You may be mistaken in thinking Janet and I are on a very long holiday. Sightseeing yes, holiday no. Over many delicious dinners and late into the evenings we discuss the sucess (so far) behind what we are doing here in India. Six months in the planning to ensure all twelve lessons were planned and organised and funds were raised to carried out each lesson to its fullest.
Every day we tell people, Tibetans, Hindus, Westerners etc what we are doing here and everyone is in surprised. They thank us and give us a pat on the back. I feel as if what I am doing her comes naturally. It may be India but I would do the same in Hemel. To enrich childrens lives through imagination, creativity and teaching is so rewarding and something I feel privilaged to be doing.
We are having fun, we laugh every day, ten times a day even. And I mean real belly laughs. Sometimes at the stupidity of what India has going on. Like ladies riding side saddle on the back of a motorbike dressed in a sequined sari to cows shitting up your leg while you shop for a blanket.
India is an amazing diverse place. I want to return again with my family. Because I know they will love it as much as me. The people are all beautiful creatures, so eager to learn from you and so happy to help. The children both Indian and Tibetan are lush, every single one of them. They are unaffected by the media and this makes them more innocent than westerner children. If I could I would bring some back to England with me and give Angelina and Brad a run for their money.. I totally understand why the like of Ang and Brad adopt from overseas, you have no idea just how much you can change a childs life here by just giving it attention and love.
You would be mistaken if you think however every day has been a barrel of laughs, only just this morning I gave an elderly man my lunch. Every day this week he has been begging just a few yards away from our hotel. He has no fingers his hands are deformed. Total I went without my bread so he could have a meal. The gypsy (i dont know how to describe them) Hindu ladies and children with matted hair and begging on the street, make me sad. I can not give them money because this gets taken from them. If they look hungry I buy them bread or water. The dogs and donkeys (not cows as these are sacred) look scruffy and tired, dogs sleep on the road and cars miss hitting them by only inches, sometimes a dog is not so lucky as I have seen many with deformed and twisted front legs.
Many Tibetan people have been torn from their homes in Tibet and travel here to Mcleodganj. Every Tibetan who has left there home country can not return if they do they will be arrested and put in jail. We speak to young Tibetan men in their early twenties who have fled and left their families behind, they might never see them again. The Chinesse government are cruel and unfair to these peaceful people and this is not right. This should not be happening in our world.
The dirt, dust and smell of wee at times is unbearable, the locals don't seem to see it, but I do. It is not right that people such live in such filth. The western tourists do not help either with plastic bottles being the biggest eco problem here in Mcleod and in the rest of India. They don't have a bin man every week and certainly do not have several recyle bins and plants locally. But things are changing and they are moving into the 21st century as far as protecting their environment and planet.
The people here work like dogs and get paid very little. Every day, seven days a week the shops are open from dawn to dusk and many of the workers are elderly. Sitting in the sweltering heat, just to make a few rupees.
On the bright side however most are learning about western ways (English) and this is helping them. They want what we have, money, good health, nice cars, phones, and material belongings. If we help educate children and get them in school we are giving them the best start in life.
If you are touched by our experiences here in India you can help in many ways for very little money. Or if you feel you would like to have hands on experience teaching then visit www.mindthegaptravel.com. I am sure when we return we will organise another dinner dance or fundraising evening, so that you can all give again.
Karen x
Every day we tell people, Tibetans, Hindus, Westerners etc what we are doing here and everyone is in surprised. They thank us and give us a pat on the back. I feel as if what I am doing her comes naturally. It may be India but I would do the same in Hemel. To enrich childrens lives through imagination, creativity and teaching is so rewarding and something I feel privilaged to be doing.
We are having fun, we laugh every day, ten times a day even. And I mean real belly laughs. Sometimes at the stupidity of what India has going on. Like ladies riding side saddle on the back of a motorbike dressed in a sequined sari to cows shitting up your leg while you shop for a blanket.
India is an amazing diverse place. I want to return again with my family. Because I know they will love it as much as me. The people are all beautiful creatures, so eager to learn from you and so happy to help. The children both Indian and Tibetan are lush, every single one of them. They are unaffected by the media and this makes them more innocent than westerner children. If I could I would bring some back to England with me and give Angelina and Brad a run for their money.. I totally understand why the like of Ang and Brad adopt from overseas, you have no idea just how much you can change a childs life here by just giving it attention and love.
You would be mistaken if you think however every day has been a barrel of laughs, only just this morning I gave an elderly man my lunch. Every day this week he has been begging just a few yards away from our hotel. He has no fingers his hands are deformed. Total I went without my bread so he could have a meal. The gypsy (i dont know how to describe them) Hindu ladies and children with matted hair and begging on the street, make me sad. I can not give them money because this gets taken from them. If they look hungry I buy them bread or water. The dogs and donkeys (not cows as these are sacred) look scruffy and tired, dogs sleep on the road and cars miss hitting them by only inches, sometimes a dog is not so lucky as I have seen many with deformed and twisted front legs.
Many Tibetan people have been torn from their homes in Tibet and travel here to Mcleodganj. Every Tibetan who has left there home country can not return if they do they will be arrested and put in jail. We speak to young Tibetan men in their early twenties who have fled and left their families behind, they might never see them again. The Chinesse government are cruel and unfair to these peaceful people and this is not right. This should not be happening in our world.
The dirt, dust and smell of wee at times is unbearable, the locals don't seem to see it, but I do. It is not right that people such live in such filth. The western tourists do not help either with plastic bottles being the biggest eco problem here in Mcleod and in the rest of India. They don't have a bin man every week and certainly do not have several recyle bins and plants locally. But things are changing and they are moving into the 21st century as far as protecting their environment and planet.
The people here work like dogs and get paid very little. Every day, seven days a week the shops are open from dawn to dusk and many of the workers are elderly. Sitting in the sweltering heat, just to make a few rupees.
On the bright side however most are learning about western ways (English) and this is helping them. They want what we have, money, good health, nice cars, phones, and material belongings. If we help educate children and get them in school we are giving them the best start in life.
If you are touched by our experiences here in India you can help in many ways for very little money. Or if you feel you would like to have hands on experience teaching then visit www.mindthegaptravel.com. I am sure when we return we will organise another dinner dance or fundraising evening, so that you can all give again.
Karen x
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