Experiencing Eid Al Adha

janicekbyth — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 06:55:11 GMT

Photography is a way to share experience and meaningful communication with other cultures where language and customs may be a barrier. I strive to communicate accurate representation of the moment and the experience in my photos. Often photography can be a way for me to communicate with others. I have been interested in photography ever since I was little, but my passion really sparked when I was trekking in Leh, India. There I stayed with homestay families in the mountain as I walked the trail. I could only say about 5 words in the native language. However, with my camera in hand I was able “talk” through my pictures in addition to great miming and dancing with the family I stayed with. It was during this brief period I saw photography for what it can be—as a way to connect with people and share stories. As someone with very little/to no formal education in photography, I’ve learned how to photograph for the most part through trial and error. The opportunity to travel with Jason Edwards would be immensely helpful in learning how to create better cultural communication through photography and bring my skills to the next level.

My Scholarship entry - A local encounter that changed my life

janicekbyth — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 15:57:46 GMT

I bounce on the balls of my feet, dancing to a throaty high-pitched voice, singing in a foreign language I could not identify. It isn’t the music that I would rock to in my bedroom, but I dance to it anyway. The homestay family, from the rural village in India where my friend and I am staying, stares at me as I perform my impromptu dance.
I grab one of the villager’s hard leathery hands and try to pull her up to join me. Even though I only knew one word in Ladhaki, everyone understood that a dance party had just started. This particular night there were no men in the house, so it was a regular sleep over party – Ladhaki village style.
I twist back and forth, letting my long skirt swish around me, when I notice the housemother stand up. She is a plump, older woman in traditional dress with a round, weather-beaten face. She flicks her hands and sways side-to-side as she dances closer to me. I copy her movements and improvise my own. I turn around and try to get my friend to come dance with us when suddenly I feel a sharp tug on my skirt. I jump around to see my housemother grinning.
“Oh my,” I giggled, “ Mary, she just tried to pants me!” I never imagined I would have to dance out of an old woman’s clutch to prevent my skirt falling to the floor! During that week, our guides had been telling us how conservative the Ladakhi people are, and how we need to respect the culture.
Once everyone in the room realized what the housemother was doing, they began to giggle in delight and joined in on the fun. All the while, I kept dancing and squealing my way around the small room as my housemother playfully tried to pants me.
Lying in bed that night I was overwhelmed by how the words a person says are less important than the attitude a person projects. It is this universal language that never ceases to amaze me as customs and language barriers seem to fade away. Being kind, good natured, and earnest can have a far greater impact than knowing how to say, “Let’s dance!”

Once Upon an Adventure

Experiencing Eid Al Adha

My Scholarship entry - A local encounter that changed my life