Rantings of an Aid Worker

zeh`r:

welcome back...regale chowk;)

once a rebo (restlessbohemian)....

...would let that trail off;)... look forward to more

lve

t

Dear Ms. Rizvi (or Zehra, if it is okay with you):

I am really glad that you have moved on with your life (by comparing your current thoughts with those that you narrated in one of your (post 9/11) 2001 articles) and by getting involved in doing something so positive. I am absolutely sure that you will make a big difference to change the lives of some people on that side of the world. I am also sure that the change won`t be one-sided.

If you still have that smoking problem (as indicated in your author intro) you should really do something about it! (If ``that stuff could kill you`` does not work, how about this: ``you will be setting a bad role model for some of those young minds``?

Good luck and all the best to you!

Ref ijaz_gul #3

[Could not an NGO from India or Pakistan have done a better job.]

The Government of India has sent aid totalling $35 million through official channels to Sri Lanka.

At least one NGO, the Mata Amrithanandamayee Math, has been invited to Sri Lanka to help in relief efforts. They have done an outstanding job in Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu in providing temporary housing, food and medical aid.

Dear All,
Thanks for reading..and thanks for the welcome back. It has been a while.
I sent another article as well which i think chowk will put up sooner or later that is the more official side of my work here. This aticle is ranting since it has been frustrating on so mnay different levels. Just read an article from the Wall Street journal about how the aid is just not getting to SL fast enough..it`s really ridiculous. it is up to the local NGO`s and the local people to make sure the people affected can get their lives back.
(the official article will be more to your liking i think, urstruly...wait for it...should be up soon).
farzana. i will be coming to india at the end of this trip...are you still in bombay?

HN...a good change in what way?

Ijaz saab, you are quite correct: most people do speak english...doesnt stop me from feeling like an asshole though. the english speaking by the way was one of the reasons why i did come here. I figured out that D and i would not be a liability. our first thought on dec 26th was to go to india. we realized that SL was just so hard hit. Spoke to people and they were like, come to SL...you`ll be help. So we did.
It is still difficult to get our bearings though.

thanks again,
zehra.

Hello Zehra:

It is great to see you again here, although in a different avatar.

I think it is natural for any sensitive person to feel that she is not doing justice, that she is useless, helpless -- it is this sensitivity that is more valuable than all the `proactive` angels one sees around. There is no middle ground; we do come with our baggages...what is important is how we use them.

I assume you are mainly travelling through villages, which is the reason you have language problems. Just say `Ayu-bowan` (namaste or salaam) and you will get a smile in return.

The weeks ahead will perhaps make you see things differently. That is life -- tragedy or no tragedy.

Best,
Farzana

Must you tell us about your marriage?

Talking about tsunamis...

The fact that you are trying to attract funds for those affected is in itself a commendable act. It doesn`t matter what language you do it in. The money will ultimately help those who need it. Don`t run yourself down in lamenting what you can`t do - you run a great risk of forfeiting what you can do.

All the best!

And yes, a reassuring smile goes a long way.

Could not an NGO from India or Pakistan have done a better job. On equity basis both have the same amount of work to do with the suffering masses and hence more experience.

Cheerios

At times a mere smile can dring happiness to others. The fact that you are with a local NGO itself speaks of your noble intentions. I thought that with a literacy rate of over 90%, amny people in Sri Lanka could communicate in english.

Cheerios

That was a nice change.

remembered a Bruce Chatwin quote...methinks...about how when we set out to meet new people, cultures or countries, we are full of the needs to de-rationalise...as in unlearn our usual way to understand things...and then...we catch ourselves doing something that shocks us....Our very first response to it is rational.

But that said, I am sure you will do good work, and help. All the best.

HN