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To see and hear from some of our recent students who just spent the spring semester of their gap year exploring India with Global LAB, you can visit a brief audio slide show here.
]]>We've collected a list of some highly recommended books and movies which might help you better prepare for your experiences in India. These titles have come to us recommended by our own staff, student alumni, and scholars with which we work in country.
Feel free to comment on this entry and let us all know what you've watched/read/enjoyed already!
History:
Mahatma Gandhi, (Louis Fischer, ed.) The Essential Gandhi, Vintage, 1962.
Avedon, John. In Exile From the Land of Snows, NY: A Knopf, 1984
This excellent book as it offers a clear and concise background on Tibetan culture, and details the events surrounding the occupation of Tibet by the Chinese.
Tenzin Gyatso, H. H. the Dalai Lama. My Land and My People. NY: Potala, 1983
This is an autobiographical account of the history of modern Tibet, told by His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso, the XIVth Dalai Lama. We also recommend any other publication by His Holiness such as Ethics for a New Millennium , The Art of Happiness and The World of Tibetan Buddhism.
Mahatma Gandhi. Autobiography: The Story of My Experiments with Truth. Beacon Press, 1993.
Gita Mehta. Karma Cola: Marketing the Mystic East. Vintage Books, 1991.
Diana Eck. Banaras, City of Light. Knopf, 1982.
Travel/ Historical Fiction
Elizabeth Gilbert. Eat, Pray, Love. Penguin Books, 2006
Greg Mortenson and David Olivier Relin. Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace... One School at a Time. Penguin Books, 2006.
Satyajit Ray. Twenty Stories. Penguin Books Ltd., 1993. - Ray is a well-known, edgy Indian film maker. These are some of his short stories, but check out his movies as well.
Peter Mathessien. The Snow Leopard. Penguin Nature Classics, 1978.
Herman Hesse. Siddhartha. NY: New Directions, 1951 - Yes, it's fiction. Let's discuss!
Rushdie, Salman et al. Mirrorwork: 50 Years of Indian Writing 1947-1997. Henry Holt & Co., 1997. (an excellent anthology; a good way to sample many authors who have written about India)
Ethan Nichtern. One City: A Declaration of Interdependence. Wisdom Publications, 2007. - Nichtern is a practitioner of Shambhala Buddhism and founder of the Interdependence Project, an organization promoting social awareness and personal responsibility based out of New York City but existing in cyberspace as well. He's young, hip, and can explain Buddhism to our younger generation in a completely engaging fashion.
Diana Eck. Darshan. Columbia University Press, 1998.
Sachiko Murata and William Chittick. The Vision of Islam: Visions of Reality, Understanding Religions. Paragon House, 1995.
Martin Lings. Muhammed: His Life Based on the Early Sources. 2006.
Aiden Rankin. The Jain Path: Ancient Wisdom for the West. O Books, 2006.
Michele Martin. Music in the Sky: The Life, Art & Teachings of the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje. Snow Lion Publications, 2002. - If our karma permits, we'll be able to have an audience with this Karmapa who is the head of the Karma Kagyud sect of Tibetan Buddhism.
John Powers. An Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism. Ithaca, NY: Snow Lion Publications, 1995.
Walpola Sri Rahula. What the Buddha Taught. Grove/Atlantic Press, 1974.
A.L. Herman. A Brief Introduction to Hinduism: Religion, Philosophy and the Ways of Liberation. Westview Press, 1991.
Kim Knott. Hinduism: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press, 1999. - These "very shorts" are great for getting some content info about what we'll see. There's also one on Buddhism and Sikhism.
Juan Mascaro, ed. The Bhagavad Gita. Viking Press, 1983. - Other great epics in the Hindu tradition to check out are the Mahayana and the Ramayana. These all greatly inform Indian culture.
Films (Available at your local public library and most video rental stores)
Regarding India:
The Namesake (2006), Gandhi (1982), Earth (1998), Fire (1996), Water (2005), Om Shanti Om (2007), Dhoom 2 (2006), Taare Zameen Par (2007)
Regarding Islam:
Inside Islam (2003), Islam: What the West Needs to Know (2006)
Regarding Tibet:
Kundun (1997), Windhorse (1997), The Cup (1999), Seven Years in Tibet (1997)
Travisa is located at:
316 East 53rd St, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10022
Travisa is open Monday to Friday, except on holidays.
Visa Application Dropoff hours: 9:00am to 12:00pm EST and 2:00pm to 4:00pm EST
Pickup hours: 4:30pm to 6:00pm EST
Feel free to contact Global LAB's admissions staff if you have any questions: admissions@global-lab.org
]]>Lugging a heavy pack or suitcase around for the entire time we are in India can be extremely tiresome for you, and for the rest of the group. We can find anything you might need in India, and you’ll also want room to pack gifts to take back to the U.S. Seriously challenge yourself to pack light, and lighter still…you definitely will not regret it!
MOST IMPORTANTLY: We strive to be model visitors and therefore ask that everyone bring clothing that is lightweight and durable, but that also covers the body well, and looks respectable. Tie-dyed T-shirts, T-shirts sporting inappropriate phrases, cut-off jeans, clothing with rips or holes, tight-fitting shirts and/or leggings, and tank tops are inappropriate as they show disrespect for local cultures.
GEAR
Passport – Valid for at least 6 months from the beginning of your program.
Money Belt – A very important item to wear daily, under your clothes, safely hiding your passport, money, etc.
Sleeping Bag – Sleeping bags should be able to pack down very small - temperature rating can be any.
Water Bottle – Please bring two, one-quart, plastic. Nalgene bottles can be found at local outdoor gear shops.
Head Lamp – Flashlights are okay, but headlamps are more convenient.
Alarm Clock/Watch – Travel-size, to catch early buses and trains and be on time for class.
CLOTHING
Outer Shell – Jacket. Water-proof or gore-tex, ideally light-weight and packable - Rain comes sometimes to McLeod Ganj.
Sweater/Fleece jacket
T-shirts – 2, in excellent shape, but prepared for wear and tear.
Nice shirts – 2, for meetings and special occasions.
Pants – 2 - One ideally light weight for walking and hiking, and one appropriate for guest speakers.
Gloves & Warm Hat
Socks & Underwear – 4 pairs each.
Sleepwear – Ideally, T-shirt/shorts can double for this. Minimize extra weight!
Skirt/Dress – Ankle-length skirt, Dress with long sleeves. Shorter skirts and dresses can only be worn with long pants underneath.
Walking Shoes/Sneakers – You won't need proper hiking boots, just shoes you will be very comfortable walking in. They should be easy to take off and put on and durable.
Visor/Sunhat
Sunglasses
TOILETRIES (Just the basics! No hair driers, irons, etc.)
Toothbrush & paste
Hair brush/Comb
Shampoo
Chapstick
Sunscreen
Towel – Small and light (and ideally fast-drying).
Medications – That you take regularly. Keep pills in original containers to avoid head-aches with Customs. Global LAB will carry a separate, comprehensive first aid bag.
Glasses/Contacts/Contact Solution – if you wear them. (Extra pair of glasses is a good idea).
OTHERS
Digital Camera – You should bring an extra camera battery and memory card. If you are shooting film, extra is widely available in Asia.
Notebook/Journal
Pen/Pencil
Book – Bring your two books for Mrs. Kasevich's World Religions course and anything else of interest from the reading list.
Gifts – A few light items to share with your homestay families.(Something that shows what your life is like in the U.S. - post cards of your home state, a simple t-shirt, a small calendar or picture book).
Spending Money – This of course depends a great deal on your personal spending/shopping habits. In our experience, some participants spend less than $100 of personal money during an entire semester, while others spend over $1,000. We suggest bringing at least $500 in American Express traveler's cheques, in a mix of $20 and $50 denominations. ATM cards can be used in some of our destinations, but the machines are not as reliable as you might be accustomed to.
OPTIONAL
Sandals – Good for every day use in hot weather.
Shorts – 1 pair, at least mid-thigh length (shorts won’t be appropriate to wear any other time than for sleeping).
Bandana – These can serve multiple purposes while traveling.
Umbrella – A lightweight, travel umbrella can serve you well in rain or shine.
Duct Tape – Wrap a bunch around your water bottles and pull it off as you need it.
Insect Repellent
Playing Cards
Good Luck with Packing, Everyone! Please don't hesitate to get in touch if you have questions or concerns.
Tracy
tracy@global-lab.org
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Meanwhile, half way around the world in Delhi, Tracy and Peter are eagerly awaiting the group's arrival and the start of an exceptionally rich itinerary, including visits to key historical and religious sites in Delhi, Dharamsala, and Agra; learning directly from Indian and Tibetan scholars and religious leaders; and truly experiencing the extraordinary tapestry of India's vibrant culture, not as typical tourists, but as hands-on, experiential learners and responsible travelers.
All of us at Global LAB are delighted to be a part of Nightingale's adventure in India and we are confident the days ahead will lead to the richest possible kind of intercultural learning experience and no small amount of self-discovery.
We will do our best to post regular updates here on the group's program blog as we receive reports from Peter and Tracy over the course of the journey, so be sure to check back often.
John Eastman
Executive Director
Global LAB
800.984.4522
The group has arrived in Delhi and has settled into their hotel to get some rest before tomorrow's exploration of the city and then a late morning flight up to Dharamsala, located in the foothills of the Himalaya.
John
]]>Tomorrow morning they will start with a walk to the seat of the Central Tibetan Administration complex and the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives. Geshe Lhakdor La, Director of the Library and translator for the Dalai Lama, will give the group a talk on Buddhism.
Tracy reports that the weather is nice and crisp in Dharamsala and that the girls have been marveling at the spectacular views of the Himalayan valley below from the hotel.
]]>It’s our fourth day in India, yet we are only just beginning to get used to the way of life here. Our schedule has taught us that time is overrated; minutes left to wait for cars and people turn into hours and still, we don’t seem to miss a beat. This “elastic time” has fortunately given us the opportunity to grow closer together as a group. After a relaxing, yet sleepless, night in Delhi at the World Buddhist Center, we visited Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India where we gracefully rejected buying the cobra toys and whips being sold at the gates. Soon after we headed to the airport only to find out that our flight to Dharmasala was cancelled. We then made the decision to embark on what will most likely be the longest car ride any of us will ever take; so long in fact that the cars became our own little families during the 12 hours spent together, telling stories, sharing snacks, debating, and begging, pleading with the driver to please, if possible, refrain from speaking on the cell phone while switching gears and changing lines at 90 kph – all this while avoiding cows, pedestrians, carts hitched to oxen, cyclists, bread – eating monkeys, and even a wedding ceremony! (Yehe India hai! Tr. This is India!)
After an early start that followed a much needed night of sleep on the road, we finally arrived in Dharamsala, home to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and an estimated 5,000 other Tibetan refugees. Our experience so far in McLeod Ganj has been filled with excitement and learning. The vibrant colors and unique culture of this city have awakened our minds to the beauty of a place that seems worlds away from the life we are used to.
Blog by Ana Iglesias ‘09
(Ms. Hutcheson) Being here and visiting a mosque and Hindu temples has brought out the collective experience of Muslim worship and the individual practice of Hinduism. It was clarified for me! What a privilege to explore faith and practice with these marvelous young women. I can’t wait to see how they will share their experience with the Nightingale community. Ms. Kasevich reflects that this is experiential learning at its best!
The young women have been impressive in dealing with surprises and the inevitable ups and downs of travel in India. What a joy to watch these confident young women leave the hotel with their Tibetan mothers (ama-la) this evening, ready to start their first night of homestays well-versed in Tibetan language and culture. We look forward to their stories of their first night over porridge and curd in the morning!
Ms. H & Ms. K
]]>The group will be posting some additional blog entries about their time in Dharamsala--they tried to do so from there, but the combination of a non-stop itinerary and very slow Internet connections made it a challenge.
Next up: the Taj Mahal on the Vernal Equinox...
]]>We wish them all a safe journey back to the USA and look forward to hearing their impressions of India.
]]>India from Thao Nguyen on Vimeo.
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