From Brahma to Buddha, Fall 2008

So, I survived my first homestay! I went into it so terrified and came out with the amazing experience of being part of a Ladakhi family for a week. In that week, I:

1. Learned how to use a two story compost toilet without falling down the hole
2. Harvested barley wheat
3. Harvested turnips
4. Harvested green beans
5. Mistook my homestay sister for a brother. That was terribly awkward.
6. Failed at making mok-moks (traditional Ladakhi dumplings)
7. Took part in an epic volleyball battle between the GLAB students and Domkhar HS students. We lost. Four times out of four.
8. Did not take a shower
9. And was totally fine with it
10. Grabbed a bull by the horns

Okay, so it was more like the bull was peacefully nibbling on a pile of freshly harvested turnips and I tied a rope around its horns and dragged it out of the garden. But technically, that counts, right?

I’ve found the school system here to be absolutely fascinating. There are a lot of things I don’t agree with about the system, like how stressful the 10th grade exam is. It reminds me of No Child Left Behind, the way that the standardized test is emphasized above all. The focus seems to be on memorizing facts than independent thinking, because memorization is what passes on the 10th grade exam and if you don’t pass, you can’t go on with your education. To put into perspective how hard and stressful this exam is, you only need a 33% to pass and currently, the pass rate is 30%. Up from 5%, to be sure, but still. What I observed in my two days at Domkhar High School was marked timidity and a lack of self confidence among the students, and it just kills me because I can imagine the effects a system like this would have on me. I would be a completely different person. See, I thought I had problems with American education—that’s why I’m on this trip. I wanted a different way of learning. But to me, the education here seems so much more unforgiving, and I at once realize how good I had it and how much I wish I could give the students an education experience like I had. It just hurts me to see people so similar to me being so uncomfortable. I’m not sure I’m articulating myself the way I want to…

Luckily, someone’s doing something about school here. Right now, we’re at SECMOL, the Student’s Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh. It’s an NGO that’s trying to raise the passing rate of the exam by changing how schools teach, but in the meantime they are housing 10th grade students who didn’t pass the exam and building up their confidence in themselves and academics. The difference between the high school and this hostel is incredible. Students here are outgoing and comfortable and so self-sufficient. Another great thing about SECMOL is that it’s run on almost all solar power and it’s got a really developed recycling program. All in all it’s a great example of innovative education and green building. I love being able to experience this, and see how well it works.

By the way, I milked a cow today. It’s a pretty unique experience.

So, we leave on the third for our 10 day trek in Marka Valley. I’m pretty pumped about it. We’re covering around 100 miles on foot and going up to 17,000 feet at one point.

Hope all is well back home. Seriously, we’ve been hearing crazy things about the economy. But anyways. See y’all later!

Ari