Thursday, May 17 Darjeeling

Students at assembly at Loreto school

Darjeeling Mosque. We hear the call to prayer at 4am every day

It was Les and Jane’s turn to be ill today. Jane was throwing up during the night while Les’ chest cold laid him low. Jan went to mass for the second anniversary of Fr. Burns’ death. In the afternoon she ventured down the hill where she encountered people carrying water in large containers down to the stream. Upstream, there was garbage and other refuse in the water. This water was undoubtedly contaminated. Water is in short supply here because of the inadequate infrastructure. Darjeeling is on a ridge and there is no natural reservoir. We are told that there is water mafia that controls much of the water supply here. Fortunately this year has had a fair amount of rain, so there is no drought. Nevertheless, poorer people must trek down the hill to fill up on contaminated water and lug it back up the hill.

The North Point group were all invited for a steep walk down to visit the homes of several St. Michael’s students who live on a near by tea plantation. As they followed the students to their homes they learned that many of them walk for over two hours each way to go to school.  The hospitality of the students and their families was overwhelming. The students were so excited to have Canadian visitors in their homes and introduce them to their families. The girls were welcomed into the homes of eight students, and shared many cups of tea and Coca-Cola, as well as biscuits. They were also given copious amounts of tea leaves from each of the families.. We made it back to North Point barely in time for dinner after a packed, incredibly rewarding afternoon.