The title for this entry comes from the slogan I saw printed on the sign for a coffee shop. It pretty accurately represents my experience here so far -- the translation of me to India may be a little off, but you get the general, good-natured idea.
So far our program has been heavy with discussion and exploration of the major infrastructure of Bangalore. One of our hosting NGOs, the Environmental Support Group, has presented us with the topics of water, road building, public transportation, and the myriad ways infrastructure can work for and against social justice. There is nothing simple here. It's not just about globalization and modernization, it's also about the 2000-year-old caste system (Really, think about how much time that is. We have no concept of a 2000 system of organizatin in the United States.), increased westernization, and the rapid growth of a city. The information we are learning about the growth and development of Bangalore can be overwhelming at times, especially when we think about the parallels of injustice we can find at home.
And so we do our best to find balance. A nice spicy biryani is a great way to do that. Or a chilly pudina (mint) lime juice fresh squeezed by the cutest child laborer you've ever seen. Yes, even our comforts are complicated. So how does one continue to move fowrad in the world with a sense of joy when mired in such devastating complications?
Well, tonight I'll see if a Bollywood film will help.
This is education at its best. It's troubling, it's experiential, it's both brain melting and brain fortifying. As for the heart, well, it's rent and re-stitched, and rent again. Relishing the company of our incredible NGO partnerts and finding community with these students who truly value social justice help me keep my needle sharp that I might keep sewing my heart back together.
