Mother Teresa's Room



this gathering of the novices was after the mass and the Mother's room is just behind the right corner. to go there, one has to take the stairs.

 Visiting Mother Teresa's room was one of the highs of my current journey here in Calcutta. The room is located within the Mother's House compound that hosts the Missionary Head Quarter in the  World. Once I got up the stairs that lead to the room, I started to see a shadow of it. When at the real view of the room, I had a glimpse of my memory of the Holocaust Museum I visited two years ago in Washington, D.C. In that museum, the description of living conditions during the Nazi horrible period is replicated as in real moment. The room is compared to what was in the worst period, the World has ever known in the history of humanity, people were living without fan or what we call nowadays Air Conditioning (AC), furniture was in a delabrated conditions that one can think of a kitchen in the ancient time. The bed and frames were dirty and made of simple woods and matress covered with a simple shit of dirty or old linen. The window was almost inexistent to facilitate the air in and out of the room. In short, living conditions in that period of dehumanization were not promoting the dignity of human being.
Think of all these worst conditions, Nazi and its leader Hitler were using to torture and dehumanize human beings, and then imagine Mother Teresa living in such conditions at her free will, without anybody forcing her to, you will realize how simple she was, how she had decided to live her vow of extreme poverty, chastity and obedience to her lovely and almighty God. Yes, I was struck positively by these conditions she had chose to share with the poors she was serving for the love of God.
In Calcutta, the sun is sometime at 100 F or 40 C, at this sunny condition, people do not stand the heat without a fan or AC. I myself cannot stand it. But Mother Teresa was sleeping, living in her room without AC or fan throughout her life. She even had not a window that will enable air to move in and out of the room. Her bed is made of simple old iron frame with a thinny mattress; covered by a simple shit. Her desk where she was receiving guests or conducting affairs of the foundations, is made of raw wood saw in from the tree. Her cabinet where she kept sensitive files for the foundation is made of raw woods also. Mother Teresa had not the taste of refinery, but the one of unrefine things, the taste of poverty in which the poor she served lived on the streets, the dumpsters and the garbage site of the town.
Visiting the room of Mother has taught me a lesson of simplicity, the lesson of basic needs are enough to live with. Through the visitation, I have learnt that, worry about material things of earth is unworthed but as long as we are in healthy conditions, one is rich. Living in such simplicity is giving more importance to spiritual things, the life of higher values, the eternal life; which can be lived through simplicity, humility and chastity.
Thank you Mother and I pray that you intercede for me to live a life of spiritual values and be simple as our Lord Jesus Christ was during his pilgrimage on earth.


this is the tomb of Mother Teresa in the head quarter of Missionary of Charity.



Mother Teresa my hero

Mother Teresa along with Mahatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King and Bob Marley are my heros. I have known them since I was in level two in high school. At that time, I was really interested in reading at Municipal Library. That is where I discovered these legends who are now my heros. I remember that, there were two shelves of cartoons books within which these legends were autobiographed. Instantly, I did enjoy reading them because I have come to realize that, I have no authority in my life thus, these legends can provide me the wisdoms, guidances that a child with father besides him will have enjoyed. I then decided unconsciously to emulate these highly spiritual individuals. A way for me to mimic them was that, anywhere I was going in town to hangout or sightsee, I will always take my ID card with me. This, to me was a symbol to show my responsibility with the society. Thus, if something was going wrong, they could have know where I am and who to call should an emergency arises. I also remember my friends telling me that I behave like father or head of a family because I was always giving them advices and be the first to respond to a crisis. I was always in responsible mood.
Another way for me to practice my engagement for the society and for myself, was to be engaged in school by studying hard and obey my mom who was the only one to raise me and my twin sister. I remember to be all the time the first in the class or to make many A's in classes.

Mother Teresa and other heros, have taught me to be responsible for the community and to myself. They taught me through the readings of their biographies and stories, to always stand for my convictions and for the voiceless or the poors of the community. Another way for me to express that responsibility was to be involve in the church, in charitable activities within the churches and the civil societies.

My First odd with Indian Food

Nice food eaten at Blue Sky Cafe

Food eaten here by some volunteers
on a Street Stand

A volunteer from England showed me a street stand that fixes food and, he said that it is one of the cleanest street food stands. I went there yesterday to eat my lunch. At around 6pm, I was feeling a discomfort or precisely a stomach ache. All night long, I had the feeling of burning in my belly. So, this morning, I have tried to avoid these foods again. I could have kept eating my foods at Blue Sky Cafe or Spanish Restaurant which are more clean and service wise than other stores I have known so far. I have been told to avoid street foods and even my Indian's friends from USA, advised me to avoid them. Not to mention that, volunteers are reminded to not drink water off the tap. Till now, I haven't drink it and intend not to.
India which is one of five emergent economies, has to provide to its population and the visitors fresh and safe water. By doing this, it will reduce communicable diseases which are already affecting individuals due to the air polution and lack of good public sanitation. I cannot count how many times I found stink open public toilets which, urine's odor one can smell at hundred miles range. I remember ed meeting unvaccinated dogs rooming in public. Not to mention kids, youngs and old piing or defecating on sidewalks.
All these will if fixed, improve the status of India in the world stage as one of the clean countries on earth to visit by tourists.
For this, I have decided to eat Subway or McDonald and at Spanish Cafe because it is better to eat the foods you already know than eating something new to your stomach.

Meeting the Homeless and outcasts at the Dispensary



This homeless had a bad wound and
I needed to clean it before dressing it.

 Meeting the wounded homeless and uninsured of Calcutta at the Mother Teresa's Dispensary was hard to deal with. It was emotionally difficult to deal with someone's wound has been rooten for more than two weeks. I had to remember that I was trained to handle such difficult cases in order to follow the protocol of wound care and dressing.

These are homeless coming at the
SEALDAH dispensary for care

The second patient I met had a green stick fracture of the shin. It was also hard to deal with it. Nevertheless, taking my calm, I started to assess the deficient leg, assess the wound and francture. I had to clean it thouroughly and for long to reduce the infection. Because the foundation has a hospital capable to provide surgery, we finally had to sent him over there. He will undergo surgery which will help us to deep clean and provide a cast.

finishing a dressing of this patient

After all this care, I had to move to a Physiotherapy room where I have to provide physical exercises that will help straitghen bones and relax the muscles of the kids. This will prevent contracture or other deformities of the bones.
Mother Teresa's legacy will remain for ever as long as God will want. The foundation is not just reaching to Christians, but also Hindi, Bengali and other denominations. Yes it is the promotion of Humanity which according to her is above the religion. Let's us think above our own beliefs systems and religion.

First Day to Volunteer

It is a great scene when you come on the first day at the Mother Teresa's House. This is where everything is organized to decide where and when volunteers are to be working in a variety of sites that the foundation manages. This day is to meet other volunteers who are already doing the job for a better humanity. Here, the mass starts at 6:00 AM with the volunteers willing to keep their faith alive while working for the better humanity or for some for the glory of God. The mass ended at 6:45 AM and all the volunteers whom have assisted or not to the mass are meeting on the basement or called the conference hall. This is where breakfast is taken and assignment for newcomers to each center is given. I was assigned to Prem Dan and Friday, the final assignment will be given to me by the Sister Coordinator of the Volunteer. This is the early time of the day to meet all volunteers (Volunteers who have been here since and newcommers). The ambiance is joyous, and lively. Also it is the here that volunteers wait the bus to drive each of them in group to each assigned center.
The foundation runs among other, three main centers in Calcutta(Prem Dan, Daya Dan and Kalighat) where the main works are been done by the Volunteers under the supervision of the Sisters. I was assigned to Prem Dan. It happens that all the newcomers are first assigned there upon my investigation.
With the volunteers assigned to Prem Dan, I together took the bus that will drop to the site. We ride the bus at INR 4 (Indian Ruppees).
After 30 minutes of commute, we arrived at the center and started to work. The work here is divided into Lavatory, Cleaning, Cooking. The medical part is composed of volunteers Doctor, Nurses among whom me, Physical therapist and other. I have not done so much due to fact that the coordinator did not want me to start strongly. I was in the lavatory and cleaning. I did follow a Doctor during his check up of patients. At some point of time we had to stop and have tea in a tea hall for volunteers. In this environment, I have made acquantaince with many other volunteers from Switzerland, France, USA my country and other. It is once more time to make friends. We departed the Prem Dan at around 12pm to the each hotel where I had to eat. I did enjoy the foods. Indian's foods are one of my favourites along with Thai foods.
The evening was full of socializing in Blu Sky Cafe and other friends meetings. At the end, we partyed my friends and me at the balcon of our hotel. It was fun taking pictures with  Japanese holding cats, or Canadian holding his Camera and me drinking hard liquour. I had to go to bed since I wanted to attend the mass at the Mother's House.
This day was full of excitements, joy to know that volunteers are coming from all over the world to better the life of the low level class's members. Joy to know that it is an opportunity to make friends, share different cultures and values for our own experiences. Nothing can hold a man/woman who is willing to travel the world to contribute to the glory of God or just for the betterment of the Humanity.
I am looking forward to be at the registration ceremony tommorrow.

First Day in Calcutta, India

It is morning and I had not had enough sleep due to jet lag. I woke up at 6am to have an information confirmed by the receptionist. After that I went back to my room; where I had to sleep for 4 hours. still not deep enough. At 10AM, I woke up and took a shower, fix myself and went out to another hotel convenient to me where I can find many volunteers. On my way to the first hotel I wanted to book a room before the incident with my luggage, I met other volunteers like Australian, American and other nationalities. The Australian got with me when I was asking a question, he then direct me to that hotel and gave me some good advices for a successful journey of volunteering. After booking a room, we went to a restaurant well known by volunteers named Blue Sky Cafe. There I ate my first Idian meal and met a lot of volunteers from all over the World. We chatted and finally, went to my hoted to spend a good nap.I had talk to other volunteers whom I met in the campus, and find out that they came all over the World. They gave me advices on the foods not to eat, the water to drink or not to drink. About the water, India needs to make a great to provide clean water to its residents. I cannot understand that even Indians are advising the tourists not to drink the water because it is poluted. I had not even had a good night, and realized that the jag leg still tricking me. After talking with these new friends of mine having a human purpose to serve to poor of the poors, I went to my room to finally rest. This day was about settling and have practical advices, luckily enough I had less inconveniences. Tommorrow will be my first day to implement my dream.

ARRIVAL IN CALCUTTA

Coming and landing to Calcutta, INDIA was a happy moment. I was very happy at the landing of the airplane even though the first air breathe was poluted. This has not prenvented me to rejoice that I am finally accomplishing my dreams; One of which was to come in Calcutta and work with one of my heroes herein The Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Being very happy, I forgot to go and claim my luggage at the belt. I just exited to catch a yellow  cab herein 2liter diesel (they are common transportation in India) that looks like ancient cab used in the 19th century. Still this has not affected my joy. I have paid INR 400 which is equivalent of $7-8. On my way to my hotel, I realized that in India  the level of poverty is such that individuals sleep on the sidewalks and this was all over my path to my hotel. This was a shock to me. I have never seen such level of poverty in all the countries that I have visited, even in my Cameroon, my country of origin. This shock was accentuated by the fact that I saw some individuals making their feces and piing on the side walks. The yellow cab finally dropped me at my hotel where I have realized that I forgot my luggage at the airport, right there, I asked the cab driver to drive me back at the airport so that I can collect the baggage, and that was another INR 400. We finally arrived at the airport where police officers and military personnel were so nice to me and reassure me that they will do all they can so that I collect my blue suit case. The airline box was closed and they called the manager of that airline who came two hours later. He finally find me when I was already thinking of going back to my hotel and spend my first night in Calcutta. First, let me say that after waiting for more than two hours, the cab driver had to quit and asked me to pay him INR 800 which is the price of two ways rides. I paid him the money accordingly. The police officers and military personnel were nice to me and we had to share a lot of nice words after collecting the luggage.
I had to take another Cab on my final way back to my hotel and paid INR 400. We stop on the first hotel I wanted to book a room before I recalled the missing of my luggage and, all the rooms were booked. The driver had to room me around many hotels and finally find one room in one of the nicest hotels in town. I had to pay INR3000 for a night. I did not expect that since many people who came here to volunteer told me that I can easily find a nice room at INR 1000. Any way, this night was kind of discouraging to me because the budget I had travel with would have not been sufficient had I continue to pay at least INR 1000 without taking into account foods, shopping, transportations, etc. The night was not deep enough because of the time zone change coupled with long fly I have ever had (20 hours). Yes It was a difficult night but I am looking forward to work with the foundation for the good of the Humanity for a month.