My ‘fairy tale’ story, through a podcast, in three 10 minute segments from the Land of Gazillion Adoptees blog.
Category: India
A “game changer for poor people”…?
In January, the Indian government began the ‘Direct Benefit Transfer’ program paying its citizens cash into their bank accounts for scholarships, old age pensions, and rural employment guarantees (100 days of employment doing unskilled manual labor for minimum wage) among others. The Indian Finance Minister P. Chidambaram called it a “game changer for poor people.”
Marrying an Immigrant – Part 1
As some of you know, I married the love of my life Sasmita in August of 2012. After a courtship conducted primarily over Skype for over a year….But this post is not about her background, but rather what it’s like to be married to someone who had never left India and came to the US for the first time in mid-July 2012.
Faith, Religion and International Security – My Roundtable Experience
A few weeks ago I attended this discussion ‘Faith, Religion and International Security.’The overriding question was “How can faith inform both US and global foreign affairs?”
“Joseph, No Last Name”
His birth certificate read ‘Joseph, no last name given’. An American couple adopted him; 32 years later, AJ Bryant returns to District Three Hospital in Kottayam where the mother he’s never met gave him birth…
Dear Readers,
Below is a re-post from Land of Gazillion Adoptees as promised.
I’m also in the midst of re-designing this blog.
One of the more surprising revelations after living in India in 2011, was learning that the Dalits, formerly the “untouchables,” are no fans of Mahatma Gandhi. Coming from the United States and Western society in general, the Mahatma is held up as a paragon of non-violence and civil disobedience. I would guess that most in the US consider his life and his work as one of the most selfless, incredibly beautiful and inspiring of the modern world. The belief is less in India.
The AdoptedKeralite has returned to writing!
After giving it about a year’s worth of thought, and realizing that I could not erase this blog in good conscience, I’ve decided to re-start this blog as my primary writing outlet….
Cricket Unites and Caste Cleaves
India is a land that is really thousands of diverse countries under one flag. Different religions, varying tongues, a myriad of food options, dissimilar dressing styles, sundry climates, a plethora of political affiliations and parties etc… I could go on ad-nauseam. But there is one thing unites this vast nation unlike anything else — cricket.
Back from India, Now a Master
Hello everyone. I’m back. Or more accurately, this blog is back. It has been months since I updated, but I’m working on some new posts to be published in the following weeks. I have been stateside (mostly adjusted by now) since mid-June, finished my MA degree in Conflict Resolution in August and now I’m in… Continue reading Back from India, Now a Master
A Whole Other World–My Dalit Village Visit.
The plastic glass of water teetered precariously on a simple metal tray. An unknown amount of eyes were glued on me, riveted to my every movement. The water before me was mixed with lemon; I could see the seeds floating in the water, along with pieces of pulp. No doubt, it would clench my thirst.… Continue reading A Whole Other World–My Dalit Village Visit.
My India Internship
Through interacting with a number of adopted friends over the years, it is clear that many of us are involved in social work or have social justice passions and I don’t believe it’s a coincidence. I think that for some of us what we experienced growing up, feeling “different,” and not “fitting in” gave us… Continue reading My India Internship
Still an Outsider-but that’s OK
Hello from Delhi, In puzzling over what my first post from India should say, I decided to be more philosophical, real and shy away from the day to day narrative of my life here. Perhaps that will come later. This post, however, is more of a reflection on my evolution of thought, as an Indian… Continue reading Still an Outsider-but that’s OK
Returning to my Roots
I’m moving to India at the end of January, until mid June to work with a group that advocates for the Dalits of India.
Does Transnational Adoption=Cultural Genocide?
Recently I’ve heard people discuss international adoption and those who decry the practice say it’s a form of “cultural genocide.” Really?! It was referenced here as a reason some people are against international adoption.” I have a real problem calling international adoption “cultural genocide.”
Blog’s First Birthday
Last week was my one year anniversary of beginning this blog. That is hard for me to believe. To begin with I’d like to say thank you to everyone who has read my scribbling on this page. It thrills me to know that people are reading and commenting on what I have written. I have… Continue reading Blog’s First Birthday