Children's day

After sleeping in until 730, we went over to the big school to celebrate children's day. They have school on Saturdays from 8-10 and today was a special day. 

The headmaster, a kind old man reminiscent of a tortoise, greeted us warmly and ushered us into the room where we had taught first aid the days before. It was packed with all the students from both schools and about a quarter of the teachers. They sat us in a place of honor at the front of the room and lit Incense and a candle at a makeshift shrine in front of us. The headmaster then gave a speech in Odia discussing the origins and importance of children's day. He also added something in English at the end. Children's day was established by the first prime minister, who is dead but whose ideals live on. "This I say, nothing more" 

They had each of us hand out an award for students who had won a contest for a festival last month. Anywhere we go here, we are treated as honored guests. Going to the school was a humbling and uplifting experience. They all filed outside after the ceremony and got a bag of friends snacks. We declined the offer to share the snacks to make sure all the kids and teachers got some. 

Back at the hospital, the nurses and I jumped right into seeing patients and changing dressings. We didn't get breakfast until around 11:30. There really is no schedule or system here. Dr. Mohanti left to go home for a week or 10 days and Biku is the only doctor here now. We say a few more patients after breakfast and before we knew it, time for lunch. We're still having eggs with every meal.. 

The nurses had hoped to go to Niele this afternoon but the shops there are closed the second Saturday of every month. It's like the market in Bhubaneswar that's closed every third Monday. Random rules. 

I forgot to mention, but at the school, I'm always introduced as Doctor Alec, no matter how many times I try to correct this. 

Govinda, Biku's father, and the patriarch of the school and hospital here, is very effusive in his gratitude for the work I've been doing here. At first, I was uncomfortable with the depth of his thanks. He's lived in Juanga for most of his life and was pessimistic about the future of the village when he met Michael sometime around 30 years ago. He had been in the army for a while before becoming disillusioned with military service. He's seen new life breathed into the area with the creation of the two schools, hospital and women's clinic. Michael and Citta have done so much for this area and Govinda sees me as part of that organization now. He says I have to come back after medical school and live with him. Doikebah. 

I finished reading the motorcycle diaries. The hardships they faced on their trip makes whatever minor discomfort I experience here seem meaningless. 

I started reading the borrowed copy of old man and the sea. The book is simply written and filled with the underlines and notes in the margins of earlier readers. I feel like I'm looking into some distant student's past, trying to decipher their secret messages sent through accident and chance to this strange place a world apart from the cultural and temporal milieu in which they were written. 

We all went on a long walk down to the big river. Kids have started to walk or run behind us whenever we go out. They also shout good morning at all times of day and run up to shake our hands. There were also tons of bikes and motorcycles out on the road today competing with the cows and giant colorfully painted trucks. The trucks all have deities panted on them along with the works "good luck" and "speed". The sun was setting on our walk back and afterwards I struggled through a workout with Connor. I've been pretty weak the past few days with whatever this minor mystery illness is, but it feels like it's on the way out. 

-Ab

Children laugh

Incense smoke drifting

Sleeping sun