Hi Again! I was so excited to tell you about my first day with the Sisters that I needed to back up one day and share more. On Tuesday morning I needed to find an ATM machine as I only had Sri Lanka money and funny thing, no one wanted any of it! Not the cab drivers, not the restaurant, no one! I was given directions to the ATM from the front desk clerk and he said easy, 10 minute walk, and it went something like this... you walk down a way, cross over, no two cross over, then go to end, then a left. He wrote the street name on a paper for me along with the bank name. I can do this - it is about 7.00 am and it is sunny and hot and I am glowing. I walked down the street and was in total amazement - stores were just opening, horns were blaring (always blaring), rickshaw drivers were offering me a ride, food was being prepared in open fires on the sidewalk, a herd of goats passed my by, fruits and produce were being placed out for sale, school children dressed in neatly pressed uniforms were being escored to school, there is an earthy scent, people were still sleeping on the pavement, some of the most beautiful women I have ever seen dressed in brightly colored sari's were walking by, people were bathing in the gutters - they wear sari's and suds up and rinse off, bicycles were flying by, groups of men were playing cards, people were searching through a monster pile of garbage, a little baby was laying on a feedbag tied to metal poles being rocked by an older sibling, people were holding out their arms for something, and business men on their way to work - it was unbelievable - almost like I was walking on some movie set. I don't know how I made it, but I found my way to the ATM and back to the hotel within 45 minutes. You have to be very careful when you are out for a walk - you must look down so you don't step in something, you should look to the sides so you don't get knocked over by a door or someone hauling a load of something, and you need to always be watchful of the traffic which just moves everywhere and horns are always honking! The most frightening thing has been to cross the street. And nobody hustles except me! I am moving my best to get out of their way!
After returning to the hotel, I catch a cab to the Mother House. As soon as I leave the cab, this soft little hand slips into mine.... Auntie, Mother House? Yes. And I am escorted by the sweetest little face you have ever seen. He leads me right up to the door. After registering I was told to return on Wednesday at 7.00 am. Upon exiting the Mother House, my little guide met me and took me to Shishi Bhavan, the Children's Home. He showed me the neighborhood, a hotel I was looking for, and then wanted money. The Sisters ask that you not promote begging and told us these sweet little faces know the game and will work newcomers over pretty hard. He has since greeted me every time I am at the Mother House and it is very hard not to give him money, although he is fed at the home. More later - God Bless!
Great blog Rita! I can almost hear the horns blaring and smell the food cooking. Can't wait to read more.
Posted by: Lisa | May 10, 2007 at 11:22 AM
Dear Sissy....sounds like quite a place to be! Keep watching and hustling. Does that cute little face have a name? Take care...have you used the whistle yet?
Posted by: Susan Monteen | May 10, 2007 at 08:32 PM