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Published: January 21st 2007
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Making card
Blind children learning to manufacture card and boxes to sell to local companies I started work on Tue, as Monday was a festival day, I think to say thank you to the animals and the crops. The office is only a 15 min rik shaw journey away, however the journey is a little different to the home-car-work routine I had in England. Leaving the apartment I pass a few fruit sellers, a cow or two, and about 20 people just hanging about, there are people everywhere and anywhere and mostly men. We get the rik shaw where our road meets the main road, this takes us past a building site where women carry the rubble in pots on their heads. We then pass a few more cows, some houses and sometimes different cows who pull carts, these cows have colourfully decorated horns. We then pass some shops, a school and then a slum, and then finally get to work, a little different to my journey in to Welwyn. I have my own office which was very exciting, the first day I just got settled in, and went to register with the police etc. It’s great, we have one guy who is employed just to make tea and get our lunch.
On Wed Susan’s
Learning to weave
Disabled girls from surrounding villages learning to weave as they haven't received a formal education brother arrived and I started my visits. Locally there is a blind school, children come from all over Bangalore where they teach all sorts of academic subjects using brail, they attempted to teach me how to do algebra using brail but as you can imagine it just confused me. They do it so fast its amazing. They also teach the children to make corrugated card and boxes using different machines, how to milk cows, and for the rural children they train them in horticulture, they then sell the plants, milk and card on to local companies to make money for the organization, but it also prepares them for employment. The following day I went to three organizations and a residential home, to speak with people about fundraising and the type of work they do. I will attach some photos soon.
On Friday I finally made it out of Bangalore, we went to some of the rural based community based rehabilitation schemes, out of 500 villages these organizations found 3500 people with disabilities, they set up training schemes as well as medical help and day care centers for the disabled children so the parents could work. We visited one day
Rural Community Based Scheme
Teaching blind people to pick coconuts to sell at local market care centre with about 6 or 7 children, most with acute cerebral palsy. In the rural areas doctors don’t diagnose the symptoms early so it is harder to rehabilitate them at later stages, but they are now using a wooden chair where they strap the children in to help their neck and back strength, a world away to what we would receive at home. Following this we went to visit a young girl who was a polio victim, she showed me her leg where one had grown normally but the polio had stunted any growth in the other.
The villages seemed far more primitive to what I had seen in Indonesia, they would cook outside over a fire burning stove, the interiors lacked any decoration and the roofs tended to be a combination of tiles and cloth. I thought I had a good understanding of the disparities between rich and poor here, but nothing can really prepare you for it. I was also taken to a workshop where they make silk which was fascinating, although half of the girls looked about 12 which was a little upsetting
Through the week I had eaten some strange food at the
Day Care Centre
Rural children with cerebral palsy at day care centre, this allows parents to access full time work places I had visited, I am beginning to get to grip with eating with my hands off banana leaves, it’s quite an art. By the end of the week I had stated to feel the effects and managed to escape from the flat to Pizza Hut where I ate loads of pasta. Feeling replete and happy I returned home to find that Susan was now moving into my room and my bed was to be given to her brother, hmmm. Now Susan and I sleep on mattresses on the floor, sharing a room. Thankfully we had brought some rum and wine the night before so through the 3 hour power cut that night we sat up drinking, which made it all a little more bearable. But I have decided to look for a new place to live.
Saturday morning came and I was desperate to see more of Bangalore and gain a bit more independence, as Susan and her brother, although really kind and enjoy a drink they like to stay in. So off I went on my own to MG Road, miles away from home, I didn’t have any idea what I was doing. Made it there safely,
Silk
Boiling cocoons to make silk had a look around some of the malls, had lunch and more wine in the restaurant I went to the other day, at this point I was thinking what the hell am I doing here in Bangalore, knowing only two people and having no idea where to go. After lunch I met some American guys here on business, they sent me in the way of Brigate Road. So off I went on another rik shaw which dumped me at the bottom of this very crowded road, I found Thomas Cook, changed some money and the guy who served me put me in the direction of Church Street.
Again of I plodded and looking a little lost among the hoards of Indian people on Church Street I heard a “hallo” in my ear, much to my surprise a Dutch guy called Alex approached me, thank god I thought! He has been here only two weeks and is here on a 9 month internship too!! Not only this, the Indian guy he was with (called earth?!) sorts out accommodation for expats that work for this company that the Dutch guy was with, couldn’t be more ideal! Anyway, we all went for
lunch, then some beer, then some coffee, then more beer and cocktails and then to a club, such a relief!! It was so nice to meet Alex, someone who is completely in the same situation as you, although he has a fridge, cooker, microwave, washing machine, so not quite the same but almost. We are meeting in the week for dinner and going to organise some trips for the weekends with a local tour company. Today I am meeting with Earth to sort out my Indian sim card and other bits and pieces.
I am sure I have missed out lots and next week should have more in store so shall write again soon and add some pictures at work.
Love and Kisses
Kate
xxx
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Jen
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Wow, can't believe all that- there's just so much going on! It's v brave that you went off to explore, and great you met Alex, what a relief! I was getting a bit anxious at one point.. Good luck with finding a new place lovely.. not much happening here, but it is snowing! Can't wait to hear from you again, and see more pics- gives such a good insight, though i still can't really believe you're there, it's amazing! i'll you write a proper e-mail soon.. love you loads and miss you xxxxxxxx