Subas

Subas (English name: Simon), aged Aged 12

Subas is really quiet and a well-behaved boy. But sad to say, we were unable to know him better because he returned to the home just a few days before we left. Most of the time, he is hanging out in the Junior’s Boys Room, and playing with the other younger boys such as Gibon, Niraj and Keshav.

Below are the words that he eagerly took my black notebook to his room to write:

"I like to play table tennis and badminton. Sometimes I like to ride cycle. I like to be doctor. I like to science and english book. I like to eat pizza and momo. My favourite colour is yellow. I like to listening Nepali, Hindi, English music. I like to look Nepali movies. I like to swim. I like to different story and jokes. I like to visit Pokhara. I like to drawing picture. I like to go school everyday."

Hope to talk to him more when we get back to Nepal this coming October!

Ramesh

Next, Ramesh (English name: Ryan), aged 13 and studying in Class 5.

To me, Ramesh is one silent helper. He is always there to see if you need any help, need an extra pair of hands, need an extra serving of rice, need any help with your dishes etc etc.

Most of the time, he is rather quiet, walking around the house as if making sure everything was fine in the house. Afterall, he is one of the veterans who had spent a considerable 7 years of his childhood in the Home.

Not forgetting of taking care of the young kids, at the restaurant:

Generally, the kids are quite inspired by wrestlers.

This is what he wrote in my black notebook:

"I like to play tennis and ride to like cycle and my best food is rice. I like to play football. I like Nepali music. I like Nepali movies. My favourite subject is Science and Maths. I like reading drawing writing etc. I like to go everyday school. I like to be a doctor"

Keep the Samaritan and helpful spirit high cause no help is too small, Ramesh!

Adeep

His name is Adeep (English name: Brian). At age 11, he is studying in Class 4.

We did not see Adeep during our first few days at the home. Hence, he was kind of shy when he returned home from his village (according to the staff, the kids go back to their village sometimes during festivals) and saw 3 foreigners hanging out around his room. Therefore, he was quiet and reserved. But after awhile, he began to know us better and was really playful and cheerful. He is also one who will protect the small or weaker, not hesitating to argue with any other kids (not amongst the 20 goodies children of course) who are bullying the younger ones.

One day, Adeep was telling me that he is going to the cobbler that day (in school, or nearby) to repair his school shoes as there was a hole in the sole. He came home from school, delighted, showing me the repaired shoes. The hole was sort of still there, but now he got a paper cardboard to use as a sole pad for “protection”.

I looked at the shoe in much disbelief, but kept it in my mind for days, repeated thinking if I should get him a new pair of school shoes as it might be unfair if I just buy him a new pair of shoes, neglecting the other kids. So towards the end of my trip, I finally had one chance to buy him a pair of shoes. His face lit up with a wide smile when I told him I was getting him a new pair of shoes, after which he mumbled something to the elder boys in Nepali.

The happiness on his face was really beyond words, and unforgettable. I am really glad I bought him a new pair of shoes, one that cost only SGD8, yet could bring so much joy to him.

Adeep in his school and favourite yellow house sports attire.

Adeep’s first taste of Milkshake, along with his tasty Chicken Pizza, unbelievable satisfaction.

On my last day, I wrote a note to each kid, offering some words of encouragement. Particularly for Adeep, I mentioned that he looked fierce when he doesn’t smile.

He read my letter, treasuring it like a piece of gem and was about to place it neatly into his own “cupboard cubicle”, when I stopped him to ask if he understood what I wrote (in English).

He smiled and looked back at me, shaking his head slightly, and say “No” pointing to the word “Fierce” which he couldn’t apprehend. Body language was probably the best explanation I could use to explain this word to him. Hence I frowned my eyebrows and showed him an angry face. Adeep finally understood, then showed an instantaneous facial expression of Enlightenment, accompanied with a priceless smile on his face - one that I couldnt forget.

Adeep with his look-alike friend, Chandra:

On my little black notebook, Adeep wrote these:

"I like to play bicycle. I want to be a doctor. I like to eat a chicken pizza. I read in class Four. My favourite colour is yellow. I like to Nepali movies and I like to Nepali music. I like to visit Pokhara and Singapore. I like to eat pizza and momo."

SINGAPORE – is one of the places he like to visit. I guessed as Singaporean Volunteers, we did bring them Hope and Fantasy about Singapore.

I end my entry about Adeep with “Keep Smiling” Adeep and everyone : )

Binita

Binita is the oldest girl in the home, at age 13.

She is also the coolest girl in the whole house, one with few words. Being the eldest, the responsibility of taking care of the girls and household chores fall on her. She is always seen around the house, sweeping the floor, helping with setting the fire, doing some needlework for the staff's wife or looking after their children.

But one thing we know for sure, she is very camera shy. Unlike the rest of the children who would wrestle forward, pull each other's hair or tear each other apart to get more personal shots, she was the only one who would steer away from the lens of the camera. The only time she requested to take a photo of her was when she was wearing her school attire and the new trekking suit we bought for them.

Gosh, they were really happy with their new school shirt. At last they were able to go for exercise during school hours! And Im glad we could make Binita so happy. She really loves going to school and takes pride in it.

Binita exluded an air of mystery, mixed with a tinge of sorrow. We do not know what happened to her family or how ended in the home. Some things are better left unsaid. While we were at the home, we just wanted to bring to these children as much joy and hope as we could.

Being the oldest girl, she is also the pillar of support for the girls. She is their big sister and the girls respect her a lot. I have no qualms about giving her instructions because I know she will relay them and take really good care of all the younger girls.

Take care Binita and continue to pass your exams with good colours. Im sure you would emerge a better person amongst the hardship.

Purna

Next introducing the 2nd boy - Purna.

His English name is called Matt. At age 9, class 2, he is probably the youngest person I have ever met who knows (and fits) the true definition of what is called..."being flexible".

I hope I could upload the video (IM 1251) to see his potiential physical flexibility. One of his flexible stunts includes being able to bend his body backwards such that his hands reach the ground and he starts to walk with both his legs and hands, with his chest facing the ceiling, from the juniors' boys room to the senior boys' room, all at the same time grinning at me while I looked at him with absolute fascination and amazement.

Besides the "bendy and flexible" limbs, he also has the fastest actions. He is always the first one to finish his meals, and the first one to get dressed for school. He is already carrying his bag and waiting at the doorstep, while the rest are still getting ready. Speedy Gonzalez!

Purna's cheerful and innocent grin also never fails to brighten up my day and it is exactly what we hope to see and need to see, to tide over each day, over the worst possible conditions.
Even if Purna had gotten a fungal infection on his left cheek, he was still as cheerful as ever and never let it affect him much. Saddening to say, the home is unable to afford Purna to see the doctor or buy any treatment cream from the drug store. The mark was left to stay there......

Finally, all the years of practice as a pharmacist serve as a useful platform for situations like this. I was finally able to put my medical knowledge into good use. We went to the drugstore and bought this antifungal cream for just S$1.10 and applied twice daily on Purna's cheek. After a few days, the mark really went away!

All of us were really happy (including Purna of course) and it was really very rewarding. I felt good being able to help others with a little drug knowledge I learnt from my job/ school. I really hope and wish for more volunteers from the medical field (eg, doctors and nurses) to come over and do the same for these children who also deserve to get the best medical care and treatment like any other children back home.

Lastly, Purna says bye to you through the oversized dark glasses.

And we will miss you always, Purna :)