BUENAS NOTICIAS!! and some more serious musings...
The government of India has mostly kindly (and in such a timely fashion:-) approved Josh's research visa!! Got word this morning, danced a little jig and started making plans to go to Katmandu and get this grant happening. We're hoping to head to Nepal in mid-January to make it all official--we have to wait 15 days before we can go, but at the end of December we have a hot date with Josh's new sitar and then one of the biggest Indian music fests begins rocking out on January 1st and doesn't wrap up until the 13th. So we'll make our way to Pune and then Amehdebad, back up to Jaipur for 2 days or so to pack up our stuff and check in with Krishna-ji, fly (travelling in style:-) to Katmandu for a week (we have to stay for at least 4 days to get all the paperwork taken care of--paperwork? Shocking...) and then to Kolkata for the Dover Lane music festival. Phew. Madness. But the good kind of madness. The kind of madness that we gleefully welcome with open arms...
So we continue to make our way in Kolkata. Alam played a concert last weekend which was rock-solid, we had a gorge-fest on Domino's pizza (gasp!!), Josh is practicing with a tabla player as I write this, I have eaten so much fresh yogurt Josh is honestly a bit terrified, and we found falafel. Food is a huge part of this experience:-)
On a more serious note, we are also trying to come to terms with how to give to those around us who are desperately poor--and there are many of them. We, of course, received many warnings before coming to India (and several since our arrival) about the dangers and drawbacks of giving to the men, women and children who tug on our sleeves, grab our hands and plead over and over again for a few rupees--that we would be mobbed if we gave, that we can always give to a charity or a social welfare program, that the locals don't want us to give to those who beg since it encourages their begging. But saying "no"over and over again just doesn't feel right. Although Josh and I are not well off by US standards, the truth of the matter is we could afford to come to India and that automatically places us on a higher economic plane which is startling clear to everyone on the street. We have made some donations to organizations working with the poor and the homeless, but I have to ask, isn't it a valuable human to human gesture to look someone in the eye and give them the little they are asking for? There are of course inconveniences and hassles that come with giving in that way--we haven't been mobbed but we do become instant targets, and who knows how much a few rupees or a bag of powdered milk or some pieces of nan will do for someone. But I find it hard to believe it means nothing, and want so much to believe that it means something.
Any thoughts from you folks out there?
Paz y Amor,
J&J
So we continue to make our way in Kolkata. Alam played a concert last weekend which was rock-solid, we had a gorge-fest on Domino's pizza (gasp!!), Josh is practicing with a tabla player as I write this, I have eaten so much fresh yogurt Josh is honestly a bit terrified, and we found falafel. Food is a huge part of this experience:-)
On a more serious note, we are also trying to come to terms with how to give to those around us who are desperately poor--and there are many of them. We, of course, received many warnings before coming to India (and several since our arrival) about the dangers and drawbacks of giving to the men, women and children who tug on our sleeves, grab our hands and plead over and over again for a few rupees--that we would be mobbed if we gave, that we can always give to a charity or a social welfare program, that the locals don't want us to give to those who beg since it encourages their begging. But saying "no"over and over again just doesn't feel right. Although Josh and I are not well off by US standards, the truth of the matter is we could afford to come to India and that automatically places us on a higher economic plane which is startling clear to everyone on the street. We have made some donations to organizations working with the poor and the homeless, but I have to ask, isn't it a valuable human to human gesture to look someone in the eye and give them the little they are asking for? There are of course inconveniences and hassles that come with giving in that way--we haven't been mobbed but we do become instant targets, and who knows how much a few rupees or a bag of powdered milk or some pieces of nan will do for someone. But I find it hard to believe it means nothing, and want so much to believe that it means something.
Any thoughts from you folks out there?
Paz y Amor,
J&J
posted by Jessica Pierce at 4:42 AM
6 Comments:
just be careful you are not being set up.guilt is a poor motivator.
i come across the same problem here in boston... its not nearly as bad as over there i know, but coming from westport to boston... the other day a guy asked if i had any spare change, and i told him i didnt as i was walking into a coffee shop... i really wanted to just buy him a sandwich and hand it to him as i left. but.. if i did that to every man and woman that asked me for some change, i'd be broke.
its heartbreaking, and im not quite sure if there is even a right thing to do, but i do know this.. make a difference in at least one of their lives.leave a good impression of americans ;)
loves from boston...
heather♥
I understand your feelings, and it's not easy task. However, Judaism states that the highest mitzvah is the anonymous one- the reciever does not know who the mitzvah came from; the giver doesn't know who will recieve their money.
I understand your feelings, and it's not easy task. However, Judaism states that the highest mitzvah is the anonymous one- the reciever does not know who the mitzvah came from; the giver doesn't know who will recieve their money.eir money.
Hi from UT. Miss you both tons and hopefully our paths cross in India. Jess, keep up the good writting as we all know who's doing the updating ;-)
xoxo
why don't you employ different people at different times for menial task and pay them for the "work". no guilt on anyones part. there is no end to handouts. and how do you know it goes to the neediest, as oppposed to the best beggar, the cutiest etc etc.
it's a connundrum
love much
dad
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