Yesterday as Shawna and I were walking to class, we came around a corner and as we were walking we both noticed there was an old man lying on his back on the sidewalk with his cane next to him. I didn’t think much of it at first (there is always random drunk or homeless people passed out on the sidewalks here at night, or in the morning left over from the night before…), but then I noticed there was a younger guy, maybe the old man’s grandson, bending over him. Looking closer, it was clear the old man was not alive… his grandson turned him over, and we watched as random fluid came dumping out his nose and mouth… and the man was not breathing.
Basically, we walked past as the man was dying right there on the sidewalk.
The weirdest part about it was that the grandson wasn’t even a little bit frantic, there was no calling for help, there was no “call 911” yelled… we weren’t the only people walking past. It was just happening. No freak out, no big deal.
It was like the kid just came out of the house, saw his grandpa and thought, ‘well, grandpa just died here…” end of story.
Later, as we were walking through the market, we saw a dead dog, put in a bag and thrown out on the sidewalk.
It’s a sobering thought to think that these people have dealt with so much death that it’s not really a big deal. Not to say that there’s no mourning here, or that they don’t love their families…but it’s just an accepted reality of life.
They are comfortable with death.
Death isn’t a disturbing concept here.
On my way to class yesterday I watched a man die.
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5 comments:
HOLY COW! Good thing I wasnt there. My initial thought would be whip out the CPR barrier mask and preform, while the grandson looks at me weird/attempts to stop me, as I am wondering why no one is calling for someone to intibate this dude.
So interesting to read your blogs about your cultural observances.
wow. talk about extremes. death is such a big deal here.
i like your blogs. i think they make everyone feel like they're with you.
I agree with Marianne. Also, I don't know if I would be able to handle a situation like that.
wowser. that is tough shit. How were you the rest of the day? I can't imagine really being okay with that, but then did it make it a bit anticlimatic due to the response of the rest of the people?
wow thats so crazy. Im not sure i would feel okay about that. I guess its more okay since they are so used to it and they didnt freak out. I dunno. Wow.
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