Hunder Valley |
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Working with Mother Teresa
My phone alarm rang at 5 AM in the morning Saturday. I hurriedly got dressed and headed to the Mother Teresa House, a 20 minute walk from my hotel on Sudder St. I sat down in the small chapel to listen to mass that the sisters of the house attend every day. After a quick breakfast of bread, banana and chai tea I headed with a group of girls to Shishu Bhavan House. This house only accepts female volunteers.
The group of girl volunteers, who were mainly new, and I sat down on the mat to hold and play with the children. Many of them could move without assistance, some did not react to the attention, most could not talk, and half could not even eat by themselves. Many of the children were not potty trained and wore cloth diapers, which we changed often throughout the day.
We placed the children in small chairs with restraints to feed them their breakfast. It was a struggle to get the children to open their mouths, and when they finally did, they often spit the food back out. Many cried and fought as we fed them, other just sat silently.
After breakfast we took the children out to play in the small playground outside the house. Some of the children excitedly played with the equipment, others you must hold upright as they sat on the swings, and many seemed oblivious to what was happening around them.
Mother Teresa's Grave |
After outside playtime we fed the kids and afternoon snack and water from a metal spoon. We sang songs and played with the children. We took a break to drink tea and eat crackers.
We then put the children to bed, changing their diapers if needed and covering them with talc powder to keep them dry in the hot humid Calcutta weather. I noticed a small girl in a bed near the window, she was not mobile and did not have the opportunity to go outside like the other children. She was wide awake and her eyes were shifting around. Her head was as large as a soccer ball but her body was so small. Her swollen head was supported by pillows and bandaged. I took her small hand as I sat by her bed. She squeezed my fingers as her eyes shifted around the room. She did not seem in pain but it was definitely painful to see her in her condition. I sat with her for a while just holding her hand.
The sisters asked us to leave for a lunch break. I was reluctant to leave the young girls side and let go of her small hand.
I joined a couple volunteers from Mexico at a small restaurant on Sudder Street before heading back to Shishu Bhavan.
We first changed diapers then sat with the children on the mat to play. Many of them could barely move their arms or legs and would just lay on the mat. We would help them move their arms and sit them up. A physical therapist who specialised in Cerebral Palsy came to help some of the children.
After play-time, we again struggled to feed the children. The young boy I was feeding did not like to open his mouth but with some patience and some coaxing I was able to feed him everything that was on the plate.
Again we played with the children. I realized how much the children wanted to be loved. They would grasp at me and as I held them in my lap they hugged me. I helped a little girl stand up, she enjoyed standing and when I lied her back on the mat to leave she began to cry. It was hard to to leave the children but I am sure to visit again.
Please visit http://www.motherteresa.org/ to learn more about the services offered at the centers in Calcutta and http://www.motherteresa.org/07_family/Volunteering/v_cal.html to see how to volunteer.
Friday, June 22, 2012
Gods in Cars and Giant Trees
Giant Banyan trees are the largest trees in the world |
I landed in Calcutta yesterday in the early morning off a train from Varanasi. Howrah Station is a large busy train terminal. When you step out of the station a line of yellow 50's style taxis are waiting for passengers. I decided to change it up a bit, ignoring all the pushy taxi drivers, I crossed the street to the ferry terminal. I hopped on a ferry and crossed the Ganga river for just 4 INR (8 cents). From the ferry terminal I hired a taxi to Sudder St.
Carts with small Jagannatha |
Sudder St is the tourist hub of Calcutta. Near the New Market its a great place to buy cheap jewelry, cloths and souvenirs, but beware of the many sales agents that will literally follow you around the market trying to help you find what you need, but really be taking you to their friends shops.
Belur Math |
Flower Market |
From Belur Math we jumped on a ferry to another Hindu temple called Dakshineshwar Temple further down the Ganga river. We arrived in the middle of the Aarti Ceremony during the Ratha Yatr (car festival) were they celebrate the god Jagannatha. All the little kids where dragging around little carts (all different sizes) with small Jagannatha statues inside. In return for a rupee coin the kid would give you an offering from their small cart and the chance to pull the cart along the street for a couple of feet.
Mud sculptures |
At three I was dropped back at Mother Teresa's House to sign up for volunteering. Tomorrow I wake up at 5am to go volunteer at the Children's Home called Shishu Bhavan. I am very excited to be helping out such an amazing organization even if it is just for one day.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Mountains are More Magnificent on a Motorcycle
Sankar Gompa |
Trying out the magnetic field |
To better explore the area my friends and I rented three motor bikes. Its very cost efficient to rent a bike. Its only 1100 INR ($20) a day for a two person road bike. In Leh we visited the Sankar Gompa, which has an amazing view of the city of Leh. A gompa is a Buddhist monuments usually white and geometrical in design. They range in size and usually dot the mountains near spiritual places or monasteries. It was evening and very cold on the top of the hill. To climb up into the gompa you must remove your shoes, the marble beneath your feet is cold with just socks.
Prayer wheels in Alchi |
We hopped on the bike and stopped in the box to see what would happen ... nothing. We sat three on one motorcycle in the middle of a dangerous mountain road for nothing.
Alchi is known for its many small temples and long lines of prayer wheels. We arrived just in time for a Buddhist festival. We took off and put on our shoes multiple times to enter the small dark temples. To enter you must not only remove your shoes, but also duck into a small passageway and wait to allow your eyes to adjust to the dark chamber. The walls were lined with Buddha paintings and in the center was a statue where one could make offerings and pray.
After exploring the town we headed back to Leh, trying the magnetic fields once again... still nothing.
Exploring the Leh Royal Palace |
I recommend eating at Il Forno rooftop restaurant. Its a bitty chilly so bring a coat but their curries are amazing.
Saturday, June 2, 2012
How to Beat the Heat - New Delhi
Currently its 43C (109F) in Dehli. It feels like you are walking into a sauna when you step outside. Restaurants, malls, and families have their AC units on full blast. How do you enjoy India in this heat? Most say go North, but even in hot weather there are ways to enjoy Delhi, just don't forget the water.
1. Enjoy a Bollywood movie at the local theater. Before noon its as cheap as 200 INR ($4) and a small popcorn is only 70 INR ($1.50). Beats American theater prices. Remember that the movies are in Hindi and theaters rarely offer subtitles so read up on the story before you go.
2. Go to the mall. The mall has great AC. Its free to window-shop and there are often good food courts where you can enjoy a bunch of different Indian and international cuisines.
3. Go out at night. Its much cooler in the evenings (90F) but also much more crowded. Be aware that prices go up at night so if you are looking for good deals then you might want to face the heat in the open markets.
4. Join a friends for dinner or lunch at home.
Open auto-rickshaw are cheap ways of traveling but the wind is hot on your face. Bring a scarf to cover your mouth. |
2. Go to the mall. The mall has great AC. Its free to window-shop and there are often good food courts where you can enjoy a bunch of different Indian and international cuisines.
3. Go out at night. Its much cooler in the evenings (90F) but also much more crowded. Be aware that prices go up at night so if you are looking for good deals then you might want to face the heat in the open markets.
4. Join a friends for dinner or lunch at home.
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