Help in the fight against Childhood Heart Disease! Host a Cuppa for <strong>HeartKids</strong> throughout August & September Register online at: cuppaforheartkids.org.au 10
Alex Hudswell’s India Alex Hudswell’s India Hi everyone! So after twelve months of being asked to write <strong>this</strong> story about my trip to India, I have finally gotten around to it... On the 6 th of December 2009, I left on a month long trip to India. For someone who was thought of as lucky to make it to my first day of school itself with my particular heart condition, it seemed like quite the achievement. Not as much of an achievement as getting through the pile of forms for the insurance company though! After flying through Singapore I landed in Chennai. Here I went to an orphanage called MITHRA. I worked with both physically and mentally disabled children, helping to feed, wash, clothe, teach basic English and of course play modified games of cricket with the kids. I stayed in one of the rooms there which completely flooded when I had a shower and experienced my first lot of ‘delhi belly’. It was quite an interesting 9 days exploring India for the first time. From there I went to Agra to see the Taj Mahal, which was every bit as spectacular as people say it is. The constant layer of smog that coats India did hamper some of the views though. The Red Fort was also a sight to behold in the sunset. Everything was going well apart from when my bag carrying my camera, video camera etc. got stolen. Spending two hours in a Indian police station with people who aim rifles in your direction is about as intimidating as going in for a heart op! I then caught a train to Varansi and had boat rides along the Ganga River, one of the holiest places in the world. All of that while watching traditional Indian dances and ceremonies at the burning (cremating) gats. After watching a traditional four hour bollywood film called ‘Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year’, we caught a train to Hazaribag which has one of the oldest Jesuit residences in India. Here I got billeted out and stayed with an Indian family for two days. Best Indian food ever! I then got sent to a village called Larunga for Christmas Eve. This was a village in the middle of nowhere with no running water, electricity, and the toilet was an open field with the occasional tree. I danced all night with the locals after their Christmas mass. After another five hour drive, I got back to Hazaribag and then drove to the train station. The train went to Kolkata. Here I worked in Mother Teresa’s various homes. I worked in a place called Prem Dan, which was a home for those adults who had been rejected by society due to their disabilities. This was a real eye opener as I myself would have been there if I was born into the Indian culture due to my condition. That being if I would even survive over there with such a condition. I then worked in the home of the Destitute and Dying. Here I saw people, mostly beggars who had been hit by cars, or people that have been dumped by their families who can’t afford treatment. Seeing people with half a skull with their brain exposed is not a pretty sight. After experiencing a new year full of fireworks, real street vendor chai tea and having dinner at the one and only Blue Sky Café, it was time to leave on the 4 th of January. I think sometimes that I must be the one of most fortunate children. Sure, I do not have the worst heart condition out there and I’m able to do most things ‘normal’ children else can do, but knowing that if I was born in India it would be such a different story. It makes me feel privileged to live in a country such as ours. I appreciate the resources we have here and the abilities I have which so many others around the world do not have. This filtered through to my final years of school, with me appreciating my education a lot more. I was able to gain a great TER and get into a double degree of Law and Psychology at the University of South Australia. I have deferred however, as I am currently in American working in a summer camp for disabled children for 2 months. From here I plan to travel, come back and complete my degree. I can’t wait to see what the rest of <strong>this</strong> year holds! Regards, Alex Hudswell 11
Change language