Ellis Gilham of Trenton, who recently finished a year as a Rotary Exchange student, presented the program at Thursday’s meeting of the Trenton Rotary Club. Cathy McKay was the program chairman.
Gilham spent the past school year in India, living with two families in central India. He referred to the trip as “the biggest adventure of his life,” stating that he learned a lot about the culture, the language, religion, how to make good food and also learned about himself. He said that family relationship is important in India and that there is even a festival to celebrate it. In fact, Gilham said India celebrates with many festivals throughout the year.
While there he was able to visit both the north and south parts of India and said that each area was very different. In the south, lifestyles, culture and food are very defined while in the north, those things are “meshed together.”
Gilham attended school while there, which he described as “very different” from the educational system in the U.S. in that there is less interaction and thought by students in India. He said the students are given specific things they are to learn and are not encouraged to find out things on their own. He also spent time doing community service, teaching music in a school for mentally challenged students.
He learned to play two musical instruments while there – the tabla and the sitar. The tabla consists of two small drums made of camel hide and he played them while at the meeting.
During the business meeting, board members and officers were reminded of a meeting at noon on May 25 at the Wright Memorial Hospital to finish up this year as well as begin planning for the new year, which begins on July 1.
Next week’s program chairman is Brian Upton.
This website brought to you in part by the following sponsor:
