Back to Work

I only volunteered for the morning and I am wiped out!  I think I was on holiday a bit too long!

This morning I had the opportunity to assist the Sisters at the Home for the Elderly.  They are doing some great work and it was a joy to be with them.  There were two Sisters, two Brothers with the MC's, one young man, one woman and myself volunteering.  Quite a few less volunteers than in Kolkata.  Remember the picture of the brooms in India?  Well I got to use one this morning.  And they work pretty well! 

The sheets were changed on about fifty beds, the floors were scrubbed, the laundry was washed, and then the laundry was hung out to dry.  The beds line two sides of a very long narrow hallway, with a walkway down the middle.  All the beds were moved into the middle on one side, buckets of cleaning agents were dumped on the floor, and then we used the brooms to scrub the floor.  More buckets of cleaning agents were dumped, followed by buckets of clean water.  And I was scrubbing away.  The beds were then moved back, and the same steps were repeated on the other side.  Then the scrubbing and sweeping was done down the middle aisle.  The last step was the men using a big squeegee to dry the floors. 

We didn't have the pools we used for laundry in Kalighat so we used buckets to wash the clothes by hand.  After scrubbing and rinsing, the clothes were hung out on a clothesline.  No rooftops for drying here.  And then Sister said we are finished - all done.  Assisting 50 people takes a lot less time than 150 plus.

While we were walking back to the MC's Home, one of the young men pointed out the Bodnath Stupa, which is the largest stupa in Nepal.  I decided to visit it before I left the city and it was beautiful - very peaceful, not so crowded, and had a lovely view of the surrounding area.  I will post pictures soon.  And I definitely think I have been in the city too long, as one man came up to me and said remember me?  I do remember the children however I couldn't place him.  He went on and on, smiling, talking, and I smiled and nodded, and then he left. 

I am off to the country to meet 36 children.  Wish me luck! 

Comments

[Yui Chan]

Hey sweetie! Sounds like you had a wonderful time exploring Nepal! But that’s enough R & R for you, so no more slacking off. It's about time you got back to work my dear!

You, taking on 36 kids? Are you kidding me? Talk about a total mismatch of wits! Oh, I can just picture it now.......they will bamboozle you, hog-tie you, string you up on a tree and use you as a human piñata! Hmmm, then again, that sounds pretty wickedly fun - heh heh!

Glad to hear that you will be continuing your work with the Missionaries of Charity in Kathmandu. Can’t wait to hear more on your daily adventures…….and mischief : )

[Ron Ditmar]

Yui Chan, Rita is well equiped to handle 36 children. She has had worse for the past ten years at her occupation in the U.S. and I am one of those big kids

[Jenny Norden]

Hi there sweetie! The gals across the hall gave me your blog site! I have read thru most of your adventures and I am pea green with envy! What a blessing to be able to do this. I bet it will be the best time of your life. Of course I do miss your cheery smile. What I really want to know is if you had some sugar cane from the Sugar man? Your pictures are amazing. Keep posting them so we can see the visible signs of the cultures.

Love to see you in your scarf ma'am. You are definitely a fashionista! Look out Paris Hilton we have our own Rep out there & she is a whole lot classier!

Hugs Rita!!! Now that I know this site & can check in.

Jenny

[Susan Monteen]

Hi Sis

The broom huh? There are some comical memories of you and a broom:) Miss yah and so looking forward to your coming home....Buster sends his love...