On Poverty

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Sunay, date unknown: Time: 5:20 p.m. I've grown to become very comfortabel with being uncomfortable. Thought go through my head like moments unfolding on a blank screen- We are on our 8 hour epic journey back "home". I am crammed in the front seat with one of my Enrourage and the driver of the vehicle...For some God unknown reason, the entourage (which now includes the entire family with cousins, aunts, a baby, and an 80 year old grandma) does not wnat the a/c on!!!!! the older genteleman beside me, Honerines brother, is a lovely man. He is small and sweating profusely. His sweat is smeared all over my right arm, which is in so much pain from contorting to fit this awkward position I am in. The sweat and smell of him, is on me like a second skin. He is waering his Sunday best and his polyester pants rub on me to make me even hotter than HELL!!! All he seems to do is bark orders : "Get down!" meaning; open the door please and get out kindly or "GO GO GO!" He is always rushing busily like a small mole making his burrow but nothing ever really gets done. Strange it is. I am writing as we drive. Witnessing large trucks (or loris as they call them here) directly in front of me, a head on collision waiting to happen, almost has become the norm for me. I'm not only aclimatizing, but also becoming used to the conventional unsafe rituals of Indian driving. Alongside of me, on the road, the poverty is over-whelming. Om na ma shiva ya! Where have you gone and left your people in shambles?! The people of India who's bright eyed eager smiles that children possess, has turned to empty eyes. Black marbled filled with absolutely no expression!

There's a war waged here. A war of poverty-started from castes stystem and the untouchables vs. the Anglo Indians who hold themselves in such high regard, but eat with their hands stuffed in their mouths as do all people here...When will people learn that we are all the same...cut from the same mold...bleed the same way?

Picking your nose and horking seem to be a social norm here?! I want so bad to help out the people...not only the nose pickers :-) From the homeless child forced so early to give up her youth in order to care for her two smaller siblings wearing no shoes and displaying no teeth-to the men and women, deaf, dubm and blind, begging in the streets. India is not new territory to me. Former communist countries visited (Romania is just one example) and seen, have prepared me for the things I witness here on a daily basis. It's so unbelievable that it becomes believable. I hope that one day, that smile in a young child's eyes will not dissapear and harden and display only a vacant soul.

India is quickly booming. Hopefully a new generation can change directions. HOpefully not an end per se, but a new begining. Let us always be grateful for out blessed and abundant lives. One of my main aims of coming here was to write and chronicle, not ever really deciding to this on my other travels (can u imagine all my stories locked up in my head). I am grateful for the opportunity given to me...although, i really do wish I could put some pictures on with the blogs. I am sure this will happen later. It is what it is and there is so many worse things to be upset about. I am a lucky girl!

ttys,
Fanula

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Comments

[Jerry Arroz]

FANULA!! That "anonymous" e-mail was MINE!!!! Sorry about that I should have left my name.. I thought my e-mail address would have at least appeared! Sounds like you are having some interesting experiences!! I hope the pic problems are solved because I really want to see more pics!!! Thanks for all of the updates!! J (jeremiah...jerry....)