Professors Rennison Lalgee and Sam Echevarria-Cruz stand in front of the Shore Temple in Mahabalipuram.

ACC sociology professors Rennison Lalgee and Sam Echevarria-Cruz recently spent three weeks in Tamil Nadu, India, to develop a sociology course on social problems in India and an associated study abroad program. Throughout the trip, the men blogged about their experiences.

What did you take away from this trip?

Rennison: I’ve seen India go through many changes. India has gotten much more expensive, and one can now easily find many of the superficial, material effects of economic globalization on Indian society, such as obesity, increased wealth, and more traffic, to name a few.

Sam: I was personally challenged as a visitor to a very different cultural milieu than Texas. I now have a better feel for the ebb and flow of the urban and rural life in this part of the world. I saw people, animals, and buildings juxtaposed in ways that I had never seen before.

What were your most memorable experiences?

Rennison: Sharing my visit to India with a friend and colleague is what I will take away from this trip. I’ve known many of the people we met on this trip for 15 years. The “newness” of India can never be recreated but seeing India through new eyes is exciting!

Sam: My most memorable experiences include seeing the intensity of poverty in some areas and wealth in others, the influence of Western media and culture, and the breathtaking ancient heritage sites and religious artifacts. Plus, the pride and wisdom found in the people of this culture – the Tamil people are warm, welcoming, and full of vigor.

What was the experience of blogging like for you?

Sam: Although it was “work” in both the material sense of finding adequate Internet access as well as mental work (thinking about how to categorize and share the thousands of thoughts, images, and mental/emotional/physical explorations going through your head), it was well worth the time and energy. We now have a record of what we went through, and others can share in that experience.

What would you like others at ACC to know about India?

Rennison: As a sociologist, I’ve always found India to be the best cure for a dormant or malfunctioning “sociological imagination.” One does not only visit India – one experiences it. To think that ACC could soon provide their students such an experience is beyond exciting!

Sam: We are working very hard to make sure ACC students can experience the same things we did while learning about how the people of Tamil Nadu approach and implement ideas and methods for dealing with their social needs.

For more information on International Programs, including study abroad, visit austincc.edu/intstudy.