The City of Joy

Namaste Everyone!!

First I'll answer some questions on the posts before. We flew with Emirates airlines, which was pretty great. The first flight was very nice, comfortable, not too crowded, and the food wasn't bad either! The second flight was just as good, but I little more crowded, especially for us with long legs!! Also, I didn't notice any poverty when we were in Dubai, we were mainly in the airport and at the huge mall, where I didn't find much other than fancy cars and expensive stores! But also it was dark, but I'm sure, like all cities there is some poverty there.

Okay, so everyone is doing great! We had our first day at the Missionaries of Charity today. I think everyone was still struggling with jet lag, because my whole room, (Brittany and Nicole), was up before the call of Prayer at 4am! (I think you guys were probably eating dinner around that time!) It actually don't mind getting up that early when it's for the call of prayer. I happened to go to the bathroom before the call to prayer and peeked out the window and it was the first time I had not seen people out and about, honking their horns, ringing their bells, etc. After the call to prayer, I got up and went up on the roof, where I have found a really peaceful place to journal, and take snapshots of the city without feeling like I'm being part of what they call, "poverty tourism." The crows were cawing and flying around as people climbed up on their roof to hang their washed clothes. A saw people in the streets gathering by the pump to wash themselves, their taxis, brush their teeth, anything. The taxis are really old, and remind me of the ones in Dirty Dancing Havana Nights.

We then walked to the Mother House where we fuond people from all over the world, South Africa, Spain, Italy, France, a place called Michigan?? haha But it was really cool, we had these tiny bananas, no longer than a finger, a slice of bread, and a cup of delicious Chai Tea. We socialized with the people around us, and then we were all called to say a prayer that hung on a wall, it was beautiful to have everyone from all over come together to pray. We then all peeled off and headed to the different houses, for me and Katie, it was to Shashi Bahvan (Sp?).

So we arrived at the house and met some people from Argentina, Chile, and Japan who we would be working with. We took our shoes off, grabbed an apron and were thrown right to work as the Indian Woman called "Auntie!" and pointed to food and a child. We worked with handicapped children all day, feeding, changing, playing with them. They were absolutely adorable, and it was incredible how you can tell love is being spread even with a language barrier. The funniest part was about 5 minutes in, Johnny, who I was feeding, peed his diaper, and I needed to change i, but it wasn't as easy as taking it off and taping a new one on like in the US, it was an old cloth diaper. First off, I haven't seen a diaper like this in real life, only in pictures where the stork carries the babies, but anyhow, the women were busy working and I had to figure this one out on my own.

After this we exercised the children as they layed on the mats on the floor. Kids from the other class were throwing toys, and the forms of discipline are much different and it reminded me of a discussion we had in one of my Anthropology classes about how different people punish their children differently, and not that one is wrong or better, just different. I then realized my soft talking to the kids might not be somethign they were used to, and that probably saying, "no hunny, you can't do that" wouldn' t be affective as the women are a little more strict with the kids. I found this out when I was trying to nicely feed the kids who clearly didn't want the rice I was trying to feed them, apparantly you have to be a little more forceful, because they do have to eat, and they will eat it once you get started feeding them.

We then were told to go to the roof and hang clothes. I have never seen so many sheets, shirts, little shorts, as hanging on this roof. Katie and I were tip-toe-ing around as our feet were not used to the hot cement from the sun. It was a good time to talk to eachother and reflect on what we had done.

We then had a Chai tea break, and later returned to playing with the children. After this we walked back with our Japanese friends to Sudder Street. The people on the walks anywhere are so friendly. At first, I was a little bit weary as to why they are syaing "Hello" and "Hi", the only English words they know. I realize they may want our money, but saying "Namaste" back and nodding your head usually brings a smile, and even a chuckle from them. They are interested in practicing their English and getting to knwo why we are here. When we tell them we are working at the Mother House, the response is always positive, which is a reinforcement that what we're doing is good.

I don't think Nicole mentioned, but last night we went to Kali's Temple. There was a guy there, not formally dressed, ready to give a tour. Slumdog Millionaire anyone? Man infront of the Colleseum, Dad? He took us in two groups, after we got yelled at for trying to take pictures, into the temple, barefooted. I was in the second group, and as we entered, it was like a mosh-pit of people throwing gifts to Kali as good luck. The guide pushed everyone out of the way, pulled me inside the moshpit right infront of the incense and fire, and Kali, and a guy hanging from a rope poked me in the forehead, I had no idea why but all I said was, "I'm sorry I have no money." Later I found out he had put an orange dot on my forehead, which means good luck, and that I can see the future, according to Sam from the Blue Sky.

The guys at the Blue Sky are the nicest guys ever, and are always so bubbly and happy when we go in. They know our eating habits here, and they pick out great meals when you ask them to decide a meal for you.

We went shopping today as well and got some bangles, bags, and all kinds of things. I think the hardest part is walking down the street, because we basically wear a billboard that says "Hi we're American, we have a lot of money." People come up an beg, and it's often very hard to say no, but the orientation at Mother House helped a lot in telling us that we can't because it adds to the cycle. Some people have been giving away their left over food from dinner. The hardest part is that poverty in America, you can simply walk by the one begger on the road, but here, poverty surrounds you, and you can't escape it.

One amazing thing about this city is how everything works together. EAch part and person fit together, like a puzzle, or like threads in a silk scarf. They all need eachother, and love eachother for that. There is no crime that I have seen yet, people work hard for their money, pulling a rickshaw, running a shop, driving a taxi, and it really is commendable and respected by all in the community, where it seems no one would want to take from anyone else. I'm sure it happens, but it seems that everyone knows everyone, and you wouldn't want to be on the bad side of the whole city. It's funny because if we stop to talk to one person, everyone else nearby surrounds us to try to find out everyone else's business, to find out who we are, why we're here, etc. and this reminds me of my hometown, Holliston, which is a small net community, much like this.

I am having a great time, and although children folllowing you for blocks and blocks with their hand held out brings me to tears, everytime, I think it's sometime so important to see, and think about, it's healthy to try to search for the answer to this problem and question of poverty that has been pondered for years, and may never be resolved, but can get a step closer, and that is enough.

Anyways, sorry this is so long!! I hope everyone back home is doing well!! Eevrything is great here. Mom, Dad, I had a chorus of birthday singers this morning at 6am, so don't worry, and I couldn't ask to spend my 20th birthday any other way. Kell, think of this from 3:30-12 tonight, it will still be my brithday there, but yours here, so we're sharing a birthday for 9.5 hours!! Anyways, happy brithday to you too!! Bridge- I love you!! I hope everyone stays safe.

Peace, Love, and prayers,
Kate