Kai Introduction (Assistant Program Director)
Namaste Vidhyarti
First off, let me welcome you to what will surely be a challenging and richly rewarding semester in India. I feel excited and privileged to be able to share these next several months with you as you embark upon a journey of both self and world discovery. India is a place of incredible diversity and incredible humanity. It is a place that seems to elude definition, a place of constant movement and adaptation. If you haven’t yet, try to take some time to read/watch/listen to some of the recommended books and movies (http://global-lab.org/mt/BBFall09/2009/07/check_out_these_books_films.html). India can be entirely overwhelming at first, but the more you have read and seen, and the better you are prepared for it, the easier it will be to take in. The God of Small Things is one of my favorite books (and also one of the most vividly descriptive books I have ever read), and Satyajit Ray’s film Pather Panchali gives an excellent look into early 20th century rural India.
As for myself, my first experience with India occurred as an undergraduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where I participated on a study abroad semester to Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh. Although majoring in Human Geography, I took an opportunity in Hyderabad to explore broader areas of interest: Indian Philosophy, Hindi, and Urdu. These interests have stuck with me, and I am excited to put them into action again. I’ll never forget the initial sensory overload I experienced venturing into the cacophony of India’s streets. The sights, the smells, the tumultuous noises were both invigorating and deafening. After the semester in Hyderabad, I spent the remainder of the year volunteering, interning, and traveling through western India, including spending two weeks assisting with Global-LAB’s Brahma to Buddha program.
In addition to these experiences in India, I have also studied, volunteered, and traveled in a variety of countries in Southeast Asia and Oceania, including spending a semester abroad in Suva, Fiji. And just this summer, I logged over 10,000 miles on the road as a trip leader with Trek America, leading groups of international tourists on road and camping trips throughout the United States. All of these experiences, and particularly my time abroad, have left me with an indelible passion for international and experiential education that I take into Global-LAB.
I am very excited to meet all of you next week, and would be happy to talk anytime before then. If you have any questions or concerns, or if you would just like to chat, please feel free to give me a call or shoot me an email. And remember in these coming months to keep your eyes open and your curiosities highly tuned: they will serve you well in our adventure. See you soon!
Jaldi Milenge,
Kai
Assistant Program Director
608-780-8699
Kjohn493@gmail.com