ACTIVITY PASSAGE II:

An Ethnographic Study of Indian Culture

through Summer Immersion

Passage Proposal
May 23, 2016
 I. INTRODUCTION
I am an avid traveler although sometimes I don’t always get to do it, but this year I’m
going to India. Since middle school, I dreamed of taking part in an exchange, although a year or
semester long one seemed far-fetched as that would require me to do a lot of makeup work.
Earlier this year, I heard about a program, NSLI-Y that really intrigued me and offered exchange
durations for the summer. The National Security Language Initiative for Youth is sponsored
through the AFS ​Intercultural Programs, an international youth exchange organization and the
U.S. Department of State. NSLI-Y provides merit-based scholarships for eligible high school
students and recent high school graduates to learn less commonly taught languages in summer
and academic-year overseas immersion programs.
This summer I will be spending six and a half weeks in Indore,​ ​Madhya Pradesh, India
studying Hindi six days a week and staying with a host family. During my time there, I will be
observing the language, people, customs, and overall culture to create a final anthropological
ethnographic study. I will collect data through plain observations notes and planned interviews
with teachers, host family members, other American travelers and Indian ambassadors.
My Passage will recognize a few of the GPS Global Domains. Through my international
immersion travels and my participation in another culture and language, I will be investigating
the world. Additionally, my observations and interviews will serve to be recognizing various
perspectives different to my own. Lastly, with my final product of the ethnographic study, I will
be communicating my ideas and the ideas of others through data and analysis.
I will most likely run into several obstacles during the duration of my Passage and stay in
India. For one, remembering to keep up with my timeline and deadlines will be very difficult,
especially for me as I will be packed fully with activities most of the time. Additionally, without
direct contact with the Western world, getting help with the project may prove to be impossible,
which is when I may need to rely on my host family or fellow travelers. Wifi and internet access
is another challenge, as India is a third world country and I probably won’t have access to it 24/7.
Lastly, the language barrier will be extremely hard to overcome as I am not and most likely will
not be fluent while I am there.

II. LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Learning Objective: Activity to Achieve Objective:

To grow in the knowledge and proficiency Weekly emails and blog posts with
in the Hindi language progressive use of the language and
school work/notes

To better understand the Indian culture Complete immersion with notes and
observations of the culture
 To improve communication skills Interviews with family members and
teachers

To improve time management skills Managing required school tasks and

family obligations and finding and
utilizing time to work on Passage

To improve observational and analytical Observations and data collected and

skills comprehended into the study

III. TIMELINE

Date: Acticity: Documentation:

May 27, 2016 Passage Proposal DONE Passage Proposal

May 31, 2016 Committee Meeting Committee Approval of Passage

June 8, 2016 Collect all materials to complete Collection of journals, pens/pencils,

Passage while in India various documents, print out of
timeline and objectives

June 8, 2016 Begin research on ethnographic Examples of studies, notes on what

studies one is

June 11, 2016 Reach out to fellow travelers and Messages to fellow travelers
tell them about Passage and how
they can help me

June 19, 2016 Contact host family and Message/email to host family
communicate to them about my
Passage

June 23, 2016 Update travel blog with a post Blog post on
about my trip and occasional http://comfortzonelost.blogspot.com
postings while there

June 22, 2016 Do any final research on what I Final research

need to know before I leave

June 29, 2016 Leave Denver for New York for 3 Boarding pass to Newark
day Gateway Orientation

June 30-31, 2016 Meet with and interview previous Interview notes on what they
NSLI-Y India participants experienced from the culture
 July 1-2, 2016 Meet and discuss with other 2016 Notes on expectations in notebook or
NSLI-Y India participants about on digital component
expectations

July 2, 2016 Leave for India from Newark Boarding pass from LaGuardia to
New Delhi

Week of July 3, Spend time in New Delhi Observations in notebook or blog

2016 post

Week of July 3, Train ride to Indore and arrival Observations in notebook

2016

Arrival in Indore Introduction to family and school Observations and initial impressions
and conversation notes

July 6, 2016 to Hindi language/Indian culture Schoolwork, Photos, daily

August 16, 2016 classes and community service observations
projects done 6 days a week

July 2, 2016 to Daily observations of Indian Daily notebook entries or occasional

August 17, 2016 culture and differences blog post

July 11, 2016 to Conduction of at least seven Interview notes and dialogue
August 15, 2016 formal interviews with various
perspectives and backgrounds

August 17, 2016 Final collection of observations Closing and last minute experiences
notes

August 18, 2016 Return to Denver Boarding pass from New Delhi to
Newark

August 31, 2016 Final compilation of all notes and Final compliation
observations from trip

September 10, Ethnographic study completed Ethnographic study and conclusions

2016

End of Passage presentation to a group of Activity Passage presentation rubric

Sept./Beginning peers, teachers, and committee and checklist
of October

IV. FORM
The final product of this Activity Passage will be a full ethnographic study on the culture
which will include my daily observations, interview notes, photos, and written conclusions. I will
present my learning, thoughts, and experiences to an audience with a twenty minute oral and
visual presentation.

V. PREPARATION
To be successful in my Activity Passage I will need:
Various notebooks and pens/pencils ​for the purpose of note catching, gathering thoughts,
organizing interviews, and keeping track of my progress.
Access to a computer/laptop and internet access​ for the purpose of updating my blog
occasionally and for research if needed.
Any additional resources on conducting an ethnographic study​ for the purpose of being
fully prepared to do it on my own. These can include examples, explanations, etc.
Ms. Rivera​ for the purpose of guiding me and providing me assistance on my Passage
process.
Mr. Munoz​ for the purpose of aiding me with knowledge and resources on the topic of
these anthropological studies and to guide me in my Passage process.
Keegan Smit​ for the purpose of supporting me in my travels to India and the preparedness
that comes with it.
Lillian Primus​ for the purpose of giving feedback and ideas for my Passage and
supporting me through it.