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Life and Culture in a Desert LandscapeGS09Rajasthan, IndiaGLOBAL STUDIESSponsorAnn InfanteMichael InfantePriceS$3,400Course Length8 daysPost-Interim Experience:Media PresentationDescriptionTravel to Rajasthan from Singapore requires a flight to Delhi. We will spendthe night there and fly the next day to Jodhpur where we will visit forts andtemples in order to learn of the majestic history of Jodhpur. We will alsovisit nearby villages and explore issues including water use and shortages,pollution and gender roles.The next day, we will travel to Jaisalmer in the heart of the Thar Desert.Here we will learn more about the challenges of life in an arid environment.We will also explore the historical temples and forts. Our time in Jaisalmerconcludes with an evening camel ride in the desert.After Jaisalmer, we proceed by bus to Kherjrala where we will visit a localartisan workshop and embark on a desert safari. We will stay overnight at thefort. Next, we travel to Pushkar to visit one of the holiest sites in Hinduism, aswell as a number of other temples and religious pilgrimage sites.Our next stop will be in Tilonyia to learn about the mission of the BarefootCollege (www.barefootcollege.org), to work with marginalized, exploitedand impoverished rural poor to lift them out of poverty with dignity and selfrespect. We will spend the night in a desert camp near Samode. The nextday, we return to Delhi for a brief city tour, before flying out that night toreturn to Singapore by overnight flight.Objectives• Students will be introduced to Rajasthani culture and history in thecontext of life in a semi-arid environment.• Students will explore the possibility of sustainable development,particularly in terms of water conservation and the use of alternativeenergy.• The issue of women’s empowerment will be highlighted throughout ourtrip• Students will be exposed to the environmental, development, genderand population issues facing Rajasthan and explore some of thepotential solutions to these problems.RequirementsDuring-Course requirements:• Interview and make observational notes, take photos to use for postcoursepower point/multi-media report, or shoot footage for a videodocumentary. Display respect for Rajasthanis and their culture. Be anactive and helpful course participant; follow SAS behavior expectations.Pre-Course requirements:• Students will complete and be assessed on assigned reading, prior todeparture.• Visa paperwork. Cost included in the course.Post-Course requirements:• Produce a 7 to 10-minute video documentary or powerpoint/multimediapresentation about water sustainability, or a related issue (forexample, women’s status, public health, or energy sustainability) inRajasthan, outlining the problem and proposing solutions. The reportshould include a list of resources consulted.• Fulfill responsibilities for post-course presentation.40 interim semester HANDBOOKSINGAPORE AMERICAN SCHOOL