Closing Reflections

The 28 days of our program were filled with constant movement, the immersion into ways of life we are not accustomed to, and the opportunity to experience a culture that is religiously, linguistically, and structurally shocking in relation to our respective homes. The people we have become throughout the month have been so greatly influenced by the unique experiences we have had that we would not be who we are, psychologically and mentally, without them. We have experienced an intense rise in globalization and biculturalism of the ways of life that are present, which has enabled us to make connections to our separate and individual lives. Generally, culture is rooted in the places each of us have grown up in with the people who are considered family and friends. However, I believe today all of us can say that each of our cultural identities are now also composed of a more global aspect -- the styles, events, and practices of this extremely contrasting country we have been a part of during this time in our lives. This group has been very fortunate to be a part of this integration into the Indian culture, and each one of us will take away new insights that will stay with us for years to come.

The Final Days of the Trip (January 28th-30th)

On Thursday our group went to Old Delhi to visit a spice market. Old Dehli is known for having small and crowded streets which our coach bus was unable to maneuver, so we were dropped off at the edge of the city and then we all rode in bike rickshaws to the market. We rode, two-by-two, through the crowded streets in a single-file caravan with beautiful shops within arms-reach. We all rode in awe as our drivers weaved through tight spots and over the rough roads. Many commented that this was one of the favorite experiences of the trip.

 We visited a spice shop called Golden Horse Tea, which sold a large variety of authentic Indian spices and teas. We’ve encountered a lot of new spices in our food this month, so we all wanted to stock up on spices to bring home and share with our loved ones (and the shop was probably very thankful for our business)!

 After visiting the spice shop, we went to the Crafts Museum of Delhi. As we were about to enter the museum, we spotted an elephant being ridden in traffic on the opposite side of the road! Many of us had been wanting to see an elephant while in India, so this was definitely a trip highlight. At the museum we saw lots of Indian style arts pieces and vendors that had handmade crafts to buy.

 Later in the evening we went to the Beating the Retreat, which was a parade that celebrated the end of the 3-day Republic Day holiday celebration. Here we saw men on camels and horses, and multiple music groups and marching bands. At the end of the evening ceremony, we were elated to see the nearby government buildings light up with many white strings of lights.

On Friday we went to the Indian Council on Social Science Research (ICSSR) where we learned about the current social science research that is happening in India and how it is funded. We were amazed by the breadth of subjects the organization covers, and by how warmly we were greeted. After that visit we explored the ruins of the Qutb Complex, which contains monuments like the Qutub Minar tower, Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, and the tomb of Iltumish. It was a very fun and informative day!

We started our Saturday with a 7am yoga session at the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga where many of us learned new (and difficult) yoga poses. We then got a tour of the facility, learning about other holistic practices people do to stay physically, mentally, and spiritually healthy. We then saw a cooking demonstration and ate a delicious lunch before returning to our hotel for free time.

A Day at Daulat Ram College (January 27)

We took a day trip to Daulat Ram College, a women's college associated with Delhi University. We were welcomed warmly with flower garlands, bindis, and beaded bracelets. Next, an introduction and dance program followed. We noticed that in North India, the sari wrapping was much different than in Southern India. In fact, there were multiple forms of sari wraps, not just one. The Vice President of the Psychology Honours Programme explained that New Delhi is very representative of the cultures of many of the Northeastern states. The theme of novelty carried on throughout our day. The fine arts students taught us about three main forms of traditional Indian art. We got to paint clay candle holders, commonly decorated and used on Diwali, the Festival of Lights.

 We then learned about, and eventually tried out for ourselves, ancient Indian painting that was used to communicate before language was invented. These types of paintings depicted every day life, our paintings included: a hut, a coconut tree, some people, and some chickens.

Lastly, we got to practice our Madhi buni skills. This traditional drawing form originated from Indian women living in rural areas. Common designs include animals and nature; they often convey something about one's village. Once you choose your design, you fill in sections of your drawing with different patterns, kind of a like a patchwork quilt.

We will not only remember our exciting times at Daulat Ram College through our memories, but also with the wonderful artwork that they helped us create!