My Masi turned 50 on Sunday, but as many of you may know birthdays are most definitely not a big deal in India. So we picked up some pizza and had some cake, but nothing big. And so for my gift for her I wanted to do something meaningful rather than something she will think is a waste. So I surprised her and setup for us to go to visit a school, utthan. This school is for about 100 mentally handicapped kids and adults - there are teenagers and 50 year olds at the school. They teach basic values and principles (listening to your elders, following instructions) along with hands on work based on their mental state. They divided the students by mental status and gender. There were far fewer girls than boys. The ones that were more advanced were being taught how to make folders; others were playing games etc. We gave the kids chocolates and then left pencils, erasers, and napkins (hand towels) to give to them later. It was heart warming to see their innocence and excitement as you could imagine. One guy kept asking what time the cricket match was on. The teacher asked him - who won yesterday - he would tell him who it was, and then say well since the match is done there is not one today. The guy would say okay, walk away, and then come right back and ask what time the match is. After he established that it is over, he started asking when the kids were going to go for an outing and play cricket. Just seeing their innocence and their lack of worry - well you guys know me - it was a great birthday gift for my Masi and left me practically in tears.
I have also made an attempt to start driving a scooty here - a very small two-wheeler. Made a few rounds around the block. The brake needs to be fixed, so didn't get too far, but I got the hang of the balance part, it's the traffic that's tricky. Will keep you guys posted on any progress/injuries/near death experiences that I experience while attempting to become a true Indian ;)
Last story - so when I was sick last week, Barotbhai had the tuition class students at Jamalpur during prayer do 2 minutes of silence to send me good thoughts and wishes and hope for my fast and speedy recovery. After the kids found out about my being sick, one of the girls came up to Barotbhai and told him the next day that after she found out she decided that she will not wear slippers until I get better. And she stopped wearing slippers to school, tuition classes, everywhere. Barotbhai told her today when he saw her walking to class barefoot that I am 100% and she should go back to wearing slippers again. Now if I would have known the first thing I would have done is protest the concept of not wearing slippers - how unhygienic! But I was so moved by the girl's emotions. I don't even know her name or what she looks like (though she will be pointed out to me next time!) but the fact that she cared enough to give something up as a sacrifice and a symbol of her thoughts for me - again totally touching! I still cannot believe it. For those of you who aren't from India you have to understand that these are a group of people who believe that if someone sees you while getting a haircut you'll get sick (I kid you not one of the kids looked me in the eye and told me that today!). The fact that this girl thought that her not wearing shoes will balance out some sort of unequal karma in the world and make me better is a mystery, but a gesture that I will remember for a lifetime. The things these kids do for practical strangers - I wish I had that kind of thought would even cross my mind. I have much much more to learn from these kids!
Once again I am so sorry for the lag in my blog posts! Unfortunately since I was sick last week and trying to play it safe the rest of the week, I have been fairly MIA as far as work goes. But here is what I have to update everyone on:
I did 2 health and hygiene classes - one yesterday with the street school kids (older - 8th to 10th grade) and one today with the boys. Both classes went very smoothly as before. I have gotten my rhythm down so the lecture goes nicely from point to point. It's weird being a teacher - have never actually taught classes or anything before or worked with kids in a classroom setting, but it is a very rewarding experience, though I catch myself often thinking back to my elementary school days to think of how to handle discipline etc in the classroom! The kids are very fun to be around and although they can get distracted, they love and appreciate having an outsider take time for them.
It's also time to get going on the spriulina stuff since the guy running the project is gone until November and we have more powder! Good news and bad news on this front. The good news is that we got the capsules to one of the HIV families to start taking. The other two, Karan and Tejaswari, are proving to be a little bit difficult. They are refusing to take their tuberculosis medications - too many side effects, don't understand the importance, combined with no real supervision to enforce things. Some people are working on some ideas to get things moving with them, but for now we're just focusing on getting their tuberculosis cured so that they can start on their anti-retrovirals for their HIV. But the other family - husband, wife, daughter (4) and son (1) - all have HIV except the son who has so far tested negative. Gave capsules to the husband and wife. The wife was very sweet - haven't met her, but she had someone call me to thank me for giving her the capsules. I told her to get started on them and take them regularly and then we will come by with powder for her daughter and for her and her husband to switch over too. My idea is that if they start the capsules and feel a difference it'll be easier to get them to take the powder regularly and without much fuss. The kids in the street school have stopped taking the powder because it seems there is some sand in it? Looking into that now, so things are on hold with the powder, but at least the kids have been asking about it and want to take it because they felt better while they were on the "smelly green powder". :)
Sorry once again for the delay in posts. Got something "viral." Had a very high fever for a couple days, then just the flu. Funny how here whenever you get a fever they classify it as viral and not viral - as if there are fevers that are not caused by a virus?! Anyways, got a home visit from a doctor (not as big of a deal as it sounds!) and got lots of unnamed tablets from unlabeled jars, which apparently did the trick :) Being sick sucks in India - and it's very easy to do!
Yesterday was the 10th day after Ganesh Chaturthi, which means all of the people who sat a Ganapati (icon of God that looks like an elephant) have to put him in a body of water (river). People bring the icons from afar, making music and all sorts of noise, throwing color, singing and dancing away. Then at the river everyone wades in and puts their icons in. Just yesterday 2 guys died in the river...police were on high alert, but still tragedy cannot always be avoided in unregulated waters. But it was cool to see all of the commotion firsthand! People are very devoted - some walk from afar to put the Ganapati in the water, barefoot at times, thinking it'll give them some type of good karma...
On Saturday we took 24 boys from the Jamalpur class to the Veshan Mukti Kendra. This is an organization out of a cancer hospital educating the public about the dangers of tobacco along with the nature and causes of cancer. There are lots of rooms to walk through which have diagrams, pictures, and graphs in both Gujarati and English going through what is a cell, what is cancer, how does it occur, treatments, prevention etc. There is a room full of very very disgusting pictures of cancers. The information focuses on the dangers of tobacco smoking and chewing since that is very very common in India. The center was surprisingly very professional - both in the way they are setup and how they conduct their informational sessions. They have more and more young people that come to the center since more and more young people chew tobacco in India. They also showed the kids a video drama about the dangers of tobacco. At the end, the kids went to the mandir (temple) that is built into the hospital and had to make a promise to stop all addiction and to never start again. Talking to the staff there it was amazing to hear the lack of education people have for the importance of preventative medicine. The organization and hospital has done many types of outreach to make people more aware and to get them to get regular pap smears etc, but people are very reluctant or uninterested. But it is positive to see an organization that is at least aiming to increase awareness.
Yesterday I taught the same health and hygiene presentation I had put together to the women at the sewing class. They are obviously much older - most married, many with kids. The interaction went very smoothly - they were attentive, didn't ask many questions, but obviously listening. I think it was important to talk to them, because they are often the ones that run the household, and especially spend the most time with their kids. So if they improve their own hygiene habits, their kid's habits will improve as well. I hope to work with these women more and hopefully address any other issues they have as well that they feel they don't have anyone to talk to about.
I also went to the Indian Red Cross yesterday. We went initially to setup a thalassemia camp, but that will not be happening for awhile. So while I was there I talked to the guy in charge of Disaster Management. I told him I am a certified Emergency Medical Technician and would love to get involved. They are going to have me teach a CPR/first aid course with them! I'm very excited to get involved there, and hope to eventually bring these courses to Manav Sadhna's staff...basic first aid and CPR are SOO important, but that importance is often under-appreciated in India, at least as far as I have seen.
Today I went to visit some of the pregnant women we are following in the tekra with Pooja. It was very interesting. There were 3 women, all in their last month. One was very on top of things and prepared; another didn't even know which hospital she was going to deliver at! The one on one interaction was very enriching, and there is an obvious need for more education among the women. It has become pretty clear that educating the women will go far in effecting the entire community since they are really the head of the households.
Yesterday I taught two classes at Jamalpur about health and hygiene, one class of boys and one of girls. The presentation I made was very very basic - why you should wash your hair, shower everyday, cut your nails, brush your teeth. The presentations surprisingly took about an hour, though me and Barotbhai presented together so there was more to say.
The presentations were laid back especially because everything we covered the kids in theory have heard a million times. I tried making the presentation interactive by having the kids teach me what is in the picture and why it is important. Every slide we took a survey of who had done what they were supposed to today - who had brushed their teeth, who had combed their hair etc.
One kid clearly had not brushed his teeth in forever - they were very very dirty. We spent him home during class to go brush. The instant before and after was astounding and powerful - really drove the point home. When I asked the kids how long they brush their teeth for everyday (to try to teach them you should be brushing at least 3 minutes) they responded with 2 different answers: 1 hour and 2 hours. They obviously did not have a good gauge on time! So I told them to go home and watch the clock while they brush, then make it last 3-5 minutes.
I taught them to brush morning and night and the importance and reason for brushing both times. Then last night I was overcome with guilt, because I am horrible about brushing my teeth at night. So at midnight while I'm laying in bed, exhausted, lights out, mouse hiding in the kitchen ready to eat me alive, I get up and walk to the sink and brush my teeth. Maybe this guilt will last and I'll make my dentist proud by no longer having to lie to him...never mind, will never floss everyday so it's a lost cause!
But just sitting down talking to the kids was lots of fun! The kids were very involved in the discussion and you could tell they really looked up to me and what I was telling them - sometimes they need someone from the outside to tell them the same thing they have been hearing to realize its value. I told the kids I will do random spot checks and even talk to their parents! Let's hope this makes a difference...the first step to good health!
One of the girls who is connected with Manav Sadhna and ESI had her 30th birthday this week - she has actually become a dear friend of mine. Anyways, for her birthday gift Jayeshbhai found 30 pregnant women in the slum - most of whom were on their 3rd, 4th pregnancy, not very spaced out etc. We brought them to the ESI center, welcomed them, took their blood to get tested, fed them, and then had a doctor speak to them. I was helping run things when they were testing the blood...and there was this woman who kept switching spots to avoid getting drawn! I finally got her up and in the seat, and had to have her hold my hand in order to allow us to draw her blood! And this woman has already had 2 kids! I can't imagine how a blood draw is more painful than childbirth!!! Yet once she squeezed my hand in pain, I had to admit it must have hurt her quite a bit (at least psychologically) in order for her to squeeze as hard as she did! After lunch a local doctor came to talk to the women. She is the doctor that serves the slum area...really great person. She explained the importance of proper nutrition during pregnancy (especially since many women neglect care after their first few kids), importance of prenatal care, choosing a hospital to deliver at etc. etc. She has worked with these women for many years, and you could tell by the way she was explaining things to them. All of these women will continue to be followed through Manav Sadhna's anganwadi program, through their childbirth and after. The idea is to focus on their health throughout pregnancy, but also try to build a relationship with them to do some family planning education and perhaps convince a few of them to get an operation - which is done for a nominal fee at these hospitals. It was interesting hearing how the system works here - for example, you have to get your paperwork on file at the hospital you want to deliver at beforehand...that's strange to us, but apparently it is doable but nearly impossible to do at the time! Very heartwarming gift for Meghna!
Tuberculosis is widespread in the slum. I was unaware of how common it is in India! People with TB walk around the streets like it's no big deal - nothing like back at home! Anyways, there is this DOTS program - Direct Observation Treatment Shortcourse (http://www.tbcindia.org/) which is now widespread in India and around the world which basically function to ensure that patients take their complete treatment regimen (after people start feeling better they stop their medications, leading to multi-drug resistance). Once a patient is diagnosed with TB, they start treatment at a DOTS center...the place to take the medications is at a location convenient and walking distance from their house, open at times that they are available, and be a place they are comfortable going. There is a DOTS center right across from the community center at the Ramapir no tekro...we met with the woman who runs that center - very dedicated and knowledgeable about TB, the system set in place, and her patients. The website mentioned above is worth taking a look at - this program is incredible, especially for something put together and functioning in a third world country such as this...amazing how far its brought us in TB control. Anyways, it seems like TB is widespread in the tekra, yet the number of cases being detected is low. This is partly due to lack of awareness, denial, and stigma. So, we have decided to try to launch some type of campaign to increase awareness in the tekra. We met with this director who is absolutely brilliant about putting together a drama about TB to present in various neighborhoods in the tekra. This is definitely a work in progress, but I am very excited about this program because it is right in line with my public health background and training! Plus it is a very important issue to address, so I am glad I will be able to dedicate some time to this cause.
On Saturday we went to the Leper Community to plant some trees that are much needed there. It was more of a symbolic visit, but it gave everyone a chance in the community to talk about any pending issues, like the gutterline that needs to be finished in order for the toilets to drain. It was also Ganesh Chaturthi that day, so we were there for the stapna (where the bring in an icon of God in the form of Ganesha for 10 days before they put the murti into the river). And now there will be a tree in the community named Roma :)
One of Manav Sadhna's sister organizations is Gramshree. I just realized I don't think I've mentioned it yet! The founders created it as a separate entity that functions on women's empowerment and needs.
Gramshree has its own building, which I went to go visit last week. It was amazing! It's a 3 level house turned into their central hub. The concept of Gramshree is to provide women with the training and resources to earn their own livelihood and run their families. Many of these women have husbands do not make enough money and often work on the streets with them, or have husbands who drink or gamble away their money etc. Gramshree makes clothing, upholstery, accessories etc...all hand-made. Based on a woman's strengths, they are given specific training to do a particular type of sewing or make a specific type of clothing etc. After they are trained, these women are given work on behalf of Gramshree. They make whatever the product is at home at their own convenience, and then they are paid for their work. In addition, these women get a support system, working with other women who are concerned with their well-being, safety and personal lives. Many women gain more strength from being able to unburden their problems than the actual income.
Gramshree does not run on donations. Instead, they are as big as they can sustain themselves.
It was really great to see their workshop as they call it, and to hear about the over 5,000 women who are gaining control over their lives and their own and children's futures due to this organization.
Once again late on the blogs - sorry guys!
Shravan mahino (Gujarati calendar month) ended last week. For those of you who don't remember, in this month, people in India fast, eating one time a day. I decided to keep the fast less for religious reasons, and more to see what it is like to never really be full, like many people experience in India, and all over the world.
In the beginning it was tough to remember that I couldn't eat, and it seemed like the one month that people would make last minute plans to go out to eat somewhere nice (of course after I had eaten my one time). In the beginning I also craved snacks all the time - ice cream, popcorn, anything, when I usually never did. But that only made my resolve stronger to keep up with what I was doing - that it was good for me to want to eat these things when I could not - just like the kids who eye the pani puri stand or candy shop but know that they very well don't have the money to buy what they desire. Every time I wanted something I could not have I thought of all those people.
The month came and went and I survived. I often felt nauseated or that my stomach was upset. Towards the end I started eating one meal every other day and not eating the day in between just to let my stomach settle, though I think my body was not happy with the weather rather than me being hungry.
I can't describe in words after one month sitting quietly in a corner and gauging what had happened over the fast. I survived, and didn't feel like I was starving. Yet there was this emptiness - this part in my stomach that was saying I'm hungry, but no matter how much I ate the one meal I ate a day, that emptiness was never filled. Fasting ended almost a week ago, and I still do not even think about eating or food until 4 or 5 o'clock, my usual one time mealtime. Yet I know I should eat, which is why I am trying to be better about it...but knowing that people spend years of their lives with this part of them that is never satiated really saddens me.
I am grateful that I got an opportunity to come as close as I probably ever will to living a few weeks in the lives of the poor and needy...I can't say I know what they go through, but I would like to think that I can understand them a little bit better.
The kids in the street school at Jamalpur are all students at some school or another, but falling behind. Some of them dropped out and rejoined, others work while going to school with their parents etc so they go to school more for the sake of saying they do than actually learning. Most of the street school kids are struggling in school and having trouble with the basics such as reading and writing. Maheshbhai mentioned that in the class there are 4 students who are in 10th grade. For those of you who don't know, 10th grade is a very important year in India. They have board exams in March of this year, and their score on the board exams determine which "line" or subject they study in college - commerce, science etc. It's not like the states where you can major in anything you want - basically your exam scores in 10th grade determine what you will do with your life.
Many kids from the slums fail the 10th grade boards, and then instead of taking them again (have to do it next year) they just drop out of school and start working. He wants to do whatever he can to help these kids out and give them the best possible chance at success.
This new volunteer who is here from the states and I sat down with these 4 kids - just to talk. We introduced ourselves, had everyone share information about their family and what they want to do with their lives. Then we just briefly talked about why 10th grade is so important, and why it is important to go to school and have your own personal desire for knowledge. We kept it basic and conversational. But I recommended to Maheshbhai to pull these 4 kids aside regularly. At home we learn that if students are struggling they need to be given personal attention. Here, that's not possible, and everyone is struggling. But I think pulling these kids aside not only gives them some one on one attention and builds a relationship with them that allows them to open up the lines of communication.
I'm hoping to sit with these kids once a week - even if it's just to discuss how school is going, hardships etc. I think motivating them to study and troubleshooting along with having them talk about their personal situation and circumstances will hopefully help encourage them towards taking their boards seriously and being motivated! It's all wishful thinking and I've been warned to not get too invested, but I'm very hopeful!
I also want to do some type of career survey - you know the ones we took in elementary school which ask a million questions and then it tells you what job you're best suited for? I think it's a good way to get the students thinking about various career choices...if anyone has any suggestions, please tell me!!
Janmashtmi is the celebration of the birth of Lord Krishna in Hinduism. It is considered a major religious holiday here (and also an additional excuse for a few days off from work/school). Manav Sadhna put on a show - it was a skit complete with singing and dancing...and amazingly all done within a week of preparation and practicing! The kids were amazing in the skit - they were very excited and into what they were performing and the kids watching were equally captivated. Pictures are online:
http://picasaweb.google.com/108916053679565444730
Side note - I was getting dropped back home (actually had a really bad cold that day and it took tylenol and advil to get me up and out of bed) someone drove by really fast and slashed some water on us. The guy I was with said "tune jhada thai." At first I didn't get it...then I realized that he just cursed the guy by wishing he gets diarrhea! The humor is definitely different here!
Actual Janmashtmi night most everyone goes to the mandir at midnight - the atmosphere was very festive - and it was crazy seeing people young and old all up and energized that late at night! The environment has a very different feel - moreover it was raining at that time as well, and for those of you who know, the night Lord Krishna was born it was raining, so people were extra festive!
On Friday we went to this housewarming party for this guy who has too much money he doesn't know where the throw it...his backyard literally looked like a party plot. He has a minimum 4 story high backdrop waterfall/pool setup. Anyways, we waited for everyone to eat and I hadn't eaten in 2 days, so I devoured the food that was literally dripping in oil. As soon as I got home I realized that I was better off staying hungry! It took about 10 minutes after that realization before I was bent over in the bathroom bringing up everything I ate. And the smell and taste of all the oil in the food made me vomit 2 more times! At that point I realized how miserable it must be to be sick in India - food poisoning is bad enough, but having to basically lay down flat on the ground of the Indian style bathroom to get it all into the hole in the ground sucks! Thankfully I was done after that first round! Sorry for the details - but I hear you need to get sick once in India to really experience it!
Saturday we went to go see the movie We Are Family - I recommend it to those saps out there who like a good family story and cry...I don't think I'm living this one down over the course of this next year!
On Sunday on my way back from doing some shopping my Mama (Mom's cousin) and I got stopped on our bike by a cop. He asked for my Mama's license. My Mama said he forgot it at home. The officer then pulled out his handkerchief and used it to muffle his voice to ask my Mama how much money he has in his pocket! He pulls out 30 rupees. The guy says no way, if you want to do this the official way it will be a 150 rupee fine - 30 rupees won't cut it! My Mama says this is all I have man, take it or leave it...so the officer pockets the 30 rupees and then waves us off quickly before any of his fellow co-workers sees him! I was very mad at my Mama needless to say...but it was so eerie seeing the corruption in action - because it was literally like it is in the movies! Some things will never change...or at least take a long time!
