ICHEC Housing Project Report

Emily Burchfield

Team Leader

Sankagiri, Salem District

Father John Alphonse

         When my close friends ask me how my second trip to India was, I tell them ‘well, that is at least an hour-long conversation.’ Similarly, to write only five pages about my experience in India does it no justice. The reason for this is simple: every day spent in India was life-changing; my senses were constantly heightened and my mind was always open. I experienced life more intensely while in India, due in part to the knowledge that the experience would be over in a month, and also to the fact that I was in such a unique environment. Traveling to India for a second time facilitated a deeper understanding of Indian culture. The initial ‘shock value’ associated with being in a distinctly different country dissipated and I was able to absorb much more. My team was equally open to absorb as much as possible while in India, which made our time in India together much richer. We encountered a lot together emotionally, and grew incredibly close because of this openness.

         Our ‘village’ was more of a city, which was a big change from my experience last year in the rural village of Agraharam. In Sakangiri many more people spoke English, which allowed the team to get much more out of our time there. We spoke with priests, teachers, philosophy students, college students, and even the children! I believe we learned more in this way than we ever could through simply observing life in Sankagiri. Our accommodations were very nice. We all slept in a large room with eight beds. We had fans, for which we were incredibly thankful, as well as a rooftop which served as an ideal space to take a break or to connect as a team. We also had two bathrooms and one shower, which were much nicer than I expected. Two local women cooked for us, and they cooked some of the most incredibly Indian food I have ever had. We had minimal sickness among the team—the usual stomach problems persisted throughout the trip, but nothing too serious. One member of the team became extremely weak, but was attended too by a local nurse and recovered quickly thanks tour Father’s action.

         Our role at the worksite was typically carrying a given item from one point to another. Though a bit boring at times, it was definitely needed by the Indian workers and proved to be hard work for us. We also painted, helped with building the roofs, mixed cement, and helped make the floors. Everyone on the team was very enthusiastic about working, and we often complained if there wasn’t a lot of work to do. I thought this was a great aspect of our team—we had the goal of the project in mind at all times. We constantly sought to work harder, do more, learn more, and experience more while in India. We built strong relationships with the workers and the members of the tiny village in which we worked. The workers were very efficient, and as a result, all of the houses were completed on time. We took the time to get to know each of the families we were building homes for and found each of them incredibly deserving.

         From an organizational standpoint, the project is run very well. The weekly visits from project coordinators kept the team informed about the other teams’ progress. The coordinators did an excellent job of advising the team and the team leader without taking too much control, or feeling like chaperones. Advice was given on how to deepen the experience in India, for example, by searching for older members of the community who could discuss the political, philosophical, and religious issues of India. Minor conflicts were typically left to the team leader to resolve, which seemed to be most effective. As a team leader, it was a comfort to know that in the case of an emergency, I could contact the coordinators who were within a reasonable distance for advice or help. I also feel it was beneficial for the team to meet with coordinators weekly to guide our process of interaction with the villagers as well as to address technical issues, such as issues with the houses, food, transportation, weekend travel, etc…

        The local partners were near perfect. The Father of our church was very attentive to our concerns, constantly making sure everything was going well, we were comfortable, and we had no problems in the village. The food was restaurant-quality, and the Father ensured we experienced this aspect of Indian culture by bringing different members of the village to cook for us and by, literally, never serving the same thing twice. He always gave an explanation of the food, told us its Indian name, what it was made of (very helpful!), and even what it was good for (nearly everything was ‘good for digestion,’ understandably). There were no problems with the construction of the houses, except that the work was done too efficiently and we had little to do by the end of our stay in Sankagiri. When there was work, however, the workers allowed us to work hard, so we felt like we made a real contribution.

       As a team leader coming from Clemson, I felt like I didn’t receive any ‘training’ on my role as a leader. I felt prepared because of my experience in India the summer before, but was unsure of technical things like money management, travel arrangements, and emergency procedures. Upon arrival in Belgium, I received most of the information I needed regarding these uncertainties, but in the future, it might be beneficial for Clemson leaders to have more training before leaving for Belgium—just for peace of mind!

        As far as our team schedule went, we actually mimicked what my team did last year. During the first weekend, we went to Mysore and Mudumalai. We had a great time, great food, and stayed in a great hotel in Mudumalai called Jungle Hut. For the second weekend, we traveled to Pondicherry and Mahabalipuram. We had heard that in Pondy there would be Bastille Day festivities, but unfortunately when we got there, there was only a function for the Pondy elite, no street festival. Mahabalipuram was excellent, but the drive home was quite long. For the final week, we did the Kerala-Cochin-Bangalore circuit. We swung through Thanjavur, Periyar, Varkala, the Backwaters, Cochin, and Bangalore. All of the places we saw were great, and we had no real problems. We were disappointed when booking a train in Cochin to Bangalore because the entire train for the next night was reserved. We took a 12-hour day train, but it ended up being great because we crossed through beautiful countryside and met some interesting people. It was a good pause before the end of the trip—a good time for us to stop and reflect on the trip.

         For whatever reasons, on this trip I witnessed much more poverty than on my last trip. I saw a family which was dying of hunger. I saw children who were the same age as my 16 year old brother with no hope for a decent life. I saw people practicing self-mutilation for money. I saw people who were horribly disfigured, I saw starving babies, I saw people who were motivated and ready for an education with no financial means of getting there. At the same time, I spoke with the richest of the rich in cities like Bangalore. I saw jeans which cost more than what an Indian worker in our village makes in three weeks. There were so many extremes, one after the other, facing me as a choice. I am still caught in the process of making the decision: do I chose a life of service to the poorest of the poor or do I choose a life of personal happiness…and can the two coexist. For example, for the first time in my life in the city of Bangalore, I felt like a member of the elite class. I was able to go to expensive night clubs, purchase expensive clothing and jewelry. The effects of this contrast still reside within me.

         In conclusion, I think the project is run very well. I felt very safe as a leader, and knew that there was always someone nearby I could contact were I to have any problems. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to return to India for a second time. I realize how much I missed the first time, and am sure I missed just as much this time. I absolutely love this country—its culture, its people, its divisions, its religions. I have been confronted with many shocking things, but they serve as a potent reminder of how exceptional my life is. I have been in many stressful situations (trying to lead a team through the streets of Bangalore at night after a 12 hours train ride, managing the finances of eight people while traveling, reserving anything and everything to facilitate our weekend travel) but they have undoubtedly made me stronger and helped me realize that I can face many more challenges like these. I feel confident that I can travel on my own nearly anywhere in the world and know how to handle strange and stressful situations I may encounter. India has taught me that even facing the toughest situations, one must practice patience. This project has transformed my perception of the world and of myself. The experience has truly been invaluable to me, and I thank you for your work with the project! Merci, merci, merci!