WELCOME
HOME
A
NATIVE AMERICAN WELCOME
One
of the greatest gifts in my life has been my choice to work with American
Indians. The plans were to finish my post graduate training in Endocrinology in
the USA and return to Australia to continue my life where it had left off.
Casualidad no es tan casual, say the Cubans.
MONSOON IN COCHIN, KERALA
BACKWATERS FLOWING INTO THE SEA AT FORT COCHIN IN KERALA
Less
than one week ago, I was on the shores of the Cochin backwaters, enjoying the
immense hospitality of the Cochin people, especially the family of Mr. B.
SOME GOOD FRIENDS FROM MEXICO
I
arrived last night at the reservation, to the Blue House which has become my
home among the Indians.
(SYNCRETISM AT ITS BEST: I MAY LEAVE CUBA BUT CUBA NEVER LEAVES ME! HANUKKIA FROM COCHIN, KIPPAH BY SARAH COHEN OF JEW TOWN, COCHIN, AMERICAN INDIAN DOLL AND ALSO NATS FROM BURMA)
Working
with Indians, one is exposed to the ancient philosophy of the people and you
are brought to the original uncontaminated thinking of human beings before
greed, avarice, lack of respect, exploitation took hold of the human mind.
The
tribe I returned to is one of the earliest tribes I had worked with hired as a
Doctor to work with them and help them. Always and to this day I feel that they
have helped me much more than I had helped them.
ONE OF THE EARLIEST CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGICAL STUDIES PUBLISHED INN 1932 WAS ABOUT THIS TRIBE BY NONE OTHER THAN THE GREAT AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST MARGARET MEAD
The
relationship between us continued, even though I was physically absent from
their clinic. I entered the clinic and
was greeted with so much affection and respect by so many of the workers! Almost all of them were Indians and they
shouted their joy of seeing me back. I was so humbled with this reception.
THE FEAST OF WELCOME (SE'UDA WE CAN SAY IN HEBREW?) ALL HOME MADE BY MRS M
Mrs.
M had married an Indian while he was stationed in the Philippines and had
integrated into her life here as a Cook at the Clinic. At the request of the
CEO, who gave me such a warm welcome, thanking me for returning, Mrs. M had
prepared a feast! Lumia, Pancit Noodles, Adobe Chicken. Remember this clinic is
situated 60 km from the nearest town! And I am sure this was the only place you
could taste Filipino Food! She greeted me as if she had seen me only yesterday.
After
the lunch, where all the workers were invited, I went around greeting the
workers in various departments of the clinic and I felt so elated by their
genuine welcome.
You
are home; the CEO was to say later.
In
the ten years away, I had learned and taught at various universities and countries
and now I bring back that knowledge to assist my friends. I also told them that
at every opportunity I get, which is true, I mention their names, as a token of
my appreciation of the love they had shown me over the years.
DEDICATED HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AT THE CLINIC. THIS DOCTOR IS AN EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD FAMILY PHYSICIAN.
I INVITE MY DEAREST FRIEND IN MIAMI, DR MW TO COME AND HELP ME TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH STATUS OF THESE ANCIENT PEOPLE OF THE AMERICAS
