Sometimes, our circumstances remind us to take things slow. I have always been very adventurous. Of course that means eat off of the lahris (food carts) and go walk in the sun through the flying dust. I know it sounds very unhealthy, and it is, but when in India, the dirt part-cannot avoid. At least the places I go. I tie scarf around my face to cover nose, mouth, and ears still. Nonetheless, sickness strikes when you least expect it. I guess I might have jinxed myself as I kept telling everyone I have not gotten sick here, besides minor cold, since I came to India in September. I thought my immune system was becoming stronger. Anyway, something made me sick. On top, I have congestion all of a sudden. It gets freezing here. I never expected India -Gujarat- to get so cold. This sickness made me control my diet more as I barely ate anything yesterday and today. Just some juice and milk so I can take my meds. Everyone keeps asking me how I feel. Today, I don't look too sick, or at least not as much as yesterday when I had body aches and fever. The cool thing is that the doctor I went to yesterday was my cousin's friend. He was very good at assessing me and didn't prescribe antibiotics right off the bat like many docs do. I was very impressed. He said we'll treat the symptoms and it is helping so far! I strongly dislike when people over prescribe antibiotics when not needed. The doc did not even take money from me-he said in India, if any healthcare professional goes to another healthcare professional for check up, it is free. This was the first time I heard of this though. but then again, I have always seen family friends who are docs whenever I was sick in India.
I do miss being able to eat whatever I want, but these two days have been lessons on self-control with food. I am fasting today anyway. One day per week to cleanse my body :)
I went to the Red Cross office and urban public health center yesterday. We want to start a mosquito net distribution and malaria prevention program with the communities we are working with here. I only have a week left with Manav Sadhna because I cannot extend my Visa. (side note: I am very frustrated that Indian govt. would not let me stay in my own birth country for more than 6 months). I hate leaving things incomplete. I have so many more assessments I want to do with the malnourished kids in the slum here and create more interventions and evaluate/do follow ups on growth, nutrition, etc. This short time frame makes it very inconvenient I want to sustain this project I started. I will properly document it so another volunteer or staff of the NGO can hopefully carry on with it after I leave. Today was interesting though-went to other side of city with Gujarat Red Cross staff for a mini mosquito bite prevention and mosquito net distribution camp. I got to give out nets, and it felt like I was handing over gold to the pregnant women. This one net is worth 1000 times more than any piece of gold for me.. That is why when someone tells me to go shopping for accessories that are expensive, I feel annoyed. All of that is materialistic. I'd rather spend my time with such projects in the community. The money can be spent better than on some gold chain.
My stay with Manav Sadhna is coming to an end as much as I don't want to leave. I love this place. I love what I do-my heart is really into these projects and communities. If I could stay in India longer, I could've gone to Rishikesh with a staff member from the NGO on a yoga retreat. They highly recommend I go there, but dates don't match up with how long I can be in India. Oh well. I am very thankful to have at least been able to be here. Best moments of my life. yet I just know how empty I will feel when I leave Manav Sadhna, and later, India. It is going to very difficult for me to say goodbye. All I know is that I need to keep working hard so I can come back in the future, and carry on with different activities. My heart and soul has made a home for itself here. I can use some yoga right now to clear my mind.
I just love traveling and meeting new people. Ahemdabad has so much to offer. It is a large city with many different things to offer. I have traveled around here so much that I take newer volunteers to the places and bargain for them! I used to be horrible at bargaining, but now, it is ingrained in me. Places like Manek chawk, law garden, etc. Gandhinagar is also nearby-went to Akshardham temple light/water show couple weeks ago! It was beautiful. I had gone to the blind school-the kids are so bright and thankful. It was a blessing to meet them and talk to them.
The cutest thing is when I went to one of the preschools/anganwadis, the tiny munchins all say namaste and then they started showing me how to brush teeth. Recently, another volunteer distributed toothbrushes and did demonstrations! The kids are adorable. "didi mein brush karu!" -sister, I brushed my teeth! they would say and do the cutest things.
Tonight, friends hanging out. I hope I can eat the food. I have made such good friends here. We are like a family. When I moved back with my aunt, I realized how much I missed spending time with my friends here, going out to eat, going to the clinic, or just hanging out during free times. I do enjoy being with my aunt and cousin. My niece makes me feel so pure and tension free. Playing with her makes life smile. I love my family. I will miss them and all the friends I made here. We'll all be going our own ways sometime soon. Hopefully, God will allow us all to spend my time together. Manav Sadhna just has a way of bringing people together from all over the globe. The people I have met are all so diverse and unique from different corners of the world, but we all connect through service and love. It is a big family here.
Oh and there was a 72 hr rikshaw strike. No rikshaws because CNG prices rose. They are back in action now though, just a little more expensive fares here and there.
Time to get ready for dinner with friends! try some home cooked Portuguese food- hopefully, I will be able to handle it with this sickness. I haven't ate a meal all day, so I need to eat anyway. I need to take meds with food.
I used to be obsessed with TED talks and inspirational quotes. I feel like I am living them now. I don't know how to explain how good it feels to be here. I truly belong here, but I want to further my education so I can be more skilled and qualified to do more for the communities here and elsewhere. I wish I knew how to diagnose, treat, prescribe etc. I feel so helpless when community members look to me for answers and prescriptions if needed. I can assess, educate, screen, etc. but there is his big gap. Hopefully I can have more advanced skills soon, so I can do more for the people I've come in contact with here.
On a lighter note, India has the best Indochinese food!! I just love it here! Chinese bhel-mix of rice, noodles, and Manchurian =heavenly taste
"We need not only a trained intelligence, but also a warm heart. Then a sense of community and a sense of responsibility will arise naturally" -Dalai Lama
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