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Published: September 18th 2010
5:30am Exercise Class
Everyday we do exercises for 20-25 mins. I am leading a portion of yoga moves!Finally access to the internet to update my peeps on my first couple weeks of volunteering at an orphanage in India.
The flights from Canada where great, Air Canada first class service despite an economy ticket. My 3 layover in Frankfurt was appreciated to sit for a sandwich and walk around to stretch. I was virtually the last person to receive my luggage on arrival - maybe because I was carrying a huge hockey bag full of wonderful donated items from Canada. In my case, I was carrying Sarees's the local dress for ladies and I wondered why would we bring that?? but soon realized that the woman who work in the homes, appreciate a used saree of good quality. Young people don't generally wear sarees here (unless special occasion), only older ladies (that does not include me.) Within my first 10 mins of my drive to the orphanage, I saw what I remembered of India 20yrs ago. No such thing as night, despite it being 2am, the streets were busling with cars and people, a man urinating on the side of the road, big trucks (lorries) painted bright yellow and constant honking of cars - it doesn't ever stop.
The Beautiful Art of Mendi
Henna on one of the older girls hands. Very popular here and I am the recipient of this magical art. I've learned to shut my ears to it.
The "hostel" as the kids call it, is located in Kismatpur Village - for anyone who hits this blog thinking of volunteering for Child Haven in Hyderabad- I wish I had that knowledge sooner so that I could do some research on the area. I guess it proves you should always ask better questions! The village is about 1hr from Hyd depending on traffic. Its starting to develop fast because the new international airport was built about 20mins south. Huge changes happening that I see everyday.
What an experience so far. 150 beautiful children who are so blessed with the care and love from the 20+ women who run the home. As Hyd is the head office for the 8 orphanages scattered throughout India, Nepal, Tibet and Bangledesh, all the accounting/banking and book keeping is done here. Seems very efficient. There is one senior matron of the home who oversees everything and 2 supervisors -one for the boys one for girls. A full time nurse is on staff too - it's needed with 150 kids. Daily something is going on health wise - everything from broken bones (kids will be
A walk in the park
Hilarious. I took 65 children to the nearby "park". Organizing and counting them was such fun as they were so excited to go....couldn't stand still kids) to common cold/cough.
We have experienced abnormal rain so kids are getting sick fairly easily. I'm used to wet feet and because the roads are not really roads but dirt paths, I have a reddish tinge to my feet from the red sands common to the region. I am washing my hands and feet a lot - thank god I brought two pairs of flip flops.
I have to say that having visited India 20yrs ago, backpacking through the south and north, to me not much has changed. I say this because my perspective of India is really from a small village. People still live simply. There is little evidence of running water to the houses (there is power) and sewage runs freely down the "ditches" adjacent to the houses. The people who have homes seem to have the bathroom outside in a separate building and they queue up for hours at the municipal water wells (when they are filled) for drinking water. I don't drink that water, I have the large bottles like in an office building in my room. Still i purify this with my steripen - what a great purchase. In fact the most
Photo from the park
The children were decorating my hair with flowers. Everyday I wear a fresh flower in my hair important things i packed were a small leatherman tool and my steripen oh and a needle and thread - the kids are constantly asking me to stick something on their school uniforms. the clothes are washed daily so buttons and holes appear quite soon.
The orphange is clean despite all the kids and the children sleep huddled together on the floor on sleeping mats (I have a proper bed and mattress). Its cold so I see them all curled up - simply beautiful. I have quickly fallen in love with 2 little sisters who are so precious and one older boy who is 13 and speaks perfect english. He has lived at the home since he was 3 so is used to Interns coming and going. nice kid. The new kids who joined in May (the common timing when new children are admitted) found me strange at first. They had not seen a volunteer so it was new to them. Quickly they have adapted and search me out to play or give them help. I am teaching a couple of simple yoga moves every morning at 5am. Yes the children are up at 5am, brush teeth, simple prayer (more like a mantra as the home is unitarian meaning every child practices their own religion) and then 25mins of exercise prior to bathing, dressing in school uniform and breakfast at 7am. They then study from 7:40 until 8:30 when they depart for school. I walk every day to the english school the kids attend, maybe 15mins away. I love the morning and have quickly gotten to recognize familiar faces in the village.....the big toothy grins from the older folks and the innocent shy smiles from the babes....what a way to start my day!!
I had a challenge uploading pics - will try to figure it out but without access to proper the internet from the home it has proven to be a challenge. I thought I would miss having my laptop but don't because really there is no use for it. The next closest suburb to the village has no wireless - i have to go right into the heart of the city which is not very convenient.
I had planned to stay at least once per month at the Sheraton downtown Hyderabad - with my amazing husbands discount it would be so inexpensive (the rate by Indian standards in insane - over $200 US - I could by a nice simple ruby necklace for that) - but I have not really had the urge to travel downtown to a city of 8million people to stay in a western hotel. I am comfortable and like the food so why?? I have also found a couple shops close by that I go for chai (sweet tea and milk) a much needed cold drink and savory snacks. I have braved one roadside stand for a nice dahl mixture - safe as it is served in a banana leaf with plastic spoon. As long as the place looks reputable and busy, i have confidence. I have eaten in two restos too - no meat but that's perfect for me. The food at the home is simple but fresh fresh vegetables every day -only one pc of fruit per week so when I do go into town, i try to purchase something that is thick skinned and will stay without refrigeration. Bananas, papayas, pomegranates and apples are in season.
Greetings until next time.....missing you all but totally loving this experience.
Check out the NGO website
Child Haven
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Monique
non-member comment
Thank you for sharing
Wow honey, it sounds amazing through your words. Has the rain settled at all, I have been watching the weather there and it seems quite brutal. Are you planning on bringing 3 kids home with you......sounds like something you just might do, you never were big on postcards! Take care, love you and still hoping to see you soon. Can't wait for pics. M