Lots of new experiences and feelings over the past few days.
First I went into market in Sarnath with my host family. They needed to buy a few things for their restaurant and school shoes for their youngest daughter. The market was full of people, cows, dogs, chickens and goats. I even had the chance to cross the crazy streets of traffic. My host Rajan, let me hold her hand as we walked across the road as rickshaws, bicycles, motorcycles, trucks and cars rushed by. Once I made it safely across I felt like I had accomplished a big task of not getting ran over. I must have looked terrified because a few children were laughing at me and pointing. While at the market I remembered a reference in the movie Eat.Pray.Love to an Indian soda called "thumbs up" so I bought myself a bottle. In the movie one of the characters joked that he thought the soda was laced with methamphetamine so I expected it to be super strong. Surprisingly it wasn't too bad; tasted a bit like Coca-cola.
The next day was not as pleasant but it was a necessary experience. I went with my host Rajan and another teacher to visit one of the nearby slums. We drove down the road from the school, turned a corner and there we were, in the heart of a community who lived by the road and close to a dump. The homes were made out of any materials that could be found. In the town the previous day the majority of people there were men but here, there was mostly women and children. I don't want to indulge too much on the details of these slums because I don't want the people of India to be judged too harshly but I will say that I felt like I was walking into a war zone. Although I have seen poor areas in Mexico and the Dominican Republic, this was entirely different.
My emotions wanted to burst out of my eyes in tears but I was there to learn, to document and to observe so I had to take a deep breath and learn how to deal. Regardless of how infuriated I felt I greeted each person we met with the proper greeting of "Namaste" while hands in prayer form and a slight bow to them. Some of the adults seemed surprised that I greeted them nicely but the children's faces would light up and they would show me the biggest smile. By the time we left the slum we had gathered up 15 children to take back with us in the van to the school so they could get a hot meal and clothing. Sadly there were a few children who were not allowed to join us out of fear that they would be beat by their parents. Those children stayed behind to beg for money or take care of younger siblings.
As we drove away from the slums, I felt torn. I was relieved to be leaving the area of emotional turmoil but also felt so guilty leaving behind other children. I wish I had hugged more of them and wished I could do more but I had to accept that taking some children with us to feed them was better than nothing.
That night I cried a lot while alone in my room but I also felt more secure and confident in my decision to take on the career path that will allow me to work with the people of the world that society tries to ignore or forget. I know I will never get used to it and it might never get easier but that will just serve as my reminder to let love be the driving force to keep me going in the pursuit to help others.
First I went into market in Sarnath with my host family. They needed to buy a few things for their restaurant and school shoes for their youngest daughter. The market was full of people, cows, dogs, chickens and goats. I even had the chance to cross the crazy streets of traffic. My host Rajan, let me hold her hand as we walked across the road as rickshaws, bicycles, motorcycles, trucks and cars rushed by. Once I made it safely across I felt like I had accomplished a big task of not getting ran over. I must have looked terrified because a few children were laughing at me and pointing. While at the market I remembered a reference in the movie Eat.Pray.Love to an Indian soda called "thumbs up" so I bought myself a bottle. In the movie one of the characters joked that he thought the soda was laced with methamphetamine so I expected it to be super strong. Surprisingly it wasn't too bad; tasted a bit like Coca-cola.
The next day was not as pleasant but it was a necessary experience. I went with my host Rajan and another teacher to visit one of the nearby slums. We drove down the road from the school, turned a corner and there we were, in the heart of a community who lived by the road and close to a dump. The homes were made out of any materials that could be found. In the town the previous day the majority of people there were men but here, there was mostly women and children. I don't want to indulge too much on the details of these slums because I don't want the people of India to be judged too harshly but I will say that I felt like I was walking into a war zone. Although I have seen poor areas in Mexico and the Dominican Republic, this was entirely different.
My emotions wanted to burst out of my eyes in tears but I was there to learn, to document and to observe so I had to take a deep breath and learn how to deal. Regardless of how infuriated I felt I greeted each person we met with the proper greeting of "Namaste" while hands in prayer form and a slight bow to them. Some of the adults seemed surprised that I greeted them nicely but the children's faces would light up and they would show me the biggest smile. By the time we left the slum we had gathered up 15 children to take back with us in the van to the school so they could get a hot meal and clothing. Sadly there were a few children who were not allowed to join us out of fear that they would be beat by their parents. Those children stayed behind to beg for money or take care of younger siblings.
As we drove away from the slums, I felt torn. I was relieved to be leaving the area of emotional turmoil but also felt so guilty leaving behind other children. I wish I had hugged more of them and wished I could do more but I had to accept that taking some children with us to feed them was better than nothing.
That night I cried a lot while alone in my room but I also felt more secure and confident in my decision to take on the career path that will allow me to work with the people of the world that society tries to ignore or forget. I know I will never get used to it and it might never get easier but that will just serve as my reminder to let love be the driving force to keep me going in the pursuit to help others.
Hi Lisa, I love your blog!! You write so well, I feel like I am there with you! May God always watch over you, the children and their families. You are a true Angel! Sincerely, Sandra, Tom and Monty.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Sandra, Tom and Monty :) India is full of surprises and a mystical place :)
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DeleteHi Lisa! I cannot believe you will be home in two and half weeks! Your family must be so happy that you are almost home! You are in our prayers. Sincerely, Sandra, Tom and Monty.
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