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Journey to IndiaVaishali Patel

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Introduction It has been 20 years since I have

traveled to my place of birth, India. I traveled over 30 hours by plane from Denver, Colorado to Ahmdebad, Gujarat. India is a country located on the continent of Asia.

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One of the reasons I traveled to India was to learn more about my culture and connect with family members I had never met before. Another reason was to connect my students with India and recognize how India is similar to and different from the United States. This is my cousin, Himanshu.

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This is another cousin, Kirti. Her son is Akshay. He is 12 years old.

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Navli, India

Navli is the village where my dad was born. It is also the village I lived in until I was almost 4 years old.

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House in Navli

A typical house in India. Large families live in one house. A household can consist of a mother and father, their children, aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents. How is this different or the same to families living together in America?

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Climate and Weather

India lies above the equator and is a peninsula surrounded by the Indian Ocean. India has 3 seasons. The summer, the monsoon or rainy season, and the winter. Each season lasts about 4 months. What kind of clothing would you wear during these three seasons? Remember, it doesn’t get very cold in the winter.

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It is winter during the month of December in India. Temperatures during the day reach a high of 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit. The climate is very dry here just like in Denver. However, it does not snow during the winter in most parts of India.

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Kite Festival

January marks the start of summer in India. The state of Gujarat and many other regions in India celebrate the beginning of summer with a kite festival. All children, whether they live in the city or village participate.

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Food, Diet, and Health

India is a country rich with flavors.

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Vegetarianism

Many Indians are vegetarian. They do not eat meat but will eat dairy products, such as milk, cheese, butter, and yogurt. Indians in Gujarat, India will eat grains, fruits, and vegetables. Hinduism is the major religion in India and it requires that believers do not eat animals. In fact, cows are considered holy in India because they provide people with milk and other dairy products. Could you give up hamburgers, chicken, and fish?

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Cows wander the streets of India.

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Dinner at a restaurant

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School children eating lunch on a field trip.

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Teachers eating lunch at school. Traditionally, food is eaten on a thali, or large plate. Sweet foods are mixed with spicy foods and there is a lot of variety in breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

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Poorer families still cook their meals outside, on a fire. Clay and metal pots are used.

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All day long, people push and pull carts like this one to sell fresh fruits, vegetables, and even salty snacks like popcorn to be cooked right in front of you!

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After dinner, dishes

need to be washed.

There is a place to

wash dishes inside and

outside.

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Meals are eaten on the ground, Indian style. Indian people eat with their right hand. The flavors of food are enjoyed more when eaten with the hand. Also, utensils are not necessary with Indian foods.

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Education and Industry Students attend school every day

just like we do, including Saturday! How do you feel about that?

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School Girls and boys go to separate schools until college. School children in India wear uniforms. What is the purpose of wearing uniforms?

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In poorer villages, girls and boys of different ages attend the same school, usually a one room building.

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Lunch at a girls school. Lunch at village schools is provided by the Indian government.

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A first grade teacher instructing her class in a math lesson.

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Students welcome visitors with a song or poem.

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Recess Recess – these girls are dancing the garba, a traditional Gujarati folk dance. What do we do during recess?

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School bell

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During the day, shop owners and schoolchildren in many parts of India go home for lunch. Families eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner together. After lunch, it is naptime. And after naptime, it is teatime. Chai tea is a popular warm drink in India and in America. How would you like to go home for lunch?

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School principal in the office. She is dressed in a traditional Indian dress, a sari. What comparisons can you make with our school principal, Ms. Heintzman, and our school office?