Week two, oh my it flew........

How week two flew!

This past week we spent most of our time with Venu Eye Institue. It serves all types of people with refration problems and blindness due to catarats and coronary blindness. The few days were really boring because both of the coordinators there were gone and basically we were dumped at the refratory error area and we spent a lot of time just sitting. They didn't have a lot of patients since it was a holiday week. The next day we went out to the field with them to reach out to the poor rural community for a free check up. For those who needed cataract surgery, they were taken back to the hospital for surgery in the next day. These surgery are provided for free because Venu is government funded and is also funded by other people. An adult cataract surgery cost $20. Yeah, that is right $20!!!! Most of these people are so poor that they cannot afford any care, and if it were not for Venu, they would have died with the cataract problem. While we were there I got to meet a man from parlament. He was more interested in talking to me because I am from the states, and he didn't even take a glance at the people sitting on the floor waiting for transportation to the hospital. It was all for publicity since elections are coming up. His dumb personal assistant even had the nerve to give us his number so we could have a personal tour of parliment. There are so many people here that needs help and the programs that do give help needs money to run.

On Wednesday, we visited Sahara women and child home. It is a place for drug users and injecting drug users to recover and learn basic skills so they can provide their own income. They were so nice. They so badly want to learn English in exchange for Hindi lessons. The youngest girl there was 13 who sniffed whitener. The oldest person there was 77 who had mental issues.

This week I met the most amazing doctor. His name is Dr. Toor. He has such a great heart. He believes in the healing power of human touch and is a huge advocate of following your heart. India is a very religious country and I was surprised to find out that he only goes to temple once a year. He spends sundays working. He believes that God gave him this gift to help God's people and God in return helps his family. He said that "The Happy Prince" written by Oscar Wilde changed his life and he gave us a copy. I really recomend that all of you take the time to read this story. It is a beautiful story and it really touches your heart.

This weekend was Diwali and we got to spend it with Hema's family. Hema is the national coordinator for CFHI. Luckily we are staying in a flat below her so we get to spend time with her and her kids. Anyways, a hindu priest came to conduct a 3 hour puja. It was a lovely ceremony including the elements of the Earth and things the god they pray to likes. They burned a lot of things in the tiny flat and fire turned into a little bon fire. Everyone's eyes were burning and watering. In the end of the ceremony. The priest tied orange sting around my wrist while saying a blessing. (So far I have stained two of my shirts from the string...) We got invited over to Hema's sister in laws house for dinner. Her place is sooooo nice and huge! She lives in a two story penthouse with a terrice. The view up there was incredible. 180 degree view of the city. It was all lit up like Chirstmas and fireworks bursting everywhere!! It was breathtaking. I tired to capture it on film, it isn't the same. They have the best fireworks here! Spinners, sparklers, fountains, bottle rockets, and the big ones we are not allowed at home. It was so loud out side, it was defening. I am surprised that I can still hear since some of them sounded like bombs going off.

This week we will being going all over Delhi with a day trip to Alwar to meet some scavengers.

I am missing the food from home. They serve pizza here with ketchup and mustard....ewwww

Oh, I have just started to eat my meals with my hands. It is pretty fun, you should try it tonight and tell me how it went!

Loves,
Teary