Week four:
We took a little adventure to my Professor's Village located in Firozpur - a city on the banks of the Sutlej River. It was nice getting out of Amritsar and seeing a little GREEN.
On the way to the farm, we stopped at our cab driver's family village. We had no idea where we were or where we were going until we stopped in front of a small house with dirt floors. Everyone in the village came to the house to meet us (realistically to stare at us). SO LET'S BREAK OUT THE SELFIE STICK LADIES.
Classic...when am I not eating? I wish I could say that I knew this picture was being taken, but I legitimately had no idea. I guess I smile while shoveling food into my mouth - you learn something new everyday. Something that I am sure to take home with me from India is their hospitality. Even at our cab driver's village, where money is not exactly in abundance, they gave us limca soda, chai tea, trail mixes, and cookies. What can I say? Food is the quickest, easiest, and most effective way to get me to like you. And shut up.
Took a quick pit stop at a bird sanctuary for lunch - with my buddies Shayan and Ankit.
Upon arriving at my Professor's village, we got a tour of the house and land. The main house was very open and minimalistic. There was no air conditioning, no TV, no electronics. It was simple and refreshing: rooms with beds for sleeping, nothing more, nothing less. I took this picture of a woman after having washed dishes and laying them out to dry on a cot typically used for sleeping. STRONG, INDEPENDENT WOMAN AND SHE DON'T NEED NO DRIER.
One of the most interesting parts about the house was the location of the kitchen: one room, isolated from the rest of the house. I have said before that at the Golden Temple I've noticed minor gender differences, but there are no assigned gender roles for washing dishes, peeling garlic, and rolling rotis. People switch freely between different types of seva regardless of gender. I didn't notice until after I left, but I didn't see the women once after the tour of the kitchen. They stayed in the kitchen and cooked, while the men served us. It was interesting experiencing the change in gender roles depending on the setting: public (the temple) or private (one's home).
One of the most interesting parts about the house was the location of the kitchen: one room, isolated from the rest of the house. I have said before that at the Golden Temple I've noticed minor gender differences, but there are no assigned gender roles for washing dishes, peeling garlic, and rolling rotis. People switch freely between different types of seva regardless of gender. I didn't notice until after I left, but I didn't see the women once after the tour of the kitchen. They stayed in the kitchen and cooked, while the men served us. It was interesting experiencing the change in gender roles depending on the setting: public (the temple) or private (one's home).
I kept saying how badly I wanted to plant rice paddy's, how fun it looked to stand in the mud. And it was fun...for about 30 minutes. Being granted the opportunity to stand in mud up to a foot deep, feel the seeds between my fingers, dirt caked on my skin was very special. It's hard to conceptualize how hard farmers work until you try to do it yourself and can't last half an hour and remember that these people do this everyday from sun up til sun down. Makes you want to pat em on the back and say, "Thank you for the gift of food because without people like you NOONE would be able to survive."
Odds that the real farmers fixed everything I did as soon as I left. I'd put my money on it.
Smile and nod, boys. Smile and nod.