Inside this issue: - HeartKids SA

Alex Hudswell’s India
Alex Hudswell’s India
Hi everyone!
So after twelve months of being
asked to write this 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 this year holds!
Regards,
Alex Hudswell
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