I awoke to my watch alarm at 7:30 a.m., which I was not happy about! I was very tired this morning and was wishing for another hour of sleep but we had to be ready to go by 8:30. My stomach is feeling much better and I am thinking I will try real Indian food today! This will be interesting! Breakfast is still two egg whites and a piece of toast! I was feeling quiet faint and dizzy after breakfast this morning but have been increasingly been feeling more well as the day progressed. Also, another awesome sight this morning was a parade outside our hotel! The roads were closed for about 30 minutes, which I thought would never be a possibility, and bands, people, floats etc. were taken around the city! I feel very lucky I was able to view this amazing sight because I can relate to it while being in America! P.s. the floats were carried by men (how fascinating).
When we arrived at the hospital we were greeted by Uma and our translators. We all would be leaving for the Leprosy village at 10. The village was only 15 minutes away which also caught my attention. I was thinking the village would be secluded in a far off village with no other contact etc., boy I was soo wrong! The village was placed just a little farther back than other homes in the area. The trees and grass made the village seem different and secluded but in all reality it was in an area that provided connection between them and the “outside” world. We listened for a while concerning the village foundation, mean age of the village now, how they move about etc. It grabbed my attention and I was able to get a grasp on how they function in their everyday life. The village began in 1973 which encompassed people whom were affected with leprosy, either their families abandoned them or they had no where else to go. The people arriving in the village when it first came about were around ages 10 and older. The amazing idea is that their families would drop them off and visit for a few weeks but the visits eventually came to a halt. So with no further connection to their families the people would marry with in the village. Women were seen as being at risk with out family or a husband so they were married as fast as possible. The idea behind this is that women need to be looked after and taken care of by their family/husband and they are at risk for harm etc. if they are left alone. I find it empowering to marry with in the village when there was no one else to turn to. The marriages would bear normal children and they would in turn go and receive an education or work outside of the leper community. The families currently in the village number to 200 and they are offered to come/go as they please. A side note; 300 people were living in the colony last year so with out saying many have died from this illness. There are two path ways, one is to leave the village in order to beg and get money or the second is to live with in the village and work if he/she so can, receiving money in return. We viewed many of the women working on bandages and their own cots. The women make all that is used with in the village and this was viewed through person, photograph and video. I am very excited to share the views I have seen. The lepers themselves were depressed and many were disfigured due to the illness. They were so thrilled to see people from America visiting! They stated that no one from America had ever come to their village and that they wish us well. One woman blessed our entire group for a long life filled with happiness and education! This was very thoughtful and so kind after seeing her in her state. The colony was itself amazing and each person had his/her own special skill. I was very happy yet sad while visiting. I am glad they have somewhere to go in which they are accepted but then again the lowliness and the seclusion must be very difficult. I can not even begin to put into words the views/thoughts I was experiencing while at the colony.
The leprosy colony was secretly placed with tree/grass providing protection. The ground consisted of red dirt and was very easy to get around. The drainage system provided was cement lines that ran along the buildings providing for water entry and removal. The water was standing and looked as if it had been for awhile! The amazing symmetry the housing facilities offered was depicted as apartment housing. Three –four main buildings were provided for the housing of the lepers and their families. I was curious to view the inside of many of the homes but felt it was too intrusive to ask. One main building provided for the upkeep/clinics for the rest of the colony. An eating facility was also provided. I have amazing pictures of the rice that was being prepared for lunch; I can not wait to share these. I would also like to comment on the working facilities that are offered for those willing/able to work for Rs. Two main buildings are provided for their convenience and we viewed such women making bandages, cots and cloth. This I mentioned above but the conditions of work seemed relaxed and very cool. A few dogs and monkeys roamed around the colony which gave me the image of them being alone and secluded similarly to the people living there. The many conditions seen through viewing the people greatly increased my knowledge and awareness of what leprosy actually is. I have seen people whom were blind, dirty, with no legs or arms, deteriorating bodies (feet/hands) as well as those who were simply family with no physical aliments. I will never forget the faces of the many people we were able to see. I greatly appreciate the kindness and the openness offered from all whom occupied the village.
Upon leaving the village I was able to reflect on not only their conditions but mine as well. I was not feeling well at the end of the trip such as feeling dizzy and nauseated. I was taken back to the bus and sat in the air conditioning for awhile which felt great on my body. I think not eating a well balanced diet for the last few days and being in the hot sun walking around made me feel overwhelmed and sick. I was happy to find that when leaving the colony I felt much better and could think of how those in the colony feel. I can not relate to how they are secluded or how they physically feel but I can relate to feeling oppressed at some points through out my life. Everyone has their ups/downs and I feel that the lepers have greater terrain across the mountains. Feeling alone and depressed through out their whole life is a terrible way to live, it makes me sick to my stomach thinking about it. One man made a comment describing how long he has been in the colony and it goes something like this, “A murder is sentenced to 14 years in prison and I have been here for over twice that amount of time, what have I done? What did I do to deserve where I am now?” I think this quote is empowering and exhilarating. He is not only looking at the bigger picture but he is living a life he believes is not sustainable for his self worth. He has done nothing to deserve this condition and now is secluded away from society and living a life in depression. I have grown in thinking about the bigger picture of life and what each of us is meant to do. I am happy to be blessed with the skills and knowledge I have but would like to help those in need. I hope our program will be implemented in a positive way and I hope it will change the health of many women in southern India. The destitute seen in the colony is something that I would like to see change across the world.
We left the colony with images never seen before to again research at the hospital. We ate an amazing lunch around one and I felt amazing thereafter! Jackie and I talked with the OB/GYN to have our last minute questions answered but now we need Uma’s advice on our flip book/we need it to be translated. I am not sure how this will go about/when we will be able to present it but I am sure it will work itself out! Tomorrow is Friday already, what a trip! We are anxious on when we will be able to present our topic to the women but will find out as the days pass.
This afternoon we did more research and I specifically blogged and put all my pictures in order! We did not have much to do so we simply relaxed. Uma helped us configure our slides after his meeting and we will be working with another representative tomorrow to print/align everything! The rest of the group is again going to a village to continue questionnaires. We will be staying in the hospital working on our information because we do not have anything left to do! Maybe this will be another chance to explore! When we got back to the hotel tonight everyone was exhausted and wanting BEER! We arranged to meet downstairs to get beer but we figured we would as the front desk where the closest place to find beer was! This was a good idea; he took us downstairs and out the back ramp to a liquor store! It is literally out our window; do not know how we did not catch that before, haha. We each got a beer and I am currently sitting here watching Disney channel, drinking my “Madras” and eating Cheerios! What a life.
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