Check out my new iMovie video, which I just posted on You Tube.

In the first four days, it attracted more than 400 views.I used my Nikon CoolPix to shoot the photos on a trip to New Delhi, Varanasi, and Dharamsala, India this past March. Here is a little background.

Back to India

My first time to witness India was in 1996. I was twelve and had a mouth full of braces and blonde hair. From powdered milk to toilet paper, my cousin and I packed everything we could think of. “This was a third world country,” my Mom, would warn, packing me up so tight it hurt to let go.Yet the second I arrived and had my first dose of the chaos of India’s interstate, I would never feel homesick again. Instead, I would take  two more trips, at ages 19 and 22. Each time I would learn prfound truths about the world, humanity and interdependence. It was remarkable.

This March, in a local market, I asked our driver, Rammi, if people minded me taking their picture. He smiled, nodded his head “no” and gave me the warmest reminder of why I love Indians so much. From that moment on, I shot everything I could, always trying to connect with my subjects if just for an instant.

EricaAmerica: [er-i-kuh uh-mer-kuh], noun. Display case. Retro clip-art, primary colors. Anti-drug. Blog number 093571168953281965. Place of potential.

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Welcome to my website. I decided a month ago after a series of gentle nudges it was time to add a .COM to my life.

I’m fortunate to have people who dismissed my early dissent of blogs and helped me to make one of my own, either by verbal inspiration or technical guidance. I see this as an evolving portfolio. It will also be a central focus as I evolve my idea of reporting by using video and audio.

I’ve been in D.C. for 13 months and have learned to do a lot of listening, which encouraged me in many ways to pursue this. EricaAmerica, and more basically my desire to report, was initiated by a drive to moderate the political conversation between powerful governments and average citizens. I grew up in Indiana and took trips to India, where I was exposed early on to the dichotomy of the world and the unbalance of power and privilege. There were also teachers and bullies, blue ribbons and C+’s, which humbled me, helped me to grow, and added clarity to what I wanted to achieve.

I hope you’ll join me as I let this project bloom.

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Acknowledgments
For naming me EricaAmerica, thanks Scott Talan.

Jason Novak, thank you for inviting me to write for LifeinTheDistrict.com and for teaching me the fundamentals of Word Press.

Leigh Ann Cairns, for making me feel like I was getting a haircut when you asked what I wanted in a website design. Outstanding creativity.

Tonight I was on the red line to Silver Spring, Maryland. It was about 6:00 and the car was fairly empty.

Suddenly, without reservation, a young woman handed me piece of photo paper. It read something like this:

“We just arrived to this country and my husband is sick…we do not have money to buy food…we do not have a job…please help…and please return card.”

I looked back at the photo and for a second felt my heart tug. Then the questions followed. “What do you mean, “we just arrived?” Where from, and how did you get in? Of course I don’t want you to suffer, but am I responsible?”

I pulled out a $5 bill. I’ve read that being charitable triggers natural endorphins, and after a weekend of gluttony, I thought this would be appropriate.

In the aftermath of the exchange, after she took the photo and money, I really began to wonder how pure her intentions were. Is this part of an organized effort to scam people? Or, is she really struggling, lost in this world and ridden with disadvantages?

There is no way I’ll every know. But as the nation debates immigration, it’s important to make eye contact with these people. We so casually think of the group without wondering about the individual. Langauge is just one small thing we don’t have in common, but we all have families, basic needs and dreams. We also share humility, passion and drive. Oh, and a metro system.