Before I begin, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Kathy and I'm from State College, Pennsylvania. I'll also confess now and admit that I'm the one who managed to lock the key to my suitcase in same suitcase within 24 hours of arriving. I also managed to brush my teeth with tap water. All I can say is that is was a long trip.
Barb, in the previous post, told you a little about our morning on Friday. She didn't, however, mention the breakfast buffet. It's amazingly varied, and includes elements of English and Indian food. I find myself wondering whether I'll ever tire of Indian food, but so far, it seems unlikely. We eat enough at breakfast to last nearly all day (well, I do at least). But we did grab a small lunch today and I think it's worth mentioning if only because of the cost-for about 96 cents I bought two huge bottles of water, a samosa, and a vegetable puff. All were excellent and I do indeed feel rich.
Probably the most interesting and compelling part of the day for me was the Cultural Academy for Peace. I've typed in the URL because I know I won't be able to convey accurately all the details and you may want to learn more about this peace center. We had the pleasure of touring the academy, and meeting with the director and staff. Activites are focused on improving the lives of women.
Beena is the leader of this group and she exudes a passion to empower women in any way she can. They sponsor a variety of programs and tomorrow we'll be visiting with women and children at a local domestic violence center run out the Cultural Academy for Peace. One of the programs was name Sakhi, and here is the description of that program: "Sakhi is a friend who supports, a mother who nurtures, and a sister who comforts every distressed woman and girl who come to her." Staff at the academy work to empower women at the grassroots level - they work to identify the needs of specific communities of women and then work with the women to identify and access resources. I love that staff at the center are often called in to train the police in gender sensitivity. I was so moved by the dedication evidenced at the center and by how they are able to accomplish so much with so little. 
http://culturalacademy.org/about.html
It then seems somewhat ironic that we left the Cultural Academy for Peace to do yet more shopping. To be fair to us, many of us came with little clothing as we intended to purchase salwars and tunic to fit in as much as possible with the women here. So it was off to Fab India where all of us except Wendy managed to buy something to wear for ourselves (or for those of you back home). We ended the day with a fabulous dinner on a rooftop overlooking Cocci.
Finally, I have to mention the heat. It was hot. I'm talking hot, hot, hot. We're learning to drink a lot of water, wear cotton, and move slowly.
Barb, in the previous post, told you a little about our morning on Friday. She didn't, however, mention the breakfast buffet. It's amazingly varied, and includes elements of English and Indian food. I find myself wondering whether I'll ever tire of Indian food, but so far, it seems unlikely. We eat enough at breakfast to last nearly all day (well, I do at least). But we did grab a small lunch today and I think it's worth mentioning if only because of the cost-for about 96 cents I bought two huge bottles of water, a samosa, and a vegetable puff. All were excellent and I do indeed feel rich.
Probably the most interesting and compelling part of the day for me was the Cultural Academy for Peace. I've typed in the URL because I know I won't be able to convey accurately all the details and you may want to learn more about this peace center. We had the pleasure of touring the academy, and meeting with the director and staff. Activites are focused on improving the lives of women.
Beena is the leader of this group and she exudes a passion to empower women in any way she can. They sponsor a variety of programs and tomorrow we'll be visiting with women and children at a local domestic violence center run out the Cultural Academy for Peace. One of the programs was name Sakhi, and here is the description of that program: "Sakhi is a friend who supports, a mother who nurtures, and a sister who comforts every distressed woman and girl who come to her." Staff at the academy work to empower women at the grassroots level - they work to identify the needs of specific communities of women and then work with the women to identify and access resources. I love that staff at the center are often called in to train the police in gender sensitivity. I was so moved by the dedication evidenced at the center and by how they are able to accomplish so much with so little. 
http://culturalacademy.org/about.html
It then seems somewhat ironic that we left the Cultural Academy for Peace to do yet more shopping. To be fair to us, many of us came with little clothing as we intended to purchase salwars and tunic to fit in as much as possible with the women here. So it was off to Fab India where all of us except Wendy managed to buy something to wear for ourselves (or for those of you back home). We ended the day with a fabulous dinner on a rooftop overlooking Cocci.
Finally, I have to mention the heat. It was hot. I'm talking hot, hot, hot. We're learning to drink a lot of water, wear cotton, and move slowly.
And last but not least, Deanna our fearless leader for the trip. 
