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Show 6 THE DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE 2002 MARCH 25, MONDAY, Editor's Note: Inside India is a series chronicling Sheena McFar-landfirst visit to India, the country of her birth, after her adoption by an American family. Columns will appear as they are received. To read previous columns, visit our Web site 's SHEENA McFARLAND Chronicle Feature Columnist at www.dailvutahchronicle.com MUSLIM STUDENTS ASSOCIATION UNIVERSITY OF UTAH Presents a Lecture Afghanistan in the Shadow of 911 Guest Speaker 1AKA1 MAS SAM Professor of History University of Kabul, Afghanistan 2:00pm Wednesday, March 27, 2002 Hinckley Caucus Room, Osh 255 . , I - - 1 t- i! ' it - f. - n t ! 1 i' I1 .".T )iv tw-- "Home of the Roundhouse Breakfast" D EMETRI'S VAFE (formerly George's cafe) 1 060 (Located in East 1 00 South the lobby of the Medical Towers Building) March 22, 2002 After dealing with the initial culture shock of India I couldn't stop crying for about a day I have found the true spirit of India. On Thursday, we went into the slums. I had tried my best to gear myself up for the excursion, but I was having such a hard time with the poverty of the downtown streets, I didn't think I could deal with the true poverty of New Delhi. But what I found there was RECEIVED awe-inspirin- g. We went into one of the numer- ous slums located on the outskirts of town. Our group visited a place called Prayas Juvenile Aid Centre, a housing and educational facility for children who are abused, orphaned or impoverished. As we walked in the building, all of the walls were painted in brightly colored murals of children playing, and a huge marbles-playin- g court took up the I felt welcome floor. of the majority from the moment I walked in. The facility houses 200 boys, and also provides basic informal education and vocational training for about 300 others per day. I was shocked at the age range of the students. The youngest were 5 and 6, while the oldest were 35. According to one of the center's counselors, Gargi Saha, boys who come to the center almost exclusively live alone on the streets after running away from an abusive home or becoming orphans. They often steal or beg for a living, and live what they think is a free life because they make enough money to sec a film, buy ice cream or drugs and do what they please. Some of the boys end up back on the street because they want to leave, which they can do at any given time. But I met quite a few of the boys who now work in the community or in the Prayas center itself. Children can go to the center to learn how to read and write, and then go to an official school after they have some basic skills. In every classroom we walked into, the boys immediately stood up and saluted us. In the youngest class, a boy sang us a wonderful song. In return, our group sang a song our Hindi teacher wrote. We got a standing ovation. It was amazing to me to see a child who had come from such a hard life have so much While many children get an academic education, the students can also learn a trade ranging from sewing to auto repair to typography. I was so impressed with the ideology of the center. It provided real hope for these children to improve their lives. The center sells the candles, clothing, art and other goods it produces to families in the slums for very cheap prices, and then sends out goods to other ld 355-266- 2 7:00 7:00 open: - 2:30 Monday - Friday 2:00 Saturday self-estee- closed Sunday Discount Receive a 10 with a Student or Faculty ID Coupon valid Monday Friday no checks or credit cards accepted Can't And us?? Take 100 South westbound to 1060 E and park In the MTB main lot The biggest Computer Dealer in the State Research Way (2770 S.) - Suite B, SLC, UT. 841 19 Open: M-- F 1 lpm to 7pm & Sat 11am to 5pm 0 0 Phone: (801) ext 120 - Fax: (801) 1825 3 S 1 I of Utah..! 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Many hope the center will become financially but it won't be for quite a while. While we were there, one of the sewing teachers measured me and tailored a couple of Indian outfits. They insisted on delivering them to my hotel, and I can't wait. The sewing students were really excited to be making clothing for an American. After we left the center, we walked through the slums. That was just amazing. I didn't see despair or wretchedness, but rather, joy and life. About 100 children swarmed us as we walked through, not begging, but shaking our hands and saying "Namaste" to us (hello in Hindi). A couple of the people in the group had digital cameras, and the kids loved seeing their pictures. self-sufficie- The details of this country are what touch me the most from the children begging on the street to the constant offering of tea at every shop I visit. While there was such joy, there was also desperation. Huge piles of trash sat along the road, and young children and old women picked through it, separating the various plastics and other materials they could sell to recyclers or reuse. They worked so hard everyday just to keep breathing. The average income of a rag picker is about 30 rupees a day 60 American cents. I looked at my camera and realized that it cost as much as these people made in nearly two years. As we got back on our bus, I thought about the quality of my life, and I think I'm going to have a really hard time complaining about the trifles in my life. Seeing these people in 100 degree weather picking through garbage to feed themselves and their family was completely humbling. The Hinckley Institute of Politics is tentatively trying to plan an internship to Prayas. If they do it, I'll be back here in a heartbeat. I now know why many people love it here. I have never felt so happy and alive as I did when I talked to those children. As we piled back into our bus and began leaving, the entire group of children ran beside us. I opened my window and waved, and little boys in their Prayas school uniforms ran up and would shake my hand as we backed out of the slum. I now have hope that some of these children might actually make it out of such a hard life. The beauty of the people in New Delhi is breathtaking. Many of the women here wear the most beautiful clothing I have ever seen, but it's not only the physical beauty I notice. Many people have described India as a functioning anarchy, and I think one of their saving graces is their honesty. While shoppers hag gle over prices in a shop or the Par- liament dissolves because of one person's vote, the citizens of India remain true to their word. Many of them are also incredibly gracious, accepting and hospitable. Thursday evening, we walked to a bazaar called Dilli Haat, a wonderful place with crafts and foods from nearly all regions of India. The shop truly exemplified what India is like. Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists and Sikhs sat next to each other in their stands and got along perfectly well. I have seen this sense of community and acceptance throughout this city. I am so impressed with how well everyone gets along. After talking to a myriad of officials from government journalism it or organizations, I have learned that Indians have a short memory. This can be both good and bad. Last year, after the January earthquake, Hindus and Muslims helped each other rebuild their lives. Now they are killing each other. However, this country truly works as a family, where one group can fight with another, and within a short amount of time, they work harmoniously again with no blame, until the next memory lapse. Regardless of what is going on north of me, in Kashmir, I have felt no tension here. I wish diversity in the United States could work the same way. Americans could learn quite a few lessons from the daily lives of the people here. I love walking through the streets of this city. Every step brings a new sight, sound, smell and emotion. On my first day here, I walked through the alleyways of New Delhi. The scene was so tremendously foreign to me that I was completely overwhelmed. Now as I walk through the city, I see the joie de vivre the people have here. I couldn't ask for a more gracious people, and I am privileged to accept their grace. I now know why so many people venture here for a psychological retreat the joy of the people here has quickly spread to me. Although I know many of these observations can be perceived as the population in. India is so gigantic, that everything is amplified from what I consider more normal terms. The poverty here is greater than I am used to, but so is the generosity of the people. The details of this country are what touch me the most from the children begging on the street to the constant offering of tea at every shop I visit. I hope the next two weeks stretch themselves out, because I don't want to go home. Sheena wecomes feedback at: non-prof- smcfarlandchronicle.utah.edu. continued from page 5 woman commented. "Having the dog here is almost as therapeutic for the therapists as it is the patients," Senior said. We were almost back to the Rehabilitation Center, and I thought Middle's duties for the day were over. But she still had one more task to do. Coming toward us down the hall was a nurse who called out, "Jodie Senior, we need some cheering vp." candrew;Pchronicle.vt3h.edu |