Oh! The Things I Have Seen!

Namaste!

 

Today was a packed full day in Bangalore.  This morning we split up into two groups to walk through the slums.  This was a crazy experience for me.  The amount of poverty is tremendous and a bit disturbing.  We walked along many “houses” some hand made out of ply wood or anything that was constructible, almost each having little children usually half naked curiously peering out at us.  As we walked I noticed a lot of young people most whom should have been in school but were instead doing manual labor such as hauling large water bins or pushing a heavy vegetable cart.  I felt my heart breaking as I saw the little girls barefooted walking on mounds of trash. This same feeling came to me yesterday when we encountered a little, malnourished pup looking as though he was about to take his last breath.  It is hard for me to witness these horrendous things coming from such a fortunate background.  I find myself extremely puzzled as to how I can go about helping this individual.  Is it right for me to take on the attitude of the stereotypical “superhero American”? As much as I try not to support this stereotype, I find myself unconsciously succumbing to it. 

 

            Immediately, after this we went to two malls in Bangalore.  The one I went into had 6 floors, the first being perfume and make up.  All items in this mall were expensive and modernized.  It seemed as though I was back in America for a split second.  All of the advertisements were of Americans or of very light skinned Indians.  Here, in India being lighter is better.  If you have lighter skin you are already considered a “better” person socially, mentally, physically and economically.  Due to this there are many places where you can actually bleach your skin similar but opposite to tanning booths in the United States.  Anyway this mall was incredible.  It was mind boggling to go into these stores when we had just come from the one of the biggest slums in Bangalore.  I couldn’t help but think while in the mall being surrounded by Channel perfume that not even a half hour ago I saw some of the most graphic images of poverty imaginable.  Economic class does not separate the living area in Bangalore at all, one block you can be among some fine houses and just in a matter of seconds you can be among shacks.  It is extremely odd to witness, it is very hard for a foreigner to place any specific economic class on one area besides the slums.

 

            In the afternoon we were able to go shopping with Mary (David’s wife) for Indian clothing! It was a lot of fun!  I was able to get three outfits; one of these is referred to as a “sari”.  This is a three-piece set, which women typically wear on a daily basis. When buying saris you first purchase the material and then go to a tailor and have it fitted.  After this we went eat lunch at Hotel Empire, a restaurant in Bangalore.  However, we had to wait awhile due to it being closed for an hour of prayer in respect to the Ramadan, which is Muslim tradition where it calls for a month of fasting during day light hours.  I find it so funny whenever I eat food in India because I never can pronounce or guess what I am eating and everything is extremely flavorful! Also, since I have been feeling a bit ill I have been VERY careful as to what I put in my mouth!

 

            In the early evening we are able to watch the closing of the Ganesha ceremony.  It begins at the lake in Bangalore where it is tradition to submerge the Ganesha statues.  Typically, they are dipped three times and on the third time dropped into the lake.  To be honest I cannot remember the exact significance of this custom, but I am sure it is some sort of indication that today is the closing of the festival.  After this long day in Bangalore I was exhausted ready to leave the city.  Once we arrived at Vishtar I showed a few of the little Bandhavi girls my clothing, they then replied “Super, Aunty!”  haha! It is typical in the Indian culture out of the respect to call your senior female “Aunty” and your senior male “Uncle”.  I find this rather cute come from little girls with broken English.

 

            As I am still adjusting I still have not found much beauty or pleasure of living in India permanently.  I do not know if this is due to my unfamiliarity or what but I feel like I will find some sort of reasoning as time goes on.  Well, that’s all for now! Thanks for reading and hope you all are well!