Indian Inspiration
For this post, I had to look back in my journal to see how much we have done. These weeks have truly flown by despite the occasional delays that are just part of everyday life in Kolkata.
I flipped back to nearly a month ago. On Sunday, July 1 we woke up very early to go on ASED’s first Adventure Walk, a program under the Citizen Naturalist initiative. We set our alarm for 5:30 and hopped in the 9-seater Tata SUV shortly after. Forty-five minutes later we arrived at the Chintamoni Kar Bird Sanctuary. We were all amazed to find a natural recluse in what seems like an endlessly busy and packed city. Walking through the sanctuary provided a relaxing escape from the city. We could hear birds singing at nearly every moment of the walk. We also heard the hum of mosquitoes near our ears. One loved Abby enough to bite her eyelid. Abby was a total trooper with her swollen eye. This was a clear reminder that it is monsoon season and the mosquitoes are thrivin!
The other morning, our eyes were opened to yet another natural area right in busy Kolkata. Kushal led us around the 109-acre Tollygunge Club to find the jackals that call this place their home. A melody of rain and bird calls made it feel as though we were, once again, far from the busy city. What a way to start the day!
Despite jam-packed city streets here in Kolkata, there is quite a bit of green as you may now see after reading those past two paragraphs. Our travels have also enabled us to get a glimpse into India’s expansive biodiversity.
Three weeks ago, we journeyed to the second most rainy place on earth, Cherrapunjee, India. After a long drive to the city, we were welcomed by views that reminded us of Jurassic World. A few signs along the road read “Scotland of the East”. Lush forest dominated nearly every acre beyond rolling green hills. Within seconds, an opaque white fog restricted our view. As we snaked through hills, the fog would surrender and reveal powerful waterfalls. The water fell silently, rushing to the flood plains of Bangladesh in the distance. India’s natural world is expansive and beautiful.
The magnitude of this natural world also merits protection. This protection can come in many ways, however, given that I have been interning at the Association for Social and Environmental Development (ASED) I have seen it most powerful in youth nature leaders. These students are inspiring, and we have been fortunate to interact with many of them. We were first exposed to such wonderful students on our second day in Kolkata. ASED was the Eastern India implementation partner for a year-long water quality project supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of State. Nine Eastern Indian schools and nine Kentucky high schools took part in the projects.
Students from the nine Eastern India schools and the winning school from Kentucky gathered at the American center to present their work. The students were extremely knowledgeable, well spoken, and passionate about their projects. This is still one of my favorite moments of our time interning.
We have also been able to listen to and work with Green Rhinos students. Many of them are already knowledgeable about nature around them. They know certain birds and other wildlife and they do not, they are eager to learn and become stewards for the environment. The Green Rhinos alumni demonstrate in-depth understanding of issues as well as ways in which they can be addressed. They are also viewed as leaders and role models by their younger peers. After interacting with these students, their passion has both empowered me to make the most of my time interning with ASED and become a Nature Leader myself.
Speaking of students, we have made friends with some of the boys down the block. Every day, around 5 a concrete corner lot about the size of half a basketball court with fencing on both sides is alive with boys playing soccer or cricket. The boys use bricks to mark the posts of a small goal. Since walking by the game one day with Abby and Owen, one of the boys, Neil has been the most inviting. He has also coached me when I need to ease up a bit and play soft or use some strength and take a shot. I have played three times now, once with Andrea and Alyssa. Despite these three times, Neil has not forgotten my name and also asks where Alyssa is. He compliments her skills and asks me if she can join next time.
I really did not know what to expect for our time here. The number of beautiful places and people I have met is inspiring, motivating, invigorating, and have been the route of experiences that I will never forget.
I am posting this blog as the first member of our apartment is departing! Alyssa is unfortunately leaving on a very rainy evening, but here is a sunset from the other day to end this post. There is plenty more to share and these are our last few days so expect another blog post within the next week!
