Another day!!! Wow … these days really go by fast… and I am always on the go. Even when I think there is a moment to rest there is something to see or do. I guess that’s part of the excitement. So much activity is going on right now because of the festivities. Tomorrow is a holiday because its Dusserra , which I believe ends the 9 day festival that had started last week. So I have a holiday from work and its also another lovely dry day… I think Im really used to that now… so basically Im saying that Im a major lightweight now…oh well what can you do.
So I guess I didn’t do a good job explaining the train system. We have 4 lines I believe and the train stations are always insanely crowded. The train separated into compartment which means there is a first class men, first class ladies, and second class mens, second class ladies. For the first time ever I am actually happy there is segregation between sexes. The mens compartments are always PACKED and I mean beyond capacity. Imagine being in the most crowded club you can imagine with no AC and a bunch of sweaty stinky men around you… well its worse than that. Sometimes you are not even standing because there are so many people that you are kind of stuck between two people and lifted off the ground… its bad. Now ladies imagine being in the middle of all that… not pretty at all… on top of that the men here have no shame so you will be grabbed accidentally or intentionally… That is the reason ladies have a separate compartment but ladies its not as not comfortable as it sounds because some of these women are worse than the men when it comes to being aggressive. They will push and pull to make sure they are on that train… doesn’t matter if you are young or old if you are in the way you will get hurt. I have already had first hand experience. First class however is a little more comfortable however it is also much more expensive… so I kick it with the second class ladies.
I took lots and lots of pictures of my little balwadi kids they are soooo adorable… I want to take them all home. Other than when it comes to trains, I believe boys are girls should be equal. Unfortunately this mentality does not exist, especially in the Inidian Slums. Women are constantly beaten and neglected when they do not bear a son for the family. Today I went to the doctor with one woman who was complaining about pains from last night. Her doctor was telling me that she is very stressed because she has had two daughters and the family thinks its her fault. She is trying too hard for a son. One of her daughters is in the balwadi school so when I went back I wanted to meet the daughter. The teacher brought her to me and to my surprise she was wearing the boys outfit, shorts and a shirt, instead of the girls frauk. Its so sad … the parents treat her like their son and are confusing her both at home and in school. A child is a child no matter what color, sex, size, or anything. They are innocent creatures… and should not be neglected or ignored due to something our of their control. I’m trying to talk to the parents so hopefully it helps.
I started yoga today and it was different… I can’t say much more about it yet because I didn’t quite understand the whole process so maybe Monday will make more sense. What better place to do yoga than India… hopefully its not commercialized here yet.
Ta ta for now…
Much love
