Also...

Last night, we watched a film in Dharamsala's mini cinema (basically a widescreen plasma tv and dvd player with curtains and comfy seats... it works well) called Born Into Brothels, about the children of prostitutes in Calcutta's red light district. An amazing American photographer from New York gave the kinds cameras and lessons on how to be a good photographer, some of the pictures they took were amazing. There is not much hope for these poor children, stigmatised by society, with many girls forced into prostitution at 11 by their mothers. This is a side to India that I previously wasn't aware barely existed. It was such a moving film, the realities of what these children face, especially compared to our cushy lives in the West, really hit me. We are so lucky. I know I keep saying that, but my god we are. The other day, I met this Sloanie girl who sent her backpack back to england after 3 days because it was "too heavy" she spent 30,000 rs doing. 30,000! Thats 2/3 people's yearly salary. Its disgusting. We take for granted our position in England, our automatic access to education, sanitation, food, water, child protection. When I get back to England I am going to buy that DVD and show everybody, it is so moving. As equally as it may depress you, it will also make you so happy and appreciative of what you have. I'm reading The Art of Happiness by the Dalai Lama at the moment (cue hippy mocks :P!) and he says that one of the keys to becoming happy within yourself is through comparison. As humans, we naturally compare ourselves to others, what breeds unhappiness and covetousness is comparing ourselves to those who have more than we have, or what we dont have... it leads to dissatisfaction.

Charlee's thought for the day: The next time you find yourself comparing yourself to others, compare yourself to those less fortunate than yourself: the poor, the handicapped, the lonely... and then look at all that you have and be thankful that you don't have to live in a rubbish heap, drinking water from sewage pipes to survive, that you don't have leprosy and your arms aren't falling off your body, I guarantee you will feel instant satisfaction with yourself

Sorry for being super self righteous, I just wanted to point it out. I promise, alot less of me harping on and alot more about how wonderful India is and how much fun we're having, coming up