Tata Kolkata - bye bye Calcutta!
Today is my last day in Kolkata... Such a strange feeling! How could time pass so quickly?
But now, finally, I am on holiday. I am just doing a quick stopping by the clinic to give some thank-you-and-goodbye-gifts and to return my SIM-card (yep, from now on I will only use the Swedish number again!).
My last working day was in Dhaki, which meant 3 hours (one way) of sitting in the car and 1 hour of work... Well well it was a good last day and I got to have my favorite breakfast (poroda/paratha with chickpea soup and omelett with a cup of chai tea). Yesterday I went to see the historical sights of Kolkata that I yet didn't see and in the evening we had a big dinner with all the volunteers. Soooo much food! And since almost everyone around me spoke Italian with each other, I ended up eating constantly... erhm well well.
We had a very severe case in the Indoor clinic the other day. A pretty girl with paralyzed legs since she was 5 years old had got severe diarrhea and fever. She was in a very bad shape, and on her buttocks she had a bid wound from sitting constantly in a rough and hard wheel chair. Most probably this huge wound was infected and now she had sepsis! Finally they transferred her to a big hospital - the Indoor Clinic really doesn't have the ability to take care of severe cases like this.
It's incredible all the things I have seen here, so much scary things and severe infections in patients, I haven't told you more than one percentage of what I have seen. Now it's time to go and take care of my self instead of others, and meanwhile I am going to try to digest all this. I really look forward to get some space and quality time with myself now, and to be able to relax a bit. (Even though the work is not stressful the environment in Kolkata is very stressful and it is impossible to relax).
I wont be able to write as often now since I will go to a remote beach and later on to the Ashram for 2 weeks. But I'll try to keep you updated somehow :)
Tata!
söndag 31 oktober 2010
torsdag 28 oktober 2010
Malaria falciparum!
No, dear reader, I don't have malaria (!) but today I went to one of the "proper" hospitals in Kolkata and there I observed a malaria patient. The patient was not in a very bad shape, but had petechial spots all over his body and his spleen and liver was enlarged.
It's not so much about seeing a malaria patient, but more to see that in fact there are cases of malaria in Kolkata and it's not very uncommon! So right now, I'm pretty happy I decided to take the best anti-malaria drugs available on the market. I have sooooo many mosquito bites - and just as many "other" bites that I don't know where they come from (bed bugs?) but they hurt and itch like hell anyway... And the mosquitoes are so aggressive here! Even though I put mosquito repellent and stay in proximity of fans all the time I get bitten :(
Well well. I went to the hospital together with one of the other volunteers to see what a normal indian hospital looked like. It reminded me about the hospital in Colombo, Sri Lanka, which basically means a very spartan, dirty and worn out place with wards containing 30-40 beds each with no privacy among the patients. The doctors were however very nice and friendly.
One of the patients in the pediatric ward had been in a motor cycle accident, and she had several fractures and was badly burned all over her chest. A terrible sight, poor little girl! Then it reminds you that even though we might be way to over-protective and security manic about the children in Sweden, there is still a point why we have rules and regulations for example how to ride on a bike with a child in the back. In Sweden you have to have a proper child seat securely attached to the bike, and it is mandatory that the child wears a helmet. Here in India I have several times seen kids being transported haphazardly in it's father's or mother's lap on motor cycles, and the other day a father came riding the bike and his tiny little son was standing on it and holding him from behind, no helmet and no seat...!
Well well.
Only 4 days remain now before I leave Kolkata. Feels so strange, time went so quickly....!!! But I really look forward to go to my new "home away from home" - Varkala in Kerala :)
Take care!
It's not so much about seeing a malaria patient, but more to see that in fact there are cases of malaria in Kolkata and it's not very uncommon! So right now, I'm pretty happy I decided to take the best anti-malaria drugs available on the market. I have sooooo many mosquito bites - and just as many "other" bites that I don't know where they come from (bed bugs?) but they hurt and itch like hell anyway... And the mosquitoes are so aggressive here! Even though I put mosquito repellent and stay in proximity of fans all the time I get bitten :(
Well well. I went to the hospital together with one of the other volunteers to see what a normal indian hospital looked like. It reminded me about the hospital in Colombo, Sri Lanka, which basically means a very spartan, dirty and worn out place with wards containing 30-40 beds each with no privacy among the patients. The doctors were however very nice and friendly.
One of the patients in the pediatric ward had been in a motor cycle accident, and she had several fractures and was badly burned all over her chest. A terrible sight, poor little girl! Then it reminds you that even though we might be way to over-protective and security manic about the children in Sweden, there is still a point why we have rules and regulations for example how to ride on a bike with a child in the back. In Sweden you have to have a proper child seat securely attached to the bike, and it is mandatory that the child wears a helmet. Here in India I have several times seen kids being transported haphazardly in it's father's or mother's lap on motor cycles, and the other day a father came riding the bike and his tiny little son was standing on it and holding him from behind, no helmet and no seat...!
Well well.
Only 4 days remain now before I leave Kolkata. Feels so strange, time went so quickly....!!! But I really look forward to go to my new "home away from home" - Varkala in Kerala :)
Take care!
måndag 25 oktober 2010
Don't you have anything good to say about a person? Then please, shut up!
I find it very interesting that people from different countries and different continents can be so different from each other (culture, religion, social views) but still so alike on the same time. Something that I find odd is the habit of trying to connect to people by talking down on other people, which seems to be practiced everywhere in the world?
No matter what country, culture or religion we belong to we all share a common goal - we all want to be happy in our lives. All living beings are in some way striving for happiness, and everyone has their own way in doing so. However, many people try so hard to find happiness but never succeed to get there. Maybe they think that if they just earned a little bit more money, if they just had a better car, nicer house, more handsome husband or beautiful wife, more expensive clothes etc etc. They will become happy. Some people think if they work just a little bit harder, was more useful, got more appreciation from their boss and colleagues, they could justify their right to live and find happiness.
However, happiness comes from inside, and an happiness that depends on these outer conditions is very fragile. Still most people I know and have met during my travels do this, myself often included.
Somehow believing that these outer conditions will make us happy is not a very weird thing, it kind of makes sense since it makes us feel better at least temporarily. What is weird though is once again this way we try to connect to people.
When people feel a little bit insecure, and maybe lonely, there is a tendency to try to connect to other people. This in order to feel accepted and to feel that you are not alone and you have an understanding with other people. (The human nature is really a herd creature, trying to find it's place in a group setting!)
So why do we (I say we because I have experienced this tendency with all kinds of nationalities and religious beliefs around the world SO FAR) try to connect to people by talking down on other people? Sitting with someone and share an understanding about someone else, like "he is so fat, he must be such a lazy and stupid person" or "did you see what horrible clothes she is wearing today" or "can you believe she said such silly things and asked all those stupid questions?" or "he is just so annoying, he never does anything right" etc etc. By saying these things and together get the understanding that "we" are better than this person, and "we" share this thing together, we get an illusion of being connected to people.
But I truly believe that when we do this, for the first little moment we fool our selves to actually feel more connected, but the very next moment (and then from there on, cause the damage has already been done and the harmful things you said cannot be taken back) you will feel even more disconnected! Because talking down on other people first of all makes you feel like a bad person since you said some mean things about another person. Second of all, you feel like "if I talk down on other people, maybe others are talking down on me too", which will definitely put you out of ease and make you start worrying that other people will mock you behind your back.
All in all, you end up being more disconnected than before. And it all started with you trying to feel more connected and happy! The human being is really not very clever sometimes.
I must add that me, myself, I also have done this several times in my life, and every time I must honestly say that I hated myself for it afterward. It is just so counterproductive and mean, and I really don't want to be that kind of person - I want to feel that I am a good person that people know they can trust, and I never want to harm any other being.
Because of this I made myself a promise - try to never talk about people in a negative way (this one is hard if you are very frustrated and annoyed with someone, in such case the conversation should be about one's own feelings like "I feel so frustrated when people don't look at things the way I do" or "when he does that I feel very sad and angry, and these feelings are hard for me to handle") and my golden rule: never say anything about a person that you wouldn't say to their face.
So if you don't have anything good to say about a person - please shut up.
:)
No matter what country, culture or religion we belong to we all share a common goal - we all want to be happy in our lives. All living beings are in some way striving for happiness, and everyone has their own way in doing so. However, many people try so hard to find happiness but never succeed to get there. Maybe they think that if they just earned a little bit more money, if they just had a better car, nicer house, more handsome husband or beautiful wife, more expensive clothes etc etc. They will become happy. Some people think if they work just a little bit harder, was more useful, got more appreciation from their boss and colleagues, they could justify their right to live and find happiness.
However, happiness comes from inside, and an happiness that depends on these outer conditions is very fragile. Still most people I know and have met during my travels do this, myself often included.
Somehow believing that these outer conditions will make us happy is not a very weird thing, it kind of makes sense since it makes us feel better at least temporarily. What is weird though is once again this way we try to connect to people.
When people feel a little bit insecure, and maybe lonely, there is a tendency to try to connect to other people. This in order to feel accepted and to feel that you are not alone and you have an understanding with other people. (The human nature is really a herd creature, trying to find it's place in a group setting!)
So why do we (I say we because I have experienced this tendency with all kinds of nationalities and religious beliefs around the world SO FAR) try to connect to people by talking down on other people? Sitting with someone and share an understanding about someone else, like "he is so fat, he must be such a lazy and stupid person" or "did you see what horrible clothes she is wearing today" or "can you believe she said such silly things and asked all those stupid questions?" or "he is just so annoying, he never does anything right" etc etc. By saying these things and together get the understanding that "we" are better than this person, and "we" share this thing together, we get an illusion of being connected to people.
But I truly believe that when we do this, for the first little moment we fool our selves to actually feel more connected, but the very next moment (and then from there on, cause the damage has already been done and the harmful things you said cannot be taken back) you will feel even more disconnected! Because talking down on other people first of all makes you feel like a bad person since you said some mean things about another person. Second of all, you feel like "if I talk down on other people, maybe others are talking down on me too", which will definitely put you out of ease and make you start worrying that other people will mock you behind your back.
All in all, you end up being more disconnected than before. And it all started with you trying to feel more connected and happy! The human being is really not very clever sometimes.
I must add that me, myself, I also have done this several times in my life, and every time I must honestly say that I hated myself for it afterward. It is just so counterproductive and mean, and I really don't want to be that kind of person - I want to feel that I am a good person that people know they can trust, and I never want to harm any other being.
Because of this I made myself a promise - try to never talk about people in a negative way (this one is hard if you are very frustrated and annoyed with someone, in such case the conversation should be about one's own feelings like "I feel so frustrated when people don't look at things the way I do" or "when he does that I feel very sad and angry, and these feelings are hard for me to handle") and my golden rule: never say anything about a person that you wouldn't say to their face.
So if you don't have anything good to say about a person - please shut up.
:)
Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out...
This is what I have to do in order to cope. Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, breathe out.
Otherwise I would go crazy here! Every day is so ery very inefficient. You see all these things in the clinic that could be done differently, definitely better, if the system wasn't just so very rigid and people so stuck in their habits. This organization is so very very disorganized...
Every week we (the volunteers) try to organise among our selves so we all have meaningful things to do. But every week, from one day to the other, they change the plans and they tell us the evening before (if we are lucky.) This afternoon they come to me and say ' oh by the way, tomorrow 6 volunteers must go there and 4 volunteers there and 2 volunteers there... and so many people already made other plans (including myself...) sigh!!!
Anyhow, work continues as usual.
Today in the outdoor cinic we got (among all the norma patients) a poor woman who is badly badly burned all over her body. Appareantly she tried to commit suicide (!) but failed, and was sent to hospital. However, after a couple of days in the hospital her family could no longer afford to keep her in hospital and she was sent home - really not fit for it at all!!! So inhumane...
Therefor she was taken by her mother to our outdoor clinic, since they only pay a small small fee for our services, and she was taken to our indoor clinic. She will stay here for a couple of weeks, get proper food and care (well at least I hope it is proper care, however I've heard that you shouldn0t apply any kind of ointment on to a burned patient, but here they put 2 different kinds of cream, one of them silver I think....)
But it0s really a terrible story and unfortunately not an out of the ordinary one (!)
well well, now time for a lecture by our Dr Sujit at the university. Will be interesting!
Otherwise I would go crazy here! Every day is so ery very inefficient. You see all these things in the clinic that could be done differently, definitely better, if the system wasn't just so very rigid and people so stuck in their habits. This organization is so very very disorganized...
Every week we (the volunteers) try to organise among our selves so we all have meaningful things to do. But every week, from one day to the other, they change the plans and they tell us the evening before (if we are lucky.) This afternoon they come to me and say ' oh by the way, tomorrow 6 volunteers must go there and 4 volunteers there and 2 volunteers there... and so many people already made other plans (including myself...) sigh!!!
Anyhow, work continues as usual.
Today in the outdoor cinic we got (among all the norma patients) a poor woman who is badly badly burned all over her body. Appareantly she tried to commit suicide (!) but failed, and was sent to hospital. However, after a couple of days in the hospital her family could no longer afford to keep her in hospital and she was sent home - really not fit for it at all!!! So inhumane...
Therefor she was taken by her mother to our outdoor clinic, since they only pay a small small fee for our services, and she was taken to our indoor clinic. She will stay here for a couple of weeks, get proper food and care (well at least I hope it is proper care, however I've heard that you shouldn0t apply any kind of ointment on to a burned patient, but here they put 2 different kinds of cream, one of them silver I think....)
But it0s really a terrible story and unfortunately not an out of the ordinary one (!)
well well, now time for a lecture by our Dr Sujit at the university. Will be interesting!
söndag 24 oktober 2010
Kolkata, India
After some consideration I decided to start writing in English. Mostly because everything I do here, and all the people I hang out with, is expressed in English, and I find it so difficult to change to Swedish when I write about all the things I experience every day... (and also that the Swedish letters don't exist here).
Anyhow, the last days have (once again) been quite overwhelming.
It all started the day before yesterday when we went to see a Bollywood movie - it was all in hindi and I must say it is amazing how much you get of the movie even though you can't understand a word! It was really really funny, and the dancing was good (but I was a bit disappointed since there were only three songs/dances and I expected a lot more).
Then yesterday I went together with the other volunteers to the Indoor clinic as usual. We were approximately 9 persons who were ready to go work in the outdoor clinic - when they come and say "o nonono, only 2 volunteers can come with us today". This place is so incredibly disorganized! If we had known, some of us could have taken the day off or plan to do something else. Instead people just had to hang around at the Indoor clinic without having anything to do...
Anyhow I went with a new finnish girl to the outdoor clinic in Keadah, which was a very rural remote place in the countryside without electricity. It was extremely hot and the air stood totally still - luckily we didn't have too many patients and we could go home after 2 hours of work. The work was just as usual to give injections, make dressings to wounds and skin infections and to measure blood pressure.
In the evening we decided to go out clubbing, since the care taker was out of the house (and when he is home we always have to be back in the house before 11 pm). We first tried to find this good restaurant described in my Rough Guide, but after one hour of searching we gave up (I really wanted to have some good bengali cuisine!). We had dinner in another restaurant which was OK and then we went to South City Mall for a disco - they had danceable music and great drinks so we had a lot of fun. Almost all the volunteers came so we were approximately 20 people dancing together trying to do Bollywood dancing moves and just having fun :)
The night ended a bit less good though. First of all they charged some of the drinks double, and some people started to argue with the bartender (also they closed the club at 00.30 am, really early). Second was that we all started to walk home together. Since the night air was fresh and none of us were tired we decided to walk home (it takes 20 minutes)... Which all was fine until we started to encounter a lot of dogs. In the beginning there were only small groups of dogs and we were not so scared - we just stuck together in the group and didn't show the dogs that we payed them any intention. However, 5 minutes before reaching home the number of dogs multiplied and they became more and more aggressive! We stayed together in the group and Johnny (a huge guy from Kanada, really strong and protective) told us to not look at them, stay calm and just keep on walking - don't run! But the futher we walked the more dogs there were and they were all barking and aggressive. I counted maybe up to 20 dogs in front of us, and Johnny said there were about 20-30 dogs behind us. "don't panic!" johnny said, but I was sooooo scared. I held Francinses hand as tight as I could and we all walked really close together. By the road we noticed large sticks which we could use as weapons if the dogs attacked... Luckily we never needed to use them!!! We were lucky enough to turn right, and we were home, safe away from the dogs. We were all shaking and my heartbeat was well over hundred. Scary!
To explain I must tell that there are many stories of people getting attacked by stray dogs in the middle of the night. During the day they are harmless, but during night they gather together in groups and become very aggressive and territorial thinking, and they attack any strangers coming in their way. Some people get really badly bitten by them, ending up i hospital. A friend of mine went out just her and one other guy, and they had to use sticks to defend themselves only to a small group of dogs (and we had around 40-50 dogs surrounding us)...
Phuuu.... So what did I learn? Don't walk in the streets of India by night, not even if you are in a group and feel safe.
Finally today I went with my friend (volunteer) Anna to visit an Indian couple. We just met them in the street (first Anna when she was looking for the way to the mall and then me when the couple was looking for Anna) and they wanted us to come have lunch with them. So today we went at noon to their house, they lived with the wife's mother in a 3 room apartment, and they were so kind and friendly. However, it is really interesting to notice the big big difference in culture. They let us first in to sit in their bedroom on their bed (it seems that they thought it was the fanciest place in their apartment) and then after an hour they started cooking (the women) and the husband started showing us a lot of pictures from their hindu wedding (which was incredibly interesting!). Then food was ready - but they only made the table for 2 persons. "aren't you going to eat with us?" we asked, but they said No, they would have dinner later, this food was for us. Which was a little bit weird, they served us food and looked at us eating it but didn't sit with us or joined us. The food was delicious though, and I really enjoyed to get some real bengali home made cooking!
They were very very nice and insisted on driving us home (it was just a 3 minutes walk) and afterwards I got a text message saying "thank you so much for visiting us, we really enjoyed it, please come back soon!" Haha so yes, it was very pleasant, and very different.
Every day so many things happen, you experience so much, it's crazy. But I really think you also get a little bit wiser for every day here :)
Now it's time for dinner, one of the volunteers is celebrating his birthday today.
Ciao!
Anyhow, the last days have (once again) been quite overwhelming.
It all started the day before yesterday when we went to see a Bollywood movie - it was all in hindi and I must say it is amazing how much you get of the movie even though you can't understand a word! It was really really funny, and the dancing was good (but I was a bit disappointed since there were only three songs/dances and I expected a lot more).
Then yesterday I went together with the other volunteers to the Indoor clinic as usual. We were approximately 9 persons who were ready to go work in the outdoor clinic - when they come and say "o nonono, only 2 volunteers can come with us today". This place is so incredibly disorganized! If we had known, some of us could have taken the day off or plan to do something else. Instead people just had to hang around at the Indoor clinic without having anything to do...
Anyhow I went with a new finnish girl to the outdoor clinic in Keadah, which was a very rural remote place in the countryside without electricity. It was extremely hot and the air stood totally still - luckily we didn't have too many patients and we could go home after 2 hours of work. The work was just as usual to give injections, make dressings to wounds and skin infections and to measure blood pressure.
In the evening we decided to go out clubbing, since the care taker was out of the house (and when he is home we always have to be back in the house before 11 pm). We first tried to find this good restaurant described in my Rough Guide, but after one hour of searching we gave up (I really wanted to have some good bengali cuisine!). We had dinner in another restaurant which was OK and then we went to South City Mall for a disco - they had danceable music and great drinks so we had a lot of fun. Almost all the volunteers came so we were approximately 20 people dancing together trying to do Bollywood dancing moves and just having fun :)
The night ended a bit less good though. First of all they charged some of the drinks double, and some people started to argue with the bartender (also they closed the club at 00.30 am, really early). Second was that we all started to walk home together. Since the night air was fresh and none of us were tired we decided to walk home (it takes 20 minutes)... Which all was fine until we started to encounter a lot of dogs. In the beginning there were only small groups of dogs and we were not so scared - we just stuck together in the group and didn't show the dogs that we payed them any intention. However, 5 minutes before reaching home the number of dogs multiplied and they became more and more aggressive! We stayed together in the group and Johnny (a huge guy from Kanada, really strong and protective) told us to not look at them, stay calm and just keep on walking - don't run! But the futher we walked the more dogs there were and they were all barking and aggressive. I counted maybe up to 20 dogs in front of us, and Johnny said there were about 20-30 dogs behind us. "don't panic!" johnny said, but I was sooooo scared. I held Francinses hand as tight as I could and we all walked really close together. By the road we noticed large sticks which we could use as weapons if the dogs attacked... Luckily we never needed to use them!!! We were lucky enough to turn right, and we were home, safe away from the dogs. We were all shaking and my heartbeat was well over hundred. Scary!
To explain I must tell that there are many stories of people getting attacked by stray dogs in the middle of the night. During the day they are harmless, but during night they gather together in groups and become very aggressive and territorial thinking, and they attack any strangers coming in their way. Some people get really badly bitten by them, ending up i hospital. A friend of mine went out just her and one other guy, and they had to use sticks to defend themselves only to a small group of dogs (and we had around 40-50 dogs surrounding us)...
Phuuu.... So what did I learn? Don't walk in the streets of India by night, not even if you are in a group and feel safe.
Finally today I went with my friend (volunteer) Anna to visit an Indian couple. We just met them in the street (first Anna when she was looking for the way to the mall and then me when the couple was looking for Anna) and they wanted us to come have lunch with them. So today we went at noon to their house, they lived with the wife's mother in a 3 room apartment, and they were so kind and friendly. However, it is really interesting to notice the big big difference in culture. They let us first in to sit in their bedroom on their bed (it seems that they thought it was the fanciest place in their apartment) and then after an hour they started cooking (the women) and the husband started showing us a lot of pictures from their hindu wedding (which was incredibly interesting!). Then food was ready - but they only made the table for 2 persons. "aren't you going to eat with us?" we asked, but they said No, they would have dinner later, this food was for us. Which was a little bit weird, they served us food and looked at us eating it but didn't sit with us or joined us. The food was delicious though, and I really enjoyed to get some real bengali home made cooking!
They were very very nice and insisted on driving us home (it was just a 3 minutes walk) and afterwards I got a text message saying "thank you so much for visiting us, we really enjoyed it, please come back soon!" Haha so yes, it was very pleasant, and very different.
Every day so many things happen, you experience so much, it's crazy. But I really think you also get a little bit wiser for every day here :)
Now it's time for dinner, one of the volunteers is celebrating his birthday today.
Ciao!
fredag 22 oktober 2010
Donnobadh, Dhaki!
Idag kom jag hem igen fran Dhaki - en av vara outdoor-kliniker ca 3-4 timmar fran Kalkutta. Ett par volontarer aker dit varje onsdag och stannar till fredagen. Pa onsdagen jobbar man i kliniken, och som vanligt ar det injektioner, saromlaggningar och blodtryckscheckar som gors. I onsdags hade vi over 500 patienter!!! Darmed jobbade vi konstant i tre och en halv timme utan paus, med svetten som bara rann och rann och rann. Det later kanske inte sa farligt med tre och en halv timme, men i 37 graders hetta ar det ratt tufft att halla tungan ratt i mun och orka ta patient efter patient efter patient. Till slut vid fyratiden var vi klara och fick en valbehovd lunch!
Under dagen hade man haft en invigningsceremoni for en ny microcredit-bank i Dhaki, och pa kvallen ordnade man ett band som spelade fran scenen - de kallade det hela for "cultural show". Managern for Dhaki sjong en sang fran Japan (han har varit utbytesstudent dar) och sen bad han oss europeer att sjunga. Sa jag fick aterigen stiga upp och sjunga Summertime och Quand je bois du vin clairet (tur att de inte kan franska!!! haha men de alskade den sangen, for att den ar sa klapp- och trallvanlig. Att dricka alkohol ar dock strangt forbjudet ;)
Det var i alla fall en jattetrevlig kvall! Dag tva akte vi med deras bat till en av oarna dar vi besokte en skola (aterigen utan elever! Men jag hade ju i alla fall fatt beskada de sota sma liven forra gangen jag akte till Dhaki) och pa eftermiddagen besokte vi byns "womens peace council". Detta ar en grupp kvinnor (11 stycken) som av var organisation IIMC har fatt denna anstallning som peace council member. De mots tre timmar per dag dar de sitter och laser tidningen, diskuterar nutida problem och framdfor allt women empowerment. Deras uppgift ar aven att hjalpa till att losa konflikter runtom i byn (darav namnet peace council) och vanligen bestar dessa av brak mellan man och hustru eller liknande.
Ett exempel var en kvinnas vars man kom hem full och slog henne gul och bla. Darefter lamnade hon deras hem, flyttade till slaktingar och talade med womens peace council. I dessa kretsar ar skilsmassa inget alternativ, sa vad som skedde var att alla medlemmarna i womens peace council foljde med kvinnan hem till hennes man, och dar medlade de mellan de bada parterna och mannen lovade att inte sla sin hustru igen. Happy ever after??? Jag tvivlar starkt pa det, men detta anses vara ett mycket lyckat fall for womens peace council, och liknande tvister loser de upp vecka efter vecka.
Vi hade manga fragor, men pa grund av en mycket bristfallig tolk gick det inte att fa nagra svar. Vi ville veta hur de andra, folket, i byn saf pa dem, ifall de var accepterade och respekterade (bara for att IIMC har instiftat gruppen betyder det inte att alla mannen i byn anser att de har nagon ratt att stampa in i deras "privata angelagenheter") och det var ytterst svart att fa reda pa vad de arbetade med for tillfallet...
Men det var andock en mycket trevlig upplevelse, de sjong nagra indiska sanger for oss och an en gang var vi tvungna att sjunga nagra sanger for dem. De var otroligt varma och karleksfulla och gastvanliga, och det marktes att de uppskattade vart besok...!
Och det maste jag da saga - jag har klagat pa att Indien inte ar som Sri Lanka, att jag inte kanner samma varme eller karlek fran manniskorna har som jag gjorde i Sri Lanka. Pa gatorna i Kalkutta finns bara brak och stok, skrik och gral, smuts och skabb och elande....
Men ute pa landsbygden i Dhaki, dar IIMC har starkt fotfaste och hjalper befolkningen med halsokliniker, skolor, microcredit och womens peace council, och dar de vet vilka vi ar - dar fick jag uppleva den indiska karleken som jag letat efter!
Visst ar folk fortfarande otroligt hogljudda och skrapar ner overallt. Men det finns ett stilla lunk dar ute pa landsbygden, de jobbar med sina fiskebatar eller pa sina risfalt, de sjunger och de dansar och de tar hand om varandra. Kokerskan dar vi bodde var sa otroligt varm och hjartlig, gav en sma karleksfulla nyp i kinden eller midjan och skrattade hela tiden :) och alla man som arbetar dar var artiga och gentlemannamassiga. Kvinnorna i womens peace council visade en otrolig varme och gladje over att vi var dar och besokte dem, och bjod pa te, samosas och kakor men vagrade att vi skulle betala nagonting (you are our very fine guests!)
Ladies and gentleman, for you very kind information, the autovehicle is coming soon. Det var dags att aka hem till Kalkutta igen efter ett par uppfriskande dagar pa landsbygden (aven om det var stekande hett och nastan 40 grader) och vi njot av det grona grona grona pa vagen till tagstationen. Denna gangen hade jag lyckats att spendera hela Dhakivistelsen utan att bli sjuk, och det var underbart :)
Donnobad, Dhaki! (Thank you Dhaki!)
Nu ar det dags att ta sig ut i Kalkuttavimlet igen, vi ska ata middag och sen ga pa bio och se en akta bollywood blockbuster. Och imorgon kvall ska vi ut och dansa dansa! Spannande spannande :)
Under dagen hade man haft en invigningsceremoni for en ny microcredit-bank i Dhaki, och pa kvallen ordnade man ett band som spelade fran scenen - de kallade det hela for "cultural show". Managern for Dhaki sjong en sang fran Japan (han har varit utbytesstudent dar) och sen bad han oss europeer att sjunga. Sa jag fick aterigen stiga upp och sjunga Summertime och Quand je bois du vin clairet (tur att de inte kan franska!!! haha men de alskade den sangen, for att den ar sa klapp- och trallvanlig. Att dricka alkohol ar dock strangt forbjudet ;)
Det var i alla fall en jattetrevlig kvall! Dag tva akte vi med deras bat till en av oarna dar vi besokte en skola (aterigen utan elever! Men jag hade ju i alla fall fatt beskada de sota sma liven forra gangen jag akte till Dhaki) och pa eftermiddagen besokte vi byns "womens peace council". Detta ar en grupp kvinnor (11 stycken) som av var organisation IIMC har fatt denna anstallning som peace council member. De mots tre timmar per dag dar de sitter och laser tidningen, diskuterar nutida problem och framdfor allt women empowerment. Deras uppgift ar aven att hjalpa till att losa konflikter runtom i byn (darav namnet peace council) och vanligen bestar dessa av brak mellan man och hustru eller liknande.
Ett exempel var en kvinnas vars man kom hem full och slog henne gul och bla. Darefter lamnade hon deras hem, flyttade till slaktingar och talade med womens peace council. I dessa kretsar ar skilsmassa inget alternativ, sa vad som skedde var att alla medlemmarna i womens peace council foljde med kvinnan hem till hennes man, och dar medlade de mellan de bada parterna och mannen lovade att inte sla sin hustru igen. Happy ever after??? Jag tvivlar starkt pa det, men detta anses vara ett mycket lyckat fall for womens peace council, och liknande tvister loser de upp vecka efter vecka.
Vi hade manga fragor, men pa grund av en mycket bristfallig tolk gick det inte att fa nagra svar. Vi ville veta hur de andra, folket, i byn saf pa dem, ifall de var accepterade och respekterade (bara for att IIMC har instiftat gruppen betyder det inte att alla mannen i byn anser att de har nagon ratt att stampa in i deras "privata angelagenheter") och det var ytterst svart att fa reda pa vad de arbetade med for tillfallet...
Men det var andock en mycket trevlig upplevelse, de sjong nagra indiska sanger for oss och an en gang var vi tvungna att sjunga nagra sanger for dem. De var otroligt varma och karleksfulla och gastvanliga, och det marktes att de uppskattade vart besok...!
Och det maste jag da saga - jag har klagat pa att Indien inte ar som Sri Lanka, att jag inte kanner samma varme eller karlek fran manniskorna har som jag gjorde i Sri Lanka. Pa gatorna i Kalkutta finns bara brak och stok, skrik och gral, smuts och skabb och elande....
Men ute pa landsbygden i Dhaki, dar IIMC har starkt fotfaste och hjalper befolkningen med halsokliniker, skolor, microcredit och womens peace council, och dar de vet vilka vi ar - dar fick jag uppleva den indiska karleken som jag letat efter!
Visst ar folk fortfarande otroligt hogljudda och skrapar ner overallt. Men det finns ett stilla lunk dar ute pa landsbygden, de jobbar med sina fiskebatar eller pa sina risfalt, de sjunger och de dansar och de tar hand om varandra. Kokerskan dar vi bodde var sa otroligt varm och hjartlig, gav en sma karleksfulla nyp i kinden eller midjan och skrattade hela tiden :) och alla man som arbetar dar var artiga och gentlemannamassiga. Kvinnorna i womens peace council visade en otrolig varme och gladje over att vi var dar och besokte dem, och bjod pa te, samosas och kakor men vagrade att vi skulle betala nagonting (you are our very fine guests!)
Ladies and gentleman, for you very kind information, the autovehicle is coming soon. Det var dags att aka hem till Kalkutta igen efter ett par uppfriskande dagar pa landsbygden (aven om det var stekande hett och nastan 40 grader) och vi njot av det grona grona grona pa vagen till tagstationen. Denna gangen hade jag lyckats att spendera hela Dhakivistelsen utan att bli sjuk, och det var underbart :)
Donnobad, Dhaki! (Thank you Dhaki!)
Nu ar det dags att ta sig ut i Kalkuttavimlet igen, vi ska ata middag och sen ga pa bio och se en akta bollywood blockbuster. Och imorgon kvall ska vi ut och dansa dansa! Spannande spannande :)
tisdag 19 oktober 2010
Tllbaka fran Darjeeling!
Sa var man tillbaka fran Darjeeling... Vilken underbar plats! Visserligen ordentligt turistigt, men oh sa vackert...
Det var verkligen skont att fa komma bort fran Kalkutta i nagra dagar. Det har varit Durge Puja - festival - har i tio dagar nu vilket har gjort att den redan fullpackade staden blev tre ganger mer smockfull, och overallt har det varit konstant trangsel pa gatorna och trummor och musik hela dagarna. Varje morgon klockan halv fem har trummorna pa gatorna startat, och sedan hallt pa med jamna mellanrum under hela dagarna. Dessutom konstant "hello, hello, testing testing" i hogtalarna, innan de borjar skrika ut sina budskap, monologer som pagar i timmar...!!!
Jag har aldrig varit med om manniskor sa hogljudda som indierna har i Kolkata! Darfor var det sa skont att fa komma till Darjeeling dar tempot ar langsammare, bilarna farre och luften hundra ganger friskare. Utsikten var breath taking beautiful, och det var skont att vistas i 15-20 graders-klimat istallet for 35 grader.
Det var ocksa valdigt spannande att promenera runt pa de sma sma vagarna i Darjeeling, och besoka de buddhistiska tempel som finns lite har och dar. Den buddhistiska narvaron ar stor i Darjeeling, och de flesta invanarna ar av nepalesiskt ursprung. Sa jag fick ingen anvandning av mina fina bengali-meningar :) (trots att vi fortfarande befann oss i west bengal..!)
Sedan Kina invaderade Tibet har manga tibetanska flyktingar kommit till Darjeeling. Dar fanns fortfarande ett sakallat "refugee-center" dar sota gubbar och gummor fran tibet fortfarande bor, och dar de sitter och tillverkar mattor och klader och lite andra prylar som de sedan saljer. Det var verkligen spannande att fa se pa hur de vaver garn, fran scratch, fran ull, och sedan tillverkar klader och mattor och liknande. Kunde inte lata bli att handla lite saker i deras shop, kanns bra!
Nagot som inte kanns sa bra ar att atervanda till smutsiga stokiga och sa otroligt fattiga Kalkutta - the city of hell. Det kanns i alla fall skont att vi genom att jobba pa kliniken faktiskt hjalper till och forsoker bidra for ett battre liv for dessa manniskor. Det var verkligien spannande att fa sitta med var gynekolog haromdagen - modrahalsovarden har ar inte i narheten av varken den halsovard som erbjuds i Sverige (saklart) men aven i Sri Lanka!!! Det var knappt att hon matte fundushojden pa magen, hon lyssnade inte pa fostrets hjartljud med en doppler (forran jag fragade om de itne hade nagon, da plockades den fram och darefter fick jag sta och lyssna pa alla fosterhjartljud)... det enda vettiga som gjordes var att modrarna fick sina injektioner och vaccinationer for att skydda dem fran framtida komplikationer.
Hmm ja nu ska jag snart till Dhaki igen, langt ute pa landsbygden. Ska pa satt och vis bli skont att fa komma bort fran staden igen, samtidigt som min vistelse i Dhaki forra gangen inte var den basta precis (!) Men men forhoppningsvis lyckas jag halla mig frisk denna gangen :)
Manga kramar pa er dar hemma!
Det var verkligen skont att fa komma bort fran Kalkutta i nagra dagar. Det har varit Durge Puja - festival - har i tio dagar nu vilket har gjort att den redan fullpackade staden blev tre ganger mer smockfull, och overallt har det varit konstant trangsel pa gatorna och trummor och musik hela dagarna. Varje morgon klockan halv fem har trummorna pa gatorna startat, och sedan hallt pa med jamna mellanrum under hela dagarna. Dessutom konstant "hello, hello, testing testing" i hogtalarna, innan de borjar skrika ut sina budskap, monologer som pagar i timmar...!!!
Jag har aldrig varit med om manniskor sa hogljudda som indierna har i Kolkata! Darfor var det sa skont att fa komma till Darjeeling dar tempot ar langsammare, bilarna farre och luften hundra ganger friskare. Utsikten var breath taking beautiful, och det var skont att vistas i 15-20 graders-klimat istallet for 35 grader.
Det var ocksa valdigt spannande att promenera runt pa de sma sma vagarna i Darjeeling, och besoka de buddhistiska tempel som finns lite har och dar. Den buddhistiska narvaron ar stor i Darjeeling, och de flesta invanarna ar av nepalesiskt ursprung. Sa jag fick ingen anvandning av mina fina bengali-meningar :) (trots att vi fortfarande befann oss i west bengal..!)
Sedan Kina invaderade Tibet har manga tibetanska flyktingar kommit till Darjeeling. Dar fanns fortfarande ett sakallat "refugee-center" dar sota gubbar och gummor fran tibet fortfarande bor, och dar de sitter och tillverkar mattor och klader och lite andra prylar som de sedan saljer. Det var verkligen spannande att fa se pa hur de vaver garn, fran scratch, fran ull, och sedan tillverkar klader och mattor och liknande. Kunde inte lata bli att handla lite saker i deras shop, kanns bra!
Nagot som inte kanns sa bra ar att atervanda till smutsiga stokiga och sa otroligt fattiga Kalkutta - the city of hell. Det kanns i alla fall skont att vi genom att jobba pa kliniken faktiskt hjalper till och forsoker bidra for ett battre liv for dessa manniskor. Det var verkligien spannande att fa sitta med var gynekolog haromdagen - modrahalsovarden har ar inte i narheten av varken den halsovard som erbjuds i Sverige (saklart) men aven i Sri Lanka!!! Det var knappt att hon matte fundushojden pa magen, hon lyssnade inte pa fostrets hjartljud med en doppler (forran jag fragade om de itne hade nagon, da plockades den fram och darefter fick jag sta och lyssna pa alla fosterhjartljud)... det enda vettiga som gjordes var att modrarna fick sina injektioner och vaccinationer for att skydda dem fran framtida komplikationer.
Hmm ja nu ska jag snart till Dhaki igen, langt ute pa landsbygden. Ska pa satt och vis bli skont att fa komma bort fran staden igen, samtidigt som min vistelse i Dhaki forra gangen inte var den basta precis (!) Men men forhoppningsvis lyckas jag halla mig frisk denna gangen :)
Manga kramar pa er dar hemma!
måndag 11 oktober 2010
Kemon atcho? Bhalo naa. Mondo!
Antligen kan jag srkiva igen. Aterigen har sa otroligt mycket hant!
Kan borja med att beratta att jag blev ordentligt sjuk. Antagligen berodde det pa att jag at kyckling haromdagen, men jag vet inte sakert. Omojligt att veta, allting ar sa smutsigt har!!!
Vi akte till Dhaki som ligger langt ute pa visjan, nere vid havet (men glom att det finns nagon strand ;) mitt ute i ingenstans, otroligt vackert men oh sa fattigt. Forsta dagen jobbade vi lite pa kliniken, innan det var dags att besoka en av IIMC-projektets skolor. Det avr en liten primary school och for att komma dit var man tvungen att promenera ett par timmar.... I LERA!
Vi var tvungna att ga barfota i lera upp till anklarna, i borjan var det mest underhallande, men efter att ha halkat runt pa smala leriga stigar i tva timmar i regnet var vi mindre roade. Och itne blev det battre av att nar vi kom fram (vissa helt leriga da de hade ramlat flera ganger) sa var skolan stangd, alla eleverna hade hunnit ga hem och den enda som fanns kvar var en bengalilarare som inte pratade engelska...!!! Vi trodde att vi skulle fa lunch dar, klockan var da tre pa eftermiddagen, men icke sa nicke.... Darefter skulle vi snallt traska hela vagen tillbaka i morkret (vilket vi totalvagrade) sa halva vagen fick vi aka pa ett moppeflak och andra halvan fick vi aterigen traska i leran. Klockan 17.30 kom vi tillbaka och fick lunch... Trodde aldrig jag skulle bli ren igen efter detta. Men nu i efterhand ar det ju verkligen en upplevelse att minnas ;)
Samma kvall blev jag sjuk. Nagon form av tarmbakterie hade jag fatt, antagligen nagra dagar tidigare da jag at kyckling men jag vet inte sakert, allt ar sa smutsigt har!!!
Men vi var alltsa ute mitt i ingenstans, dar regnet bara oste ner liknande monsun, ingen elektricitet och inget vatten. och jag med kraftig diarree och feber. Not so much fun! Vattnet som man kunde kopa pa flaska i byn tog ocksa slut, sa jag blev snabbt uttorkad vilket nog inte hjalpte pa symptomen. Vid bara asynen av mat borjade jag klokas, sa i tre dagar levde jag pa brod, vatten och supersott te med mariekex (som de ater kolossala mangder av har???). Vi hade dock en trevlig kvall dar vi i skenet av ficklampor och batteridrivna lyktor satt och sjong omsom vasterlandska omsom indiska sanger. Jag blev tvingad att sjunga en sanmg pa svenska, och efter det blev det en hel del fler solosanger vilket ju alltid ar kul att fa lite uppskattning :)
Den tredje dagen hade jag ingen feber, men var allmant svag och det borjade klia kraftigt i ogat. det var dags att aka vidare och vi akte till en skola med jattejattesota sma barn som lekte och dansade infor oss.Darefter skulle vi aka buss till tagstationen darifran vi skulle kunna aka hem till kalkutta. Bussen var i sjalva verket en jeep, som var overfull, sa vi var tvungna ATT SITTA PA TAKET (det fanns ingen annan utvag!) vilket var livsfarligt men ocksa ratt skoj ;) eftersom att jag knappt hade atit eller druckit pa tva dagar sa klarade jag mig utan toalettbesok och val pa tagstationen kopte vi biljetter till taget som skulle avga efter en timme. Detta innebar en timmes uthardande av massor massor med fattiga manniskor och barn som trangde sig pa oss, knuffade varandra in i oss, drog i oss, for att vi skulle ge dem pengar eller mat. Det var fruktansvart, bade for oss och det faktum att bevittna dessa stackars manniskor som dessutom totalt saknar vardighet eller hyfs pa grund av sitt odragliga liv, ett liv som ingen manniska borde fa uppleva och som man onskar att man hade kunnat hjalpa.
Val hemma brot min ogoninfektion ut ordentligt och snart kunde jag inte se pa det ena ogat. Bada ogonen var otroligt svullna och illroda, med massor av var och annat smatt och gott....! Och sen sjalvklart var det bedbugs i min sang, vilket jag pa natten fick flera bett av. och hudutslag, har abslout ingen aning om vad de ar...!
Men men
Nu har jag i alla fall kunnat vila upp mig, jag har en riktigt ordentlig ciprofloxacinkur mot magen (som jag har lite biverkningar av men men) och antibiotikaogondroppar. har fatt byta sang och rum och inatt sov jag i alla fall fem timmar och inga fler bett :)
Trots allt detta kanner jag inte att jag vill hem. Det ar en otrolig trygghet att ha alla andra volontarer runt mig, alla har varit otroligt omtanksamma, hjalpt mig med det ena och det andra. Nu nar jag snart ar frisk ser jag fram emot att fortsatta mitt jobb har som volontar (det har kommit nagra fler fall pa kliniken nu som ar riktigt intressanta, men ocksa riktigt laskiga. vad sags om en misstankt leprapatient? eller tva barn med stora bolder pa huvudet, som varar och bloder, men som ingen av lakarna kan lista ut vad det ar?)
Jag ser ocksa verkligen fram emot denna helgen, redan pa onsdag ska vi ta taget till Darjeeling, dar vi spenderar tre dagar. Dar ska vara 8-10 grader varmt om kvallarna (oops har verkligen inte klader for det!) uppe vi bergen, gransar till bhutan och nepal, ioch ska vara otroligt vackert. Langtar!
Det ar valdigt skont att komma fran Kalkutta. Det ar den galnaste platsen jag varit pa, liknande Bangladesh. Inget ar enkelt, ingenting gar smidigt. Det finns inga riktiga affarer, bara tusentals sma stand som saljer diverse varor utmed gatorna. Det finns knappt nagra riktiga restauranger eller cafeer, aterigen bara sma skjul med trabankar utmed gatorna. Det ar fattigt fattigt fattigt. Och smutsigt smutsigt smutsigt. Extremt mycket trafik, konstant buller, och massa massa avgaser. Om du snyter dig ar det svart i nasduken, och duschvattnet fargas svart efter en dag pa stan.
Overallt springer det omrking losa hundar och halvnakna fattiga barn. Manga barn vill bara springa fram och halsa, sag hello och ta i hand. Men manga andra forsoker tigga eller stjala fran dig och vissa dagar ar det svart att behalla sitt talamod.
Aker du buss eller tag eller metro, sa far du slass for att ta dig in och oftast far du inte sitta utan star och trangs med alla andra, packade som sillar i 35 graders hetta. Alla skriker och skaller pa varandra, och armbagar varandra i ryggen.
Det finns dock sma solglimtar. Nar patienten besvarar ditt bhalo oieegatchee (bra, fardigt) med en tacksam nick. Nar en man pa taget reser sig for att ge dig en sittplats, nar en ung kvinna pa bussen ger dig ett varmt leende, eller nar ett barn springer fram och tar din hand och ropar 'hello, my name is, my name is!" och sen snallt gar tillbaka till sina mammor. Eller som varje dag da vi gar till jobbet pa kliniken, och skolbarnen springer fram och ber om ens autograf, och sen gar vi hand i hand pa vagen och sjunger sanger. Da trivs jag! :)
Eller nar vi volontarer sitter tillsammans pa taket pa vart hus och dricker ol och pratar strunt om kvallarna. Och varje morgon, som jag borjar med ett yogapass och meditation pa taket och sen njuter v min skal med musli och mjolk! Och bara det faktum, att trots det kaos som rader runt en, konstant, dag som natt, sa ar man inte stressad. Det finns ingen tid att passa, man har inget plugg man ligger efter med. Frihet!
I forrgar lod samtalet sahar: "Kemon atcho? Bhalo naa. Mondo! (Hur gar det? Inte bra. Daligt!)
Idag ar det:
The sun will come out, tomorrow!
The sun will come out, tomorrow,
bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow,
there'll be sun.
Just thinking about tomorrow,
washes away the cobwebs and all sorrow,
til there's none.
When I'm stuck with a day that's grey and lonely,
I stick out with my chin and grin and say:
Tomorrow! Tomorrow! I love you tomorrow,
you're always a day away....
Kan borja med att beratta att jag blev ordentligt sjuk. Antagligen berodde det pa att jag at kyckling haromdagen, men jag vet inte sakert. Omojligt att veta, allting ar sa smutsigt har!!!
Vi akte till Dhaki som ligger langt ute pa visjan, nere vid havet (men glom att det finns nagon strand ;) mitt ute i ingenstans, otroligt vackert men oh sa fattigt. Forsta dagen jobbade vi lite pa kliniken, innan det var dags att besoka en av IIMC-projektets skolor. Det avr en liten primary school och for att komma dit var man tvungen att promenera ett par timmar.... I LERA!
Vi var tvungna att ga barfota i lera upp till anklarna, i borjan var det mest underhallande, men efter att ha halkat runt pa smala leriga stigar i tva timmar i regnet var vi mindre roade. Och itne blev det battre av att nar vi kom fram (vissa helt leriga da de hade ramlat flera ganger) sa var skolan stangd, alla eleverna hade hunnit ga hem och den enda som fanns kvar var en bengalilarare som inte pratade engelska...!!! Vi trodde att vi skulle fa lunch dar, klockan var da tre pa eftermiddagen, men icke sa nicke.... Darefter skulle vi snallt traska hela vagen tillbaka i morkret (vilket vi totalvagrade) sa halva vagen fick vi aka pa ett moppeflak och andra halvan fick vi aterigen traska i leran. Klockan 17.30 kom vi tillbaka och fick lunch... Trodde aldrig jag skulle bli ren igen efter detta. Men nu i efterhand ar det ju verkligen en upplevelse att minnas ;)
Samma kvall blev jag sjuk. Nagon form av tarmbakterie hade jag fatt, antagligen nagra dagar tidigare da jag at kyckling men jag vet inte sakert, allt ar sa smutsigt har!!!
Men vi var alltsa ute mitt i ingenstans, dar regnet bara oste ner liknande monsun, ingen elektricitet och inget vatten. och jag med kraftig diarree och feber. Not so much fun! Vattnet som man kunde kopa pa flaska i byn tog ocksa slut, sa jag blev snabbt uttorkad vilket nog inte hjalpte pa symptomen. Vid bara asynen av mat borjade jag klokas, sa i tre dagar levde jag pa brod, vatten och supersott te med mariekex (som de ater kolossala mangder av har???). Vi hade dock en trevlig kvall dar vi i skenet av ficklampor och batteridrivna lyktor satt och sjong omsom vasterlandska omsom indiska sanger. Jag blev tvingad att sjunga en sanmg pa svenska, och efter det blev det en hel del fler solosanger vilket ju alltid ar kul att fa lite uppskattning :)
Den tredje dagen hade jag ingen feber, men var allmant svag och det borjade klia kraftigt i ogat. det var dags att aka vidare och vi akte till en skola med jattejattesota sma barn som lekte och dansade infor oss.Darefter skulle vi aka buss till tagstationen darifran vi skulle kunna aka hem till kalkutta. Bussen var i sjalva verket en jeep, som var overfull, sa vi var tvungna ATT SITTA PA TAKET (det fanns ingen annan utvag!) vilket var livsfarligt men ocksa ratt skoj ;) eftersom att jag knappt hade atit eller druckit pa tva dagar sa klarade jag mig utan toalettbesok och val pa tagstationen kopte vi biljetter till taget som skulle avga efter en timme. Detta innebar en timmes uthardande av massor massor med fattiga manniskor och barn som trangde sig pa oss, knuffade varandra in i oss, drog i oss, for att vi skulle ge dem pengar eller mat. Det var fruktansvart, bade for oss och det faktum att bevittna dessa stackars manniskor som dessutom totalt saknar vardighet eller hyfs pa grund av sitt odragliga liv, ett liv som ingen manniska borde fa uppleva och som man onskar att man hade kunnat hjalpa.
Val hemma brot min ogoninfektion ut ordentligt och snart kunde jag inte se pa det ena ogat. Bada ogonen var otroligt svullna och illroda, med massor av var och annat smatt och gott....! Och sen sjalvklart var det bedbugs i min sang, vilket jag pa natten fick flera bett av. och hudutslag, har abslout ingen aning om vad de ar...!
Men men
Nu har jag i alla fall kunnat vila upp mig, jag har en riktigt ordentlig ciprofloxacinkur mot magen (som jag har lite biverkningar av men men) och antibiotikaogondroppar. har fatt byta sang och rum och inatt sov jag i alla fall fem timmar och inga fler bett :)
Trots allt detta kanner jag inte att jag vill hem. Det ar en otrolig trygghet att ha alla andra volontarer runt mig, alla har varit otroligt omtanksamma, hjalpt mig med det ena och det andra. Nu nar jag snart ar frisk ser jag fram emot att fortsatta mitt jobb har som volontar (det har kommit nagra fler fall pa kliniken nu som ar riktigt intressanta, men ocksa riktigt laskiga. vad sags om en misstankt leprapatient? eller tva barn med stora bolder pa huvudet, som varar och bloder, men som ingen av lakarna kan lista ut vad det ar?)
Jag ser ocksa verkligen fram emot denna helgen, redan pa onsdag ska vi ta taget till Darjeeling, dar vi spenderar tre dagar. Dar ska vara 8-10 grader varmt om kvallarna (oops har verkligen inte klader for det!) uppe vi bergen, gransar till bhutan och nepal, ioch ska vara otroligt vackert. Langtar!
Det ar valdigt skont att komma fran Kalkutta. Det ar den galnaste platsen jag varit pa, liknande Bangladesh. Inget ar enkelt, ingenting gar smidigt. Det finns inga riktiga affarer, bara tusentals sma stand som saljer diverse varor utmed gatorna. Det finns knappt nagra riktiga restauranger eller cafeer, aterigen bara sma skjul med trabankar utmed gatorna. Det ar fattigt fattigt fattigt. Och smutsigt smutsigt smutsigt. Extremt mycket trafik, konstant buller, och massa massa avgaser. Om du snyter dig ar det svart i nasduken, och duschvattnet fargas svart efter en dag pa stan.
Overallt springer det omrking losa hundar och halvnakna fattiga barn. Manga barn vill bara springa fram och halsa, sag hello och ta i hand. Men manga andra forsoker tigga eller stjala fran dig och vissa dagar ar det svart att behalla sitt talamod.
Aker du buss eller tag eller metro, sa far du slass for att ta dig in och oftast far du inte sitta utan star och trangs med alla andra, packade som sillar i 35 graders hetta. Alla skriker och skaller pa varandra, och armbagar varandra i ryggen.
Det finns dock sma solglimtar. Nar patienten besvarar ditt bhalo oieegatchee (bra, fardigt) med en tacksam nick. Nar en man pa taget reser sig for att ge dig en sittplats, nar en ung kvinna pa bussen ger dig ett varmt leende, eller nar ett barn springer fram och tar din hand och ropar 'hello, my name is, my name is!" och sen snallt gar tillbaka till sina mammor. Eller som varje dag da vi gar till jobbet pa kliniken, och skolbarnen springer fram och ber om ens autograf, och sen gar vi hand i hand pa vagen och sjunger sanger. Da trivs jag! :)
Eller nar vi volontarer sitter tillsammans pa taket pa vart hus och dricker ol och pratar strunt om kvallarna. Och varje morgon, som jag borjar med ett yogapass och meditation pa taket och sen njuter v min skal med musli och mjolk! Och bara det faktum, att trots det kaos som rader runt en, konstant, dag som natt, sa ar man inte stressad. Det finns ingen tid att passa, man har inget plugg man ligger efter med. Frihet!
I forrgar lod samtalet sahar: "Kemon atcho? Bhalo naa. Mondo! (Hur gar det? Inte bra. Daligt!)
Idag ar det:
The sun will come out, tomorrow!
The sun will come out, tomorrow,
bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow,
there'll be sun.
Just thinking about tomorrow,
washes away the cobwebs and all sorrow,
til there's none.
When I'm stuck with a day that's grey and lonely,
I stick out with my chin and grin and say:
Tomorrow! Tomorrow! I love you tomorrow,
you're always a day away....
tisdag 5 oktober 2010
Kerona, Kerona, Ami tomay bolabassi
Oj oj oj...
Sa mycket att beratta sa jag vet inte var jag ska borja... (!)
Men kortfattat sa har detta hant de senaste dagarna:
1, Jag har halsat pa mitt och Eriks fadderbarn har utanfor Kolkata, i en liten liten by i ett litet litet hus (kanske 2*3 meter) med en gemensam sang och en stol. Maten lagar de utanfor huset. Var lilla fadderflicka heter Superna (uttalas Tjupperna) och ar 12 ar och jattejattesot! :) Men jatteblyg, hon vagade knappt saga ett ord... Hennes favoritfarg ar vit (inte sa konstigt, for INGENTING forblir vitt i Indien!) och hennes favoritamne i skolan ar engelska (fast hon kunde inte saga nagot pa engelska...) och hon vill bli larare nar hon blir stor. Hon har en papegoja och en kanin som sallskapsdjur, och langt har upprullat i flator! Det var verkligen rolgt att fa traffa henne. Jag o Erik betalar hennes skolgang genom att donera 200 kr per manad. Kanns verkligen bra att se att pengarna kommer till ratta och inte som man far hora om sa manga organisationer dar pengarna bara forsvinner ut im tomma intet (eller ner i andras fickor)...
Nagot som var minre kul, men nu i efterhand ar en liten anekdot vard att minnas, var att var bil slutade fungera dar ute, mitt ute i ingenstans pa landsbygden, flera mil pa smavagar fran Kolkata. De ringde till IIMC (organisationen dar jag jobbar) och de lovade att komma med en ny bil - et tog tva timmar! Under tiden satt vi pa bilens tak och lyssnade pa vilda hundar som skall och djungelljud. Lite laskigt! :) sen blev vi inbjudna till en av bybornas hus dar vi fick sitta pa en sang och vanta, under tien serverade de oss cha (the) och snacks (sa nu kommer jag efinitivt bli magsjuk sa det skvatter om et!)
Till slut gick vi ut igen och satt pa grasmattan, lyssnade pa nattsyrsorna och beunrae eldflugornas dans i traden, ratt mysigt anda, och eftersom att bilen till slut kom sa slutae hela historien lyckligt ;)
2, jag har varit pa sight-seeing i Kalkutta. Bland annat sett pa nar de tillverkat stora statyer infor den stora festivalen durga puja (en flera dagar lang festival och ledighet liknande var jul med tanda lyktor och en massa statyer overallt) och jag har tillsammans med de andra gatt vilse i stan och hamnat mitt i ett monsunliknande regn, utan paraply :/
3, Jag har fortsatt jobba saklart. Varje dag nar vi kommer till "jobbet" sa mots vi av en skock skolbarn som alla vill halsa, ta i hand, och fa autografer, otroligt gulligt ;) alla nya volontarer har kommit sa jag fick lara upp dem det lilla jag kunde. men det verkar ha gatt bra. Tyvarr har lakaren in charge har utsett mig till volontaransvarig (varfor alltid ag? jag ville verkligen inte! kan man aldrig fa vara ledig?) sa nu fragar alla mig, HELA tiden, om itt och datt och forvantar sig att jag ska veta allt. hmmmm men men what to do. Eftersom att jag ar en person som jag ar sa vet jag ju ocksa det mesta de fragar om, eftersom jag alltid ska ha kontroll pa tillvaron.
4, imorgon bitti ska jag aka med kliniken till Dhaki, som ligger 3 timmar soder om Kalkutta i ett reservat for tigrar (typ). alltsa vi havet! ska verkligen bli harligt medfrisk luft, kanner redan att Kalkuttas smog och avgaser har forgiftat mina lungor. (Har dessutom hunnit med en magsjuka, en forkylning, en hudinfektion) I dhaki kommer vi att jobba som vanligt, men sen stanna ytterligare tva dagar for att besoka projektets skolor och liknande som finns dar. Ska bli kul! Och nasta vecka ska vi till Darjeeling! Ska verkligen bli kul - det ligger uppe i bergen pa flera tusen meters hojd, och kommer definitivt bli en riktig naturupplevelse :)
5, hjag har bokat min flygbiljett viare till Trivandrum! Underbart, nu kan jag annu mer se fram emot min yogasemester. Jag gor visserligen yoga varje morgon, ca 30-45 minuter, men det blir en annan sak att vara i ett tempel, och sen ett par veckor pa stranden ar ju aldrig fel... (!)
Det var allt for idag, nu dags for bengali - lektion!
och till er alla dar hemma:
Kerona, Kerona, Ami tomay bolabassi
(don't cry, don't cry, I love you!)
Sa mycket att beratta sa jag vet inte var jag ska borja... (!)
Men kortfattat sa har detta hant de senaste dagarna:
1, Jag har halsat pa mitt och Eriks fadderbarn har utanfor Kolkata, i en liten liten by i ett litet litet hus (kanske 2*3 meter) med en gemensam sang och en stol. Maten lagar de utanfor huset. Var lilla fadderflicka heter Superna (uttalas Tjupperna) och ar 12 ar och jattejattesot! :) Men jatteblyg, hon vagade knappt saga ett ord... Hennes favoritfarg ar vit (inte sa konstigt, for INGENTING forblir vitt i Indien!) och hennes favoritamne i skolan ar engelska (fast hon kunde inte saga nagot pa engelska...) och hon vill bli larare nar hon blir stor. Hon har en papegoja och en kanin som sallskapsdjur, och langt har upprullat i flator! Det var verkligen rolgt att fa traffa henne. Jag o Erik betalar hennes skolgang genom att donera 200 kr per manad. Kanns verkligen bra att se att pengarna kommer till ratta och inte som man far hora om sa manga organisationer dar pengarna bara forsvinner ut im tomma intet (eller ner i andras fickor)...
Nagot som var minre kul, men nu i efterhand ar en liten anekdot vard att minnas, var att var bil slutade fungera dar ute, mitt ute i ingenstans pa landsbygden, flera mil pa smavagar fran Kolkata. De ringde till IIMC (organisationen dar jag jobbar) och de lovade att komma med en ny bil - et tog tva timmar! Under tiden satt vi pa bilens tak och lyssnade pa vilda hundar som skall och djungelljud. Lite laskigt! :) sen blev vi inbjudna till en av bybornas hus dar vi fick sitta pa en sang och vanta, under tien serverade de oss cha (the) och snacks (sa nu kommer jag efinitivt bli magsjuk sa det skvatter om et!)
Till slut gick vi ut igen och satt pa grasmattan, lyssnade pa nattsyrsorna och beunrae eldflugornas dans i traden, ratt mysigt anda, och eftersom att bilen till slut kom sa slutae hela historien lyckligt ;)
2, jag har varit pa sight-seeing i Kalkutta. Bland annat sett pa nar de tillverkat stora statyer infor den stora festivalen durga puja (en flera dagar lang festival och ledighet liknande var jul med tanda lyktor och en massa statyer overallt) och jag har tillsammans med de andra gatt vilse i stan och hamnat mitt i ett monsunliknande regn, utan paraply :/
3, Jag har fortsatt jobba saklart. Varje dag nar vi kommer till "jobbet" sa mots vi av en skock skolbarn som alla vill halsa, ta i hand, och fa autografer, otroligt gulligt ;) alla nya volontarer har kommit sa jag fick lara upp dem det lilla jag kunde. men det verkar ha gatt bra. Tyvarr har lakaren in charge har utsett mig till volontaransvarig (varfor alltid ag? jag ville verkligen inte! kan man aldrig fa vara ledig?) sa nu fragar alla mig, HELA tiden, om itt och datt och forvantar sig att jag ska veta allt. hmmmm men men what to do. Eftersom att jag ar en person som jag ar sa vet jag ju ocksa det mesta de fragar om, eftersom jag alltid ska ha kontroll pa tillvaron.
4, imorgon bitti ska jag aka med kliniken till Dhaki, som ligger 3 timmar soder om Kalkutta i ett reservat for tigrar (typ). alltsa vi havet! ska verkligen bli harligt medfrisk luft, kanner redan att Kalkuttas smog och avgaser har forgiftat mina lungor. (Har dessutom hunnit med en magsjuka, en forkylning, en hudinfektion) I dhaki kommer vi att jobba som vanligt, men sen stanna ytterligare tva dagar for att besoka projektets skolor och liknande som finns dar. Ska bli kul! Och nasta vecka ska vi till Darjeeling! Ska verkligen bli kul - det ligger uppe i bergen pa flera tusen meters hojd, och kommer definitivt bli en riktig naturupplevelse :)
5, hjag har bokat min flygbiljett viare till Trivandrum! Underbart, nu kan jag annu mer se fram emot min yogasemester. Jag gor visserligen yoga varje morgon, ca 30-45 minuter, men det blir en annan sak att vara i ett tempel, och sen ett par veckor pa stranden ar ju aldrig fel... (!)
Det var allt for idag, nu dags for bengali - lektion!
och till er alla dar hemma:
Kerona, Kerona, Ami tomay bolabassi
(don't cry, don't cry, I love you!)
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