What we did: Prem Dan, shopping, took Jeff to doctor,
allergic reaction
Budget: 3000B/$100; Spent: 5160R/$103
Although we both made it to the Mother House this morning,
Jeff was feeling terrible and so decided to head back home to rest instead of doing his shift at Prem Dan. He rested the rest
of the morning.
When I first arrived at Prem Dan I felt exhausted both mentally and physically. The past few days of volunteering, experiencing all these new things, and trying to piece together everything to understand it all better really takes a toll on a brain. I went into the laundry part of the morning with almost no energy and I felt bad about it. I was kind of upset with myself because I asked myself how would I be if I had 2 more weeks of this everyday? I guess not everyday is going to be your best day, it was clear the early mornings and lack of sleep and all the thinking/feeling we had been doing was all catching up to me that's for sure. The laundry went by reasonably quick. I was quiet most of the time except when I spoke up to some of the women next to me who were ringing out the laundry and then throwing it back into a puddle of water. I was happy when it was over all over because I just wanted to spend the day with Dupali, Reka, and Shishubala.
I spent the first part of the morning sitting with Shishu. She was talking away and I was happy that she had so much energy because I wanted to take her outside. Something she hadn't done since my first day. One of the young Indian students who was at Prem Dan volunteering for the day taught me how to say friends in Bengali. I said to Shishubala "bondhu" and pointed to me and then to her. She nodded and then touched her heart and kept talking in Bengali using her hands and pointing up to the sky. I have no idea what she said but I was happy.
Shishu tried to explain to me she needed something but I didn't understand what. A sister called out that she needed to go the bathroom. A massy brought over a bucket for her to go in. I helped her out of bed and helped hold her up as she went. When she was done a massy brought her tissue to wipe herself and then I disposed of the waste in the shower room by putting it down the drain in the floor. Finally said she was ready to get out of bed so I found her a wheelchair and helped her into it. She's so tiny and frail that it's like helping a small child into a wheel chair. Her poor leg, I wonder what caused the paralysis. I also wonder where her children are since she told me she has 4.
When we got outside it was tea time and massage time for all the patients. A couple days prior there was a patient who refused to talk to me. I sat beside her one day and she ignored me and even got up to sit somewhere else. Oddly, today she was cold and a sister brought a sweater for her and handed it to me to bring to her. She was having trouble putting it on so I helped her and she kind of thanked me but still didn't want to have anything to do with me. It didn't really bother me but I wished there was something I could do to make her happy. But then there's the ladies who are so appreciative of your help or any gesture. They're the ones who make the volunteers' day happier. I spoke with so many nice ladies today. One lady spoke English very well. She had trouble walking but she told me she would be out of the home in a few months. She was knitting when I first saw her. Turns out there is a knitting program that was started by an Austrian lady of Indian decent. She is a volunteer who happens to make living off arts and crafts back in Austria and she started the program herself and is working with other volunteers and patients to keep it going. It has been going on for several months from my understanding.
Another lady asked for a back rub and 5 mins in she touched my hand looked me in the eyes and said thank you. It put a smile on my face. In between interacting with them all I would every now and then go back to Shishu to see if she needed anything. She was content sitting next to some of the ladies. She even grabbed the hand of the lady next to her, whom I don't think she knew and just held it for awhile. Reka was getting attention from several of the workers so I didn't see her too much aside from saying hello to her.
During the massages a boisterous Italian lady began having fun with 2 of the ladies sitting on big bench type swing. The Italian lady was singing some odd song and telling them to "baila!" They were playing tag kind of and whenever the Italian lady would come up behind them she would poke them and yell "baila!" They would start laughing and this went on for a couple minutes and then before we knew it one of the Indian lady's who was playing actually began to sing an Indian song at the top of her lungs. She started singing her guts out and even started doing some bollywood moves. Two of the sisters were laughing hysterically and everyone else was smiling and the Italian lady had a huge smile on her face. It was a great moment.
One of the older lady's I helped yesterday called me over and was pointing to her mouth. A volunteer sitting next to her said she just wanted to kiss me on the cheek. So I went in and the sweet little old lady kissed both my cheeks and my hands and looked me in the eyes. She was so cute. She reminded me of Dupali so I decided to go inside and see her. When I went in she was still sleeping. I tried to wake her but she wouldn't move. I started to get a little worried when I started to shake her again and she still wouldn't make a sound. As a sister walked by I told her what was happening and she tried to wake her as well. Dupali still wouldn't show any signs of consciousness. The sister went and grabbed the head sister immediately and when she rushed over she gently but firmly tapped Dupali on the shoulder. Finally Dupali made a little mouse sound and we all were relieved. The head sister raised her up and fed the medication to her.They both smiled and walked away. I was hoping to take Dupali outside on our last day again but she was too weak today. She hasn't been eating well and she seems to be getting weaker. I sat with her for a bit. Then some lunch came and I figured out a way of getting her to eat. I would spoon the food into her mouth and then giver her water to help wash it down. This worked for about 6 spoonfuls until she began pushing the plate away. I asked her to keep eating and told her she needed it and then she took one more. After that, she used the tiny bit of energy she had to refuse anymore food. Once lunch time was over I brought Dupali's plate back outside and plopped the remaining food on her plate in a bucket of water. This of course resulted in the water splashing on me to which almost made me puke in my mouth. Gross.
Once lunch time winds down all the patients get brought back to their beds for naps. I helped Shishubala back inside and put her to bed. She kept asking me for things like a new diaper and a toque. I found both and put them on her. I told her I would be back to say goodbye. I went outside in search of Barbara to get a picture with her and to thank her and to say goodbye. She doesn't have e-mail so I told her I would write to her but that she had to write me back. I said I would get her info from Linda and Cecille our Indonesian friends at Daya Dan later in the day. And then we hugged and said goodbye.
I went back inside by myself and there were several patients that still needed blankets so I found them some and tucked them in. Reka called out for something so I went over to her and fixed her blanket for her. She was shaking pretty intensely and it pained me to see her like that before I left. I didn't know what to do so I started to sing Frank Sinatra's "the way you look tonight"... that turned into "somewhere over the rainbow" and soon she was not shaking so much. This brought a tear to my eye and then I said goodbye to Reka. I went over to Shishu to tell her I was leaving for good. I'm not sure if she understood, but if she did she didn't seem to care much. I'll miss her though. Then I said bye to Dupali. As I was walking it out though, the girl that sleeps near the exit was sitting up. She speaks English and during all my time at Prem Dan I wanted to talk to her to get to know her. Some how as I was leaving we started talking about things. I told her it was my last day and that I hope when I come back to Prem Dan that she's no longer at the home but healthy, well and happy at home. She told me she had a very sad story, and that she didn't know where she'd be months from now. Apparently the doctors said she wouldn't survive when she was initially diagnosed with cancer. It also looked like she battled some kind of skin disorder because her skin was discoloured in many areas including her face and she had bandages on her feet. She also can't walk much. She told me that she probably wouldn't go home and that her brother has already told her that there is nothing he can do for her. I didn't know what to say. There was an awkward pause and the first thing I said was that he has to live with himself and that she should remember all the friends and people who love and care for her at Prem Dan. Everyone was leaving so mid conversation I kind of got swept out. It was a good note to leave on; it was a reminder that it precisely for the sick and the lonely that Mother Theresa opened her homes. It was so that people who have been abandoned are not left this way. So that they know they are not forgotten.
The volunteer room was locked by this time so I couldn't wash my hands before leaving. It sucked too because since I was one of the last volunteers to leave I would probably be heading back alone. Luckily I remembered a shortcut back to the main road. I ran there and fortunately for me I was able to catch up to Val and 2 other guys and hitch a tuk tuk back with them. We got in and about 200m down the road I realized I forgot my backpack. I knew I was forgetting something. I had to ask the tuk tuk to stop and I ended up running back to the main road. I was kind of worried about walking around in that area completely alone. Things got worse when I took a wrong turn and was completely disoriented. Two young guys saw I was lost and helped direct me back to Prem Dan. They walked me back to the train tracks, one guy leading me almost led me into an oncoming train where there was no sidewalk to stand on one side. This was slightly terrifying. Thank god I noticed the train and the lack of sidewalk which prompted me to head to the other side with the side walk. When the train passed, the guy apologized smiling and then they pointed me in the direction of Prem Dan. I was still unsure of where to go. I started to panic a little because I had never been on my own like that completely lost and by myself in India. I was also running late and Jeff would be waiting for me. My voice was shaky when I asked a man which way to Prem Dan. A man in the distance saw I was in distress and he left his food stand to help me. He looked concerned and barely looked at me, as if to assure me he meant no harm. Being a woman alone in India can be scary at times. At this point 2 men were leading me into a deserted back pathway with no road and I'm thinking to myself do I go or not? The road didn't even look like it led anywhere. My gut was telling me these guys were okay, especially the one kind man who walked over to help me. As we walked down the path an opening appeared with a door to Prem Dan. We knocked and a little window opened and the guy insisted I needed to go to the other entrance to get in. I begged him to open the gate but he refused. The 2 guys continued to lead me and finally we arrived at the main entrance. I bowed my head with hands clasped in prayer and thanked them like an Indian would. And now I know why they do that. It was the best way to show them my gratitude for their kindness. And they grasped my appreciation. Next obstacle was finding someone to open the door to the volunteer room which was locked. What a frickin disaster this was I thought to myself. I ended up interrupting the sisters' lunch and the head sister graciously left the table to help me get into the room. 5 minutes later we found the key and out I walked with my bag. The adventure was not over yet though. I ran back to the main road with adrenaline still pumping. I caught a tuk tuk after 5 minutes of standing there. This time my gut told me the driver wasn't trustworthy but I got in anyway for an agreed price of the trip at 50 rupees. He ended up picking up 4 other guys too. We drove for probably 25 minutes and I had no idea where in the hell he was taking me. It was definitely not the route back to Sudder St which should only take about 15 mins tops. I assumed he was going to drop off the guys first even though I got in the car first. Well 30 minutes goes by and I am getting really impatient but trying to hide it. I continually confirm with the guy that he's taking me to Sudder St and he confirms he will. Finally the 3 guys get dropped off somewhere. 5 minutes later after about 40 mins in the car with this special special piece of something special, we arrive at Sudder St. As I am getting ready to pay him a lady with her 2 young sons is ready to get into the tuk tuk. I realized I didn't have change for him, only 100 rupees. So I hand the 100R bill to him expecting change and then he says something that almost gets him strangled.... by me.... "no I said 150R". I almost lost it. I could not believe what I was hearing. I told him to kiss my butt and demanded my change. He starts telling the lady waiting to get in that I owe him 150 rupees and that he drove me a long way. I was ready to seriously assault this guy. I started yelling at him and told him to give me my change NOW. I put my hand in the bag to take back my 100R bill and he grabbed my hand and took it out. At this point, I knew I wasn't going to win so all I did as I walked out of the tuk tuk was poke him in the shoulder and say karma and left. He didn't say anything in response. As I crossed the street I looked back and he was staring at me with concern in his eyes. I felt so rotten about the whole situation. I was practically shaking I was so angry. And it made me ponder the whole situation. Why was I mad over 50R? But then of course it was not about the money. It was the deceit the blatant lying and the stealing that made me so angry. As I stood there I hailed a taxi, horrified at what happened and worried it might happen again with this taxi. My voice was shaky when I told him where I needed to go and I think he sensed that so it was all business from there and soon enough I arrived at the hotel at around 1:30pm, exhausted, upset but relieved and very hungry.
Jeff was feeling very bad and we decided to take him to the
doctor today; doctor opened around 6:30pm. There was a really helpful guy sitting in the lobby of the hotel who went above and beyond to help us get in contact with the doctor. He offered to walk us to the office when the time came. No idea who he was, but very nice guy.
Jeff-
Patty had to pick up her Lengha and my kurta so we decided
she would go to Sutter St. by herself
I decided no matter how I feel, I will never let Patty
go by herself simply because I worry too much…not because I don't trust
Patty, but because I have a stupid imagination that runs wild, especially when
Patty says she’ll be home around 5pm and doesn’t get home until 5:45pm…that scares
Jeff!
Patty returned then we went to the doctor for medication. The doctor
was extremely helpful, friendly, and informative; seriously the best doctor we've probably
ever seen.
He gave me a prescription and we bought drugs from the
attached shop. We had passed by a small café getting to the doctor so we
went there for dinner. I took the pills and we enjoyed a nice meal. When we were done eating though, I starting
itching my head a lot. I began thinking maybe I had lice or something; Then, Patty started
noticing that my face was slowly turning red and that little red spots were appearing on my face. They resembled mosquito bites so we weren't sure what to think. I started itching in other
places and it was clear I was having a reaction of some sort. I immediately
took a Claritin and then we rushed back to the doctor.
I was panicking a little by the time we got to the
doctor. This had never happened to me before. When we got there and showed the doctor what was going on he didn’t show much concern, but gave us some pills to
counteract the reaction and told us to cease taking all the pills. He then said to have something more to eat and return within an hour to double check that I was getting better.
We went back to hotel and I took off my shirt to survey the
damages, and they were large indeed. I was covered, head to toe, in large red spots.
Everything was beginning to swell. I was extremely itchy and eventually the itching was so severe I took a cold shower to try to calm it down. This helped, but it also looked like things were getting worse, so we
went back to doctor.
I was feeling anxious again, I had no idea what was happening to my body, but it was unlike anything I had ever experienced before. All I can say is that it felt like my body was in utter shock. We were relieved when the doctor said he thought things
were looking better. The spots were “spreading out” he said, which was a good thing. I sat there for a couple minutes, and then the doctor sent us home and told us
to call him in the morning.
When we returned back to the hotel, I was in serious
discomfort; it felt like my skin was on fire and it would not stop. It went on
like this for about two hours, with the feeling mostly in my legs at this
point. It was one of the most uncomfortable experiences of my life. I was shivering uncontrollably due to the constant discomfort.
Things finally calmed down and I was looking normal again. We made record of the 3 drugs I took to ensure I never take them again. The doctor said if I take the drug I am allergic to again, the consequences would be much more severe. He emphasized the importance of remembering them and keeping them on record. He also mentioned that the reaction may have been due to contracting worms. He said worms were very common in foreigners after having spent an extended period of time in places like India. So it looks as though we'll have to look into this worm thing. This was India giving us more sucker punch for the road.
Once things got back to normal we watched the rest of
Silver Linings Playbook, which turned out to be a pleasant surprise; we both
really enjoyed the movie.
Tomorrow, it’s off to Bangkok. Frankly, it can’t come soon
enough!
helpful information you have shared..
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