I visited the Bombay slums today...
...with my Aunt. She's been volunteering her medical expertise there for over 35 years.
The Bombay slums are massive. Half of the city's nearly 16 million people live in the feeble, aluminum shacks and pay rent to the "slum lords" who have illegally claimed the land.
My Aunt is a retired doctor with a big heart. It's easy to volunteer in a nice hospital or retirement home or something, but for the past 35 years, she's been trudging through mud "roads" during heavy rains and commuting in crowded busses and subways just to tend to the sick and the poor. I think she's amazing.
She volunteers in different parts of the slums. Since over 7 million people inhabit them, they're huge and many areas to tend to. Today when I accompanied her, we went to a predominantly Muslim area, so I had to dress down and "cover up". Not that I usually show a whole lot of skin, but I had to be ultra conservative.
Tuberculosis is rampant in the slums. I got kind of scared because you can catch it just by breathing infected air, but my aunt assured me I'd be alright.
While I was there, I saw men, women, and children being treated for numerous illnesses, from mothers bringing in babies that refused to eat to people with Tuberculosis. It was really heart-wrenching to watch. Especially seeing the children. They didn't choose where to be born, they just happened to be born poor. It is no fault of theirs. I guess it just made me feel lucky to be who and where I am.
It made me feel selfish for worrying and complaining about the insignificant things that I whine about, while these people don't even know if they'll have enough money for their next meal. It just made me think a little.
I'm glad I came here. I was/am still really homesick, but I don't think I'd trade coming here for anything. It really opens my eyes to what's really out there because you can't even imagine how it is here in certain areas from thousands of miles away.
On a slightly better note...
I tried on my first SARI yesterday! It was awesome! It was only for a little while. My cousin showed me how to drape one. I felt really elegant in it! Pictures when I get back home for sure.
Speaking of getting back home...
I LEAVE HERE TOMORROW EVENING!!! I SHOULD BE HOME THE 22ND! HOLY CRAP I'M EXCITED!
The Bombay slums are massive. Half of the city's nearly 16 million people live in the feeble, aluminum shacks and pay rent to the "slum lords" who have illegally claimed the land.
My Aunt is a retired doctor with a big heart. It's easy to volunteer in a nice hospital or retirement home or something, but for the past 35 years, she's been trudging through mud "roads" during heavy rains and commuting in crowded busses and subways just to tend to the sick and the poor. I think she's amazing.
She volunteers in different parts of the slums. Since over 7 million people inhabit them, they're huge and many areas to tend to. Today when I accompanied her, we went to a predominantly Muslim area, so I had to dress down and "cover up". Not that I usually show a whole lot of skin, but I had to be ultra conservative.
Tuberculosis is rampant in the slums. I got kind of scared because you can catch it just by breathing infected air, but my aunt assured me I'd be alright.
While I was there, I saw men, women, and children being treated for numerous illnesses, from mothers bringing in babies that refused to eat to people with Tuberculosis. It was really heart-wrenching to watch. Especially seeing the children. They didn't choose where to be born, they just happened to be born poor. It is no fault of theirs. I guess it just made me feel lucky to be who and where I am.
It made me feel selfish for worrying and complaining about the insignificant things that I whine about, while these people don't even know if they'll have enough money for their next meal. It just made me think a little.
I'm glad I came here. I was/am still really homesick, but I don't think I'd trade coming here for anything. It really opens my eyes to what's really out there because you can't even imagine how it is here in certain areas from thousands of miles away.
On a slightly better note...
I tried on my first SARI yesterday! It was awesome! It was only for a little while. My cousin showed me how to drape one. I felt really elegant in it! Pictures when I get back home for sure.
Speaking of getting back home...
I LEAVE HERE TOMORROW EVENING!!! I SHOULD BE HOME THE 22ND! HOLY CRAP I'M EXCITED!