Two months ago, my laptop let out a small ping, telling me that I had just received a new email. The subject line of the email read “4 day Residential SamskRtam Family Camp 9/3-9/6/2010, Sussex,
NJ.” I opened it immediately and skimmed the small black print; soon after, I emailed my parents, asking them if I could participate in this residential camp. Their answer was an enthusiastic ‘yes,’ and it was
thus that I found myself packing my bags on September 2nd and heading up to Sussex, New Jersey for Jaahnavii 2010 – a perfect end to my summer and a perfect beginning for my SamskRtam edification.

Jaahnavii 2010 managed to bring together more than 150 individuals of all different ages and very diverse backgrounds. There were some who were fluent in SamskRtam and others who, like me, seemed
to have looks of confusion permanently pasted on their faces. I relied on my knowledge of Tamil to pick up on what others were saying to me in SamskRtam; by the time camp ended, I neglected my Tamil. It
had become clear to me that SamskRtam was best learned in SamskRtam itself.

This was exactly why Jaahnavii was so unique. Each and every one of my lessons was conducted in SamskRtam, and the entire concept of using English to learn a new language was left behind. The result was that by the end of camp, everyone had developed an intuition for SamskRtam such that even if they were unable to speak the language, they were more or less able to understand.

The schedule for the camp consisted of early morning yoga, followed by five hours of class interspersed with short breaks and delicious meals. Following the day’s lessons, there were games, bhajans, and talent showcases. Everything was done in groups, and the level of encouragement and energy was incredibly high. When I first arrived at Jaahnavii, I knew just one person; when I left, it was with a smile on my face and dozens of new friends.

My current knowledge of SamskRtam is not by any means at an expert level or even at an intermediate level. Jaahnavii 2010 did not give me a comprehensive knowledge of SamskRtam but rather a starting point and a means to nurture my interest in SamskRtam and preserve my love of Indian culture.

Next summer already promises to be an educational one for me, as I hope to be a counselor for Prajnaa, the West Coast youth SamskRtam camp. Accepting this position means that I am going to have to learn
quite a bit more SamskRtam between now and next July. Honestly, I cannot wait to do so.

For more information, please visit http://www.samskritabharati.org/

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