Prem Dan Slums

I was convinced by some Spanish volunteers to take a day break from my normal routine at Kalighat and work with them in the Prem Dan slums. One of the volunteers, Arturo, has a bunch of friends living in the slums, I didn't really catch the story of how he knew the families, but went anyways.

Natalia, Elenda, Jorge, Arturo y yo all washed the head of many slum children. Our purpose was to wash all the lice out of their heads. We spent the morning massaging the children's heads with special shampoo, washed with more special shampoo, then combed the hair with fine combs. The lice was super gross. I remeber in elementray school when a child would get lice, the whole school would go up in a riot, sending home letters to the parents warning them to check their kids heads. Remembering the over paranoia of Ameria made me laugh when compared with ever so prominent lice in heads in slums.

The morning project finally was complete, it took forever! I kept suggesting we just cut all their hair off, but the girls with hair down to their waist protested adamantly, I don't know why. Once all the heads were shampooed and combed Arturo brought out the alpahbet books. All the children practiced their handwriting and colored silly picutres. While we had them self-entertained, we took a walk through the slum. Intense, somthing I really don't think I have ever seen before. It was just like one of the advertisements for the "For only a dollar a day..." campaigs. The huts were made of everything, newspaper and thatch, old plastic and bamboo. But what impressed me was the absence of begging. In the streets of Calcutta, the beginning is oh so in your face. But in the slums, there is much more acceptance of their situation and therefore much more happiness. We even saw a pet mongoose!

I fell in love with I think every child. Some of the children had laughter louder than the train station. Their happiness gave me so much hope, reminded me so much that kids are kids everywhere. Many of the girls had incredibly beautiful eyes, which help so much peace and so much struggle. I told all of the kids their eyes were beautiful, "be-u-fll" is what they heard. Many of the girls blushed and ran away. We laughed tons, one kid laughed so hard he fell over and started crying, I thought he was having a seizure, but apparently it happens quite often, a laughing seizure.

I made a great decision in giving my camera to the children, who ran around the slums taking pictures from their point of view (now posted on flickr).

The day eneded with a meal in the one of the homes. We were some what apprehensive to accept the meal, but the family pushed with all smiles to make us eat. So we did, I was reminded of Guatemala and generosity of which the people share.

The slums have a different vibe to them, a completely different movement. It encourages family unity and laughter, two things I have not seen for a while. It felt great to be appreciated and have a return gift for what we had given. The food was very little, but we knew it came from the depths of the families hearts.

The visit to the slums came at a much needed time. I have been feeling the true difficulties of Kalighat. I believe that part of the reason I was sick, was I was giving so much and not recharging my own battery. When I returned to work the first time, I realized how much energy my work takes. When I didn't much I felt it take what I did have.

I have been well. A lot of my work has been taking bodies to the crematorium. It has been a lot harder than I thought. I go just about everyday, I know the security guards there now and usually don't laugh at my floral print apron I wear. The other day there were eight different families at the crematorium. We had to wait with out two bodies as all eight families had small ceremonies with their bodies first. It was quite interesting witnessing a Hindu funeral with 80 people in such a confined area. The smell of incense and burning flesh is very difficult to describe but does not mix well with sweat and tears.

The medical work back at Kalighat continues. It's quite routine now, but has been exiting and full of rotting feet, protruding bones, lots of burned flesh, magots maggots maggots and nasty smells. I have been there helping as much as I can.

The sisters at Kalighat have learned my name and all have a joke. "Joseph, where is Maria?" It's funny the first time, and maybe the second, but hearing it 12 times a day, everyday, it get a little old. But it shows that they like me, yes!

My time is winding down, I have two weeks and two days left of work. Then my travels through northern India and Nepal will start! (More to come later.)

This wednesday after work, I believe Katie, Traci, and I are going to a small beach town to relieve ourselves from crazy calcutta. I believe it will be great! I have not been out of the city yet to at least hear myself. I think it will help me understand a lot of emotions I am trying to deal with right now.

I hope all of you are well and planning your Halloween costumes, I haven't decided what I am going to be yet.

Missing you all.