A little over a week in Mumbai and the adventures continue. I have started to get a little more settled in my work environment although everyday I feel lost at times. The city is becoming more and more familiar but there is still so much to absorb. Each day I see something new that I hadn't noticed or that just takes me by suprise. Bikes carrying crates of bottled pepsi to drop off at a restaurant or store. More bikes carrying cases of eggs stacked a few feet high on the back of their bikes again to transport to the other side of town. People here are definitely hard working no doubt. Its not 9-5 its 24 hours/ 7 days a week. Using all their strength to push and pull or carry cases, bags, and boxes from one place to another. Women and men carrying stuff on their head ( I still don't understand how they withstand all that weight). Its just amazing how different life is here.
As much as I express my dislike for the healthcare system in the US at times after seeing it here I am happy with what we have at home. People die on the streets here because they don't have the thousands of dollars up front for primary care. Its horrible.
These past few days have been weird because I feel like Im actually "living" here. I know I am but I mean it's really hitting me that I am. I don't feel like a tourist, granted my hindi still makes me sound like a foreigner.
I have been working on my project at work and trying to do more than sit in an office. The NGO I am working with focuses on providing vocational training to slum kids who have dropped out of school or even never attended school. The idea behind it is that to help these kids break the cycle they need to recieve some sort of education or skill which they can utilize in industry. Unfortunately the kids in the slums are very free spirited and its hard for them to follow a schedule but many have been successful. Along with the vocational training the NGO also teaches preschool kids "balwadis" and feeds them as well. All of these facilities are provided at very low cost to the families but even still some families can not afford it and volunteers or other health workers pick up the cost. The kids are so adorable and so excited to be in school its a wonderful site to see. You feel such positive energy just being around these kids. The NGO also runs a health center which provides health and dental services. Unfortunately over the years people have stopped using these services and we can not figure out why. Thats where I come in to solve the problem which sounds simple but is proving to be quite complicated. One thing I have already learned about NGO's in this country is that many are unorganized and many repeat the same programs and projects again and again leaving them with no progress.
I have been behind the desk for some time but I have also taken it upon myself to learn the community as scary as it seems at times. The people are really nice. I have learned so much about the healthcare which is being provided by the many NGOs and private doctors in the area. Still there are a good majority of community members who recieve no medical attention at all.
I had a chance to meet with a social worker at an amazing organization today its called BECC. They work with street boys, basically boys who have no family and are left to beg on the streets. These kids spend all their money on drugs and then anything remaining is for entertainment like watching a film. They come to a point where they get so sick they can no longer move. It is at that time they are brought to BECC and treated. We are talking about boys who start begging at the age 5 and up. This organization not only gives them medical attention and food and water but also houses them in a shelter and counsels them on their future. The thing with slum communities is everything is looked at in short term. If begging brings them money today that is what they will do. Many NGO's are trying to stabalize these kids in self sustainable environments. Again not very many make it through the programs because they are all free spirited and enjoy their independence. The social worker made a good point about being poor: He said none of these kids are poor. They beg each day and money drops from them each day from people who feel sorry. Each day they are able to get their drugs and are able to ask for tea or food. As they get older they continue to beg and continue to ask for food. They come to a point when they are elderly and do not move as fast. They still beg, money still falls for them but they are now too weak to make use of the money. They get tired and fall asleep as money still falls. It is at that time that the same kids that they once were steal their money and only then when they can not speak are they poor.
These kids and community members have great minds and great knowledge of utilizing everything around them. They do not waste. But when they turn to the road of fast and easy money they lose their minds and instead of building a life they begin to slowly fade away.
Its such a vicious cycle. NGO's can only do so much but the little they are doing goes a long way.
That was some insight into my work life.
My day to day life has been quite interesting as well. One thing I have to mention is that people are do NOT know how to drive. Streets are sidewalks and sidewalks are streets. I still can't figure out who has the right of way but I assuming its the motorized vehicles.
Today was especially bad. Maybe it just was a bad day
situation #1: I take a rickshaw from the train station to work. So im sitting in the back of this thing and we are driving pretty crazy and all of a sudden i see another rick turning while mine is going street ... the next thing you know ... accident. YUP. Luckily no one was hurt ... the drivers cursed each other for a second and continued on.
Situation #2: Im on my way back from meeting with an NGO again in a rick and we are driving again very madly. The rick swirves to the left and all of a sudden I hear a loud thump. The next thing you know a crowd gathers around and a woman on the left is slapping and hitting the driver while a man on the right is cursing him out. Apparently he hit this man as he swirved to save the lady.... it was frightening i tell you. Sitting in the back I was just waiting for the minute my driver was to be pulled out on the streets. Luckily the crowd settled and we continued.
Situation #3: It wasn't much of a situation but the maniac driving continued through the night where I faced many near accidents and sudden stops. Someone really needs to develop lanes for these people.
Anyhow the election is tomorrow (wednesday) so there are huge election buses traveling the city and promoting the candidates. Again today was a dry night and so is tomorrow so not much partying has been going on...
so far its been an amazing experience. Im still waiting for some sort of spiritual change in myself and my views ... I don't know if it is happening or not... I guess only time will tell.
