The Girls

In an attempt to keep my post trip depression at bay, I’ll continue on with my favorite things from India list. One of the most incredible aspects of this trip that I never expected was the friendships that were formed by many of us in the group. It’s always a little worrisome to go on a group trip not knowing many people, but my worries were quickly assuaged within the first few days of our journey because we really did have many amazing individuals. If I had time to go through and give a short bio on everyone, I would, but I want to at least recognize my project group members—also the women with whom I was closest throughout the past three weeks—and whom I hope to continue friendships with long, long after our journey.

Meagan, my fellow MPH CBH department cohort member and classmate, travel companion, and dear friend before this trip—I could not have done it, or had such a glowing experience—without her. She went to Illinois State University for her undergrad in Health Education. She is both wise beyond her years and one of the most caring and thoughtful people I’ve ever known. This picture is of us on a bridge overlooking the great Ganga.

Kim is a graduate student in engineering, but comes from a liberal arts background. She is an incredible woman with the most beautiful children; two young teens from Cambodia, a 7- year old from Haiti, and an infant, Gracie. Listening to her stories of other travel experiences (like the trips to get her children), and discussing innovative research papers on subjects like ‘The Water Poverty Index’ (among many others), I could not have been happier to have to opportunity to spend time with and befriend this amazing woman. I know that Meagan and I will continue to work with her in the future. The picture of Kim standing in the middle of me and 4 other girls, in her beautiful orange/gold salwar kameez was specifically taken to show off her new clothes her very stylish daughter Sophie (13).

Meredith was on this course as her last requirement of her undergraduate degree at Iowa. Her degree is in Political Science but the purposes of this course were specifically for her Sustainability certificate. She was such an asset to our team in so many ways, but her interest and passion for learning about the tribal governance issues was much needed. Meagan and I said many times that we never want to travel without her in our lives again, as she is such an advocate and strong voice to have on your side ensuring that no advantage would be taken of us as first timers to India.

Kristina is an undergraduate in Environmental Engineering, and was instrumental to have in our group for the actual process of water testing. One of the pictures shows her (on the far right) and Meredith next to her actually taking samples from some of the villagers we interviewed. She is an avid photographer, whom I went to for advice on my own camera, but also whom I saw many people in our group trying to watch and imitate—as we knew that if she was standing snapping away from a certain angel—it had to be a good shot! She unfortunately got sick with a version of what Meagan and I had on the last days of our trip, and as a precautionary measure, Meredith, Meagan, and I got to experience the Indian hospital system the last night in Delhi, when we took her to be checked out.

Nandita was the second professor on our trip, she has her PhD in Civil and Environmental engineering, from Purdue. She is from Calcutta originally, and it was fascinating hearing her perspective on our journey through northern India, as compared with her youth traveling more in the south. Nandita is such a strong, smart, and delightful person, and our trip was such a glowing and positive experience in large part thanks to her. She (along with Kim) was an integral part of this course for Meagan and I, always advocating for our public health perspective and stressing the need for an integrated approach to the hydrologic problems most of our group was primarily concerned with.