When the trafic is too heavy for even rule 1, follow an Indian across the road. Make sure that the Indian will always be the first to be hit by any cars, buses, auto rickshaws, rickswhaws, buses or trucks. This may involve standing in the middle of a lane on a major road but don’t worry, Indian traffic doesn’t really work in lanes anyway.
And it’s you when I look in the mirror
And it’s you that makes it hard to let go
Sometimes you can’t make it on your own
Sometimes you can’t make it
Best you can do is to fake it
Sometimes you can’t make it on your own
I really should eat breakfast tomorrow. I’ve skipped it the past few days, as I haven’t had nice bread.
I think I am being a bit silly. Oh well M-Block market is open today. I’ll go buy some real bread after work.
If an oncoming vehicale has less then four wheels, ignore it and just walk.
Bob Dylan is a genius.
India is breaking my heart, slowly and surely. My own impotence when it comes to dealing with the horrendous poverty facing so many people in Delhi. Did you know that 40% of children in India live under India’s poverty line of 10Rs a day? (This is about $ AUD 0.3.) Now there are 200 million children in Delhi so that is 80 million children in this extreme poverty.
Everyday moving through Delhi I see a small number of these children and other adults begging in the street. Trying to sell various wares at traffic lights. Every time thus far I have ignored the calls for help. The cries for help from mothers. The hello sir’s of the destitute children caked in dirt and the tapping of amputees on trolleys.
Somehow I ignore the cries of my heart to just give them money. Am I some kind of monster?
My mind rationalises and says that I am doing my part. I am here working on a project that will make a significant impact in communities throughout Nagaland. I am here working for a group that every day helps thousands of people throughout India. Isn’t that enough. Surely that should be enough to sooth my conscious.
What I am doing is not enough. Extreme poverty is not acceptable. There is no reason for it to remain other then greed. My heart should be feeling the pain of each individual.
How though can one live with such pain. Should I close my heart? After my first week in India I can already feel my heart starting to grow harder, cynicism reigning. Treating strangers with distrust. The problem is people see the colour of my skin and know I’d make a good mark. It’s amazing the amount of ruppies rickshaw drivers try to con out of me. I am so wealthy comparatively here. From my experience in India it is a good survival tactic. I am not sure about it as a living one?
What would Jesus do? More importantly what would Jesus like me to do?
Then you hear the stories from locals about the begging rings where the beggars are actually in the employee of masters whom take most of the money they raise. Is there no end to the exploitation of the poorest people.
Today I went and brought some books. I think that one of the key things for me is to have some understanding of the people and the causes of these problems.
To help me in that I purchased the following books:
1) Arundhati Roy’s An ordinary person’s guide to Empire. This should help me understand the politics that lead to the current situation.
2) If I were rain. A book of photos celebrating the spirit of India’s disadvantaged urban child. This should help me to see the beggars with a more human face.
3) These Hills Called Home Stories from a War Zone by Temsula Ao. This book should teach me about the pain of the Naga people who I am going to be serving on the hospital project.
I want to move beyond pity to love. I guess my other next step is learning Hindi. I need to be able to treat people who are not rich with respect.
One week of lunch and dinners out in a row is about my limit for eating out. I am getting rather sick of it. I can’t wait to get my own place.. Plus eating out alone whilst fun once in a while quickly loses it’s novelty.
In the mean time got dinner at a friends house tommorow that should be nice..
I hope I never grow comfortable with the disparity in this world. Delhi is so full of it.
I took a few rides on the Delhi Metro today.. Lot’s of fun.
I am sick of never being up the top of Blogfeed. So I have modified my blog to be back on Sydney time. Now I should be on top
Just had a good project meeting. I am feeling all inspired. The idea of reviving a project that for over 15 years failed to be completed. The mission of getting this hospital up and running by the 1st of October is something the team is very motivated to do. It’s crucial to do it to gain the trust of the people and begin to serve the people.
Quality affordable health care is so important. It’s nice working on a project that has serving the poor as it’s focus. The patient who gets a free charitable treatment will get the same medical treatment as a private patient.
Looks like I will have to do a little house hunting soon..
Wes (the guy who I am working with) and I need to setup a base camp in New Delhi. We’re looking to get a three bedroom apartment.
Should be fun. Never really done it before..
Anyone who comes and visits me whilst I’m in Delhi I will buy a Dosa or some Momos each day I am with them.
It’s beginning to look like a might be based in Delhi for some time now.
It’s a pretty fun place to live filled with all the India colour smells and visuals, whilst having many of the comforts of home at nice cheap prices. I still need to sort out my medium term accommodation.
I am still getting on well with my fellow IT guy. We have great discussions getting carried away with all kinds of uber cool geek things we can do for the hospital.
It’s weird it’s not even a week since I left home. It feels like so much longer.
Maybe I need a holiday.
Is it just me or is blogfeed not quite working properly at the moment..