Sorry about all of the disorganized blogging thats been occurring. Stuff has been super hectic in the Elephant House lately. But anyways..
There are three groups: Cobra, Scorpion, and Shatki. Every day, each group is assigned a different task. The three tasks are: Medic, Education, and Construction. Being a part of the medic task force consists of going into the leprosy colonies and performing health care. This care includes taking their blood pressure, changing their bandages, washing their ulcers, clipping their nails, and take measurements for the special shoes that they have to wear so that they are able to walk efficiently. This work is extremely rewarding due to the fact that you know that you are making a difference. Construction is different in each session depending on what needs to be done. For example, Session Four constructed septic tanks and bathrooms throughout the eight colonies that the volunteers are actually involved in. This session however has mainly been trash duty. This work is extremely tedious, and your spirits are never very high considering the fact that you know that within the next week just as much trash will have been accumulated in the area that you just spent a grueling two hours picking up. The education team goes into the school (which consists of the children of leprosy patients that live here on Rising Star campus), and helps tutor the kids. The children are very intelligent, and they completely outsmart me when it comes to math. We leave at 9 am every morning to go out and perform whatever tasks have been assigned to our team/group. We usually get back to the Elephant House at 2 pm. We then have a two and a half hour break to do as we please. At 4:30 we go over to the hostel for play time with the children. We usually have a soccer game, with the teams consisting of the volunteers vs the kids. All of the kids here are extremely athletic. Play time goes until 6, which is when we return home for dinner. Dinner is always the same; red rice and currie. I love it though, mainly because the currie is very spicy. We eat on the roof as the sun sets, and we have a tradition of sharing your high and low for the day. Since everyday is so amazing, our lows are usually the same: It was hot today. We usually finish up with dinner and have all the dishes washed by 7, and then at 7:30 we head over to the hostel for family time. This is when we just hang out inside with the kids and read stories, play games, or just talk. Then at 9 we go home and just hang out until we eventually decide to go to sleep. The only two animals around here that are friendly are Monica the dog and Lola the sheep goat. Monica, along with almost all other dogs around here, has ear infections and therefore whines when you touch them. Lola basically just walks around eating all the time, but allows for people to go up to her and pet her. By the way, a sheep goat is a goat that looks like a sheep. Its a Rising Star thing.
Tonight we had a dance party. We played lame pop music until about 11 and everyone danced like fools. Honestly, no one here can dance, but that doesn't mean that we didn't have fun. Everyone here is very energetic, and they are all really nice people. It hasn't been very long, but I already know that I have changed. Being here, around all this poverty, and all this joy just goes to show that money and materialistic items may provide comfort, but genuine happiness lies in that of having people around you that care about you, and being able to see the good in every situation you find yourself placed in.
There are three groups: Cobra, Scorpion, and Shatki. Every day, each group is assigned a different task. The three tasks are: Medic, Education, and Construction. Being a part of the medic task force consists of going into the leprosy colonies and performing health care. This care includes taking their blood pressure, changing their bandages, washing their ulcers, clipping their nails, and take measurements for the special shoes that they have to wear so that they are able to walk efficiently. This work is extremely rewarding due to the fact that you know that you are making a difference. Construction is different in each session depending on what needs to be done. For example, Session Four constructed septic tanks and bathrooms throughout the eight colonies that the volunteers are actually involved in. This session however has mainly been trash duty. This work is extremely tedious, and your spirits are never very high considering the fact that you know that within the next week just as much trash will have been accumulated in the area that you just spent a grueling two hours picking up. The education team goes into the school (which consists of the children of leprosy patients that live here on Rising Star campus), and helps tutor the kids. The children are very intelligent, and they completely outsmart me when it comes to math. We leave at 9 am every morning to go out and perform whatever tasks have been assigned to our team/group. We usually get back to the Elephant House at 2 pm. We then have a two and a half hour break to do as we please. At 4:30 we go over to the hostel for play time with the children. We usually have a soccer game, with the teams consisting of the volunteers vs the kids. All of the kids here are extremely athletic. Play time goes until 6, which is when we return home for dinner. Dinner is always the same; red rice and currie. I love it though, mainly because the currie is very spicy. We eat on the roof as the sun sets, and we have a tradition of sharing your high and low for the day. Since everyday is so amazing, our lows are usually the same: It was hot today. We usually finish up with dinner and have all the dishes washed by 7, and then at 7:30 we head over to the hostel for family time. This is when we just hang out inside with the kids and read stories, play games, or just talk. Then at 9 we go home and just hang out until we eventually decide to go to sleep. The only two animals around here that are friendly are Monica the dog and Lola the sheep goat. Monica, along with almost all other dogs around here, has ear infections and therefore whines when you touch them. Lola basically just walks around eating all the time, but allows for people to go up to her and pet her. By the way, a sheep goat is a goat that looks like a sheep. Its a Rising Star thing.
Tonight we had a dance party. We played lame pop music until about 11 and everyone danced like fools. Honestly, no one here can dance, but that doesn't mean that we didn't have fun. Everyone here is very energetic, and they are all really nice people. It hasn't been very long, but I already know that I have changed. Being here, around all this poverty, and all this joy just goes to show that money and materialistic items may provide comfort, but genuine happiness lies in that of having people around you that care about you, and being able to see the good in every situation you find yourself placed in.
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ReplyDeleteThis is really great Alex. It is truly wonderful that you have the chance to experience this. I am very proud of you.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your last statement wholeheartedly.
Love,
Stef