morning walk

This morning Sam and I took a walk through the neigborhood. I decided to try to make it a time to talk to people. At the bakery I checked in with the worker whose fiance was in a horrible car accident. He let me know she will be flown out of the country for treatment. He seemed deeply thankful that I stopped by to ask and then offered sam and me breakfast. While walking on, I met a lady that I see occasionally and have no idea who she is. She always asks me for something and today she wanted me to employ her and then wanted Sam's old clothes. Next I ran into three lady street sweepers. They sit on the side of road mid morning for a chat break. They are always fun to talk to and we had a few good laughs. Next I saw some women sitting outside of a house. They used to work at this house and apparently the woman there promised money if they came back after 10 days. So they sat there waiting. They asked me for money and my old clothes. Then I walked by the charity hospital and talked to all sorts of women. One had a son and her husband in jail and was asking if I had any work for them since they were going into debt with the loss of income.

I could have told of each meeting in different posts. Each conversation was full of people's lives. But the same may happen tomorrow. Its amazing to be a part of life here.

The sites

Walking home from the store today I began to point out to Sam all the interesting things we get to see along the way. People, few bits of nature (e.g. a tree or two), richshaws, whole families on a motorcycle. I saw a pile of cloth on the side of the road and thought even that was interesting. But then I saw a hand in the pile. I was momentarily disturbed until I saw the man's head. The pile was actually a toothpick of a man curled up sleeping.

start of Thanksgiving prep

Insightful article

Violence explained by the NY Times

no good homeschools in town

I have already been asked where I am sending Sam to school. "School?", I say, "he's only 15 months." Kids get sent to "school" so early here. Its probably what we would call a day care, but they get sent for half day in uniform and backpack on.

I said that I will probably homeschool Sam at least for a little while to my neighbor recently. She said, "oh there are no good homeschools around here."

I chose to let that one sit before I went into a very unheard of concept.

Fall

Sam fell. Little scrape under the mouth, but cut on the inside.

Not necessarily a big deal

1. But you wouldn't believe the amount of attention he received and questions I was asked. So many neighbors asked how such a scrape could have happened! Amongst my neighbors I am one of the VERY few that does not have "maid" taking care of their little children. Mostly these maids are 7-10 year old boys or girls who are poor and often from a village. They live with these families. The maids give such close 1:1 attention that such a fall would be very unlikely to happen. And if it did, I am sure there would be [bad implications] for the maid.

I view that scrape as a necessary part of growing up, and even necessary for me as a mom, to see him get a little hurt. (not that I encouraged it, just know it will happen)

2. It happened though while we were at the park playing with the kids that live in the park. These kids live on another spectrum. They are running wild in the park all day long with minimal close supervision. 3 year olds dragging their 9 month old sibling around to play. Well, I let Sam go off and play with the crowd for a short bit while I talked to some of the older kids. I was happy to have him be included. Until I saw him running to me with blood coming from his mouth. Joe and I agreed in this context we must be counter-cultural and keep a closer eye on Sam. (Often, in certain places I am being strongly encouraged to allow others to hold or watch Sam. Next thing I know he has been taken to the next house or down the street).

Money

A friend stopped by today and asked for $120. Asking for a loan, but you are never quite sure. This sort of request is frequent. Sure you get the constant beggars on the street asking for a couple of cents. But you also get the acquaintances and friends asking for 1, 2, 3 hundred dollars. First its a culture of asking. Doesn't hurt to ask. And it is a poor country of course. Some good, honest hard working people cannot earn what they need at times. They don't go to bank, but to each other, or to us. The needs are sicknesses, weddings, house repairs, death, etc. Joe and I do have a policy to talk and pray together before we give. We usually don't give immediately. You learn too that when people need $2 they will ask for $5. Thus, we don't feel we need to give the full amount. Sometimes we say yes, and sometimes we say some, and sometimes no. Back home where we don't ask, we also aren't used to being asked. Its not easy to say no to a friend, especially if you feel like you must do it out of principle.