Since arriving back to Delhi from the utopia which is Wandoor, we’ve been debriefing as a whole group on our extremely diverse experiences throughout India, traveling to Agra for an overnight trip to see the sunrise at the Taj Mahal, and embracing with the culture through more food, classical Indian music, dancing, fashion, henna, and shopping. Again, these last few days have been beyond my expectations, further shaping my perspective, as well as my growth as an educator and as a person. We spent our final day with Indian teachers who are alumni from ILEP and TEA, having spent time in the U.S. studying our education system. Some of the TGC fellows wore traditional Indian clothing, including myself, wearing a sari that was custom-made for me a few weeks ago upon my arrival to India thanks to my amazing in-country hosts, Mamta and Sonia, who have truly been like family in my time here. They came early with another Indian teacher to help us put on our saris, doing so with enthusiasm, humor, and love, creating another strong bond between us through fashion; I love Indian culture and all its traditions so much, and my love for the people is beyond words. After lots of pictures, we had a great final session filled with dialogue to create ways to build lasting connections between American and Indian schools, as well as discussions on our investigations of our guiding questions, part of our requirements for TGC by which we were directed to focus on a specific question to help keep our time in India purposeful and relevant to our studies on Global Education and our classrooms back home. When given this task in February at our Symposium in D.C., I immediately thought of the concept of the “American Dream,” curious how this compares and contrasts with the “Indian Dream,” unsure if such a sentiment even exists in India. My plan was to build a guiding question that was focused yet broad so I was able to explore with both purpose and openness, hoping to gain a depth of perspective from individuals that would allow me to develop a holistic perspective on Indian culture and society, with a specific focus on the education system. With that thinking in mind, my question evolved into, “What’s the Indian Dream?” a question through which I learned so much in my time here, leaving me with much left to learn and better understand moving forward. This final session was the perfect closure to our experience, which included time to honor our sensational hosts, including our program coordinator, Patrick, our “good shepard,” who diligently, patiently, and kindly made every effort to make this experience a meaningful one through his leadership, organization, and kindness. I couldn’t ask for more from any of my hosts, coordinators, or TGC fellows; I have been so blessed by the people I’ve met throughout this journey thanks to their genuine passion for teaching and learning, for seeking to understand the good in humanity, and for doing all things with happy, humorous, positive energy and enthusiasm. My purpose through this experience has not been to suggest “right” from “wrong,” or to indoctrinate or diminish American or Indian values, but merely to state the truth as I’ve experienced it during my time in India these past few weeks and throughout my teaching career in America. With all things considered from what I’ve learned with my time here and what I know from back home, we are very different, but the foundations of both systems are much more similar than they are dissimilar. Despite all the imperfections, in both systems it is without a doubt evident that we all care about kids, want them to succeed, want a good society, and want peace in our world. I hope that through my work through TGC, I have been able to serve as a ray of light for the connection that exists between these two highly diverse, beautiful societies, each with their own unique cultures and identities, and although geographically very far apart, are held firmly together by individuals who have shared DNA, a shared planet, and a shared purpose to live a good, meaningful life where one can have a dream and make it happen, a connection shared by all mankind. Recognizing this connection does not mean we need to sacrifice our identities, but rather that we can learn from each other and work towards collectively improving our societies. I believe it is through both the “American Dream” and the “Indian Dream,” separate but highly interconnected, that we can come together for the “Human Dream,” and make our world a more harmonious, loving, and beautiful place. At this time, my journey with TGC ends, and I begin a new journey on my own as I continue on in India solo, starting a tour tomorrow throughout India. I’m not sure what to expect, but I’m super excited to embark on a new adventure! For my remaining time in India, I have an Indian SIM card, which means I have data and a local number. This also means I no longer have access to IMessage on my phone with my U.S. number, so if you need me, please email or message me on WhatsApp. I may continue blogging if time allows, but I’m not sure exactly how my tour will be structured, so we shall see. To all on this Earth who have been following my journey, Namaste! Thank you for your kind words, encouragement, and love, especially my family back home, who are constantly filled with worries throughout my time here, yet are still supportive knowing how important this experience is to me. Over these past few weeks, I have been overwhelmed by all the warmth, kindness, and hospitality, learning that the Atithi devo Bhava, Guest is God, philosophy is beyond just words but lived by action here in India. “Thank you”cannot express my gratitude to the people of India; I am not sure how I’ve gotten so blessed for so much, but I most certainly hope I’m doing God’s will in return! To learn about my research and reflection on my Guiding Question, go to: What's the Indian Dream?
1 Comment
Michael Roberto
7/26/2018 11:02:23 am
Your Taj Mahal picture is breath-taking! What a great experience. I have enjoyed living vicariously through your blog. Great job Mary Pat. :)
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Mary Patricia PavicicAurora High School Science Teacher and IREX Teachers for Global Classrooms Fellow 2017-2018. ArchivesNo Archives Categories |