their time at family functions, or at work. To put it simply, we have a lot more LEISURE TIME...

· In India, children go to school from 8pm-3pm. At 3pm, extracurricular activities commence and go until 5pm. This would seem to fit well in our system if we were able to implement this. Doesn’t this seem convenient for “pickup and delivery”. If the average American works from 9-5, then there wouldn’t be any anxiety on what to do with our children when school gets out. They would be letting out of their extracurricular’s at the same time we get out of work. "After School Programs" could turn into Artistic Outlets and Sports Practice. Not as an elective, but as part of the curriculum. If we can make it part of the curriculum, then we will produce more well-rounded children.

· There is also an overwhelming poverty level that needs to be addressed. Madya Pradesh seems to be averaging a 25% poverty level. There are many schools that function in a “third world” atmosphere. How can this change? Will the government step in? Maybe. Will there be a mass global effort to see that developing countries have a proper infrastructure and running water? I think not. There is a DEFINITE NEED TO IMPROVE THE OVERALL LITERACY RATE, IN ADDITION TO IMPROVING THE CONDITIONS OF THE SCHOOLS OVERALL. There is a large gap between the classes. The lower class suffers from neglect in both of these areas. The scary part is that the amount of people in the lower class is so overwhelming and ever increasing.

We have way too many issues facing our nation that we need to handle. For example, standardized testing is a widely debated topic that may be standing in the way of our future progress. Like the economy has been in a recession for the past 2 years, so has our educational system. Education as a whole seems to have been regressing for the past decade or so. Budget cuts, Program cuts, and the eminent demise of proper Physical Education and Art. How can these issues be handled? Can we extend the curriculum? It will cost more money, but isn't THE FUTURE OF AMERICA worth it? Just as the Indian culture practices Naturopathy and Yoga as preventative medicine for their body; won't this be a PRO-ACTIVE way to enrich our children, and provide for our Future?

· Both cultures can benefit from Yoga in the classroom. It is a MUST to increase the correct teaching of Yoga to students in the States. Breathing Exercises alone can help children learn how to control their emotions, and possibly reduce the amount of children being diagnosed with ADHD. This can lead to proper MEDITATION, and the many other benefits of Yoga. I will not go into all the detail now, but Yoga is a proper outlet to teach our children about themselves and understanding others.

Overall, we can learn a lot from each other as long as we take ACTION... Whether we are talking about India, America, Nigeria, or Ireland, I feel that we focus too much on the problem, and not enough on the solution. Most people will dwell on a "Challenge" in their life or a "Crisis" they have come into. What we don't see is 'PRO-ACTIVE" approaches. It would be great to see an "Opportunity" arise instead of a "Problem". These are just some thoughts put together from 2 weeks of observations and 29 years of Education. I am not claiming to have the "Answers" to our "Problems", but I am committed to "Creating Lasting Change" at every "Opportunity" I get... Please keep in mind that we are only experiencing the top 10% of the Socio-Economic ladder in India. This in no way, reflects the entire population of India.

Frequently Asked Questions

While in Inida, The GSE Team has been asked a plethora of Questions. We are fortunate enough to be in a culture where they want to know so much about us. As we are asked many questions; there are some questions that we get asked many times on a daily basis. We thought it would be helpful to post the Top 20 FAQs for our Readers at home, and for our new Friends in India. These are in No particular order.

1. Is the Food Too Spicy?

2. Where are you from?

3. Are you Married? Why Not?

4. What do you do for your Profession?

5. Is this Your First Time to India?

6. How much do you earn monthly?

7. How do you like the Food?

8. Is the Food too Spicy?

9. Are you all from the same State?

10. Did you know that "Jay" mean "Victory" in Hindi?

11. Would you like some more Food?

12. Do You Live in a Joint Family?

13. Do you have any Children? Why Not?

14. Is the Food Too Spicy?

15. What is the Weather Like in Florida?

16. How Do you Like the Food?

17. Do You Live in a Bungalow or a Flat?

18. Did you know that "Jay" mean "Victory" in Hindi?

19. What are the main differences between India and the U.S.A.?

20. Is the Food Too Spicy?

You may have noticed some of the questions repeated. This is not an error, but is for effect. We cannot count how many times per day we are asked about the Food and if we think it is too spicy. We have to say, WE LOVE THE FOOD...and IT WILL NEVER BE TOO SPICY...

We are all so fortunate to have such great Hosts, and to meet such wonderful Rotarians. Really, we are Blessed for our newly found relationships, and are confident that these relationships will not merely be "Momentary Relationships", but on the contrary, will be "Lifelong Relationships."

Indian Standard Time

There are two definitions of Indian Standard Time, or IST. The official definition is the time observed throughout India and Sri Lanka; neither country observes daylight savings time or other seasonal adjustments and there is only one time zone for both countries. Any visitor to India quickly learns the secondary definition. Time is more flexible here. Delays are a normal part of our daily routine and the differing views toward punctuality has been at times a challenging cultural difference for our team. By our standards, you're late if you miss the appointment time by 10 or 15 minutes. In contrast, we've learned that when people send out wedding invitations in India, they set the time of the event one and half hours before the event is actually planning to be underway, to accommodate for IST. This gives our expression of "fashionably late" a whole new meaning. Our generally punctual team is learning not to rush things, to have patience, and to enjoy learning about this and other cultural differences.

Joint Families and Nuclear Families

India still relies on the Joint Family system, where Americans have a Nuclear set-up. With a Nuclear family, America faces problems that can become too individually focused. If you visit India, it is likely you will see 4 generations living together. A very modest society. Just today, we visited a family where the youngest was 7, and the eldest was 95. To us, this may seem strange, but to Indians, this is the norm. A Joint family has countless benefits. First and foremost, there is always someone around to instill strong values into the younger generations. Not only is this leading by example, but it eliminates the need for a nanny or a baby-sitter. It is not unlikely that you will be greeted with a warm “Namaste” and a piping hot cup of “Chai”.

Indians are very Traditional and a very Proud Culture. They have many traditions to share with their youngster’s, and they need to carry these onto future generations without getting too distracted with this Heavy Technological Age that we find ourselves living in. Indians are very emotional. They show this, and pass this along to future generations by raising them the right way. So how can we learn from each other? As India develops, one can only hope that they learn from America’s mistakes.

In the past 20 years, the United States has seen an increase in Nuclear Families, Materialism, Individualism, and a heavy reliance on Technology. We do not have the personal touch that is such an important aspect to Human Beings. A majority of our children will go to school for 8 hours, come home and sit in front of the television, play video games, text each other, and play with their I-pods. Let’s hope this doesn’t happen to our neighbors to the East, but isn’t it inevitable? Not necessarily. If the Indians can take their strong sense of Consciousness and understand how important the “Human Aspect” of life is, then they can help to avoid this almost inevitable burden that comes with a Developing Country.

Meanwhile in America, with today’s current financial crisis, it is preferred that Generation X-ers coming home to move back with the folks could gain insight from the Joint Family. I would hope to see this, but more likely to happen is Depression and a Strong Sense of Failure. Why? Because these are the pressures a Developed Country puts on you. If you do not go out and succeed, then you Fail. Isn’t that right? Turn 18, Move Out, Get a Job, Raise Your Family with your Spouse alone. It doesn’t have to be that way though. Let us get a sense of Awareness that it is ok to Fail because this will only help you persevere even harder in the future. Use the Challenge that presents itself and turn it into an Opportunity to get to know and Love your Family better.

It is explained that Indians are very emotional. To a certain extent, Americans are emotional, but our society as a whole does not believe in “Karma”. Karma is the Buddhist law of central causation. It is best explained as what you do and what you say affects everything around you on a cosmic level. The main thing one should take from it is, in my view, that when one comes to the realization that life affects life, compassion is the only true recourse. If I know that my actions cause an imbalance or pain, and those actions, in return, come full circle and affect my own happiness, then I also find myself more careful in both word and deed. Joint Families are going away as India Develops. As our GSE team moves through India, and interview citizens, we are finding that as the city sees more progress in ways of Development; there is more competition for jobs, longer hours worked, and a dual income needed to survive.

Let us learn from each other in every aspect.
Let’s create a better society for all to live in.
Let’s take the Strengths of both Nations and nurture them.
Let’s learn from each other’s mistakes.
Let’s be more Aware and Conscious in this ever increasing Global Village that we Live in…

Indore by: Tim

Week 2

This week we travel to Indore the commercial capital of Madhya Pradesh. It is a bustling city of 2.5 million people. Indore has twice the amount of villages, as compared to Bhopal, at around 700. India’s economy grew at about 7% in 2008 and was kept safe, mostly, from the global recession due to their strict government regulations on the commercial sectors. Their middle class is booming with IT professionals, software engineers, business professionals, competitive MBA programs, as well as a booming educational market. There are many universities in Indore. The most renown MBA university in India, The Indian Institute of Management, recently established a campus in Indore. We can compare this university to the Wharton School of Business or Harvard’s MBA program.

India’s university structure is a bit different then ours. It is more common to see universities established for a specific school of study. For example, MBA programs in the US are apart of an entire university, such as Harvard’s MBA program is still at their school of business. It cost about $10k a year for students to receive their MBA (2 year program) from the top university in the country. This university, India Institute of Management, is 100% funded by the central government. Not only does a potential student have to take the typical standardized national test they must take a test developed by the school, as well, before they can be considered.

Universities are an abundant resource in India, as mentioned earlier. MBA programs are popping up everywhere as the increase in well-educated and qualified personnel continues to be in high demand with the growing economy.

To put the growing middle class in perspective; in Indore there is a 21km stretch of bypass road that has 150 townships being developed. We would understand these townships as gated communities on steroids. Not only do these townships have amenities such as golf and tennis, but also they include shopping centers, schools, clinics, etc. The average home cost in these townships is $105,000 or 51 lakhs. One lakh is $2,050. The income range targeted for these homes is 8-10 lakhs, which is $16,000 - $20,000/year. When we were at an MBA university, Indore-Indira, we were told the average salary for their students when they venture into the work force is 2-6 lakhs, or $4,000 - $12,000.

I went to see Chandi Chowk Goes to China last night at an Indian cinema.  Even though I did not understand but two words the whole movie Namaste and acha (which means hello and okay respectively) I still enjoyed it throughly.  I must tell you it was the nicest movie theater I have ever been in. The screen was about twice the size of any theater I have been in. The food was great!! There were samosas, potato puffs, and tomato cheese popcorn just to name a few. And the best thing of all is that they had waiters and assigned seats!!!

Tomorrow we are going to a sports meet sponsored by Rotary where I will be trying my hand at table-tennis and badminton. I have not played ping-pong in quite some time. Probably not since Jamaica two summers ago, and I cannot even remember the last time I played badminton!!

Wish us luck!!

Driving in India

(A video will be posted as soon as there is a couple of hours available to upload it)

Driving in India is an adventure in itself. If you have a weak stomach, shaky nerves, or cannot ride on roller coasters; then you shouldn't go to India. With a population of 1.2 billion people, and the infrastructure far behind the demand the roads are the least of your problem. Imagine driving with 5 scooters to the left of you, with the average of 3 people on the scooter, 5 to the right of you, a dump truck bellowing down behind you, and 2oo other vehicles attempting to go their respective ways. In some cities the traffic etiquette is first come first serve. In others stop lights are used. However, in all cities, everyone breaks for cows. Cows are sacred, and somehow know this. On several occasions a cow would be lying in the middle of the road content as can be as cars, scooters, buses, and trucks alike swerved around him/her as if it were a fixture in the road.

In addition, the amount of horn noise is unlike anything any of us have experienced. One uses the horn to notify that they are about to turn a corner so pedestrians and vehicles alike will be prepared. A horn is used to let the person in front of them know that they are going to slow for them so to move out of the way. A horn is used to notify traffic that they are coming into the flow from a round-about. A horn is used to let a truck or bus know that there is someone behind them and to get out of the way. And finally a horn is used to usher along herds of goats and pigs as well as packs of dogs.

Finally, if you are driving in India make sure to take some valium!!!

Pass the Bread and Desserts Please

One cannot argue that they love their breads and sweets. Elaine's favorite is jalebe, which is pronounced almost like jelly bean. Besides being a tasty treat, they are also so fun to say and each region says them differently, as Selva told us. Here are some homemade ones. Robin and I had the opportunity to watch the breads being made at the district conference as well. The dough is rolled out and then stuck to the side of a tin with burning coals. Once done, ghee (butter) is added. Naan is made in a different oven.

At home, Lynn and Elaine's host family, the Chawla's, made another traditional homemade bread. The dough is rolled and slightly baked on the oven top. It is then taken and directly placed onto the gas-burner where it balloons up. It too is very tasty! The various breads are often used in place of a utensil to scoop food into your mouth. We're very much enjoying eating with our hands and experiencing all the new tastes and flavors of India.

Guests as Gods: Hospitality in India

In India, there is the belief "treat guests as gods." Everyone we have met here, especially our host families, have been overwhelmingly generous and hospitable. We often receive fresh-cut flowers and are greeted with songs and praise. I don't think any of us have ever felt like such royalty. We have met the Governor of Madhya Pradesh twice in three days and children flock to meet us everywhere we go. Today Elaine and Lynn's host family, the Chawla's, invited the team back to their home so we could practice a dance for this evening's District 3040 Conference. We are having so much fun! We are now off to perform (Tim will be the main star). Wish us all the best.

Look!

Follow this link to see Tim as a Bollywood Superstar!!!

http://www.bollywood4u.com/jpg800600/rahul_khanna_009_mudv.jpg

I will be performing tonight at the District Conference this evening.

Travels

We've arrived in India! Our team is excited to finally begin our adventure abroad after our many months of preparation. After some last-minute repacking, we all met the 50 pound weight limit for our checked luggage (it was funny that the girls had the lightest luggage of the group).


We had an uneventful trip from Atlanta to Mumbai, taking full-advantage of the on-board entertainment and enjoying an unpexected breakfast at 2 am (when we were flying over Copenhagen). We were able to track the plane's flight and early in the morning we took a peak out the window as Iran passed underneath. After a layover in Mumbai, we arrived in Bhopal around noon today and were warmly welcomed with traditional Indian hospitality, including being adorned by necklaces of fresh-cut flowers, by representatives from Rotary District 3040. After arriving at our hotel for the day, we have spent the day eating (we probably had breakfast about 5 times with all the traveling), catching up on much-needed sleep, and preparing for GSE program starting tomorrow.