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I'm back in the US now and will be using this blog: http://differentiationofself.blogspot.com/

mein Urlaub

I think an update is in order. So let me brief you on the happenings of August. In early august me and the girls went to Kovalam beach which is in southern Kerala. We went for four days. While there we took a day trip to Kanyekumari which is in Tamilnadu. Kanyekumari is in southernmost tip of India where the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean, and the Arabian Sea join. I have posted pictures of our time there. It was really relaxing as well as nourishing since we were able to eat western food from the “German Bakery.”

Just before we left for the trip Sara and I covered a conference for her field placement. It was a conference that dealt with issues associated with children in Kerala. The pictures I took are pretty darn cute, so check them out.

The Germans have arrived: two guys, and four girls. They arrived about a week ago. For the time being I have two neighbors now in the hostel, but with Andy leaving I am still a single in my room. I’m enjoying my life as a single bachelor. The room is adorned with newspaper clippings that come from Grandma Betty as well as pictures from my mom. Any letters I get go up on the wall as well.

The MSW students have been gone for almost a month now and will return this coming weekend. I’m really excited to see them, but after they return I will be leaving for 10 days to take part in the college’s rural camp. We’ll live in a rural area and do grunt work as well as celebrate Onnam (the harvest festival) with the villagers. From what I hear it’s a pretty cool and life changing experience. After that I think we’ll take another vacation to the state of Goa where we will lay on the beach for a week or so.

In addition to the two photo albums I have referenced I have also posted pictures I stole from Caitlin which show me though her eyes over the past 3 months. Enjoy…

PS: I continue the silent protest of tp

The Curry Pits Blues

This post will serve as an open letter to all those first generation Indian children in America:

Dear Middle School Indian American,
I know sometimes going through this change in your life can be difficult. Your voice is changing, hair is appearing where it's never been, and mom and dad seem to be getting more and more annoying. There are probably two experiences you are having right now. 1) You're going through an experience in your life where your physical body and your emotional mind are changing. For the next few years you will probably resent your parents at times, and that's okay, you'll get through this. Mom and dad are good people and they understand this change, they went through it too (even though it may not seem like it).

And 2) You're a bi-cultural adolescent. This is hard to conceptualize, maybe hard for you to understand, and most definitely difficult for your parents to comprehend. Yes, you have body oder (we call that BO in the US). And yes I know you use deodorant, your friends were nice enough to get you a stick, but buddy, it's not your fault you still smell. It just so happens that the food you eat goes in and decides to come out through your pores. Don't lament, and don't think a viable option is to stop eating mom's food. That will hurt her feelings, and put a dent in your practically already empty pockets. Your best bet is to weather the storm until you get to college and you can choose your own diet. Apply deodorant twice a day and try to mask the curry smell with some cologne. You'll get through this. Don't heed much to those other kids' teasing, you'll be their boss one day. Plus you know more languages than them, and dude, that's hot!

In closing, see this time in your life as an experience you can only have once. Make mistakes, try different deodorants (who knows one could really work- if so, let me know what the name is), and no matter how many times you feel different from everyone else remember that every kid your age feels that way- it's a right of passage.
Cheers,

-A sympathetic International Student

My shirts tell me each day that the curry pits have set in. No matter how much deodorant I use, it wont go away. But... I'm starting to get used to it.

In other news, Andy leaves tonight- I will miss him dearly. Soon the Germans students will be arriving and I will have new international student friends.

(BTW check out my newest pictures)

Eyes turned against me

So I had food poisoning yesterday. And no it's not fun. It was my first time. I woke up in the middle of the night 4 times and I had to run to the bathroom- which is down one flight of stairs and up another (our main bathroom is being worked on so I have to use a different one). I woke up in the morning exhausted and feeling really weak. I planned on simply laying in bed all day, but of course my Indian friends wouldn't let that happen. They came in my room and saw that I was sick- and ran to get Father Prassant (the hostel warden). After a few minutes of talking with FaPra he went and got Biju, the guy in charge of the international students. Biju took me to a doctor near by the campus and I was given several medications. Long story short I played video games and watched a movie yesterday- and now I feel 95% better.

When I ran into the vice principal, Dr. Mary Joseph, she told me that I was probably sick because as an old Indian proverb says "do something well and others will turn their eyes against you" which will make you sick. She of course was referring to the Cultural program that the Americans presented on Tuesday. She said that I did a wonderful job singing. Wait did I not mention that before? Well, I sang solo the National Anthem in front of some 300 students. It was my first time singing by myself in front of a large group. Andy of course took a video of the "performance" and put it on You Tube. I was really nervous but I think I did the National Anthem justice. Without further ado Jeremy's rendition of the US National Anthem:

Mumbai

I just got back from a really fun weekend in Mumbai. I went with Andy, Shachi, Ashika, and Jessica. The first day we did some shopping and Andy and I went to Juhu beach. Yes it is a beach but as you can see form my photos it's rather dirty. While Andy and I were on the beach many street children tried to tap us for money. One kid has a monkey on a chain "want to see monkey dance- Michael Jackson monkey dance." I told this kid that "I don't speak English." That night we went out to dinner with a friend of Ashika (Anand). We went club and bar hopping, as you will see from my pictures. It was crazy how similar the bars and clubs were to American bars and clubs. This one bar we went to made me feel like I was back in College Park.

The next day we did sight seeing. We saw so many cool buildings and I got offered pot about 7 time: "postcards! maps of Mumbai! *whisper* you want marijuana?" My mom would be happy to know that I said "no thank you."

Mumbai was a nice relaxing weekend, but very expensive compared to Kochi. I was ready to come back home to Rajagiri.

It's funny you mention that Scott

As I've gotten to know the men of the hostel, I've come to enjoy their company very much. We often hang out and make fun of each other. I even attended a fun event that the Masters of Computer Administration students put on for all their classmates (called C-STAR). When I entered the auditorium the emcee announced that a "special guest has just arrived- Jerome!" Yes, I go by Jerome here. The three syllable "Jer-ra-mee" becomes a hassle when I meet new people, so one of my new friends suggested I just go by Jerome (a common name here).
At C-STAR my friends thought it would be funny for me to tell a 4 minute impromptu story about a picture. I got a lame picture of a firetruck... For 4 minutes there were barely crickets chirping in the audience. Then later, at the conclusion, of the event they invited me up say some Malayalam and thank them for inviting me.

But back to the title of the post. Scott commented in my last post that I look "skinny" and that I shouldn't act surprised that he mentioned it. Well I WAS, for one very specific reason. Apparently it's totally ok to tell someone they're fat here. In the past two weeks I've been told I'm fat by different people at least once a day. Once, immediately after I was called the "F word" in reference to them offering me a bigger chair, I asked my friends what they meant when they said it. I explained that in America calling someone the "F word" is an insult. They were taken back by this and said "no, no, no, that's not what we mean when we say that." In India fat can mean the American understanding of fat or it can just mean big. My hostel friends explained that they mean that I'm big. To which Depack explained that he wants "to be fat too!" I can only hope that the rest of India was using the second meaning with me...

Here's to being fat

When it rains it pours and opens doors

It's monsoon season and it shows about 5-7 times a day. It's quite peaceful in fact. The sound has become one that I look forward to. It's one that I hear and I instantly release all my tension and smile. I love how it brings people closer as they share an umbrella.

I've officially started my field placement and my classes. I am doing my field placement at this NGO called CHILDLINE. CHILDLINE is a toll free crisis hotline for children who may be being abuse, are on the streets, or need any form of support. The hotline extends to case work, where social workers respond to cases- by going to houses and sometimes removing children from the home. I will not be working the hotline, but rather the majority of my work will be doing trainings on children's rights with police departments and schools. I will also being doing a research project possibly on street children and/or outcomes of the clients involved with CHILDLINE. One to Two days a week I will be working with the clinical office where I will respond to calls to figure out how to keep children safe and secure.

I just got back from a field visit with Childline where me and two BSW students checked out two locations where children are placed after being removed from their families due to abuse or other domestic issues. The kids were adorable, and I loved playing with them. This one to the right was a handful- my friend Sooraj said that he thought he was probably a good example of me as a kid.

I am taking two classes: Urban and Rural Community Development and Social Work with Children. I'm excited about both classes- the students are great and so are the professors. Classes are very different here. We are not assigned a whole list of readings to do and books to purchase, but rather we learn through lecture, independent research, group work, and field experience.

Thats it for now- Here is a picture of me and some of my friends at Rajagiri. From left to right that's Bless, me, and Anoop. More pictures to come

You say tomato I say tomahto

Friendship is the same and different in India. It's the same in that it fulfills the same functions: the provision of nurture, support, entertainment, counsel, humility, etc. In the US, men are not typically nurturing towards each other. Usually this role is filled by a woman in a man's life. Indian friendships differ in this capacity. Cross gendered relationships are not unheard of here but the depth at which a male female relationship can go is limited. But friendships must serve the function of the object nurturer, so same gendered relationships fill this role.

I've been getting to know the male students better each day. It's an interesting and good experience being friends in this cultural context. Male touch is much more permissible and frequent, which I have no issues with since I grew up in a touchy family. The funny thing is that a close male relationship serves a different function here. Different... yet functioning to fill a needed role that is filled by another relationship in western culture. It makes me wonder how difficult it may be for Indian males to transition into a culture like mine where male relationships like this are not as common.

On another note, it makes me miss my roommates. It's true that in the US it is nontraditional for males to have nurturing male relationships, but I definitely did back in B-more, minus the hand holding. I hope you guys are doing well without me.

Clarity

India has a deep reservoir of spiritual energy. There are times I can feel it, and other times I am distracted and my senses are blunted. We have started our daily yoga classes here at Rajagiri. Everyday monday through saturday we have yoga at sunset. It's funny that a month of yoga here costs the price of one session in the US, and yet here it feels so pure and untouched by a western time is money mentality.

Today as we laid at the end of our session and chanted I felt tapped into the energy of India. Something about here feels like home, and I have no other words for it.

Today I watched some of the masters students play cricket, and tomorrow I will play with them. They play every weekday. They invited me to play with them... ha, and they're helping me with their names.

I feel so cleansed each day. It pours rain 5 to 6 times a day here and then the sun shows through the clouds. When I hear the rain a deep calm comes over me reminding me that I am exactly where I need to be. To add to this I have been running each day. The combination of running through the city and yoga has left me feeling filled up and peacefully exhausted when I climb into my mosquito net.

We have been meeting with NGOs each day to determine where we will each be placed for 6 months. So much is going on here that is so good. Language classes have also begun each morning. Sometimes I am lost and other times I do "nala" (good).

I'm so excited for my friday classes to begin.

Huhs of India

1) Mustache thing... already mentioned

2) STD. The international phones here are called "STDs." "Hey guys I'm going to go look for an STD, I''ll be back in about 10 minutes..." I don't think this phrase has become any less funny

3) United Colors of Benneton, and Puma stores in the city? Really? I'm pretty sure if some people can't afford food that costs 10 rupies, they can't possibly afford a shirt that cost 3,000 rupies (fyi about 42 rupies to $1). ps I bought a shirt from UCB- seye you'd be proud.

*Sidebar*
When we got to Cochin I found out that instead of living with the 5 women I would be living on campus in the men's hostel ("dorm"). So, I'll be living here for the next 6 months, 2 of which will be with my roommate Andy, who is studying public health here until August. He's a cool chap from University of Michigan- we went into the city this past weekend while the girls were in the south at an HIV conference.

4) India's favorite music. Andy and I went to a music store on Saturday. Of course my eyes were drawn directly to the "International" wall. Oh, nice... who are the favorites here in India.... #1 Madonna... yeah that makes sense. Let's look a bit lower... #6 Kenny G!? I know, I couldn't believe it, no one even likes Kenny G in the states. Well moving on, lets look down a few more. #8 another Kenny G cd! huh?

5)Meeting Ramesh on the bus. This past weekend on the public bus, where you are literally vertically spooning with other people it's so crowded, a man appeared with his head laying on my bicep as I held onto the roof rail. "Hello, what his your name"... Jeremy, and yours? "Ramesh, where are you from?" the US. So to make a long conversation short, Andy and I befriended Ramesh, a telecommunications help line operator for Blue Cross Blue Shield. So, if anyone has BCBS and has any questions I can call Ramesh directly.

*Pictures of Rajagiri College are linked on the left*

Pottys

This morning I woke up at 4am, refreshed and ready for my first full day in India. My normal routine in the mornings at home is to use the potty for my first #2 of the day. This time, it being my first full day in India I summed up the courage and I decided to use the squatty instead of the western toilet that the professors have been letting us use.

Now I've used a squatty before, but I always used tissue, not the traditional water bucket and hand technique. However, this time.... I took the leap and used the left hand. I have to say I was presently surprised at how amazing clean I felt afterwards. You all in the states should try it sometime :)


So you stand facing the camera, you pull your pants down, and squat back so you are hovering just behind you pants. I like to aim for the hole, I mean who doesn't want a hole in one? After you have finished, you take the smaller orange bucket and fill it up with water from the spigot. Grasping it in your right hand you pour some water into your left hand, and wipe. Repeat this process until you are clean. After cleaning is complete let your body parts dry a bit then pull your clothing back up. Then utilize the big red bucket full of water to wash your left overs into the hole and act as a "flushing" mechanism. That's it- nice and easy. It is now my basic routine. OH YEAH- wash your hands with soap and water.

First Impressions

I arrived in India about 3 hours ago. So apparently the mustache is mad popular here. I tried counting the number of men that DO NOT have one, and I have three so far. Imagine that...

All my bags are packed...

I'm ready to go. This is my last entry while in the US. My plane takes off at 6:40 tonight headed for London. From there I fly to Bahrain and onto Kochi. I'm excited... a little nervous. The plane ride should be mad sweet. As long as sara doesn't smell... Next stop India. Namaste

Renamed Free DD Iced Coffee Day

Today we went to DC to get our student visas. We were expecting a long line, but it appears that the outsourced visa company does a more efficient job than the embassy at accepting visa applications. Unfortunately they do a less than speedy processing of visa applications, and so we were told to expect to return to receive our visas in several days rather than the end of the day. From here Sara, Jess, Cat, Ingrid and I decided to go out to brunch. It was probably the most satisfying brunch I've had in a long time.

Afterwards Sara, Jess, and I went to the Air and Space Museum on the mall. I don't think I've ever been to the ASM but I did enjoy it. I was expecting it to be boring but we found ways to enjoy ourselves. This poor astronaut had his teats pinched by Sara as he was taking a shower. We decided that he looks like Vince Vaughn. We also saw a headless, handless astronaut named "Scott."

We walked around and saw a early model of our solar system. I happen to like how it looks, but I was saddened by the absence of Neptune, my favorite planet.
I still have much to do before leaving for India, but hopefully the visa part is complete.

Maybe the missing T stands for tenacity

So he came through. Our travel agent booked us today, we paid, and we are now officially going to India. Although some things have been said and comments distributed about the reputation of our Travel Agent, I would like to take this time to recount them. Mat came through and we got a good deal on our tickets, and that was his job... well accomplished. This has just been a little lesson in patience and cleaning up Sara's mess...
INDIA! Namaste

The Truman Show

You know the part in the movie when Truman goes to the travel agent and is trying to go on a trip. The travel agent is n0t only NOT helpful but rather the opposite of helpful. No tickets are purchased and Truman continues to think there is something going on.

I'm beginning to think I am in the Truman Show. Mathew, our MIA Travel Agent, has not only NOT purchased our tickets but waited until the last possible moment, and now there are no more tickets remaining on the flight we were planning to take. fired...

So, I say lets take these lemons and make lemonade! Sara and I will do our best today to come up with a solution to this problem. Please see the new feature on my blog- the things that must be done...

Please Mat get on it

I would like to update everyone on which tasks I have completed in respects to my India to-do list. I still have much to do. On Thursday I will be in DC completing #10. Until then much to do...

1. make an appointment to see the optometrist (in the next week)
2. get a new set of contacts
3. get a physical
4. purchase a few pairs of linen pants
5. new running nike + shoes
6. new nike + sensor
7. sweet sleeveless running shirts
8. running shorts
9. a few more comfy polos
10. spend a day in DC and get my student visa
11. FINALIZE my freakin' plane tickets (get on that mathew)
12. sunscreen
13. new sheets (many count...)
14. a few flashdrives
15. set up picasa web version
16. a new battery for my laptop
17. suspend my wireless contract
18. check on my medical insurance abroad
19. get dad to be my power of attorney
20. spend time with people I care about
21. get a webcam
22. ...
    

Before Leaving

In thinking about preparing to leave I have decided to make up a list of things I need to do:

1. make an appointment to see the optometrist (in the next week)
2. get a new set of contacts
3. get a physical
4. purchase a few pairs of linen pants
5. new running nike + shoes
6. new nike + sensor
7. sweet sleeveless running shirts
8. running shorts
9. a few more comfy polos
10. spend a day in DC and get my student visa
11. FINALIZE my freakin' plane tickets (get on that mathew)
12. sunscreen
13. new sheets (many count...)
14. a few flashdrives
15. set up picasa web version
16. a new battery for my laptop
17. suspend my wireless contract
18. check on my medical insurance abroad
19. get dad to be my power of attorney
20. spend time with people I care about
21. ........
    

Good Idea Sara

So, after talking with my future roommate I decided to catalog my India experience via BLOG. Much will follow after this post discussing my "getting-readys" and my "to-do" lists. I will be boarding my plane eastern bound on June 9th. *Namaste*