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North Carolina educators learned more about the educational system and the diverse cultural and religious practices in India by visiting schools, cultural attractions, and historical sites in Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Khajuraho, and Varanasi. They toured both Old and New Delhi, saw Qutb Minar and a Sikh Gurudwara. Educational visits in Delhi included a meeting with the Dean of International Programs at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi, a visit to a Kendriya Vidyalaya (a primary and secondary school for children of government employees), and a workshop sponsored by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). In Jaipur, educators visited a state run school in addition to sightseeing at the Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, City Palace, and the Jantar Matar Observatory. No trip to India would have been complete without a stop at the Taj Mahal, which they toured, along with the Agra Fort, while briefly in Agra. Khajuraho, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to dozens of beautifully carved temples built between the 9th and 10th centuries. After touring the temples the educators flew to Varanasi. While in India's holiest Hindu city, they took a boat ride on the Ganges in the evening to witness Aarti, and another boat ride in the early morning hours to see life on the Ganges. A rickshaw ride through the city was a highlight of the tour. Educators also visited a non-profit NGO and school working to improve the lives of children and their families in Varanasi. Educators explored many facets of India first-hand to gain the confidence to add global content to their teaching and to make their school or college more global in focus. This was not a typical tourist trip, but an empowering educational experience. |