Finally! Fair Trade comes to the YMCA

Can you be fair trader and sell a Nestle product?

Fair Trade producers pay the growers a living wage and seek to improve their working and living conditions, including shelter, medical needs, education. To buy anything less is like enjoying a cup of bloody "java". Nestle on the other hand is known for their poor labor practices.

So I started complainging, even if I accomplished nothing else. Finally, along with the help of our Chaplain Evan, have convinced the YMCA that this should be a Fair Trade facility. The YMCA practices Christian values and tries to uphold the marginalized people. So fair trading seems natural. The YMCA has this friendly little cafe that serves the community of West Bromwich, they offer coffee, tea, hot meals, treats, and pretty much all the things you would go to a cafe for.

When I first arrived I was very excited to see that they had fair trade sugar. Then discovered, to my surprise, that the fair trade sugar was going into Nescafe coffee! Now what sense does that make? It completely negates the point. How could anyone, who would listen, excersie fair trade, and still support Nescafe coffe? True its a bit more expensive BUT so worth it for the people behind the growing and producing of coffee! Maybe the cafe did not know. Well finally six months later....we were heard, when it wasn't only me the "righteous" and zealous American, but also our new Chaplain Evan saying we really should be serving fair trade products in the cafe.

So, now the cafe will begin serving fair trade coffee and tea and over the next few months serving all fair trade products. Who knows, cocoa, chocolate, and more. A small step for the YMCA cafe but another giant step for the growers and fair traders. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No more blood in our coffee ;-)

Peace, latte and cheers!
Monisha

In the end fate always wins!

Fate, its such a mysterious thing. I am a very strong believer in fate, even more so after having actually taken an amazing course on Fate in grad school. I can't help pondering about my fate. I have come to yet another cross roads in my life, and I wonder is this the fork in the road where I choose between my predestined path and exercise my free will? Or is this my fate, and no matter what I choose that is what fate has in store for me and at the end of the day do I really have a choice in the matter at all? Hmmm.

I have started dedicating a lot of time in my daily routine to taking steps in planning my future. What will I do next on this journey? My year in England is only half way over, yet I feel like I have to make some decisions now about what I will do next, and very very soon. And all these questions are running endlessly through my head. Where do I want to live? What do I want to do? Does this mean setting down roots finally or is this me still just free floating around the world? Is it ok for me not to set down roots? Is it ok to float with wanderlust? The mystery and possibilities question. Should I be considering settling down, meeting a man, getting married? Aggggggghhhhhhhhhh! It is enough to make my head explode. And I keep thinking why am I putting myself through this now? After all I am only 24 years young, yet with the big 25 (quarter of a century, which my lovely friend Amanda keeps reminding me) looming nearer and nearer, I can't help but wonder, what does fate have in store for me...... Could this be a reminder that patiennce and trust is needed right now? Everything I do and have done is getting me closer to the inevitable next steps.

It is difficult to remember I am but a passenger and surely not driving this bus!

All I know is fate always wins in the end!

Peace and cheers!
Monisha

6 months/ 200 days aboard!

Yup I am alive, well and still in the UK. Phew, I know some people had started to worry, or worse people have waited so long for me to post another blog that they just gave up on me. That's OK, like many things in this world this too can be amended, and having patience is sometimes very important. So I have finally made it to the six month point, and must say it feels a bit strange. A lot can happen in six months, for that matter in a day. One's whole world could change in a matter of minutes, ask victims of hurricanes, war, death and disasters. I must say that I am happy I made it to this threshold without major crises. The question is were there any doubts in my mind? Of course!

The past few months that I have been away from my lovely blog entries, have been difficult ones. I started to feel the pressure of what am I going to do next after this year is over with. I received some news from home that my father was facing some serious health issues though the prognosis was good; I began to feel lonelier than I had in months. My work at the YMCA was starting to...hmm in polite words, not stretch me as much as I would like. To be fair, however, all things weren't bad. I did get make a trip home to see my father (I do not recommend this unless its an emergency, going home and coming back was way harder than I could have ever imagined, but I will get into that another time). Another friend from home came to visit, and I have continued to learn, and adapt to my life in England. Oh, and did I mention I got to go to Morocco and Milan on quick little jaunts. Not bad huh? :-) But at the end of the day is this enough, six months....what have I accomplished? Have I changed lives? Perhaps mine. Made a difference at the West Bromwich YMCA? Sadly I fear that I haven't done any of these things.

But here is a list of things I do feel I have accomplished over the past six months:

Monisha's Top Ten list For the first six months in the UK!

10. Learned how to speak proper English (ok still working on that one)
9. Learned how to ride the bus, train, plane, and everything in between.
8. There is more to England than London. (But London is def pretty cool)
7. How to work with people in a different light, ie different managerial practices, customs, and structures.
6. Some people don't want to be helped, and some just need you to listen. (What a revelation!)
5. A Christmas that was centered around giving to others. (The true spirit?)
4. Was forced to learn independence. Yes I had independence before, but being alone in another country teaches you much more.
3. Had the opportunity to travel to amazing and fascinating places.
2. Gained a better understanding of myself, sometimes I liked what I saw, sometimes I didn't. (More insight and growth).
1. Built warm and strong friendships, that will last forever! (I just know).

The journey is at its half way mark, is it over or has it only just begun? Is the sun setting or rising? Over the next few months, I will continue to think about the possibilities and mysteries that are in store for me. And as frustrating as it can be, I will try to put my best foot forward at the YMCA.

Peace and Cheers!