Friday, October 20, 2006

From DC to Dehli

The weather will be spring-like when I arrive in Dehli in just under three weeks. In the high eighties, the weather station predicts, and completely unlike the the windy, blustery fall day today as I write this. In just under three weeks, I'm going to depart to spend six weeks teaching English in Dehli, India.

Why Dehli, and why now? As I said to friends and family, Dehli, the capital of India, is a complex center of rich culture, history, and progress, all which capture my imagination. At the same time, it is a nation that struggles to educate its citizens. I can't do everything, but I can teach, which will help local service providers increase the community's capacity to sustain itself. Martin Luther King reminds us, "Life's most urgent question is: What are you doing for others?" For six weeks, from Nov. 5-Dec. 16, I'll be using my training in education to teach English.

This is an experience that will change my life personally and politically. I've always been an advocate for education, particularly to those without access to privilege, and traveling and teaching in Dehli will expand my understanding and therefore my impact.

I'm traveling through Cross Cultural Solutions, a leading non-profit organization that arranges international volunteer programs to assist countries in sustainable community projects. In addition to the Dehli program, the organization sponsors trips in nine other countries and all programs are managed by CCS alumni. Very reassuring as I embark on this incredible trip.