Four Weeks in Bangalore #TBT #HogsAbroad in India

After the first week's travels, I headed to Bangalore to take classes at Christ University. Contemporary Politics and Globalization and Innovation were the two classes I took. Globalization and Innovation, taught by UA professor, Dr. Milburn, was my favorite class. This class exposed me to civil engineering in other countries and the challenges associated with it. Before this study abroad experience I never thought I would use my engineering skills in foreign markets, but now the possibility of it intrigues me. It also opened up my eyes to the benefits of being a multinational company and utilizing outsourcing to reduce costs. Part of the Global Indian experience included visiting multinational companies Bharti-Walmart, Hewlett-Packard, Infosys and TVS. At those companies, I was able to learn how they do business and barriers that they overcome while serving many nations.

While studying at Christ University, I learned about the academic ways of Indian schools. Professors hold a very honorable position in India. Students are expected to stand and welcome professors at the beginning of class. Professors typically also expect a lot out of their students. I wish that I could've taken classes with Indian students to see what it was like, but the Indian school calendar doesn't coincide with the American summer break schedule. I wish I could've gotten a true Indian classroom experience. The normal, morning class coffee and donut routine is not permitted in India. Only water may be brought into the building, unless mischievous people like myself sneak goodies in their bags. Cell phones must remain off in the buildings, and laptops may not be used in class.

Outside of class, I've learned so much about the Indian culture and how it differs from mine. I travelled to a village outside of Bangalore to see the work that the Center for Student Action of Christ University has accomplished. The village visit exposed me to the life lived by approximately 70% of the country and has made me appreciate the US infrastructure tremendously. Village living is simple, and it lacks many community basics including hospitals and strong educational systems.  I visited a school where children greeted me like a celebrity. I gave them coloring books and chocolate, but they were interested in their visitors more than the gifts. This was by far the most rewarding part of this study abroad experience.

Daily life here is almost the opposite of living at home. India is unlike anything I have ever experienced. The food, transportation and living conditions in the city all contribute to India's culture. The way I am treated here is also unlike anything I've ever experienced.

Cost of Living

Since the dollar's value is so high, spending Indian rupees is like spending spare change. Food, transpiration, and basic necessities are relatively cheap compared to American prices. I bought a ten inch high stack of Oreos and Minute Maid apple juice for $0.80. Buying Indian food is much cheaper than that. There was a vegetarian place near my apartment where I could buy a full meal with leftovers to take to the apartment for $0.60.

Indian Cuisine

Indian food alone doesn't constitute an Indian eating environment. A typical experience in an Indian restaurant goes like this: A group of four people walk into a restaurant. They all go to the back of the restaurant and wash their hands at a wash station. They sit down and are given one menu to share. After ordering and receiving their food, they dig into their dishes with their right hands. No matter the dish, whether it's rice, soup, or meat, they use their right hands or an Indian bread like naan to scoop up the food and eat it. They will not use their left hands because they are considered unsanitary for bathroom reasons. After receiving the bill, they split it up evenly and pay with cash. The combination of the bill is beneficial for people who order a lot of food, sodas and desserts, but it's a loss for those who drink water and limit their dishes. 

After splitting the bill the Indian way multiple times, I realized I like the American way best. Plus, in the US I typically don't carry cash, so splitting a bill the Indian way would be nearly impossible on the same ticket. I'm also ready to get back to non-spicy food. Dining options include Indian, Chinese, Italian and American. Indian food is the cheapest so I usually ate that, but its spiciness made me perspire. I used my favorite bread, paratha, to cool my mouth while eating. I will miss being able to buy a full meal for less than $1.00, but I'm ready to get back to eating beef too.

Transportation

Transportation in Bangalore was certainly an adventure and just as cheap as the food. The way that people drive would make one think that there were no laws governing the road. Drivers swerve into oncoming traffic regularly, people don't follow any lane markings, and horn usage is deafening. Auto-rickshaws are my favorite form of transportation. They are small cars without windows or doors. Rickshaws offer an inexpensive and convenient form of transportation in the busy Bangalore. A forty-five minute ride across town costs less than $4.00, but that's only if I agree upon a price before hiring the driver or having the driver use the meter. Many drivers would see my white skin, assume I didn’t know what I was doing, and try to charge 300 rupees for a trip that should only cost 60 rupees. I knew better than that though thanks to Bryan's warnings.

City Life

Without trashcans available on the streets, trash consumes the sidewalks. Cows, dogs, and rats are always searching the piles of trash for food remains. I have to step over or around trash on a daily basis. When cows aren't shuffling through trash, they can be found in the middle of many streets. Vehicles honk as they pass by, but the cows never flinch. A driver convicted of hitting a cow on the streets can be fined and sent to jail. I have learned that India has many areas that could use improvement. India is a growing country that needs a more developed government, one that doesn't accept bribes and one that its citizens will respect. In India, similarities to the western way of life are visible. It's possible that the ways of the west will eventually constitute the way of life for Indians.

Basic necessities in India are just as cheap as the food and transportation as long as I stay off of the touristy streets. A pair of pants can be bargained down to $3.00, but the original price can be as high as $10.00. If I'm not happy with a price, I start walking away. That's usually what got the store owners to give me the price I like. I offered $50 for a $200 rug, and the store owner eventually accepted. The other students on the Global India trip called me the "Queen of Bargaining."

White Woman in Indian Land

I felt like a celebrity trying to tour India. On an average touring day, I was asked to take at least ten photos with random Indians. If I agreed to take one picture, people would crowd around asking if they could pose for more pictures with me. Bystanders who didn't know the other Indians in pictures would snap photos too. Even going about my day-to-day activities, I would notice people filming and photographing me. The rest of the group experienced the same thing. Small children would often approach me with an outstretched hand initiating a handshake. At first, I wondered why people were so fascinated with white people, but then I realized the lack of cultural diversity in India. For the first two weeks I was here, I only saw two white people.

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Read more from Sydney at http://sydneyinindia.blogspot.com/

Look for more opportunities to study engineering abroad at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search

Finding Inspiration on a Chicken Farm in Mozambique: Stories from Service Learning Abroad #hogsabroad

Emily K. Lhamon, August 2014

In the summers of 2012 and 2013, I participated in the Community Development program in Nampula, Mozambique. I was called to work with a fully-integrated poultry farm in a very rural area in the northern part of the country. This trip appealed to me because of the connection to my major, Poultry Science, and the opportunity to see the poultry industry on a different continent. The program was focused less on in-the-classroom learning and more on hands-on service and leadership. Throughout my experience, my idea of study abroad really transformed from a very self-centered perspective to a servant’s heart. 

My plan in May of 2012 was to get on a plane with my best friend, go work on a chicken farm, and go on a South African safari. My plan quickly changed when I began working alongside Jesse, one of the supervisors on the broiler breeder farm. 

Jesse Lutonde

He was one of the few employees that spoke English, so he was tasked with becoming our project host and translator. I spent three weeks working, talking, teaching, and learning with him. Jesse is a refugee from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. His father and brother were killed in the civil war there in the 1990’s and his mother died from HIV/AIDS. He has a wife, four sons, and a daughter who live in Malawi. He only gets sees them once or twice a year. He speaks English, French, Portuguese, and many other tribal languages. He is only a few years older than me and had seen so much unimaginable hardship. Everything he does, he does to provide a better life for his family. It would be easy for him to give up and settle in his circumstances. However, his spirit is rich with hope and passion for feeding other Africans like himself. He is so interested in his job and always striving to do better. This incredible man is the reason I enjoy what I do so much. My mindset completely changed from May to June that year. I was less focused on what the world owed me and more interested and passionate about what I owed the world. That step towards enlightenment is one of the greatest gifts and it was all thanks to Jesse. 

My plan for my second trip in 2013 was to return to the farm, provide more technical service, and give back to my friend who had given so much to me. I was lucky to come across a refurbished laptop for that I loaded down with presentations, journals, notes, and pictures from my poultry science classes. The day I returned to the farm, I gave the laptop to Jesse and showed him all the information on it. He was so appreciative he nearly cried. I knew how much he loved his job and wanted to continue to move upward. We took a picture to send to his wife in Malawi and she was equally as ecstatic to have a way for her children to Skype with Jesse. One of the professors on the trip asked me why I cared so much to give away a perfectly good laptop. To me it was very simple. Jesse’s story had shown me a new perspective and a better way to think about how a little white girl could impact the world. His story was all he had to give. So the least I could do was enhance his life a little bit with technology and information that came at such a little cost to me.

Since my trip in 2013, Jesse has moved on to be the manager of a nearby table egg operation in Nampula. He still seldom sees his family, but has been able to earn enough to send all of his school-aged children to school on a regular basis. He still loves his job and is constantly learning to help the farm do better. There are millions of people in Africa that have lives stricken with tragedy. The poultry industry there is growing, but still needs trained poultry scientists to match the demand for chicken and eggs. My hope is to contribute to the developing industry and help more people like Jesse throughout my career.

Emily Lhamon participated on the U of A Community Development in Mozambique Summer Program 2012 and 2013

A Moment with a Study Abroad Veteran: Kelly Williams #hogsabroad

Kelly Williams, Nursing Major

U of A Health Teams Abroad in Sweden

U of A Tanzania: The Political, Social, and Natural History of East Africa

How and why did you choose your specific program(s)?

·         I choose my program because I knew I wanted to do something short-term, in the summer, and with faculty I could make really good connections with here in Fayetteville!

How did your experiences abroad contribute to your overall education, especially in your field?

·         My trip to Tanzania contributed to my education by giving me an open mind. I wouldn't say it was exactly related to my career path (Nursing) but experiencing a different culture in such an interesting way broadened my perspective on how I approach dealing with all types of people, an invaluable experience. As for my trip to Sweden, I realized I did not know very much about the United States healthcare system so what better way to learn about it then spending a month comparing it to Sweden?! Even though the trip was directly meaningful to my career path, the most meaningful experiences came from experiencing the culture.

Why would you suggest your program(s) to others?

·         Because the programs I went on were in the summer, I didn't have to worry about fitting them into my schedule, which was fantastic! I also ended up with extra credits that I could try a minor very easily if I wanted to. Faculty led trips are incredible because you work out all the details through the University (no third parties!), you get a chance to know some incredible faculty in a different way that is not possible strictly on campus, and best of all, you get to experience a country with people that know it best in a very unique way! How many people can say they saw the big 5 in one day on the Serengeti? Or had a traditional Swedish feast in the home of a Swede? Or hiked up to the first base camp of Mount Kilimanjaro? Or trekked with chimpanzees where Jane Goodall did her research? Or lived in a hostel/boat for a week in Stockholm? Studying abroad provides such an amazing opportunity to further your education in a unique way that takes learning outside the classroom and into so many different cultures. Long story short, it rocks!

For information about the programs discussed in Kelly’s interview, contact the Study Abroad Office (studyabr@uark.edu)!

Tanzania: The Story Behind a SASA Photo Contest Award Winner

Lauren Underwood's winning photo submission for the SASA photo contest

And here's her story.....
I have been struggling to write this for a long time. It has been five months since I  arrived home from Tanzania and it is still difficult to describe how incredibly awesome my experience was. I do not use the word awesome lightly, either. My entire two weeks there, I was literally filled with awe.

 We started our adventure by hiking up a portion of Mount Kilimanjaro and even though the trek up was much more difficult than I could imagine, the sites and experiences were unforgettable. We spent the night on the mountain and I woke up just in time to see the sunrise. That moment was when I realized that I was actually in Tanzania. In Africa. Not home. Totally out of my element. It was freeing. I could let go and truly be myself and enjoy every second from that moment on. 

We descended the mountain the next day and as we were loading the bus, we experienced our first major encounter with the locals. A group of men bombarded us as we were trying to leave and tried to sell us their “homemade” items. A lot of us had never experienced this before and were overwhelmed. However, others took it as an opportunity to barter and buy souvenirs for their friends and family. We would experience this multiple times during our trip and each encounter became less and less overwhelming. The majority of us actually had fun bartering with them and tried to continue bartering when we came home. That did not work out so well at stores like Walmart and Target. 

We visited a few of the larger cities including Dar Es Salaam and Arusha and even in the cities poverty is extremely real and public. However, in my opinion, the most heartbreaking areas were those on the outskirts of cities and in the middle of nowhere. Stores and homes were crumbling and the people living there were extremely impoverished. However, it was even more amazing how content most of these people were with their lives. It was a humbling and inspiring experience. It made me want to return later on and help in any way I could. It also put me in my place.

We actually stopped in a fishing village where we learned about their reliance on the land and lakes and their social hierarchy. This village, in particular, struggled with alcoholism and HIV/AIDS. Many men in Tanzania do not work much due to their cultural beliefs. Women do a lot of the work and are the primary caregivers. Men socialize most of the day and take it easy for the most part. We learned that in this village, most of the men struggled with alcohol which made it even more difficult for the rest of the family because their already minute income became that much smaller after he bought his alcohol for the day. Also, many women and men in this village suffered from HIV/AIDS. Many women were shunned for this but the leaders of this village are trying something new and groundbreaking. They have started a new system where they give certain women a stipend and the women start their own (very) small businesses. A portion of the money from this business goes to the leaders until their debt is paid off. After they pay off their debt, they are able to start making an income which allows them to buy medicine and medical treatment for themselves and their family.

             

The children in this village were so fun and so happy to see white people or as they call us, wazungu. They have learned that when white people are there, they will receive some sort of candy or other food items. They followed us around and held our hands. They also laughed at our attempts to speak Swahili. Besides the treats that we brought for them, we also handed out our hair ties and bracelets. The little girls loved it.

We spent four days traveling through the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti. We saw so many animals including lions, elephants, giraffes, baboons, hippos, and many more. It was fascinating watching these animals in their natural habitat. We actually were able to observe and lion and lioness on their “honeymoon”. This refers to the time period after a lion takes a new mate. During this time, the lion and lioness do not eat,  they drink rarely, but have sex on a regular basis to ensure that they will have an offspring. Usually this is done in private, but the pair that we came across was located on the side of a trail where they were very much so in the open. 

We also stopped and visited Olduvai Gorge where many important geological remains and artifacts have been found. We actually visited the sites where specific fossils had been found and came across a Maasai man who was very interested in me for some reason. He stood right behind me and seemed to be examining me from head to toe. It was nice to know that he was just as curious about me as I was about him.

On the latter part of our trip, we traveled to Gombe where Jane Goodall did her chimp research. This was so fun! We did our laundry in the lake and swam in the clearest water I have ever seen. Then we tracked chimps for a day and a half. This consisted of us trekking some pretty rough terrain. At some points, we had to slide down hills on our bottoms because there was no other way to get down the hills. We loved it!

We left their and headed towards Zanzibar. However, at the last minute, we decided to go to the goat races. This was just a small fair where they raced local goats and sold local items to benefit charities. A few of us even had our faces and arms painted. This was a great time to just let loose. 

Our last stop was Zanzibar. Zanzibar is the small island parallel to the mainland. Here, we stayed at a beautiful resort on the coast of the Indian Ocean and went snorkeling off of a private island. We were observing coral reefs when all of a sudden, a family of dolphins arrived. We were able to swim with wild dolphins! As a swimmer, that was, by far, my favorite part of the trip.

This was definitely the trip of a lifetime which has provided me with memories that I will never forget. I look back at my photos and journal every now and then and think to myself, “Did this really happen?” I have met such amazing people through this trip and have made lifelong friendships.

Not only has this study abroad opportunity provided me with lifelong memories and friends, it has also solidified my career path. Before I left, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my Psychology degree. Now that I am home, I know that I want to work in Trauma Psychology. I want to help those who are crippled by poverty and other psychological problems that come with that territory. I also know that there is so much work to be done throughout the world and I cannot wait to get out there and do it. I am so grateful for this experience and I encourage anyone to take this opportunity while you can.

           

           

           

Farming and Friendship in the Heart of Rwanda

Honors poultry science and environmental, soil, and water science double major Katie McGehee formed deep connections with the employees of Ikiraro Investment's poultry farm in Rwanda last summer while conducting research for her senior thesis project. The six-week internship gave her a first-hand look at the international poultry industry, as well as an unexpected passion for the South African lifestyle.  For more from Katie, please visit the Honors College blog.