Heeeellllo everyone,
Deepest apologies for my utter lack of postings as I have honestly just been too lazy to blog. I figured I'd do the same as last time, and quickly update you on the boring stuff we've been doing and then essentially rant my thoughts on a specific topic. Heads up, I'm rather tired and spacing out on the past few days so I'll just do the highlights in a random order...
-On what I believe was Tuesday, I noticed that one of the girls at the orphanage was limping. One of the other kids informed me that she had cut her foot, which worried me because she had it wrapped in a dirty rag...so yesterday (Thursday) I brought supplies to clean her foot and begin to disinfect it. When I finally got a look at it, I realized that it was REALLY bad. Her foot is pretty swollen and definitely hasn't been taken care of, possibly because there is a lack of basic medical supplies as well as that there are so many children that I doubt she really spoke up and told Ms. Keepu about it. So this launched my newest initiative, which is that we're going to pool together some money and buy them basic first aid supplies (bandaids, disinfectant, neosporin-esque stuff, tweezers etc). Then, we're going to teach the older kids basic first aid so that something like this doesn't have to happen again. If anyone reading this would like to donate to this (seriously, $20 is Rs1000 which can go a LONG way here towards stocking them up for awhile) either email me at sjlinssen@gmail.com and I'll give you the information on how to wire money or if you trust Mother dearest, give her the money and she'll send it to me. If you don't, nobody will judge you I promise :) But it is a good cause and as I will personally be handling all the supplies and purchasing, I promise it will all go 100% to the children (with a small 5% administration fee...just kidding!)
- We finally finished watching the first Harry Potter movie and have now commenced into reading the book which the kids definitely aren't enjoying as much...whoops. We read and they act it out and they're enjoying the acting part but not necessarily the reading part.
- Today we walked to the Tibetology Center...and made it there 5minutes before closing so we were able to QUICKLY see some of the artifacts inside which was pretty cool. Then we walked up to the neighboring monastry and played with the CUTEST kittens ever :) They were probably about a week old and SO INSANELY cute :) :) :)
- When we first got here, we all pooled in Rs 1000 to the orphanage and this week we got to distribute what was bought with the money. Essentially, each child got a tshirt and a pair of underwear since apparently a shockingly low number of them have underwear. Sometimes I think what little they have is so telling of them; for example, the fact that I am able to recognize children each day because they're wearing the exact same thing never ceases to shock me a little bit each day. Or that they'll wear one outfit for a week, then change into another for a week, and then back to the original. And then you look at us, who are constanty wearing new clothes or whining about needing clean clothes (although to be fair, we've all gotten MUCH better and are really very good about not worrying about how clean our clothes are).
Alrightey, getting down to what I wanted to talk about. A few posts ago, I focused on Asha and her situation here and in general. I wanted to return to that as a way of talking about the issue of "servants" here. As I believe I mentioned in that last post, Asha is incredibly overworked and under appreciated. Rajiv decided that he really wanted us to take her out to town and buy her Western clothes (yes, she really did want western clothes, specifically dark wash skinny jeans). We went up to the owners wife (who I think truly hates us at this point) to ask if it would be possible to take Asha out any day or what day would be good. She told us, VERY PLAINLY, no. And made it clear that it would never be an option
It is truly shocking and appalling to see how they treat her (as all help is treated here). She is never given breaks, is underpaid, and sleeps in what is essentially a store room. She loves to sit and talk to us (especially Laura) about life and her English improves greatly by the day (she is obviously incredibly bright).
And the truth is, her situation is like SO many others. Rajiv and I had a long conversation about the problem of the caste system in India. One could argue that there is a similar situation in the States when you have people of 'lower classes' typically doing the type of work nobody else wants to do (janitorial work, cleaning, etc). However, here is the key difference; in the States, hired help is never treated as slaves or property. That is the only way that I can describe our landlords attitude towards Asha; they treat her as though she is their property. The fact that she wasn't allowed to make her own decision to go out with us, or that to give her a present we have to ask the landlords is truly just...incomprehensible to the all of us. Yesterday, we were talking about trying to find a masseuse and Asha overheard us and offered to do it as she finishes her daily jobs by approximately 6.30. She went to ask the landlords who told her that it wasn't possible, which is absolutely incomprehensible because she needs the additional income and she's finished with her daily duties by then. Luckily, I think Rajiv is serious about taking her to Delhi or Kalimpong when we leave to give her a better job and hopefully some more education.
A final, more positive (I think) story that I think will interest many of you. For many (if not all of us) visiting the doctor in the States is an incredible (expensive) hassle. Well, if you're ever sick of that, come to India. Last week I think I mentioned that Alex went to the doctor...a visit with the doctor cost Rs 10 (yes...that's approximately $0.25). His medicine? Rs. 210 or less than a copy of Harry Potter which cost us Rs 399. The downside? We went with Alex to get his Round 2 Rabies Shot yesterday...first of all, you have to buy your own medicine and needles (unsafe much?) and bring them into the office. The nurse is not wearing gloves, does not sanitize you really in any way and isn't wearing a mask (however, some patients in the waiting room were...), and essentially just takes the medicine you give her and gives it to you. So, for anyone complaining about costs, maybe it's made up in the sanitation? If you're okay with iffy sanitation (hey, nobody seems to get that sick from it!), the the price here is great :)
And on that note, a truly great goodnight to all of you :)
Lots of love,
Sara (who is still missing sushi very much)
Ps. If you wanted to donate money to getting medical supplies for the orphanage, don't forget to email me or Mama.
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