Wednesday, December 31, 2008
A problem we don't have in Milwaukee
It's watching out so you don't step in the elephant dung outside the hookah bar.
Posted three days' worth
I've just gotten on the Internet for the first time in several days, so I've posted a bunch of items. To catch up, go down about seven posts to one headed "We arrive in India -- at least most of us."
The problem is with my Internet connection. We're working on that.
The problem is with my Internet connection. We're working on that.
The military situation, as seen from Ahmedabad
Yes, there is concern about the military situation between India and Pakistan, but I will say that the Indian newspapers are making much less of the situation than American media seems to. There are six newspapers daily in the Jesuit Residence, all but one in English. Most of the stories say that Pakistan is backing down from its confrontational stance, although some have also mentioned India's stand as well. None have been very alarmist.
I asked a couple of the priest if they were concerned. They said they were, but not overly so. One of the priests said that he didn't believe there was anything to worry about until the end of the month when India celebrates Republic Day. I guess there's no reason to worry since there is nothing we can do about anything (and the security is pretty high here at St. Xavier).
I asked a couple of the priest if they were concerned. They said they were, but not overly so. One of the priests said that he didn't believe there was anything to worry about until the end of the month when India celebrates Republic Day. I guess there's no reason to worry since there is nothing we can do about anything (and the security is pretty high here at St. Xavier).
Wednesday: a half day, and a bad technology day
Wednesday: It’s a half day for class. We critiqued the exercises from yesterday. Some of the photos were of the highest caliber. We have some very talented students. I noticed that in the interviews as well. Some of the work was exceptional. It’s now the afternoon and Carole is working on getting my computer to work. The problem seems to be that the St. Xavier wireless network won’t work with my operating system. Carole thinks she has a solution, but I’m going to have to borrow computers from other people. I’m really having a bad technology day. We now have cell phones for the entire time, but mine won’t work. Father Vinayak is working on that.
Update on Thursday: the cell phone works, and, even better, I now am connect with an ethernet cable so I can access the Internet. Happy New Year.
Tuesday: Class and a big Christmas celebration
Tuesday – Turns out I never got on the walk. Ran into the rest of the team, and we met over breakfast to plan the day. We’re still struggling to cope without the two team members who haven’t shown up. It’s been good for the student members of the team to see what happens to prepare for a class when you have to scramble to change. We switched things around so we split the class into two parts. Dr. Thorn took half the class and taught photography, followed by letting them go with cameras to photograph the church area. I taught a short lecture on interviewing for backpack, followed by an exercise where they interviewed each other. Then, in the afternoon, we switched the teams. I wasn’t happy with my morning lecture, where I wasn’t sure I really got the points across. Miriam made several suggestions that I incorporated in the afternoon session that made a big difference. She wants to be a teacher, and I’ll bet she’s a good one.
In the evening, the team was invited to share a supper and Christmas celebration by a family in the village of Bhumel. The meal was excellent, with the family watching as we ate. It was sort of disconcerting for us to eat while being watched by an entire family, but I am getting used to being treated deferentially. It’s the culture. In class yesterday, I was talking with one of the teams of Indian students. They were all sitting, so I knelt down so I would be at the same level. The students insisted I sit in a seat. We also, while walking through Bhumel, were the center of attention with little kids flocking around just to be with us. While I was walking in Ahmedabad, I had noticed that people would turn to look. I haven’t seen any non-Indian since I’ve been here so we really stand out. So I wasn’t too surprised to have the family watch us eat.
After eating, we were invited to join in dancing. Ashley and Vince agreed to dress in native garb. Vince was in a long off-white costume similar to the Nehru collar. Ashley was in a beautiful blue traditional outfit. It was great to watch as both of them joined in a simple ring consisting of men and women in age from toddlers to elderly. A band sang traditional songs while the ring revolved counterclockwise with simple steps. Ashley had a group of fans ranging in age from about three to ten. They rushed to cluster around her. When she took a short break, they stood near. When she returned to the dance ring, the children raced to be next to here. It was great to watch. Miriam and I were led to the stage at one end where we sat like royalty along with the band watching the dance. We left about 11:30, since it was an hour and a half back to the city. The dancing went on until a.m., according to Father Vinayak.
In the evening, the team was invited to share a supper and Christmas celebration by a family in the village of Bhumel. The meal was excellent, with the family watching as we ate. It was sort of disconcerting for us to eat while being watched by an entire family, but I am getting used to being treated deferentially. It’s the culture. In class yesterday, I was talking with one of the teams of Indian students. They were all sitting, so I knelt down so I would be at the same level. The students insisted I sit in a seat. We also, while walking through Bhumel, were the center of attention with little kids flocking around just to be with us. While I was walking in Ahmedabad, I had noticed that people would turn to look. I haven’t seen any non-Indian since I’ve been here so we really stand out. So I wasn’t too surprised to have the family watch us eat.
After eating, we were invited to join in dancing. Ashley and Vince agreed to dress in native garb. Vince was in a long off-white costume similar to the Nehru collar. Ashley was in a beautiful blue traditional outfit. It was great to watch as both of them joined in a simple ring consisting of men and women in age from toddlers to elderly. A band sang traditional songs while the ring revolved counterclockwise with simple steps. Ashley had a group of fans ranging in age from about three to ten. They rushed to cluster around her. When she took a short break, they stood near. When she returned to the dance ring, the children raced to be next to here. It was great to watch. Miriam and I were led to the stage at one end where we sat like royalty along with the band watching the dance. We left about 11:30, since it was an hour and a half back to the city. The dancing went on until a.m., according to Father Vinayak.
Memorable sites, non-military
Most memorable sights so far, non-military types: parrots, both a pair of large green and a red and yellow bird; the pack of feral dogs running around, large, skinny, and tan. They appeared to be small deer when I first saw them. One female is emaciated, probably because of the seven pups constantly attempting to feed; the thousands of birds in the evenings, crows, hawks, gulls, swallows and many more. Bird calls during class right outside the classroom; kids practicing cricket. All these, and more, are stuck in my memory. However, nothing so far comes close to matching the traffic along the street just outside the door of St. Xavier’s. It’s not just the volume, although that is impressive with so many vehicles that I couldn’t figure out how to safely cross the street. But it’s more the kind of vehicles. Bicycles, motor scooters, rickshaws powered by small engines, a camel cart, and, of course, the occasional cow. People dressed in every manner, ranging from the western garb of jeans and a shirt through full Moslem dress or Indian saris. I could stand alongside the street for an hour, just drinking in the sights and sounds. Horns constantly honking to warn drivers or, sometimes it seems, just because.
So far I’ve only been off the St. Xavier campus twice. Once shopping the next, for a small walk. I’m heading off for one now (5:30 in the morning Tuesday). Who knows what I’m going to see?
So far I’ve only been off the St. Xavier campus twice. Once shopping the next, for a small walk. I’m heading off for one now (5:30 in the morning Tuesday). Who knows what I’m going to see?
Monday: Classes start, and we meet wonderful students
Monday – the end of the first day. My computer still won’t reach the Internet. I’ve been able to log on using others’ computers, but only for short period. The good news is that Carole, who I hope is right now in the middle of her flight from Amsterdam to Delhi. If you are reading this, she succeeded in getting here, and in fixing my computer.
It was the first day of class, and we met our students. The cultural difference between American and Indian became obvious during role call conducted by Father Vinayak. He would read out a name and be answered by “Here, Father,” or “Present, Father,” not, “Yeah,” or a grunt. The Indian students are extra-ordinarily polite. When I attempted to get on my knees to be level with a group with whom I was working, they insisted that I sit. On the other hand, some things are the same. The students trickled in, many of them late. A cell phone went off during class, and many of them grabbed their cell phones as they went out the door on breaks. And, just like Marquette journalism students, they are very serious about learning.
Today’s lesson began with a nice summing up of the history of online journalism, dating back to 1981 and the first attempts. Dr. Thorn brought them up to the present, showing many examples of today’s web pages. I was next, discussing backpack journalism. I began by saying that Dr. Thorn discussed “macro journalism” while I was going to teach “micro journalism.” While we could reach the Internet, we couldn’t get sound so I wasn’t able to have the students listen to what current backpack journalist professionals say about their work. Still, Ashley told me that students around her were taking lots of notes. That was gratifying since that indicated the students were interested in the subject.
We separated students into eight teams of four or five students each. There are 35 in total. Their command of English ranges from excellent to nonexistent. Language does make a difference. I asked Father Vinayak for a critique of my lecture. He said that at times I was moving too fast for many in the audience. I plead guilty since I am enthusiastic about the subject and sometimes don’t go as slow as American students would like so I’m sure I went too fast for some of the students.
The teams have selected topics, and have planned how they are approaching their projects. The topics range from profiling a campus communications center through critiquing food at the campus Canteen. If we follow the “man bites dog” is news theory, the real news will be when I find a school where students actually like campus food.
I went for a walk with Dr. Thorn, then took a nap, joined the Jesuits for dinner, joined at intervals by Dr. Thorn who was back from a rickshaw trip with Father Vinayak to a store to purchase cell phones, and the M.U. students, who had been napping. In a subtle reminder of the problems India has faced lately, Father Vinayak had to produce all sorts of identification and explanations before they would sell him seven disposable cell phones. By the way, I’m going to quit commenting on food since the meals have all been spectacular. I’ve even gotten advice on a different India restaurant that Father Vinayak said was the best in Milwaukee. (What is it? you ask. Hah, I’m keeping it to myself.)
Now I’m polishing up a PowerPoint on interviewing for backpack journalists that I’m giving tomorrow. We’re going to split the students into two groups. Dr. Thorn is going to teach them still photography, including sending them out with cameras to take photos for critiques. I will teach interviewing, then send them on an interview exercise, with students writing a short report afterward. Although we are expecting Carole Burns and Kellie to show up tomorrow morning, we aren’t counting on their being in shape to participate much, so we’re being flexible.
It was the first day of class, and we met our students. The cultural difference between American and Indian became obvious during role call conducted by Father Vinayak. He would read out a name and be answered by “Here, Father,” or “Present, Father,” not, “Yeah,” or a grunt. The Indian students are extra-ordinarily polite. When I attempted to get on my knees to be level with a group with whom I was working, they insisted that I sit. On the other hand, some things are the same. The students trickled in, many of them late. A cell phone went off during class, and many of them grabbed their cell phones as they went out the door on breaks. And, just like Marquette journalism students, they are very serious about learning.
Today’s lesson began with a nice summing up of the history of online journalism, dating back to 1981 and the first attempts. Dr. Thorn brought them up to the present, showing many examples of today’s web pages. I was next, discussing backpack journalism. I began by saying that Dr. Thorn discussed “macro journalism” while I was going to teach “micro journalism.” While we could reach the Internet, we couldn’t get sound so I wasn’t able to have the students listen to what current backpack journalist professionals say about their work. Still, Ashley told me that students around her were taking lots of notes. That was gratifying since that indicated the students were interested in the subject.
We separated students into eight teams of four or five students each. There are 35 in total. Their command of English ranges from excellent to nonexistent. Language does make a difference. I asked Father Vinayak for a critique of my lecture. He said that at times I was moving too fast for many in the audience. I plead guilty since I am enthusiastic about the subject and sometimes don’t go as slow as American students would like so I’m sure I went too fast for some of the students.
The teams have selected topics, and have planned how they are approaching their projects. The topics range from profiling a campus communications center through critiquing food at the campus Canteen. If we follow the “man bites dog” is news theory, the real news will be when I find a school where students actually like campus food.
I went for a walk with Dr. Thorn, then took a nap, joined the Jesuits for dinner, joined at intervals by Dr. Thorn who was back from a rickshaw trip with Father Vinayak to a store to purchase cell phones, and the M.U. students, who had been napping. In a subtle reminder of the problems India has faced lately, Father Vinayak had to produce all sorts of identification and explanations before they would sell him seven disposable cell phones. By the way, I’m going to quit commenting on food since the meals have all been spectacular. I’ve even gotten advice on a different India restaurant that Father Vinayak said was the best in Milwaukee. (What is it? you ask. Hah, I’m keeping it to myself.)
Now I’m polishing up a PowerPoint on interviewing for backpack journalists that I’m giving tomorrow. We’re going to split the students into two groups. Dr. Thorn is going to teach them still photography, including sending them out with cameras to take photos for critiques. I will teach interviewing, then send them on an interview exercise, with students writing a short report afterward. Although we are expecting Carole Burns and Kellie to show up tomorrow morning, we aren’t counting on their being in shape to participate much, so we’re being flexible.
The first day: food, hospitality, food, and sleep
Later (as the slide in silent movies denoted the passage of time). Sunday: our first day at St. Xavier, and it’s been fascinating. We were given rooms on campus, faculty in the Jesuit Residence and students in student housing, and start eating. I had been warned that we would be fed constantly, and it’s true. The generosity of the St. Xavier Jesuit community is excellent (and the cooking is even better).
Following our first meal (which was about an hour after we had been fed on the plane), we were off to shop for some things at several nearby stores. I bought two ridiculously cheap shirts (about $3 each). I’d have bought more but have limited suitcase space.
Back to campus, and we settled down for a short nap to be followed with a tea with the Jesuits, mass for the Catholics among us, tea with the Jesuits in residence, and, for me, a basketball game with Vincent who I spot about 8 inches and 45 years. It’s gonna be no contest with my cunning and guile easily overcoming his height, speed, jumping ability, running ability, shooting ability, defense, and skill. Alas, my alarm didn’t go off so I missed all the planned activities, being awakened just in time to attend an evening ceremony opening the conference.
Before it started, we got hit with our second bit of bad news. Carole and Kellie’s plane was delayed so long by weather in Chicago that they couldn’t make connections (see previous post as to why they weren’t with us). They won’t be here until Tuesday. Bill and I huddle to rewrite the syllabus with the students learning about how tricky planning classes really is.
The ceremony itself was fascinating. Conducted by students, it included a song-prayer in what appeared to be one of the tribal languages, another prayer conducted by a student dancing in the style that we associate with Hindu prayers, and an extravagant, lively dance by five students. But the most important parts included not only ceremonial presenting of scarves to several visiting celebrities but to Dr. Thorn, and very supporting talks about how important this first step in the ties between journalism at St. Xavier and Marquette are proving to be, but some very thoughtful presentations, including a keynote talk by the State Editor of a state-wide newspaper who spoke of the need for collaboration between “digital immigrants” like myself and “digital natives” like the students. He presented excellent information on the state of journalism in India (it’s growing by leaps and bounds with several hundred thousand new jobs expected in the next five years), and a persuasive case for why study of backpack journalism is important.
Now I’m in my room preparing for our changed schedule for tomorrow. Just as a journalist must think on his feet, we are scrambling with two team members missing. Along with Carole’s absence is that of a disk she prepared for my opening PowerPoint presentation on backpack journalism with its links to YouTube videos. I’ll still try it tomorrow on Dr. Thorn’s computer since mine, for some unknown reason, cannot reach the Internet (which, by the way, is why the past two days’ postings are late; I’m writing them in Word so transfer to a computer connected with the Internet).
More to come . . .
Following our first meal (which was about an hour after we had been fed on the plane), we were off to shop for some things at several nearby stores. I bought two ridiculously cheap shirts (about $3 each). I’d have bought more but have limited suitcase space.
Back to campus, and we settled down for a short nap to be followed with a tea with the Jesuits, mass for the Catholics among us, tea with the Jesuits in residence, and, for me, a basketball game with Vincent who I spot about 8 inches and 45 years. It’s gonna be no contest with my cunning and guile easily overcoming his height, speed, jumping ability, running ability, shooting ability, defense, and skill. Alas, my alarm didn’t go off so I missed all the planned activities, being awakened just in time to attend an evening ceremony opening the conference.
Before it started, we got hit with our second bit of bad news. Carole and Kellie’s plane was delayed so long by weather in Chicago that they couldn’t make connections (see previous post as to why they weren’t with us). They won’t be here until Tuesday. Bill and I huddle to rewrite the syllabus with the students learning about how tricky planning classes really is.
The ceremony itself was fascinating. Conducted by students, it included a song-prayer in what appeared to be one of the tribal languages, another prayer conducted by a student dancing in the style that we associate with Hindu prayers, and an extravagant, lively dance by five students. But the most important parts included not only ceremonial presenting of scarves to several visiting celebrities but to Dr. Thorn, and very supporting talks about how important this first step in the ties between journalism at St. Xavier and Marquette are proving to be, but some very thoughtful presentations, including a keynote talk by the State Editor of a state-wide newspaper who spoke of the need for collaboration between “digital immigrants” like myself and “digital natives” like the students. He presented excellent information on the state of journalism in India (it’s growing by leaps and bounds with several hundred thousand new jobs expected in the next five years), and a persuasive case for why study of backpack journalism is important.
Now I’m in my room preparing for our changed schedule for tomorrow. Just as a journalist must think on his feet, we are scrambling with two team members missing. Along with Carole’s absence is that of a disk she prepared for my opening PowerPoint presentation on backpack journalism with its links to YouTube videos. I’ll still try it tomorrow on Dr. Thorn’s computer since mine, for some unknown reason, cannot reach the Internet (which, by the way, is why the past two days’ postings are late; I’m writing them in Word so transfer to a computer connected with the Internet).
More to come . . .
We arrive in India -- at least, most of us
Well, we’re in India. At least most of us are in India. Kellie’s plane from Springfield to Chicago was cancelled after five delays and a lot of frantic text messages and phone calls with Ashley. So she was delayed a day. I had oh so intelligently left my cell phone at home under the “what is sitting in a drawer in Milwaukee can’t be lost in India” theory, and my phone number was the only faculty number the students had. However, Ashley finally caught up with Bill Thorn at O’Hare, and we operated as a team from then on. Carole Burns decided to stay an extra day to accompany Kellie on the trip since Carole had made the trip a year ago and knew how to handle the tricky transfer from the international airport in Delhi to the Delhi domestic terminal and from them to Ahmedabad.
I traveled to Chicago with the Thorns on a bus (which was, of course, late leaving Milwaukee since it had been virtually filled with the passengers from three cancelled flights – an observation here, the airlines with their almost constant delaying and canceling fights have made flying much less reliable than in the past). But since we had allowed lots of time, we arrived and checked in quite early. Carole Burns joined us fairly quickly; Ashley came along not too much later, although she was involved in negotiating with the airline about Kellie’s problem and ended up with another passenger being assigned her seat, forcing the airline to reticket her. (Hint: foreshadowing here.)
The flight itself was a wonder, at least the first part. The initial flight from Chicago to Amsterdam and the connection on to Delhi were on KLM, an airline that continues to offer service. We actually got roast almonds for our initial snack, not some cardboard pretzel as has been the case lately. Hot towels were distributed before meals. The meal were good, with metal utensils at dinner. Furthermore, we were invited to visit the galley at any time if we wanted a snack or something to drink between meals. The planes were 747s so room, although tight, wasn’t nearly as cramped as on most U.S. flights.
The only hint of problems was Ashley’s double-booking, until we arrived in Delhi at 11:30 Delhi time (the time switch is 11½ hours later than in Milwaukee). By then it had been more than 24 hours after we left for Chicago. The first two legs of air travel were more than seven hours each in the air. Anyway, we get off the plane only to find extremely long and slow lines for the first immigration/customs checkpoint. As we’re standing in line, two young Russians start talking to Vince. Both were clearly drunk, and the shorter of the two was quite aggressive as well as staggering around. After too long a time (they also hassled some women not in our party), a uniformed solder showed up along with four civilian gate attendants. Then a second one, this soldier in full body armor carrying a machine gun. [Question: does soldiers in body armor carrying machine guns make you feel more or less safe?] As they questioned the Russian youths, the shorter one drops a knife he had been carrying.
We finally get through the customs window (after more than an hour), and head for the equally long lines packed around the luggage carousel. There’s a pile of bags off to the side, but an official waved us away from them saying they came from another plane. Of course they didn’t. After almost an hour of watching bags coming in on the carousel, we looked at the pile of bags and find all of ours but one. Of course, it was Ashley’s. So then we get another half hour of dealing with bureaucracy and filing a claim in which Ashley felt the KLM baggage folks weren’t interested in her suggestions that they look in Chicago. “After all that time, they gave me the same stuff they gave the six people ahead of me,” she said.
So we headed off to the Delhi domestic terminal, only to be stopped by a security officer demanding to see our tickets, which was hard since they were e-tickets and didn’t exist. So off to another set of airline officials, who handed us off to yet another set. Finally we got the tickets, took the shuttle bus (along with eight armed soldiers), and took an enjoyable Air India flight to Ahmedabad, where we arrived at 7:30 a.m., after a 31-hour trip. By the way, I slept a total of 20 minutes during this period. I don’t really enjoy sleeping on planes, which is odd since I can fall asleep at my desk without a problem. I think it’s because I’m afraid I’m going to miss something.
I traveled to Chicago with the Thorns on a bus (which was, of course, late leaving Milwaukee since it had been virtually filled with the passengers from three cancelled flights – an observation here, the airlines with their almost constant delaying and canceling fights have made flying much less reliable than in the past). But since we had allowed lots of time, we arrived and checked in quite early. Carole Burns joined us fairly quickly; Ashley came along not too much later, although she was involved in negotiating with the airline about Kellie’s problem and ended up with another passenger being assigned her seat, forcing the airline to reticket her. (Hint: foreshadowing here.)
The flight itself was a wonder, at least the first part. The initial flight from Chicago to Amsterdam and the connection on to Delhi were on KLM, an airline that continues to offer service. We actually got roast almonds for our initial snack, not some cardboard pretzel as has been the case lately. Hot towels were distributed before meals. The meal were good, with metal utensils at dinner. Furthermore, we were invited to visit the galley at any time if we wanted a snack or something to drink between meals. The planes were 747s so room, although tight, wasn’t nearly as cramped as on most U.S. flights.
The only hint of problems was Ashley’s double-booking, until we arrived in Delhi at 11:30 Delhi time (the time switch is 11½ hours later than in Milwaukee). By then it had been more than 24 hours after we left for Chicago. The first two legs of air travel were more than seven hours each in the air. Anyway, we get off the plane only to find extremely long and slow lines for the first immigration/customs checkpoint. As we’re standing in line, two young Russians start talking to Vince. Both were clearly drunk, and the shorter of the two was quite aggressive as well as staggering around. After too long a time (they also hassled some women not in our party), a uniformed solder showed up along with four civilian gate attendants. Then a second one, this soldier in full body armor carrying a machine gun. [Question: does soldiers in body armor carrying machine guns make you feel more or less safe?] As they questioned the Russian youths, the shorter one drops a knife he had been carrying.
We finally get through the customs window (after more than an hour), and head for the equally long lines packed around the luggage carousel. There’s a pile of bags off to the side, but an official waved us away from them saying they came from another plane. Of course they didn’t. After almost an hour of watching bags coming in on the carousel, we looked at the pile of bags and find all of ours but one. Of course, it was Ashley’s. So then we get another half hour of dealing with bureaucracy and filing a claim in which Ashley felt the KLM baggage folks weren’t interested in her suggestions that they look in Chicago. “After all that time, they gave me the same stuff they gave the six people ahead of me,” she said.
So we headed off to the Delhi domestic terminal, only to be stopped by a security officer demanding to see our tickets, which was hard since they were e-tickets and didn’t exist. So off to another set of airline officials, who handed us off to yet another set. Finally we got the tickets, took the shuttle bus (along with eight armed soldiers), and took an enjoyable Air India flight to Ahmedabad, where we arrived at 7:30 a.m., after a 31-hour trip. By the way, I slept a total of 20 minutes during this period. I don’t really enjoy sleeping on planes, which is odd since I can fall asleep at my desk without a problem. I think it’s because I’m afraid I’m going to miss something.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Let's see now . . . Huuummmm?
Current temperature in Milwaukee (at 8:33 a.m. Sunday) = 0. Current temperature in Ahmedabad, India = 73.
Which do I prefer? See if you can guess. On the other hand, it is 11 at night in Ahmedabad, and the temperature is expected to drop to 64 before rebounding tomorrow to 82. Meanwhile in Milwaukee, it's going to get all the way up to 10 degrees before dropping back to 2.
See ya.
Which do I prefer? See if you can guess. On the other hand, it is 11 at night in Ahmedabad, and the temperature is expected to drop to 64 before rebounding tomorrow to 82. Meanwhile in Milwaukee, it's going to get all the way up to 10 degrees before dropping back to 2.
See ya.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Here's the plan, Stan (and everyone else)
The plan is to begin our 31-hour air trip (three separate flights) the day after Christmas. The three faculty members going -- myself along with Journalism Chair and leader of the trip Bill Thorn and Carole Burns, our College's technology instruction chief -- will leave from Marquette University at noon via ground transportation to Chicago. We will have two students accompany us to Chicago where we'll meet two more students at O'Hare to start our flight. It goes from Chicago to Amsterdam, Amsterdam to Delhi, then on to Ahmedabad, where we will meet representatives of St. Xavier. We will stay in the Jesuit housing at the college.
We will be coming back the same route, arriving January 10 (at 5:20 p.m. in Chicago), then ground transportation back to Milwaukee. I'll be teaching Monday, so I really expect that first class of the semester to be a lively affair (working lesson plan: "Here's the syllabus; get out of my face."
If the computer gods are with me, I'll be posting to this blog throughout my stay.
We will be teaching backpack journalism to students at the college, and I'm making a presentation to local media. (Pray to the PowerPoint gods and to Carole Burns' work in imbedding YouTube presentations into my PowerPoint.) Everything will be in English, which is the common language in India where they speak 37 languages plus dialects so they need a common language. Backpack journalism is the newest thing in the media world. It involves a reporter who also is his or her own producer, taking video and still photos, editing them on computers, and producing a complete package using equipment that can be easily carried in a backpack. The plan is for faculty to teach in the mornings, then St. Xavier students will be split into teams where they'll work with Marquette students on producing material for a website (our faculty will trouble-shoot and handle technology). It should be exciting.
Oh, yes, speaking of exciting. There is this little security worry prompted by the shootings in Mumbai (not to mention bombings in Ahmedabad last summer). The Jesuits and Marquette's overseas instruction people have been in almost constant consultation. Since Ahmedabad is 300 miles from Mumbai, in a different state (Gujarat), and because of the nature of the outbreak of violence, it has been agreed that this is a fairly safe trip. Most of our time will be on the campus (although I have to visit Gandhi's ashram, which is in Ahmedabad) so our safety is pretty well taken care of. Besides, I'm now inoculated against tetanus, hepatitis, typhoid, malaria, and yellow fever so what to worry?
We will be coming back the same route, arriving January 10 (at 5:20 p.m. in Chicago), then ground transportation back to Milwaukee. I'll be teaching Monday, so I really expect that first class of the semester to be a lively affair (working lesson plan: "Here's the syllabus; get out of my face."
If the computer gods are with me, I'll be posting to this blog throughout my stay.
We will be teaching backpack journalism to students at the college, and I'm making a presentation to local media. (Pray to the PowerPoint gods and to Carole Burns' work in imbedding YouTube presentations into my PowerPoint.) Everything will be in English, which is the common language in India where they speak 37 languages plus dialects so they need a common language. Backpack journalism is the newest thing in the media world. It involves a reporter who also is his or her own producer, taking video and still photos, editing them on computers, and producing a complete package using equipment that can be easily carried in a backpack. The plan is for faculty to teach in the mornings, then St. Xavier students will be split into teams where they'll work with Marquette students on producing material for a website (our faculty will trouble-shoot and handle technology). It should be exciting.
Oh, yes, speaking of exciting. There is this little security worry prompted by the shootings in Mumbai (not to mention bombings in Ahmedabad last summer). The Jesuits and Marquette's overseas instruction people have been in almost constant consultation. Since Ahmedabad is 300 miles from Mumbai, in a different state (Gujarat), and because of the nature of the outbreak of violence, it has been agreed that this is a fairly safe trip. Most of our time will be on the campus (although I have to visit Gandhi's ashram, which is in Ahmedabad) so our safety is pretty well taken care of. Besides, I'm now inoculated against tetanus, hepatitis, typhoid, malaria, and yellow fever so what to worry?
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