Getting Ready to Leave

We, my husband and I, began packing for india the other day. Our house is being subleased to a soon to be married couple who will be moving in April 23 and will live there till we get back on August 23. Our house was a disaster so we began packing up clothes in the bedroom, moving our bed into the living room (more room), we moved our couch into the bedroom so we would have a study area with the desk in the same room, and cleaned up the kitchen. We left enough cloths our for the next couple of weeks. We have to be our of our apartment on April 23 so we get to be homeless till the 28th. We need to stay in Provo because I will be working double shifts so here is to sleeping in the back of the truck and showering on campus! No we just need to do our actually packing for india. We are starting to prepare by buying the alternate plug-ins and getting clothes that we can take but after finals week it will have start becoming more and more prepared. We need to get bug repellents, malaria medication, our last Japanese Encephalitis shot, maybe water purification tablets, and train tickets. The website (http://traveltips.usatoday.com/travel-light-india-1062.html) I was reading suggested the following:

"Things Needed

• 1 pair of closed-toe shoes/sandals 
• 1 pair of light flip-flops 
• 3 shirts and pairs of socks 
• 2 pairs of underwear 
• 2 pairs of trousers/shorts 
• Paperback books 
• Pocket digital camera with high-capacity flash disk" 

I am excited to get everything packed and ready. After our homeless week is over we will be able to stay up in Salt Lake until will leave on May 6th. We are both getting very anxious. Now the next thing we need to figure our is how we are going to travel in india. The indrail pass seems most plausible but we are debating whether we will pay trip by trip or just pay for the unlimited pass.

Wednesday and today are project presentations. My project is very unique in that it does not apply to my major. Previous to coming to BYU and starting my major in Exercise Sciences I attended ASU were I was a Life Science major. I loved it there because it was so general yet specific. My classes ranged from general biology (i. e. plants, animals, fungus) to genetics, to cell biology, to human anatomy. It interconnected all living things -- cells, plants, animals and humans. Now my major is much more specific but considering I have completed all my necessary elective course I choose to do the project I am doing which is connected to agriculture, plants, and farming. My project presentations is as follows:

Title: A Survey of the Adaption of the Agricultural Practices in a Tibetan Refugee Community in South India

In 1959 the Tibetan people became so suppressed by the Chinese Government that they choose to flee to india. The Dalai Lama fled to Dharamsala which has become a hub for the Tibetan Refugees. The Indian Government has allowed the Tibetan Refugees to settle in over 35 settlements spread across India.

In 1963 India's Green Revolution began. This introduced high yielding seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, etc. Everyone began to take advantage of it because you could produce a large harvest and export the goods for profit. BUT these fertilizers and pesticides destroyed the 'healthy' soil.

In 2002 the Dalai 

Japanese Encephalitis

Today we got our second to last set of shots, the Japanese Encephalitis shot. It is a $261 (plus another $261) shot that I would say is well worth it! Though many may think is too costly, I know I certainly do, Japanese Encephalitis is something I rather not get while I am in India.
Japanese Encephalitis is a serious infection caused by a virus which is spread by the bite of an infected mosquitoes.

Bylakuppe is a very humid place, especially during the summer, during the monsoon. It is a rural community where mosquitoes are highly populated. Although it can be avoided to some extent by repellents, long clothing, and staying in screened areas it is hard to avoid for nearly 4 months.

A person who is infected by Japanese Encephalitis can have no symptoms while others will have raging fever, headache or severe encephalitis (brain infection). Symptoms of encephalitis are fever, neck stiffness, changes in consciousness, or coma. Approximately 1 in 4 people who are infected with encephalitis dies and of those that don't die, half suffer permanent brain damage. The shot is recommended to any travelers to Asia who spend at least a month in areas where Japanese Encephalitis occurs, those who are going to be engaging in outdoor activities or where there have been outbreaks. Considering that I will be working on rural farms in Bylakuppe (Southern India) where Japanese Encephalitis risk is high I found it worth the cost.

My sister-in-law's father suffered from encephalitis. I don't know much other than he wasn't really there in the head. One day last November he was taking a walk and crossed the street at an undesignated spot. A 20 year old girl hit him and killed him instantly. I don't want to be that crazy person that crossed the street at the wrong spot because I didn't know any better and even more importantly I don't want to cause a 20 year old girl, or anyone for that matter, to have to suffer the image or what happened like with my sister-in-law's father.

Scholarships

Scholarships! Yes, great things, and something I am definitely depending on. Money is certainly tight when it is costing about 13,000 dollars for my husband and I to go to Bylakuppe, India. I have been working long hours when I probably shouldn't be because I have been sick but you do what you gotta do. Last week I found out that I can now qualify for the half tuition scholarship for spring and summer terms. BYU requires a transfer student to attend the school a year before academic scholarships can be received and I finally hit that mark. I was already budgeting the scholarship because I thought I would get it but now it is absolutely in the picture now.

I started filling out the Field Studies scholarship today and I feel like I am lacking substantial answers to receive funding. For example, how will this experience fit with your major/minor or career goals? I am not exactly sure. I don't know how to apply this to an Exercise Science major. I choose this project because it was interesting and I have fulfilled all my electives previous to this project. I hope that it will be beneficial as being a mother and wife in being able to garden organically and provide various fruits and vegetables that can sustain my family to some extent but that won't be for a while. I am hoping that a 6.35 GPA will help get me a substantial scholarship because who can seriously beat that?!





Ok, maybe I'm not that smart....Beau got home and I was showing him my scholarship application and he caught my 6.35 GPA. I would have never realized it. I am slightly dyslexic especially when it comes to numbers. So, maybe I have a 3.65 GPA and I don't have a great reason to do my project other than to be with my husband but that is okay with me. I am excited to be with the Tibetan people and learn about how they learned to farm in India. I am excited to talk with Tenzin Damdul, the manager of the Organic Research and Training Center, and expereience everything Bylakuppe has to offer.

In the Field

Class this last period was very beneficial,  or at least I can see where it will be beneficial for preparing for the field. My original worries were whether it would be a good part of farming season, whether the Tibetan refugees would want a woman observing them and if we could find a host family for my husband and I. Now most of those worries are taken away. Prime farming is from May to September, Mr. Damdul has opened the gate to sharing farming information with me when I arrive and we already have arrangements with a host family. I find myself more concerned with dealing with the culture shock of when I first arrive in Bylakuppe. Luckily I have a pretty social husband so that will make it slightly easier but there is still the thoughts of being thousands of miles away from everything I will have known. Another worry for me is finding a translator when and if I find it necessary. Are there going to be very many Tibetan refugee women with the time to translate for me if I need to talk to individuals who don't speak english and how long is this going to delay starting interviews? Lastly, one of my many other concerns is where I will fit into the community? How will they percieve me? In Malcomns case it was his host family just said that is isn't doing anything. I hope that I will not be seen that way and if it is I hope that I can understand the concept of nothingness in the culture. There are many things to worry about (i.e. robbed) particuarly the thing I mentioned above but I also realize there is a time to just recognize possible diffculties and just work through them.

My Bylakuppe Gatekeeper!!!!!

After contacting the Himalayan Institute on facebook and having them refer me to a guy, Mr. Abella, the manager of Global Humanitarian projects for the Himalayan Institute, and then he referring me to Mr Damdul, manager or the Organic Research and Training Center in Bylakuppe, I finally made my first Tibetan contact. After writing a brief email explaining that my husband and I are going to Bylakuppe for the summer for me to study agriculture and him music I received the most exciting response, if only I had this response earlier. He kindly explained the need for a Protected Area Permit, which I already knew about, and strongly suggested that the information listed should be for religious purposes in order for the Indian Government to pass it easily. More importantly, Mr. Damdul happily shares that they are more than willing to share information they have learned and experienced with organic farming and that maybe they can learn from me as well. I don't know if I will have much to share as I will be able to use my time to volunteer for them and learn from them. I did send a letter back of gratitude and asking a few more questions about volunteering for them bu I have yet to receive a response.

Having a gatekeeper is comforting. I now know that I will have at least some kind of access to farming information and very important information that is. This organization, the Organic Research and Training Center, is becoming more and more important as I see how much they have helped the community just by teaching the people farming techniques. Once I arrive in Bylakuppe I plan on making contact with Mr. Damdual and going on with my project from there.

Gatekeepers

As part of my journal today I decided to find some people to contact in Bylakuppe that could help me find an opportunity serve on the farms. Though many of the email address I found were old I did find a few that may be able to help. One of the organizations I emailed was the Himalayan Insitiute. They are based in Pensyvaniya but have helped in several Tibetan communities all over India, particularly Bylakuppe and Rabgayling. One  of there projects is to build trees to help return chemically damaged soil to its organic state.


They have also played a part in helping diversify crops on the plantations. I hope that by contacting them I can find more specific information out about where I can help on these diversified plantations and that they can help me contact individuals that can build my rapport in the community.

One of the other organiaztions I contacted was the Bylakuppe Settlement office which is connected to the Central Tibetan Relief Commitee. They play a  key role in training and demonstrating orgainc farming  in over 10 Tibetan Refugee communities. "In each settlement one or two agriculture extensionists organize trainings and assist the farmers to adopt several organic techniques, which include both traditional and modern practices.

• Soil fertility is maintained by appropriate crop rotation, green manures, cover crops, application of compost, vermicompost, biofertilizers, and traditional preparations like jeevamruth and panchagav.
• Pests and diseases are controlled through the application of home-made leaf extracts, integrated by purchased biopesticides whenever necessary.
• Biodynamic methods have been introduced and are increasingly popular among farmers."http://ctrc.tibet.net/agriculture.html

As I get in contact with these different organizations I can a hoping I can gain access to farms in Bylakuppe and individuals that I may interview. I want to gain rapport with  the Tibetan refugees so that I can become involved in farming in Bylakuppe. As I gain more and  more contacts I can recieve access to the farms thourgh gatekeepers.

Project Background

As part of my project in India I had to research background information to purpose why my project would be beneficial. A I wrote it really made be begin to think about the how I am going to approach asking my questions. Using my annotated sources I was able to come up with the following: 

“The Tibetan culture will never die,” says Collen McKnown, an avid researcher and journalist for the Tibet Post International (McKnown. CST. 2011). In 1959 the Dalai Lama and tens of thousands of Tibetan citizens fled to India to escape the Chinese invasion (United State Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services. 2003). Previous to moving to India, the Tibetan people’s main industry was animal husbandry and herding.  Now that Tibetan citizens no longer have the expansive land required for herding they have had to learn how to farm on the limited land offered by the Indian government.  I propose to study this transition- study how Tibetan refugees have learned to farm on India’s soil.

In Tibet families were able to provide organic crops for their own family. Though the plot of land was modest they were able to have a well balanced diet based mainly off of meat then followed by barley and seasonal crops. In India land is more space than in Tibet so the Tibetan refugees had to accommodate to farming on little land. At this point they were still farming organically as they had done in Tibet. In the 1960’s and 1970’s the green revolution began in India and the Tibetan communities caught on as well. Fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation and high-yield seeds became popular because the amount of crops that could be harvested and exported. In 2002 the Dalai Lama made a statement encouraging a balanced and healthy diet (Central Tibetan Administration. 2012).  The objectives of Dalai Lama’s organic farming policy as stated by the Federation of Tibetan Co-Operatives in India Ltd. is as follows:

• “To protect, preserve and rejuvenate the environment and biodiversity.
• To offer assistance and support to the international movement against consumerism. More specifically by persistently opposing the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, hybrid and genetically engineered seeds, etc.
• To make future Tibet is a storehouse of organic grains to the rest of the world.
• To achieve sustainable livelihood in the Tibetan settlements in India by turning the present agriculture land holding into a source of sustainable income generation.
• To achieve in making organic farming, animal husbandry and other allied activities as remunerative opportunities. Thereby we can encourage the educated Tibetan youth to live in settlements.” (Federation of Tibetan Co-Operatives Ltd. 2009)

Bylakuppe has taken these objectives seriously and started to apply them to the community almost immediately. In 2002 the Tibetan Farm Project, an 80 acre plot of land dedicated to farming, transitioned to completely organic farming because of the Dalai Lama’s call to produce healthy organic food just as they did in Tibet. Bylakuppe is the largest Tibetan refugee settlements in India and is the sixth largest organic farming community in India(Federation of Tibetan Co-Operatives. 2009). As part of my study I would like to learn how they made the adjustment from the green revolution to being an organic farm.

The Organic Research and Training Center in Bylakuppe has played a key role in educating the community about organic farming.  They have trained Tibetan exiles on the Tibetan Farm Project to rotate crops, create natural composts, and construct proper irrigation systems utilizing India’s vastly different environment (Himalayan Institute. 2011).  While all this talk of organic farming, pesticide free, and feeding the whole world is great talk there are still many concerns and problems that have to be confronted. Lobsang Chodack, a family farmer from Mundgod (the largest Tibetan organic farm community), emphasizes his concerns with organic farming stating that it requires more paid help to take care of the farm and much less product is produced than from fertilized farms. In order to maintain his organic farm teak trees must surround his farm in order to keep the cows out; the soil must be a mixture of 5kg cow dung, 1kg cow urine, and 1 kg jiggery to detract pests and still pests attack his crops somehow (McKown. Mundgod’s Tibetan Farmers. 2011). Chodack shows that on his farm alone he is confronted with three specific challenges that conflicts with the Tibetan organic farming objectives. First, he is not producing a large enough crop to contribute to the storehouse of organic grains for the world. Pests are invading his crop causing  small harvests. Secondly, because pests still invade his farm even when using natural pesticides it makes it difficult to remain resistant to chemical fertilizers and pesticides because it is either lose your whole harvest or use fertilizers. Lastly, since Chodack needs extra assistance on the farm resist the pests it does not provide a sustainable income due to the loss of income to pay for the helpers. As a result of all this Tibetan youth do no find farming as a sustainable enough income to remain on the settlements (McKown.CST. 2011). Although this is in different community, I expect similar problems to be occurring in Bylakuppe. In interviewing farmers I would like to know the depth of these problems on an individual and societal level and also learn if there are other challenges specific to Bylakuppe.

      Stu Nicholls reports a brief history of Bylakuppe in which he discusses the difficulties of sustaining a family solely off of farming. Most original families have a small crop of land for agricultural use but due to the lack of irrigation facilities families have to engage in other activities such as trading, restaurants, shop keeping, etc. (Nicholls. 2011). To help with sustaining farms in Bylakuppe the Dickey Larsoe Co-operative Society Ltd. was installed to help with loaning seeds, fertilizers, urea, and other agricultural inputs on a credit basis. As a result the farmers are obligated to return agricultural products to the Dickey Larsoe Co-operative Society Ltd. warehouses where they can sell the products to open markets for gain. There is lack of further information on how this cooperation is currently being used. I hope to find out more information while I am in India.

 The growing concern among the younger generations of Tibetans in Mundgod is that farming is no longer a profitable occupation as exemplified by Chodack. As a solution the Central Tibetan Administration advises farmers to farm cash crops such as alphonso mango, coconut, cashews, and amla to boost farmers’ gain. Still young Tibetans desire to grow up and become doctors, nurses, and dentists which puts the older generation of Tibetans in fear of their children forgetting their culture (McKown.CST. 2011).

            Though there have been many implemented plans by the Dalai Lama, the Central Tibetan Administration, and the Federal Tibetan Co-Operative there are still many struggles with adapting. By going to Bylakuppe, a prime opportunity for interviewing and observation, I will be able to interview individuals like Chodack so see their experiences and how they have progressively learned and become better at their trade. By observing and meeting the the Organic Research and Training Center I hope to be able to assist in their objectives in training and assisting individual farms and farmers produce a good harvest that can sustain themselves. I also plan on looking at the Dickey Larsoe Co-Operative Society to observe how they are benefiting the community and expanding the farming community. Through each of these ideas I propose to observed how the Tibetan Refugees have adjusted and learned to farming on India’s soil.

Works Cited

United States Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services. India: Information on Tibetan refugees and settlements, 30 May 2003, IND03002.ZNY. < http://www.unhcr.org/

refworld/docid/3f51f90821.html>. Accessed 24 February 2012

Xu, Jianchu; Yang, Yong; Li, Zhuoqing; Tashi, Nyima; Sharma, Rita; Fang, Jing. “Understanding Land Use, Livelihoods, and Health Transtion among Nomads: A Case of Gangga Township Dingri County, Tibetan Autonomous Region of China.” EcoHealth. 5,104-114 (2008).

 Federation of Tibetan Co-Operatives. Untitled Document. 2009. <http://www.ftci.co.in/

consolidated-information-on-15-member-coop-socities.htm>. Accessed 20 February 2010.

Central Tibetan Administration. Department of Home: Central Tibetan Administration. “Agriculture: Tibetan Organic Farming.” 2012. Web. 10 January 2012. http://ctrc.tibet.net/agriculture.html

Federation of Tibetan Co-Operatives Ltd. Tibetan Organic. 2009. <http://www.ftci.co.in

/F41923/tibetan_organic.html>. Accessed 20 February 2010.

Himalayan Institiute. “Bylakuppe Settlement.” 2011. <http://www.himalayaninstitute.org/

            humanitarian/tibetan-settlements/bylakuppe-settlement/>. Accessed 19 February 2010.

McKown, Colleen. “Mundgod’s Tibetan Farmers on Organic Methods and the Monsoon Pattern”. The Tibet Post International. 29 Sept 2011.

McKown, Colleen. “CST Pricipal and Students on Changing Times, Tibetan Identity”. The Tibet Post International. 26 September 2011.

Nicholls, Stu. Central Tibetan Admistration: Department of Home “A Brief Story of Lugsung Samdupling, Bylakuppe, Karnataka State.” 2011. <http://ctrc.tibet.net/

settlements/india/south/lugsam.html>. Accessed 20 February 2012.

http://tdlsociety.com/tractor_Section.aspx

Celiac Disease vs. Tibetan Staple Foods

Growing up I never had any allergies or health problems until I hit 18. I was working at Marie Calenders where I would eat a piece of toast everyday which shouldn't have changed anything because that is probably what I would have eaten at home. As a few months went by I go really sick. I was constantly tiered, I experienced extremely irregular menstrual period, and I was very weak. After 1 month of doctors visits I realized that I had celiac disease.

My dad and a couple great aunts and uncles have it but I never dreamt that I would have it. I was never officially diagnosed with it because I decided that paying hundreds of dollars to see an experienced pathologist was not worth the price. I feel perfect when I am on the diet but the moment I eat gluten I am tired and restless.

When I went home this last time I talked to my uncle Walter about it, who has severe celiac disease. He told me that he has been told he has it and that he doesn't. Only expert pathologists can identify Celiac Disease which makes sense why my primary care physician couldn't figure out what was going on.

I have planned many times to go off the diet but going to Bylakuppe has made it difficult. I know that if I go on the diet perfectly I will get very sick when I have to eat food in Bylakuppe. Ever since I found out the staple food of India was barley I didn't know what to do. In my research I found that Tibetan Refugee women consume approximately 477.8 grams cereal a day which consists of barley and wheat (ie. tsampa and momos). Although I may feel the effects I am hoping that by still eating gluten every once in while will lessen the effects that I feel while I am there. If at all possible I hope to remain on my diet but considering that I don't have a whole lot of choice in what my host family feeds me I doubt it will be possible. The best I can do is deal with the problem and remain on my diet when I return back home.

Methodology

           The main goal or purpose in going to Bylakuppe India is to study agriculture and farming of the Tibetan exiles. My questions that I would like to explore are: How have the Tibetans in Bylakuppe learned to farm on India's soil? What kind of problems they have confronted (ex: pesticides and fungus)? My methodology for researching these qestions are as follows:

Plan for entry and building rapport

            Previous to arrival I am planning on contacting the Organic Research and Training Center within the Himalayan Institute and make contacts. I am hoping that they can help me with a non-profit job or refer me to other people within the community. I would like to be able to work on the farms so that I can learn how it functions and it will also help become acquainted with people I can interview.

Description of Informants

            I am planning on contacting individuals within the Organic Research and Training Center and interviewing those who are involved with its functions and teaching. I would like to interview Tibetan refugees who work on the Tibetan Farm Project, those who run the farm, and those who purchase products from organic farms.

Plan for sampling and recruitment

            I will include Tibetan refugee farmers, trainers, and merchants who work and sell organic farm products. I plan on recruiting people by building rapport in the community and being interested in what they teach me. By working on farms I hope to become acquainted with individuals who can recommend me to other individuals.

Description of Method

            As I am out in the field I plan to work on the farms and in the market. I want to observe and learn how farmers maintain the organic environment while resisting pesticides, how they prune and care for plants to prepare for a greater harvest, and how irrigation works on the farms. By learning this information I hope to build contacts and interview various individuals about how they have learned to do what they do. I also want to interview individuals that have lived in Tibet and come to India to learn how the farming industry compares and contrasts. I would like to know the struggles, how they progressed, and how they continue to advance. Through informal interviewing I hope to become acquainted with the farms and through semi-formal interviewing I would like to learn how the Tibetan refugees have come to learn to farm on India’s soil.

            A few possible interview questions include:

·         When did you begin farming?

·         What is a typical day like on the farm?

·         What parts of farming are difficult?

·         Has the farming industry changed since you began?

·         How were you taught to farm?

·         Was learning a difficult process?

·         How does the monsoon affect the harvest?

·         What seasons do you plant certain crops?

·         How do you maintain the health of the soil?

·         What do you believe your connection to the earth?

·         How important is it for you to involve your children in farming?

Art Forms Vs. Interviews

Over the past few weeks I have been thinking how I will approach interviewing different individuals in the field. I really enjoyed doing it as I did in my Methods Practice where I recorded the interview then wrote up my report but it is very time consuming. As I learned in class there are four different types of interviewing:

• Informal Interviewing: is characterized by a lack of structure or control. It is a form in which you jot down conversations heard during the day. An example of this type of interviewing may be participant observation where you observe and then report. (Sketching)
• Unstructured Interviewing: is characterized by sitting down for an interview with another person constantly keeping in mind your plan but there is not a lot of control over the person’s responses. There is knowledge between both parties that the conversation is for the purpose of interviewing. There is plenty opportunity for more interviews. (Watercolor)
• Semisturctured Interviewing: is characterized by a onetime chance meaning you have a written list of questions or topics that need to be covered. This kind of interviewing involves a lot of probing and directed yet open questions. (Oil)
• Structured Interviewing: this is generally characterized by yes or no questions. It involves an interview schedule that does not diverge from the desired topic. (Acrylic)

Each of these interviewing strategies has its own purpose. Lately I have been trying to think of it as in terms of art from my perspective and talent. Sketching is certainly a free form. You can do whatever you want with it. It can be changed, erased, or redrawn but the marks originally drawn never disappear completely. As in informal interviewing, you can choose what you want to observe or focus on, you can ignore or miss important or less important parts of the day but it will never disappear. You can't erase what you hear or see but you can dim certain aspects. You can focus on the most important lines of the sketch but it is not the full picture unless you include all aspects of the picture, or in the case of interviewing, you must include all observations of the day to complete the picture.

Unstructured Interviewing is similar to watercolors. If you have ever painted with water colors you know that you cannot control where the color goes as you would like to. Sometimes you can keep it semi-contained and other times it goes all the way across your painting destroying everything. This type of interviewing is like water colors. Sometimes it stays fairly contained and other times it goes completely off track but embrace it. Not every interview will turn out perfect. It will always be a learning experience but maybe not always useful for reporting your project.

Semistuructured Interviewing is like oil painting. You can reassess the interview and redirect it. You provide guiding questions to get the results you need. It may not always be what you want to hear but it will guide you on to bigger and better things. You can redirect and correct misunderstandings and begin to understand the interviewee. Oil painting in this way is very flexible. If a mistake is made or the paint has gone off track you can throw some turpentine on it and wipe it right off leaving only a little color behind. As in interviewing you can't erase what was said but you can clarify. Once the color is whipped away you can cover up the light stain and clarify what is supposed to be expounded.

Lastly, in structured interviewing there is an unworkability. You ask the questions on your interviewing map just as listed and there is no expounding, no changing or understanding what is said. Acrylics are unchangeable. There is no erasing, only smearing, if it is still wet, or covering it up, if it is dry. In this type of interview there is no clarification, you can't gain an understanding as you can in semistructured. Oils allow adjusting and redirecting where the only thing you can do with acrylics is cover things up. In my opinion, this is like using or adjusting the structured interviews results and making up an analysis without the information. You are covering up what was said just as you would cover a mistake on an acrylic painting. But it does have its benefits! If there is a limited amount of time to interview then the topics you need covered can be covered, just like acrylics you only have a limited time before it dries so you need to get everything down before it is over.

So as you can see art and interviewing are very comparative. They both have their positives and negatives. As I have assessed the different types I am beginning to believe that semisturcture and informal interviewing will be most beneficial to my study. I can have semistructure interviews as I choose and find candidates but I will also be able to use informal interviewing as I am helping on farms or talking to people in the markets.

Macy's Participant Observation

   

For my methods practice 3 I choose do a participant observation at Macy’s, one of Provo’s local grocery stores, on Saturday night. Originally I was planning to do it at a Mexican Market so I would be able to experience not being able to understand anyone, or at least very little, but I wanted to be able to observe how popular organic produce is so I chose Macy’s. When I first arrived I made a list of all the organic produce provided in the produce area and compared it to non-organic produce. The results are as follows:

Organic                 Non-Organic Fuji Apples………$2.19/lbs……………….$1.69/lbs Blueberries……..$4.99/6 oz……………..$3.69/6 oz Avocados…………$1.29 each…………….$1.29each Baby Carrots…….$1.99/lbs………………$1.59/lbs Cucumbers………$1.29/lbs……………….$0.59 each Tomatoes………..$2.99/pint…………….$1.29/pint Celery………………$2.99/lbs……………….$1.99/lbs Salad………………..$3.99/5 oz…………….$2.99/ 5 oz Mushrooms…….$3.29/8 oz……………..$2.19/ 8 oz

 

                I was very surprised with my discoveries because a couple of the produce prices were not that different as in the case of the avocados and the baby carrots (which were $0.10 cheaper organically because they were on sale for $1.49). As I observed how people chose their produce I kept an eye out for who bought produce. In the hour that I was there I observed six individuals approach and purchase organic products out of approximately 100 individuals. These individuals, who picked out produce, were usually young or middle age women and about half were Asians. I don’t know if this is just by chance or if they just try to eat healthier but that is what I observed. I watched as women, husband and wives, and a couple families walked through to purchase a selection of produce. One family, consisting of a mother and husband and son, were walking through, the husband and son were on their cell phones while the mom picked out the food. Pretty typical, I would say. There were very few men by themselves picking out produce and most, that I observed, where older men (probably above 50 years). The ratio of women to men in the produce area was approximately 10: 3 in the time I was there. There were two male clerks stocking bananas and salad while were there. The man stocking bananas had mentioned to one of the customers that bananas go really fast on Saturdays so he is always stocking them.

I was thinking of the way I buy things when I am at the store and then comparing it to the way other chose their produce. I am one to compare prices of items I want and may need and then decide what I will buy for the week. I usually make my grocery list based on what items are for sale or may be a little cheaper. I usually take my time at the grocery store making the produce section my first stop so that I can chose what I want from there and base my meals off of it. Individuals I saw walk through there went directly for an item debated which one looked the tastiest, bagged it up and when to choose the next item on their list. There wasn’t much price comparing going on. The customers generally knew exactly what they wanted, which you could tell by the look on their face and there “don’t get in my way” type of walk.  It was the same thing in the organic section. If someone wanted organic items they knew it. They would walk straight there, pick the item they wanted and leave. There were very few who actually do what I do. I began to wonder whether location of store items affect what people purchase. Would people look more at organic items if they were right next to the non-organic equivalent? The way the store was set up the organic items were more difficult to find because they were off in the corner where apples and oranges, bananas, and potatoes all had their own table to be displayed. Is it done this way because it has been tested that these have always been purchased the most, therefore, you have it on its own table easily displayed because a lot of people will purchase these items? Is it possible that if they displayed their organic produce in a more noticeable spot that more people would purchase them?

                Lastly, I wanted to observe how the produce area was decorated and designed.  The produce area was located in the back right corner of the store. Brightly colored decorations hung from the ceiling and bright fruits and vegetables were painted around the area. The vegetables lined the outer edge of the area where they could be kept moist by the misting heads while apples, bananas, ground vegetables and several other items were stacked on the center produce racks. The brighter fruits and vegetables were scattered throughout the area maybe to help catch people’s attention. There was a rack of seeds in the area for those who would like to grow their own vegetables. I found this interesting because I don’t often see this in a grocery store or maybe I just never observed it.

                This whole experience was very interesting to me. It makes me wonder how it will be different in Bylakuppe. I imagine there will be more organic crops with how big organic farming is there. As I continue this same project in Bylakuppe I hope that I will be able to first observe how things work and then maybe talk to a store clerk. At Macy’s I was able to talk to a clerk for a little while. He was getting curious about what we were doing so I explained that it was for a school project. He mentioned that some stores have scouts come out and compare prices to other stores and he thought we may be doing that. Other than him we didn’t have people getting suspicious of anything because the turnover rate in the produce area was about every 10 minutes. This made me realize that although I probably don’t need to explain to customers about my studies but I should probably mention it to the store owner or manager so that I don’t seem suspicious of anything strange.

Integration of Cultural Aspects

I am finally becoming truly interested in my project as I have begun to read the article from Colleen McKown. The experience is becoming more personal and real in my eyes. Mckown has published a series of articles nearly all reporting from Mundgod in Karnataka, India. The three in which I have read cover topics such as farming, preserving culture, school, work and family. As I have thought about it throughout the day I have began to consider how this all fits together. Though all that I say may not be perfectly accurate I am going to make some assumptions combined with the information that I have learned from McKown’s published articles.

In 1959 the Tibetan people were forced out of Tibet. Many fled into India where they were guaranteed protection. As a result the Dalai Lama wanted to preserve some of the cultural traditions of Tibet while also acclimating to the new land. He directed the Tibetan refugees to learn how to farm and to farm organically, he asked for help by the CTA to set up schools, and set up communities in which Tibetan refugees could live and preserve culture. While this was all instated soon following their arrival in India times have changed since then. Money is not found in farming and herding like it was in Tibet. The rising generation is finding the need and the responsibility to support their families and gain an admirable education. While in the early 60’s, 70’s and 80’s farming was considered a sustainable job for the Tibetan refugees it isn’t any longer.

The younger generation realizes this and sees the need to be knowledgeable and become doctors, dentists and nurses. They want to see the world. They are accommodating their needs. Few of the older generations of the Tibetan refugees see the need to leave. They see leaving as a destruction of their culture. The few that don’t perceive it this way understand that the only way to truly support your family is to have at least one of your family members leave the community. One of the teachers that McKown mentions says that Tibetan culture will never die. The students in Mundgod show that they know the song, dance, debates, and poetry of their culture.

 I see this transition of rising generation being a benefit to the people. The Tibetan refugees will never forget their culture, where it comes from- who they are. My theory is that as children grow up, move away and get an education they will make their money, have a family, and when they get older and can support themselves they will return back to their Tibetan community.

As pertaining to my project I am predicting that I will see many younger children, older Tibetan refugees, and some unfortunate (poorer) individuals on the farms. I am assuming that the coming generation will be going to universities and colleges gaining a higher education or off in the city working a higher paying job than they would have in the community. I am excited to see how exactly all these aspects fit in to the culture in Bylakuppe.

Wedding

As a follow up on a previous journal I wanted to discuss my participant observation at my brother’s wedding. I found it very difficult to realize certain proxemics and kinesics of my own family where noticing the bride’s family was much easier. It is difficult to analyze the culture, or even more difficult your family, because everything is "normal". Right? Maybe not... while it was very normal to me my family may not have been so normal to her family.

I first started my observations in the chapel. When I entered my great uncle sat there in his wheel chair next to his dazed wife. They are both in their mid-eighties but she has aged much more than he has. He smiled,  hugged my dad, 2 sisters, and I. My sister quietly mentioned that they she thought they were really old when she was a little girl but now they looked pretty good. My great uncle gave her a slight smile- one that you give when you don't hear everything someone says. Then he quizzed us to find out which one had celiac disease. I shyly volunteered. I watched the look on his face as he quizzed me. His eyes were beady yet endearing. He pointed his finger straight at me and shaking it back and forth said, "if you follow the diet you will never have any problems." I tried to quick explain my situation but he looked at me softly and said he would talk to me afterwards. Following the temple helpers simple words we were directed to the sealing room. First the back row excited and so it continued to the front row. I noticed as I tried to exit a lady being a little boisterous in her wheel chair. There was a middle aged lady pushing her while she demanded, "turn, turn, turn! Go!," as she tried to slightly swing her body as if to help the wheel chair move. It didn't work to well from my observations. As we reached the sealing room I noticed a division of people I knew and who, I am assuming, the bride knew. The ceremony progressed well and just following we were guided to have parents and grandparents congratulate the coupled followed by family and friends. Parents took a good 10 to 15 minutes to go through the line though it was only my parents and the bride's mom, her dad passed away a couple months previous. My mom tiered up ( it is her last child to get married) and my dad had his usual satisfied expression, which I know means he is extreme ecstatic yet at peace inside. Just a little side note: every time my dad is able to go to the temple with any of his children he is totally and completely happy. My grandpa and himself helped with the reconstruction of the temple ( my dad hanging all the doors, and my grandpa designing where all the emergency sprinkler heads should go, and many other things. Also my dad's worst experience was there. In the women’s dressing room he went to move one of the vanities not realizing the full size mirror placed on top was not bet hung. He watched the mirror come crashing down and shattering everywhere. He thought for sure he would be fired but he wasn't. For all these reasons I presume it is a beautiful, sacred, and memorable place for him).

In continuing my observations, after the parents went through the line no one was going so naturally my sisters and I went because we were in the away. Just as we decide to get up the crazy lady in the wheel chairs and her new servant (an older man) came up behind me. At first I didn't even think about who it was then I heard her wheezing, "they said grandmas go next!!!". She grumbled at the man, "Get in front of them! Grandmas go next!" I gracious stepped aside and the man pushed the grandma past me scraping the edge of the alter. I later learned that her grandma is almost always like this. This is the reason she was not invited to the bridal shower. After the ceremony I was able to gather with my family, and some of my old bishopric and their wives. It was interesting to see who shakes hands and who hugs. One of my old counselors in my ward always has a huge grin and gives me a big huge where my bishop was only a hand shaking kind of person (granted that his is the same bishop that thought it was not permissible to change in front of my best friend). Their wives just offered a gentle smile and hello. Everyone has their own culture or way of doing things.

Though I am not going to detail anymore of the wedding I will say that I notice a definite line between friend and family relationship between the bride and her guests verses her and the groom’s guests. The bride in most instances almost ignored my sisters and I but when it came to her family there was hugging and pictures. Some families just allow themselves to mesh but these two definitely had their division. The proxemics and kinesics between the two families were extremely distanced and uncommunicative.

In my next methods practice I plan to put myself in a situation where I can’t understand the situation as well so I am not as biased. I am planning on going to a Mexican market and see what produce are commonly bought.

Interviewing practice

In class I was assigned to interview someone for practice the following is my report:

In finding some to interview I considered who would be a candidate for interviewing about farming but no one really came to mind so I chose to discuss my other interest, medicine, because who doesn’t have a need for curing ailments. I chose to interview my neighbor, Sam. Not knowing exactly how many questions I needed to spark an interview I came up with just a few and went from there. The questions I originated with were:

·     How do you prefer to fix or confront your physical ailments? Do you normally follow these practices?

·       Are there any current problems that you are facing that need attention? What do you plan on doing?

·       If you have a head ache, how do you fix it? Back pain? Foot pain? Congestion? Stomach pain?

·       In previous years did you treat things differently?

·      When is the time to go see a doctor?

·       How often do you go see a doctor?

·       What do you think is the most practical way to solve your ailments?

·       Is there a certain people’s way of curing ailments that  you look towards ?

·     How does your family think? Did you get these ideas through parents?

·       What do you think of prescription drugs, over the counter drugs, herbs, natural medicines, physical health practices?

As short as I thought this interview would last it was longer than I expected because questions came up that I never had planned (this will be discussed below). The interview was very smooth mainly due to the fact that I was able to record the interview rather than interrupt to jot down notes.

Sam seemed to have a motto of, “There is a balance between prescriptive and natural medicine but for daily occurring problems it should be able to be taken care of through natural practices”.  Sam believes that an ailment or sickness should take its course while doing your part of eating healthier, and/or drinking water to help it pass. As far as following these methods he does as long as it is not affecting his daily routine- if functioning becomes difficult then he results to over the counter medicine. The case in which Sam said he would use prescribed medicine is when it is going to make the people around him sick then antibiotics or something of the sort becomes more important. On a regular basis, over the counter medicines are too strong and make you weaker and sicker before you get better, so why take this route when you can let it take its course and feel better just through fixing lifestyle habits such as eating unhealthily or not drinking enough water.

One difficult Sam is currently enduring is continuous headaches throughout the day. I asked him which way he might fix this problem in which he responded he ties to drink and if that doesn’t solve the problem then he will take a couple Advil and the problem quickly dissipates. Some other difficulties I was curious how Sam would fix included back pain, foot pain, congestion and stomach pain. For back pain 10 push-ups almost always solves it for Sam. If the pain is more intense and cannot be fixed by push-ups then a chiropractor is the answer. For instance, last summer he mysteriously through his back out so a couple visits the chiropractor and he was up and working again but he said it was not common for him to have to go to the doctors. He mentioned that this may be a somatic thought but if it works it works? Foot pain, of the other hand, has not been a problem at all  for Sam ever since he stopped wearing the “stylish” shoes his feet have fixed themselves. The type of shoe that has worked best for him are shoes with not a lot of cushion and wide enough space such as, “sanooks have worked great.” Things that mimic barefoot or actually being barefoot has prevented previous ingrown toe nails. The past problems of foot pain, he says, that shoes were never wide enough because manufactures try to fit the “normal feet” which was not his. For congestion he tends to let it run its course and if necessary take an Advil for the pain but usually just let it go. Recently he has started using the neti pot which does help solve, prevent or alleviate congestion but it has to been done regularly. Stomach pain has never really been too much of a problem but if something does you just sit on the toilet for awhile. In the past Pepto-Bismol usually helped but Sam hasn’t used it in a long time. I asked Sam that in the past if he did things differently in the past. He said that he did take more medicine when he was younger for headaches, congestion, and stomach pain but as he has gotten older he has learned how he can deal with these problems and fix them naturally.

In Sam’s life doctors are not a major actor on his stage. The only time he really goes and sees the doctor is for an occasional check up (dermatologist, chiropractor, or family physician).  The most practical way to fix problems is through prevention of the problem from the beginning. He says that he is a very sedentary person because of school causing lower back pain but other people don’t always have this same problem, for example, yogis. He said that there are probably groups of nomads that have completely different problems than we do.

Sam’s family tends to live similar to the way he does. His grandpas’ are farmers and certainly have a desire to be natural and healthy. His mom tends to have to take medicines due to certain major health problems but she tries to prevent these things through eating a healthier diet, exercising, and seeing a natural medicine doctor. One of the things that have helped in the past has been things like acupuncture. Sam says that is family is natural a possible. Others that choose to resort to prescriptive medicine are not judged by Sam. He knows that people have their problems and that the drugs may be helping so let them practice what they wish. If it was a family member or friend he said that he may voice what he would do but would never judge them for their choices. “Medicines all have their place,” whether it is natural, herbal, over the counter, or prescriptive but on a daily basis natural medicines is all we should really need to fix natural problems.

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For the length of the interview Sam was very relaxed. We were in the setting of his own home where he felt most comfortable. At first he seemed slightly nervous in the way he moved and gestured shakily but that quickly dissipated. He clearly explained his feelings and opinions and when it wasn’t clear we were able to banter back and forth until it was clear. After I was done with my section of the interview we were able to continue sharing our thoughts and ideas making it very personal for both parties

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From the information I gathered about Sam I have learned that he not only uses the most natural way to cure ailments as he deems possible but also tries to show it to others in a settle way. It is important for him and his family to maintain a healthy diet so that you can prevent natural problems that might occur. Prevention for Sam is certainly the best route to go when it comes to keeping up your health- if you can prevent it then no medicine even has to be used. From what I can tell Sam’s view on medicine is a mix of western and eastern medicine. First resort to eastern medicine, such as herbs, yoga, tai chi, or diet, then, if necessary, resort to western medicine and drugs. From what I can tell Sam believes doctors are way over used. You know your body better than anyone else so listen to what your body is telling you.