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"Do you think its better to travel and learn or is that only a selfish benfit. What do people in the countries I visit get from travellers? Can all sides benefit?"
I really liked the questions you raised Kyla. I have also thought about them when I have travelled before. In my opinion, I do believe it is of great benefit for me and others to travel to others parts of the world. I don't think it is selfish at all, in fact I think it is important to go and experience how others live in the world. Without doing so, how can we grasp how others are living whehter it be in poverty or richness? Like you said, you felt that you have seen more poverty stricken areas in parts of India than what you learned in school about poverty in Africa. It may have been impossible for you to know that until you travelled there.
By travelling to other parts of the world, we can see first hand how people live and not what we read about in books or see on T.V. We can also learn how we can help those in need, or how those in need are currently being helped (or not helped!)
In my opinion, it is a huge eye opener when you can see cultures first hand. When I travelled to the Yukon and Alaska in a canoe, I was able to live and experience north american aboriginal population first hand even though I had read about the culture in books. It was much different in person. I felt a lot more connected to the people. I suspect you will also feel a lot more connected to India and it's people because you have been there.
How do people in other countries benefit from us travelling there? This is a bit harder to answer because I can't really speak for other people, but in my opinion there can be multiple benefits. The first obvious one being tourism. Especially in under developed nations, people can benefit from an economic standpoint of tourism.
When I travelled to remote communities in the Yukon and Alaska, I was able to interact with many children who really had no clue about the "outside world". They had heard of Canada, but when I mentioned I come from a city of one million people it was very hard for them to comprehend. If anything I feel that I opened their eyes to possibilites, even if it was encouragement that they too could get in a canoe and travel north america!
Great questions Kyla. See you in a week! Hope all is well.
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Hey Pablo,
Great to hear from you--how's the recovery coming along? You are right we are overdue to have a catch up--all your time in South America I imagine there's some stories to share that didn't make it onto your blog.
To clarify I am not getting paid to travel but agreed to take on a few work responsibilities while here. I was keen to do so given my background in international development. The opportunity to visist some of CAWST's work and meet with the DHAN foundation--a leader in participatory development was way too exciting to pass up.
Hope to see you in Cowtown soon. |
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Hi Kyla- sounds like you are having a wonderful adventure and i must say i am brutally jealous of an adventure to India, what fun. We will have to have a storytelling session upon your return. So let me get this straight are you getting paid to travel? Sweet gig either way. |
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Hi Kyla - It's Thanksgiving today and I'm thinking of you as one of the many blessings in my life that I am grateful for! Nana plus your Mom and Dad will be here for dinner, we'll raise a toast for you and Zoe. Much Love, Heather |
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Kyla if you can explore these questions it would be great. What percentage of homes now have the filters? How long did that take to accomplish? What number of people are impacted as a result? Has Dhan observed a decrease in eye problems - esp. with children? Have they observed any impact on children's learning or schooling? If at a future date Calgary school kids were to consider visiting India is Dhan capable of assisting in planning?
Thanks for this - and please thank Zoe for being so agreeable to including this into your joint holiday schedule.
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Hi Kyla: We have several questons that we would like if you could ask of CAWST. Have they ever worked in urban shanty town areas to provide biosand filters? Does DHAN only train people to make the biosand filters for projects in India or would they do the training if TEC-Y decided to go into Bangledesh? How long did it take the people of the village you are visiting to learn and make their own filters. What do the villagers say is the biggest benefit to them of having clean water? What is the biggest problem with the filter? Do they have a "village trainer" to trouble-shoot filter problems? Do people understand who and where CAWST is from (UN, India, Calagy)? How many people live in the village you are visiting and do they have a school there? Thanks for taking the time to visit this village Kyla, it really helps make everything we are trying to do very real for us.
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Hi Kyla...
It sounds like you're having an amazing time... I can't wait to hear more! That massage story is hilarous; it sounds like quite the experience.
Speaking of French Fries, what kind of "junk food" do people eat in India? Thanks so much for keeping us posted.
Talk to you later,
Eva |
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Hey Kyla. I have really loved reading your updates. I sent the link on to Ben as well since he'll be going to Asia (not India, though) in a month.
I love hearing your impressions of the people and the country. It sounds absolutely wonderful. I am quite envious.
The Coke and Pepsi issue actually was an article in the local paper here a few days ago. I'd be curious to hear more of what you have seen/heard and your impressions of that upon your return.
Take care and happy travels!
Jess |
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Haha... I feel like a fry! Hilarious story. I don't blame you, I would have had a shower as soon as it was over too!
I'm excited for you to see CAWST's work in action. Glynn, Eva, Marie, Ben, Trevor, and I attended CAWST's AGM last week. It was an informative night.
We are having a TEC-Y meeting tonight and we have about 7 kids coming so we will update them once again on the travel blog and encourage them to post questions for your meeting with CAWST.
Take care and enjoy every minute!
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Kyla
Just to advise and cheer you prior to meeting with CAWST - TEC-Y by tommorrow will have replaced PetroCanada as one of the two sponsors for the CIDA monies. This will enable future discussions about Canadian foreign aid and policies as an additional dimension.
Your entries are a delight, a family joy and the last one quite a hoot!
Travel well & healthy, Glynn |
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