Day 4

Today was another incredible opportunity to learn more about the educational context here in Mumbai. We visited a municipal school that served about 250 students. The students and staff were so receptive and warm in their welcome to us. In the very first class we visited, there were two students, one young man and one young woman, who stood up to tell us about their school. We learned about their favorite subjects, why they desired to learn English and some of their favorite activities in school. They radiated hope and optimism and spoke with more confidence and pride than many adults I know. At some point, the Principal interjected and reminded us that all of the children in this particular school were living below the poverty line. At first, I thought this remark was slightly inappropriate, especially because it was audible enough for the students to hear. However, through learning more about the school and hearing more of his perspective, it became clear that there was a correlation between the school’s consciousness of how serious poverty was on student learning and the school’s intentionality around educating “the whole child”. The school worked hard to ensure that “whatever needs to be done to help the children, will be done”. His entrepreneurial spirit inspired me. He constantly set goals and strived to rally his team to accomplish them. He constantly identifies issues and works toward developing innovative solutions. He takes risks. He leverages the minds and gifts of his teammates to ensure that every child is provided a quality education. Despite being given a hand of adversity, he has figured out ways to counteract anything antithetical to student achievement and student growth. Is there a way to capture this essence of his leadership and teach it to others? Imagine if all educators saw problems the way he did, sought creative solutions, built coalitions and worked tirelessly until these solutions yielded results. After being inspired by this site visit, we returned to campus. There were a bunch of firsts that happened. I went out in the town for the first time tonight and I crossed a Mumbai road for the first time as well. That was an exhilarating experience at the very least. I tried this gin, chili pepper, lemon and sprite drink (so good). I got in a three-wheel taxi for the first time and got sniffed by one of the neighborhood dogs for the first time (smh).

Day 2 & 3

Every morning since I have been here at TISS, I awake at approximately 6:15am to a doorbell. Outside my door, there is a man that pours me some of India's most delicious Chai. Its a blessing to wake up, and be able to see life in abundance: in the mountains, in the sky, in the trees. Yesterday, we had our first cite visit in which we visited a municipal school in Colombo. This school has approximately 60+ teachers who all serve a bit over 2000 students on a rotating morning-afternoon schedule. The students were respectful, genuine, kind and full of energy. The school leader who we learned travels 2.5 hours a day one way to get to school, was full of life and clearly operated from his heart first. Some of the words he said that I will never forget: All children, despite their background, should have a great education. When you drop your children into my school, they become my children. While our objective out here is to build a leadership development program that seeks to "build capacity" (or whatever this westernized term is), it is clear that school leaders like the one we met yesterday are in abundance with the foundations for a strong educational system: heart and passion. The food continues to be incredible. Tried their prawns for the first time and it was absolutely delicious. I got to meet some more of the research team and I am blown away by their intellect, zeal, and compassion for complete strangers like me.  I am learning and seeing first hand how detrimental institutionalized systems are and how slow (and sometimes completely antithetical) they can be toward progress. There is power in working on the ground. Public institutions can act as the medium that equalizes access and opportunity. How efficacious those leading these public institutions are and those using them remains the question. 

Day 1 in Inda

Day 1- I was instantly greeted by India's warm sun and humid temperature. I immediately noticed the docile dogs, even at the airport and the busyness of the people. This appeased some of my anxiety as some of you who know me know that I am petrified by dogs (and I have legitimate reasons for being so fearful of them :(. One moment that made me laugh was approaching our cab and preparing to sit in the right side passenger seat, only to learn that this passenger seat was actually the drivers seat. It was such a western world mistake. I am so programmed to being and acting a certain way. Becoming mindful of not just the moment, but the context is definitely a goal of mine. Driving in India is quite eventful. Cars, 3-wheel taxis, motor-cyles and trucks make up the ensemble of traffic spread across any given Indian street with people dashing from side to side, almost akin to the game frogger. Except people are the frogs and crossing the street is a real life task. Yikes. While driving in the taxi, we were then greeted by India's rain. There is no such thing as light raindrops before a storm as the rain precipitated pretty hard, pretty quickly. I immediately noticed most people who were dwelling outside were immuned to the rain. One woman who was putting together necklaces with her feet that her children were trying to sell stayed put continuing on her work where she was sitting, despite the hard and heavy raindrops that seemed so sudden. My colleagues and I  are staying on the campus of the Tata Institute for Social Sciences (TISS) and the campus is directly parallel to a slum neighborhood here in Mumbai (sounds familiar right?). My view from outside my room overlooks a mountain top, with a house on the hill. The food has been amazing. Last night we ate some type of bean dish with fallafals in a delicious curry chutney. Tea isn't tea out here, its chai. and its the greatest tea I have ever had in my  life. Tea is served with sugar and milk already in it. My uncle Vell (RIP) would have been in love with the tea out here. Staying on this campus will definitely serve to have some amazing benefits: one of which will be the incredible people I will meet. I have already met a professor that teachers at the university of San Diego who is out here on a Fulbright doing research on multi-lingual student's and their challenges adjusting to a classroom. She asked join me for a breakfast and I was blown away by her incredible stories and interests. I pray I meet more people like Dr. Maya and I am looking forward to our morning tea and breakfast chats. My body is still adjusting to the time difference (9.5 hours) but I have been buzzing around since 5:30am Indian time.This journey has just begun but one that is full of promise, growth and excitement. 2 Samuel 7: Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the lord is with you.