On March 27, 2017, Fran and Phil Farias presented their District 6900 Adventure to India. Fran's notes are reprinted here.

February 2017 - was like no February we'd experienced before! Yes of course we had anniversary celebrations & travels, we gone to Rotary meetings & events. On January 30, Phil and I joined the D6900 Rotary Friendship Exchange (representing our club) and departed Atlanta to Mumbai India. Visiting this amazing country as a guest of Rotarians vs visiting as a tourist provided a greater understanding of this countries cultures, religions, business, projects and Rotarians and their families.

Our trip included 18 days visiting 8 clubs meetings, 2 district conferences, 10 service projects 10 historical sites, 2 international businesses and numerous parties, meal sharing and great conversations. District 3060 - Gujarat includes 4 zones vs 6900 with 2 zones, 96 clubs vs our 69 clubs. The clubs meet in the evening and hover in the 40-60 membership. We met with the RC of Senoras who was an all-female club chartered 3 years ago and has already sponsored 7 clubs: their projects in out lining towns/villages stirred the interest of citizens who wanted to organize and continue to do the same.

Our group of 6 traveled by planes, trains, vans, cars - living out of a suitcase because we were on the move every day or two. The clubs were on an average of 4-5 hours apart. Gujarat/district 3060 was like traveling Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina!

We found the club meetings and district conferences to be more formal, a mix of men and women, some couples and professional including Educators, Architects, Doctors, CPA and small to large company owners. These gracious Rotarians were English speaking (with hundreds of dialects) quite a few educated in the US or worked outside of India before returning. Hindu is the major religion (therefore most are vegetarian) followed by muslin and Christianity. The cow is sacred and everywhere in the cities, in the countryside, along the highways. Education is emphasized and all encouraged to work and learn a trade (some earning $8-10 day with some industries including meals, health care and bonus to the management team.

We were invited to the local newspapers and were 2 newspapers articles promoting Rotary, the RFE and promoting the international convention & polio works in Rajkot as well as one in Delhi with the polio NID

When asked what are the challenges that Rotarians face in their community and country - the biggest is over population and helping to move their country forward. Roads, Education, Health care The projects we visited were sponsored project done by the Rotary Foundation - India ranks #2 in TRF grans of over $15MM. We visited hospitals that specialized in heart surgeries for babies/children, hospitals for kidney transplants &b dialysis; hospitals & clinics for eye surgeries & cataracts, schools organized in the middle of slums - clean, organized, happy and productive children learning various vocation trades, school/orphanage for the deaf and dumb and a e-club that has started an after school program for children (keeping out of harm’s way of human trafficking). As you know India is now polio free but it is with the constant NID designated usually in January each year but there are parents who bring their babies to the clinic for the drops.

India cultures date back many 1000 years but the influence of it being a British colony with European design of 400 years to many new modern buildings under construction everywhere. Ghandi and his movement for democracy has resulted in the ownership of the leadership and fellow Indians. A progressive prime minister and leadership emphasis on education and health care have accomplished much. We visited temples in each city, the beautiful pink palaces of Jaipur, the Taj Mahal/built for the queen who died & now a mausoleum for both the kin & queen. many of Nepal historical buildings of 400 years were destroyed by the earth quake almost 2 years ago...out district sent container of medical supplies. Many homes destroyed and live in temporary housing. The beauty of the Mount Everest was overshadowed by the overpopulation and dusty city....but work continues and people work hard to make a difference with the poor.

In addition we visited 2 very large international factories - diamond cutting/polishing company and a brass manufacturing company. The stories behind how & what they have done are incredible making a difference with their families, the community and citizens. This was a lifetime experience with like-minded new friends who are serious about Service.