You know you are in India when...

(adapted from Rachel K.'s Blog)

You know you are in India when... Children say their Yay, B, Cs-- You favor a squatter over a Western toilet-- Its normal to see cows roaming the streets-- power outages are a regular occurrence-- you love bowers, even with a frog-- you find questionable chicken hearts in your sauce at dinner-- you get hairy legs trying to avoid staph infections-- you eat off a banana leaf-- tutoring is more tired than cinder blocks-- there is nothing better than "you don't have lice"-- women wear swim costumes-- drivers drive on the left hand side

More you ask?

Beaded kurtas are considered dressing up-- PB + Js are on the menu for lunch, everyday-- Skype is the new form of keeping in touch-- you jingle everywhere you go (like Pierre) from wearing anklets-- you don't recognize yourself with your hair down-- you respond to Auntie-- children don't question when you tell them your name is Trishraj-- you always carry two things: water and a camera-- "beating" is not something to report to the police-- children reading is "opium to the ears"-- Nice times are sold out after the volunteers come into the store-- malaria pills are part of breakfast-- its not a zit, its a bindi!

Well, I'm all packed up and we leave good old RSO in the morning. It was so sad to say goodbye. Now onto the long journey home. I love India!

Sharoja

I’ve been reading a book called Daughters of God by Michael Wilcox. I came across a few lines that tie into to what I have been thinking about here in India. He said, “Which experiences best increase love, compassion, mercy, kindness, and patience? Suffering creates and enhances those and other needful characteristics. Suffering is all around us. Many women (people) carry great burdens of sorrow; many are victims of evil or live in circumstances that create pain. Some allow suffering to turn them bitter and angry, but they are free to choose other wise. Others become ennobled and refined through their sufferings.”

I’ve seen this over and over again. It has been heartbreaking to learn of some of the children’s background or family life. Sexual abuse is common from living in small shelters. As children of leprosy afflicted parents, they have to see their parents loose fingers or limbs and be outcast from society. Others have had parents die or commit suicide. But these are some of the happiest kids I know. They have hope and I have hope for them.

I’ve seen one woman who was beaten by husband, became partially paralyzed, and has a sunken in eye bring tears to our eyes. She gives what little food she has to the birds and love to all she meets. I’ve seen people with so little and so much suffering create beautiful pieces of art, make us laugh, and teach us true happiness.

I have told people before, but I am excited when in the next life I get to talk with these people again. When we can communicate without language barriers. I want to hear their wise words and mortal experiences. They will have become so strong, patient, and compassionate. I have seen extremes in suffering as I’ve met some of the noblest humans.

Michael Wilcox continued on to say, “When we see others suffer, compassion, empathy, and love are born in our hearts. When I think of India I think of love. I love the children and their beautiful black eyes, I love those with leprosy and serving them, I love the locals I got to talk with, I love the volunteers I have spent the last two plus weeks with. I’m grateful for the suffering I have seen and the characteristics it has pulled from me. I hope to keep these memories with me always.

Bharatapuram

We did medical again! This time at the Old Folks Home in the nearby colony. Don’t cringe, that is the actual name. I did wound care and wrapping with Kirsten and the Indian nurse again. I love medical days. I’ve had to learn to communicate with the patients without any words. The bobble head is usually the key. I’m not going to lie, I am pretty good at it. It got bad when we ran out of gloves. So, we just alcohol swabbed our gloves in between patients… it felt like a bad idea, but it was the best we could do.

The other members of the group washed feet, took blood pressures, and checked blood glucose levels. It was a busy morning with lots of people meeting with the doctor. The patients are so cute, especially when they try to butt in line or bring their little old shampoo bottles to refill with ointment. RSO has it set up that for medical care and supplies they pay 2 rupees (about 5 cents). That way it is not a free handout and but is still affordable to these people. Going along with what we learned in school about humanitarian work, when people pay for things, they take better care of it and themselves.

Yesterday I had to be “mean auntie”. We did talent classes again and this time I did bead bracelets. It didn’t even cross my mind that instead of sitting down and putting beads on a bracelet I would be monitoring the supplies. From the little girl's upbringing, they were taught to take as much as they can get. I had to always be checking their water cups and skirts for extra supplies- beads and string. They were constantly begging for more and had no desire to actually sit down and make jewelry. I didn’t actually care if all the beads were gone, but I don't think its okay to teach them to sneak and hide. They have been taught better here at school. It was a hard and stressful class. One girl cried for 15 minutes when another girl turned in her whole box of beads and string. Coaching taught be that sometimes I have to be stern…. or mean auntie.

We stopped at the junction yesterday, a small shopping center close to the hostel. I followed another girl's lead to buy handmade “sweets”. After eating them, we heard how they were made (with bad water, dirty hands, around flies). All night we were worried that we would be sick or get worms. So far, so good though.

Its crazy how fast time has gone. Only one more work day! It will be sad to say goodbye to all the children. I’ve just decided to pretend I am coming back.

Shakti

Shakti= power.

It was the last day for construction and we "left it all in India". The kids have a patch of grass they have to run around if they misbehave. Today the goal was to build a track for them. Thus, we had to dig the inside and the outside border to lay bricks in. It was sooo hot and exhausting. We are just hoping it does not rain and fill back in! And im pretty sure we will all have blisters.

The kids were so funny this afternoon. I taught them how to do headstands and most of them just fell on their backs. I throw one kid up and he jumps on my shoulders. Martha has to spot him or else he might fall to his head. We had one close call...

delhi

I am back from Delhi and it was a blast! The journey was long (12 hours between the bus ride to the airport, flight, and bus to Aggra) for the three days we were gone. But, it was worth it.

In Delhi we first went to where Ghandi spent the last couple months of his life before he was assassinated. The place was beautiful and I need to learn more about Ghandi. The best part of the day was the rickshaw ride. A man peddled Brittani and I around in a little carriage. It was the equivalent of two dollars for a two hour ride. He took us through Old Delhi where we got to see thousands of people, shops, spices and bling. We also got a tour of a Jainism temple. The rickshaw ride was wild and we got hit (slight bumps) a few times. These scrawny guys are pretty strong to bike us around for so long. I loved the mayhem of the streets. Then… PIZZA HUT! Best cheesy bread I have ever had. Hands down.

We woke up at 5 am to go to the TAJ MAHAL. The plan was to get there before it was too hot or crowded. The tour guide told us all about the great love story/ history. It is basically the country’s symbol of love. “We have our Romeo and Juliets… but this overshadows them all.” The king built the Taj when his second wife died to honor and show his love for her. It look 17 years to build and is all marble. All the design is inlaid stone so that the beauty would last. They are now both buried in it. Its quite the sight to see. We took tons of pictures and had to fight the Indian tourists to get one on the “Princess Diana bench.” And no, we didn’t get our shoes stolen like on Slumdog Millionaire.

Aggra Fort was our next stop before rushing back for breakfast. During our break, some of us bought “swim costumes.” Yes, swim costumes. They are their take on bathing suits- equipped with a skirt, high neck, and shorts. Mine is bright colors and not flattering at all. I’m going to have to wear it back at the Tennis Club.

We did some shopping at Max’s and went to a bazaar. I got henna done on my foot and love it! The only problem was I couldn’t put my flip flops back on or it would get ruined. Thus, I walked around the dirty streets of the bazaar barefooted. I figure I’m building up my immune system. We ended the night at the disco tech. Drunk Indian dancers are hilarious.
Before the long journey back to Rising Star, we rode an ELEPHANT! The elephant was huge with spotted ears and really long hairs. It had a basket on its back that held four people. To get in, the elephant had to be kneeling and we climbed onto its back with a ladder. It was pretty random to just be riding an elephant down the street. A crowd of locals were watching us. Our director said it was probably the one elephant in Aggra.
So the trip was a success! It was crazy going from the one extreme (a leper colony) to the other (“the nicest hotel in India).”

auntie

Today was a pretty routine day of tutoring. So other exciting news:
1. I decided Nutella can't count as my protein and started eating scrambled eggs.
2. Play time today was a dance party. The kids were SO happy and I loved watching them bust some moves.
3. My roomates Michelle and Brittani tried on saris with me today. The houseladies helped us and it still took 15 mins. But they are beautiful!
4. We are leaving for Delhi in three hours! I can't wait to see the Taj and ride an elephant.

Wallajabad

"If you saw people as they saw themselves, your shyness would turn to compassion"

So, I can't get my photos to upload anymore. You all know how good I am with technology, so it might be a couple days. Until then, here is what I've been up to:

Its been raining and was nice and cool all day. I even had goosebumps! I never thought that would happen here. And, I finally got to do medical work today. We went to the colony Wallajabad. The "bad" came from being across the road from a cemetary. No one wanted that land, so they sent leprosy patients there. Another boy and I drilled Dr. Kumar on out way out there, so I'm an expert now!

There were about 4,000,000 people in India with leprosy in 2007. That number is dropping from the elderly dying and the younger ones being cured. The reason not all get treatment for the curable disease is they are uneducated. Dr. Kumar said they started showing pictures of the early signs of leprosy and instructions to get care during the preview at movies. Good idea! It takes two years before the nerve damage begins which is the irreversable part. Leprosy patients live longer than other indians (we cared for a 93 yr old woman today) which is a curse for them. They live while they lose their job, dignity, family, and function.

Another nurse and I did the dressing changes today. After their feet or other body part was washed, we cleaned it, cut off all white or calloused skin often with a blade, put ointment on it, and bandaged it up. All of the sterile field I learned in nursing was thrown out the window. Flies were everywhere and we were in the dirt. At least we had gloves. The work was really neat and I enjoyed doing it. The saddest part of the day was taking care of one man who was blind and had 4 different ulcers we worked on. 40 flies were constantly on him and he could not feel it. They would all gather in his wounds. Poor guy. And other man had not been able to close his eyes for the last 40 years. Can you imagine?

On a happier, less graphic note- for playtime we had a waterballon fight. It turned into everyone just dumping buckets of water on each other. The kids loved it and so did we. I know I am not supposed to have a favorite kid, but I do. His name is Peter (well that is his Christian name, his real name is too hard to pronounce). Every night he picks a book and cuddles up in my lap to read to me. Hes a pretty good reader too!

I'll work on getting photos up because I had some really great ones!!