Feeling better.. back to work I went!

Back to Mother Teresa's Dying and Destitute I went today.. finally feeling 90% better!  I just want to give everyone a quick run down of my morning.. I got to the Mother House around 830.. I first helped the women (who are able to get around there) scrub the floors.. It was a group effort so it only took about 45 minutes.  Afterwards I went into the women's bedroom and helped them make beds.. Monday mornings they change all the sheets.. this sweet women was having difficulties.. you could see the arthritis in her hands.  I asked her if I could help and her eyes lit up! After that point she took me under her wing and we went around the room changing the sheets together!  She thanked me for the help when all was done with a huge smile!  While the women were out exercising I made my way back to the "medicine cabinet" that I spoke of before.  I had all the medications researched and began to group them by classification.. The basket that contains them all is pretty ragged so I came up with a few ideas on how to make dividers to keep the medicine separate from each other.  ( I have the CCS staff helping me build a wooden box with dividers and a lock that the Sister's can use instead of the raggedy woven basket).  I started doing my exams on the women.  Holy Cow-- it is amazing how excited people get over a blood pressure cuff :)  I performed 10 exams today- 6 have hypertension accompanied with wheezes, rales, and crackles.  The other 4 had normal blood pressures.  I started a chart for each women so after I leave the Sister who I taught how to take a blood pressure will be able to continue to monitor the women.  Around 11am I headed out to the front of the building.  Twice a month locals from the community are allowed to come to the Mother House where I Sister is waiting.  They stand in a cue and wait to talk to the Sister.. they start by giving their name (today I maintained the registry) and then they tell the Sister why they have come.  Most women were ill or their children were sick.  The Sister had a large table filled with medications.. as the women gave their complaints the Sister packaged pills, went over instructions, and gave out the medicine.  It is insane to see!!  A line of women and men (most severely poverty stricken) receiving medicine's (free), without being seen by a doctor, trusting the Sister, and then walking away with a glimpse of hope to get better.  So simple.. so thankful.. really makes one think!?!?  After the last (patient) left I helped clean up and then headed back inside to help feed some of the crippled ladies their lunch!  It was an amazing day!  I am so glad to be back to work :)

I am obsessed with these hand-stitched umbrellas! 

After lunch today Lalit our Cultural Perspective in charge took us to 3 different Religious places of worship.  First we went to Jama Masjid-- which is located in "Old Delhi"  It is the largest Mosque in Delhi which was built in 1644.  When we first arrived we took off our shoes before entering, (most wash their hands, feet, and neck in the "holy water") as well.  When inside everyone turns to the West to pray. If you can read Arabic there are books containing the words of prayer that many will borrow while in the Mosque.  Inside is a cupboard that contains a collection of Prophet Muhammad's belongings.  Unfortunately I could not take pictures.. so what I saw was a red hair from his beard, a Koran of his that was written on deerskin over 1,040 years ago, and his sandals.  It was very intriguing to see the remaining pieces of such a profound Prophet.  

I know I probably shouldn't take so many pictures of random people who are on the streets clearly because they have no home but I find them to be so intriguing and beautiful.  It is amazing to see their face.. I can almost read their life story.. it is seen in their eyes, their hands, their feet.. It is simply amazing!

Next we headed to Lakshmi Narayan Temple-- also known as the Birla Temple.  It enshrines Lord Vishnu- the Preserver of the Hindu Trinity.  Unfortunately we were not able to take pictures.  We once again removed our shoes before entering!  It is very interesting to see the people praying to the "gods"

Our next stop was Bangla Sahib Gurudwara- Sikh Bunglow.. I of course was the "ass" of the group who wanted to make a turban! I didn't go inside like this I did cover my head though!  The word Sikh means disciple.  A Sikh is a person who believes in One God and the teachings of the Ten Gurus.  The religion was founded by Guru Nanak, who was born in 1469 AD.  Guru Nanak and the nine other Gurus who succeeded him, set a wonderful example of living spiritually, while yet taking an active and secular part in the world.   

This is the outer edge of the Bunglow.  The water that is shown is where men wash before, after, or during prayer.. on the right side is a cement wall which contains a private bathing area for women.  As we entered we again took our shoes off but this time we had to take our socks off as well.  We then dipped our feet in water to wash them of evil and dirt and covered our heads (including men) then we entered the temple.  Inside most were on their knees or even their chests praying.  Their were three men (Ragis) who were singing the hymns (Kirtan) around the Sikh Holy Book.  At night and in the morning the book is transferred from a Sacred room on a persons head.  After you are finished with prayer you exist towards the back end closest to the water.  Outside their is a man waiting with a stand.  Everyone is handed a hand-full of semoliner-pudding.  It is made from flour sugar, and butter.  

Myself, Rebecca, Bob, Kelly, and Alex with the Bangla Sahib Gurudwara behind us!

From start to now finish this day was fantastic!  We ended with delicious Tandoori chicken and freshly baked Naan for dinner!  So glad I am feeling better, finally have an appetite, and am back to work!  Thank you everyone for your well wishes and prayers!  If anyone has any questions about any of my blogs please feel free to ask!  Hope all is well! 

Mother Teresa-- My life long dream coming true-- Calcutta

Kelly and I the night before our flight to Calcutta.  We decided to get out of our beds and pajamas, take a shower, and hit the Delhi Haat.. no sense in being miserable in bed..

Beautiful women we passed while exploring Calcutta's streets

 Kalighat Temple.. behind us is sacred water that is from a natural spring.. most people will bathe her first before entering the temple for prayer.  Calcutta was derived from the word Kalighat.. it is a 200 year old Hindi temple that has 20-25 goat sacrifices a day.

 Victoria Memorial-- in honor of Queen Victoria who dies in 1901.  She was the Queen-Empress in India.

Local women enjoying themselves outside the walls of the Victoria Memorial

The brainchild for the Victoria Memorial was Lord Cruzon.. the memorial is to be viewed as a "standing record" of India's wonderful history.. a visible monument of India's glories emphasizing on recent centuries in an unbiased manner.  Sir William Emerson the president of the British Institute of Architects was selected to design the memorial.  He chose to design in Italian Renaissance style. 

Some of the poverty that was seen in Calcutta today.. these children were in rags begging for food or money.. the one boy was cut on his arm (unfortunately I didn't have my supplies) I felt terrible for him.. his arm was full of dirt and oozing blood. 

The Mother House

54A, A.J.C. Bose Road 

Kolkata, 700016

The entire building from the other side of the street.. we arrived at the Mother House at 130pm but unfortunately they were closed until 3pm.. Kelly and I walked up and down the streets wasting time.. we eventually found a decent restaurant and had lunch while we patiently waited.. 

More poverty while we walked the streets of Calcutta-- I am amazed by how these people who have nothing still seem to have a smile on their face!  It is definitely something that I take for granted in the states... I think about how miserable I am at times and I have a roof over my head, running water, a bed to sleep in, a refrigerator full of food, and a family who loves me..  

Missionaries of Charity-- Kelly and I were able to attend Mass with some locals and the Sister's.. This is a picture of Mother Teresa's Tomb.  "One of the most beautiful and one of the most encouraging passages in the gospel are the words of Jesus regarding Faith: Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe."  Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa worked here from 1950-1997.. We were able to go into her bedroom (which is where she passed in 1997), she sat and worked each day at her desk in her room.. never closing the door.  When she died she was said to be praying as she took her last breathe while looking at the cross and crown of thorns she had hanging on her wall.  

When I got on the plane yesterday to travel to Calcutta I realized that it was Really happening.. I was going to walk the streets that Mother once walked.. see with my eyes the poverty that she worked every day to fix.. Coming here has opened my eyes to so much more.. To witness with my own eyes her work.. to feel her tomb with my own hands.. to sit with the Sister's and experience communion.. all of this is worth every hardship I've encountered.  To be honest 3 years ago I thought I would never make it to India.. I lost track of what my goals were in life.. I lost myself.. I allowed my spirit for volunteer work to be taken from me.. I allowed others to control my heart and I am forever grateful for the pain I've gone through because it led me back to my Heart, to my Passion, to ME!!

“I know God won't give me anything I can't handle. I just wish he didn't trust me so much.” ― Mother Teresa

Today is Republic of India Day.. On January 26, 1947 India received Independence.  They finally parted ways with British rule and became independent.  The Liberation Movement that started in 1920 by Ghandi was a completely non-violent movement that ended in January 1947.  


The streets are silent today... the hustle and bustle has stopped.  There was a huge parade this morning that was televised in honor of Independence day.  We've been here for two weeks now.  We've sat through speakers on politics, religion, women's rights, we've had Hindi lessons, we've talked to locals, fed them, we've seen the poverty and the despair, we've eaten their food, shared in their stories.. and now today we get to share in their CELEBRATION of INDEPENDENCE! India is a country that contains 1.3 billion people, has 15 different official languages, 29 states, more than 10 official religions, thousands of different traditions, hundreds of different cuisines, has the wealthiest and the poorest people in the world  and they have still survived in 1 piece as a democracy.  


As I told all of you in my last post I've been extremely sick.  I still am.  It sucks.. I haven't been to work all week instead I've been in and out of the hospital.  Apparently it is an infection that must run its course.  Well its been running me into the ground... I've been moody.  I've cried.  I've wanted to go home.  I've played the pity me game with my parents.  Tomorrow I have a flight to Calcutta and I am mad that I am sick and of course I am thinking why me?  I (we)  spent all this money, quit my job, followed my dream, came to India, and now all I've seen is the inside of bathrooms and hospitals.. well after talking to my mom this morning it hit me... what was I expecting?  I knew going into this it wasn't going to be easy.. that I may get sick.. that the curry is eventually going to be the death of me.. that I will be exhausted and worn out but I will have accomplished my goal of going to India and helping the poor just as Mother Teresa did.  So in the words of Diane O'Donnell I will be getting on the plane tomorrow and if I shit my pants I shit my pants! I will be going back to work tomorrow and if I have to shit in dirt I shit in dirt.  I came to India to follow my heart and it's time I stop letting my ass plan my days! 


I will keep everyone updated on what's to come this weekend and over the next few weeks here... I have to make the best of what I've got! 

“Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.” ― Mother Teresa  

Oh Boy...

Friday the 20th Alex, Kelly, Grace, and Myself took a taxi to Jaipur.  It was a 5 1/2 hr ride that ended up being the death of us all... We arrived at Hotel Amer View on Friday night and so it began.. My stomach started hurting... I spent the night in and out of the bathroom.  Saturday i decided to be a trooper and attempt to see the wonders of Jaipur.. I made it to the Amer Fort where I rode an elephant up the 17th century grounds.  The palace sits on top of the Amer city and it is surrounded by Boundary walls.  The fort's view includes the city and the Sagar Lake (which is one of their main water sources).  Jaipur itself is only 8-10km long.   Amer Fort/Palace..

Our ride up the Amer Fort

You can see the boundary walls in the background that I was talking about..

 Sunder (Beautiful) woman living inside a closet in the fort

 Grace, Alex, Myself, and Kelly

Ariel view of the forts along with the Sagar Lake I wrote about

I made it up without any issues so we moved on to the Jaigarh Fort.  This was a 17th century Army Palace.  It protected the king Mirza Raja Jaisingh (1621-1667).  He had eight wives that all lived with him.  His main wife was Maharani Chandrawatiji.  Within the walls was also a summer palace known as Lalit Mandir.  As I mentioned before Jaipur's main water source was the Sagar Lake.. Camels and Elephants would travel down the mountain side cobble paths 1.5km to the lake where they would transport water back up to the palace.  The palace was protected by gun point... the walls had little peep holes that armed men would stand and guard.  This fort also holds the largest cannon known as Cannon Jaivana.  it will strike up to 32 miles away and it was built in 1720 weighing 50tons.  

After here we traveled to Jal Mahal known as the "water palace."  It was built in the 18th century and is literally in the center of the Sagar Lake.  It floats when the Monsoon Season hits.  All along the water side were vendors selling their goods.  Some jewelry, foods, wooden crafts, toys, etc.. The area was filled with children playing barefoot and bottomless :) so cute but so sad.. 

 Man selling spices for so very little money

 Colorful Bracelets!

 Hindi Man that performed the Haulman ritual on us... 

 Our strings right before our Bindi's 

Then things got bad... We traveled to the Galta Temple.  A sage lived there named Galva.  He lived inside the temple and performed penance.   Galta Kund was built inside the 18th century there were two main temples.. Ram and Vishnu.  There are 7 sacred tanks that feed natural spring water flowing from a rock that resembles a cows mouth.  The water is said to have "curative" powers because of the cows mouth.  As we entered the Temple a older Hindi man who lived inside the temple asked us to follow him.  He took us to a tiny temple where he gave up evil spirits to the Haulman "temple god."  He rubbed perfume on our hands, wrapped colorful string around or wrist, and drew a bindi (Dot on the center of my head).  He then Blessed us with  Peacock feathers (just kept hitting us on the head), it was sort of  amusing.

After all of this I attempted to walk up the stairs to the top of the temple... lets just say what I did next had to be sacrilegious.  I threw up all over the temple.... yikes......... Here is this Catholic girl puking all over a sacred Hindi Temple.  From here I still decided to be a trooper I continued into town were we decided to go shopping.. what was I thinking?!?!  I was so week I basically collapsed on a street corner.  Our driver Jassi picked me up and took me back to the hotel.. I napped for a few hrs on and off and then was up the remainder of the night sick from both ends... at 1am he took me to the hospital.  

I checked into the emergency room... what a site!!  1 nurse, 1 doctor, no patients, 2 gurneys... they decided they wanted to admit me... as the nurse began looking for a vein I began looking for supplies.. she was about to open the needle when I stopped here and asked her for gloves.. Yes she was not wearing gloves.. she looked at me oddly and with a huff walked and got gloves. I then was transferred to a private room.. on the way I experienced a man sleeping in the elevator (odd).  My room consisted of 2 beds, a table and a bathroom.  The nurse didn't speak any english and I was so out of it... I couldn't even sit straight the pains were so bad.. She started giving me Iv's and meds... omg what a nightmare... I had no idea what she was giving me... I kept asking her what is it? what is it? next thing I knew I was on the bathroom floor throwing up again... the pills were in the toilet and she was rubbing my back.  I got back in bed and she gave me a shot in my arm.. (even today I don't know what the shot was, but I am alive).  I traveled the 5 1/2 hrs back with Jassi and the girls.. We never made it to Agra (which is where we were supposed to go Sunday) to see the Taj Mahal.  We stopped numerous times on the way home where i experienced numerous bathrooms.. yuck (some holes in the ground).  

Monday morning I went to the hospital here in Delhi were I received yet another IV and more medications.. This visit was a lot better!  The doctor spoke English, did a full exam, explained everything, and got me on the right path!  I am still going to the bathroom very frequently (I'm sure you are all REALLY enjoying this blog) but I am doing better.  Today is the first day I managed to keep a piece of toast down! Wahhoo and gatorade :) 

I haven't been to placement in 2 days I am terrible sad about it.. I feel like I've come to India to get sick and see the inside of bathrooms :(  I have a flight booked to Calcutta this Friday at 550pm I really hope I am feeling better by then.. I can not miss out on seeing Mother Teresa's tomb, the Mother House, and where she lived and worked! 

Nizami Bandhu and Munirkaa

Headed to Dargah Hazart Nizamuddin Aulia Mosque

At the entrance to the Mosque was this sign.  I went with Yakub and Shelpa who I stayed with my first night here in Delhi.  Kelly came along as well.  As we reached the front of the Mosque we took our shoes off and placed our dupattaa's (scarves) over our heads.  The evening was in Honor of Yakub and 100 of his closest friends.. Yes I was VIP~! hundreds many a few thousands more swarmed the Mosque from wall to wall to take part in the splendor that was happening in front of our eyes.

Nizami Bandhu (Brothers) Sohrab, Yakub, Me, Kelly, Shadab, and Chand.  This picture is taken inside their home which is in the walls of the Mosque.  Their family has been singing for the last 650 years here.  The are of the Sufi religion which is a form of Muslim known for respecting all religions.  They welcome everyone to sit with them and listen to their beautifully sung prayers.

 Kelly and I inside the Mosque.. In the background you can see a very decorative area.. this area is a section for prayer where you enter and are healed of sickness, disease, despair, etc.. it was an extremely crowded and popular part of the Mosque.

The Nizami Bandhu in action.. with what I liked to call back-up singers!  You can see in front of their instruments money on the ground.  The offering is called Nazrana.  It happens all throughout prayer. People will take money from their pocket and touch the floor of the Mosque with it, then they will kiss it and bless themselves, and then place it in front of the singers.  The money is then given to a charity after the event.

Yakub and his friends were of many religions and still there was this overall serenity and peacefulness amongst all involved.  It was a once in a lifetime experience.  I am forever grateful to Yakub and Shelpa for taking me under their watch and inviting me to such a breathtaking night.

 Kelly and I decided to take a Rikshaw home... why not finish our crazy night off with a insane ride home... We are crazy!!  We approached a few different men and asked Ye Kitne Ka Hai? (How much in Hindi) they told us 100 rupees.. which in the states is $2.  The ride is about 15 minutes.  Now Jaggi our director had already warned us that they would over charge.. he said it should cost only 40 rupees which is 80 cents.  So I said no, 50 rupees and he laughed he said NO WAY! So we moved on to the next guy.. same things 100 rupees and my response 50... well after a few minutes Kelly and I were freezing and moody so we settled for 80 rupees.. $1.60 haha not worth the 40 cents huh?  Oh well we tried! This is us in the Rikshaw and the next picture is the driver and you can see sorda what our experience entailed... frightful site!

This is Tanya.. one of my patients.. she is overall healthy.  On Thursday's and Friday's I am with Bob another volunteer working at a children's school in Munirkaa.  The walk to the school is about a 1/4 mile of slum (pictures to follow).  When we arrive in the morning the children are usually saying some prayers, doing some exercises to get themselves going, and then they sing their version of the Pledge of Allegiance.  They finish by chanting Bless India, Bless our Country!

 Tanya

This is the pre-nursery class.. they range in age from 3-5 and there are about 14 kids in the class.

 I unfortunately do not know his name but his is a student in the Creche class (0-3 year olds).  He wears more eyeliner than I think my sister Maura does :P  I asked why they put eyeliner on children and I learned that it is a way to reject evil from children's eyes. Parents will smear a little eyeliner under the kids eyes daily.

This is the non-formal education class.. they range from 6-10 years of age.  There are about 7-8 kids in this class.  These kids go to another school around 2pm built by Vidya (the NGO I spoke of before).  They attend this school from 2-6pm.  Here they are taught more english and math.  It is a private school that allows them to share the resources.

Lambi Saas Lo... (take a deep breath).. this was one of my patients today receiving his exam.  I felt badly the entire time I was up under his clothes he was saying Thandi, Thandi, Thandi.. (cold, cold, cold).. We perform our exams outside and these children barely have anything to keep warm.. some dont even have socks or shoes..

This is Bob performing a mouth evaluation on a little girl.. We are very limited in supplies here..

I ended my day today with this case.. I apologize if I am grossing anyone out but I want all of you to see with your eyes what I am seeing and what these children are going through.. This little boy doesn't own any sock.  He wears the same pair of raggedy sandals everyday.. His feet are covered in deep calluses that have split open and become infected.  I taught him today to always wear shoes, to never go in the bathroom without shoes, to keep an eye on his feet, to use the antibiotic lotion I gave him and to keep the  area clean and dry.. As I stated above we are very low on supplies here.. I cleaned his wounds with alcohol, then rubbed them with triple antibiotic ointment, then bandaged them and wrapped them with cloth scrapes.  The bandage will do for a few hours but I am nervous about this weekend.  I will not be able to see him for follow-up until next Thursday.. It is very sad here to see the pain in the children's eyes.  I pray for them every night. 

I want you to be concerned about your next door neighbor. Do you know your next door neighbor?

 The title of my blog today is a quote by Mother Teresa.  As you read it can you honestly say you know your neighbor??  As I think about it I know very little about most of my neighbors except for 1 or 2.  Mother Teresa had not only 1 or 2 neighbors instead she had everyone she met for she was a woman of the streets who gave all that she had (which was nothing) for other people.

Today I ventured into the House for the Dying and Destitute.. upon arrival I was greeted by Sister Sanis she welcomed me with open arms and a HUGE smile!  She stated she always starts anything with prayer.. She welcomed me into the Chapel (we took off our shoes first) where we said a quick prayer.  The Home was made of marble, it was mainly open, and very bare.  She started the tour which consisted of a kitchen, courtyard, bath area, and a mens bedroom and a separate women's bedroom.

Within seconds of walking into the women's room I was swarmed with Nemastey's (Hello in Hindi), Aapka Naam Kya Hai (what is your name in Hindi), smiles, hand shakes, hugs, blessings, and much more.  The room consisted of rows and rows of beds that contained a blanket and a pillow.  Many of the women were seated on the floor or snuggled in their beds.  It was an extremely cold today so the women were restricted to their bed and not the courtyard.

For the first hour there I painted the women's nails with the other volunteer Grace.  Their eyes beamed with excitement.... I couldn't tell if they were enthralled with the feeling of being Sunder (beautiful) or the personal contact with Grace and I.  As I sat on the corner of Punja's bed (a patient).. I gazed over the sea of hunched over, frail, young and old, crippled and not crippled,  poverty stricken women and began to cry.  I couldn't contain my emotions.  All I could see or feel was the exhaustion in the room, the strength these women have, and the love they have for one another (strangers).

I noticed one of the Sister's preparing medications.. I approached her and inquired about the patients needing medications.  I informed her of my Nursing degree and her eyes beamed with HOPE.. she quickly took me to the medicine cabinet and began asking me question after question about medications. She didn't know very many of the meds (some patients bring some others are dropped off).  As I stood there and stared at the broken hinged cabinet, I began to wonder what we would do in the States with this cabinet.. For the next 2 hours I went through the medications, disposing of the expired meds, labeling the meds I knew, and writing down the meds I did not know (which I've researched already and have written out for the Sister's).  I then sat with the Sister and started to initiate my goals at the MTDD House.  I taught her how to take a blood pressure and record the number.  She informed me that she would like me to examine all the women in the home.  She gave me all the names of the patients.  I have already started making my charts and doing my research!!  I am so blessed to be able to give assistance to these Sister's.

To finish my day I sat with Mary (a patient) and fed her lunch.. Her hands we filled with arthritis, she had very few teeth, and was non-verbal.  As I finished feeding her, I knew their would be no thank you but their was a HUGE crooked toothless smile that melted my heart!  I am definitely where I am supposed to be :)

In yesterday's blog I mentioned the poverty in India and how I found beauty in it.. here are a few pictures to help you understand it through my eyes..

 

 Garbage, dirt, poverty, and despair

 Shanty town surrounded by dirt..

A woman who has only the clothes on her back and this tiny food stand.. still standing, still surviving, still making the best of life!