Monday, October 18, 2010

brought to you by...

It's been a long time, but...
Last weekend we spent our time in Rajamundry, which is a smaller, not as crowded version, of Vizag. It has all the same features of any Indian city, I suppose: the blaring horns, men and children relieving themselves on the sides of the roads, cows and buffalo roaming freely and innocently getting in the way of everyone and everything, and the steep foreigner tax.

On Sunday the 10th of October we spent fifteen hours on a boat cruising the Godavari River.

After all those long hours of trying to sleep on the filthy carpet of the deck of the boat, and then idly watching the murky, brown water pass beneath us with foamy feces floating along, we went back to our hotel room to relax and watch some much needed television.
After much channel flipping, we settled for half an hour of The Ghost and the Darkness and we questioned each other, what ever happened to Val? Then a very moving public service announcement flickered on.

Scene:
Crowded bus moving violently along a busy street. Men, women, and children desperately grabbing at the bars to steady themselves.
A businessman wearing a sharp suit and tie, standing, hovering over his seated, unknown companions. Slow motion panel of his face as he inhales to relieve a deliciously loud sneeze.
Slow motion panel of the other bus riders, all freezing in fear from what could happen, then desperately the camera pans back to our businessman.
He managed to grab a handkerchief from his suit pocket, and in the next moment was able to cover his illness-ridden sneeze.
Everyone on the bus applauded and smiled at him for his good deed.

But I wonder...aren't there bigger health concerns the government should be focusing on? Sneezing seems so innocent compared to all sorts of deeds we have witnessed on a five minute walk around our neighborhood. Handwashing? Toilet using? So many options... I can only hope that people will see that it's not much harder to walk an extra ten to fifteen feet to the nearest toilet stall. But I guess there is a certain appeal...?
No. No, I don't get it.

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