Lodi Gardens

On Sunday a few of our new arrivals were quite exhausted as they fought the battle against jet lag. We decided to get out and see the city so that they wouldn't just fall back asleep and ruin their schedule. Devin cooked us a delightful meal of pancakes and eggs, despite the fact that he didn't have a spatula or a suitable pan.
We checked out the maps and decided upon Lodi Gardens. We smushed four people into a rickshaw and headed out. When we came to a light the usual compilation of street people came out to solicit us. Seeing an overly packed crew of foriegners they decided they had found a jackpot. They surrounded the vehicle and offered us beads, marigolds and roses. These children almost always approach cars stopped in traffic trying to sell their items or just begging for money. Having heard stories about the kids spending the money on illegal substances, I have taken to bringing some extra food to present them with. This way I know they have something to eat which they desperately need. I have rarely seen these children with parents. One day during the monsoon I saw street kids trying to sell their goods while shivering in the pouring rain. It dawned on me then that one would only stay out in such conditions if their sustenance was entirely dependent on what they earned each day. It is a difficult thought to deconstruct that the slum people live in better conditions than the street people. Right before we moved on from the light I saw one street girl go up to a truck which was transporting water. She deftly unscrewed a nozzle on the back releasing a stream of pure water. She took a drink and then sprinkled some drops onto her bunch of roses. I was a bit assuaged to see that they clearly were adapted to some form of survival on the streets.
We continued our journey in the crowded rickshaw, dripping off our sunblock, until we reached a beautiful green oasis in the city. We entered the park free of charge and were awestruck by these massive temples. Devin translated the Hindi and Urdu scripts for us which described the buildings. Lodi Gardens on a Sunday seem to be a haven for families and couples. Children ran around the temples as if they were a playground while their parents chatted on the grass. The temples were covered in graffiti of Maninder loves Pooja and lots of "I love you"s. As we strolled farther into the park we seemed to be constantly interrupting couples quietly lounging beneath trees or on benches. In a city where male female interaction is usually so formal and distant, it was sort of nice to see some affection. The gardens were very peaceful and well kept.





On Monday all the volunteers gathered for a meeting with the ASHA administration. After some introductions Dr. Martin interviewed us on what we would be interested in doing. We came up with a lot of ideas such as Health Education where our interests and experiences overlapped with the needs of the residents. We chatted around with the ASHA staff and enjoyed some Dominoes Pizza. Unfortunately our afternoon plans were canceled due to the passing of the husband of one of Ashas senior employees. He had been sick for two years and now it was time for Asha to show their support for one of their family members. The volunteers came home and napped, abandoning all plans for shopping due to jet lag and general exhaustion.