We have been having a difficult time getting on the Internet in this country of millions and millions of computer users. Two nights in a row we found an internet café only to have the electricity go out on us before we could send the messages. Electricity is a valued commodity here and there are scheduled, rotating power shut-downs in many places. For example, the work week for factories in Pune is Friday to Wednesday because on Thursdays there is no power. It is an accepted way of life. We are beginning to get used to it.
Our team has bonded well and we have a great time on and between distributions. We have two vehicles to take us places and the women have taken over one of them, leaving the men to discuss business (or whatever) in theirs. In the evenings when there is not a Rotary function we all go out for Indian food. Everyone is committed to trying different dishes and we generally order different foods and them split them among us (like with Chinese food). We have developed our own spicy-ness scale based on how long it takes our mouths to cool off. So far 10 has been the hottest. That means that it took 10 minutes to cool the mouth. Dave says that he is going for a "20" on the last night. (Can you believe this, Sandra?)
The distributions are going very well. We left the Mumbai area, having given out 4000 bedkits. Next stop was the Pune area. We travelled up and down the windy mountain roads to small rural schools to which children came from even farther away to collect a bedkit. The Rotarians in Pune were efficient, friendly, and helpful and we gave out 1500 bedkits in two days. Every time we look at the children we become even more committed to our job. There is such a need in these poor families and the need for even more bedkits is validated each and every day. We thank all the donors from the bottoms of our hearts as we look into the children's eyes and give them this gift which will change their lives.
From Pune we have come to Belgaum where we distributed 850 bedkits today. Another great group of Rotarians from Belgaum had the bedkits packed and ready as the children came from up to 45 kilometers away. One school group left at 6:00 a.m. to get here. Children are packed into anything that moves to come from far away to get this special gift. As one group left, Donna peeked under a tarp into the back of a truck and saw rows of children sitting crosslegged with their bedkits ready for the trip home which would take up to 3 hours.
This is a different world here and we feel out of touch with any other, particularly with the lack of the Internet. The pace, the people, the noise, the food, the smells, and the dusty red soil are becoming familiar. We have become very immersed in our work and time is going by very quickly. It is hard to believe that our distribution days are winding down. Everyone is well and we are enjoing each day.
Cathy Signing off for Ted, Doug, Dave, Donna and Marsha
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