My Relationship with Tamil, Madurai's Beloved Mother-Tongue
-Julie Edelstein, MA Student in Religion

This past summer, I returned to
Madurai, India to study Tamil language at AIIS as part of my MA program in
Religion. My research focuses on deity possession at a small temple in Tamil
Nadu, and language instruction is indispensable for the field research I hope
to conduct. This was my eighth trip to India, so being in Madurai this time
offered a special opportunity for me to continue forging relationships that
began during my first visit as an undergraduate study abroad student in 2009.
In addition to spending time with old friends and making new ones, I was very
excited for the opportunity to focus on Tamil, a language that I have fallen in
love with despite (or perhaps because of) the many difficulties associated with
studying this uncommonly taught language. I relished every possible chance to
practice my language skills, which although still quite modest, never failed to
elicit a joyful and sometimes incredulous response from the many friendly
people I engaged with out and about in the city. So many people - often
complete strangers - that I have encountered in Madurai have been so deeply
enthusiastic and supportive of a foreigner learning their very beloved
mother-tongue, that I was consistently encouraged and revitalized even in
moments of frustration over the difficulties of learning and interacting in a
new language. One moment from the summer that particularly stands out is when a
smiling woman selling vegetables at a local farmer’s market insisted that I
step inside of her booth to pose for photos alongside of her and some beautiful
cabbages. She even sent me home with free veggies! Madurai will always be one
of my favorite places in the world, not least because of such kind gestures as
this.