Sisters of Charity

04274108

Although I agree with you that Toronto can be a heartless city at times, I highly doubt your friend's story.

Toronto EMS (Emergency Medical Services) runs the only land ambulance service in the city. Typically, the patient is billed $45 with the balance ($195 paid by the Ontario Ministry of Health). Those on social assistance pay nothing.

Last summer, I saw a drunk woman kicking a passed out drunk man on the street. I broke it up and called 911. EMS only asked if the man was conscious. At no time was I informed that I would be responsible for the bill or told that they had to ask about the state of his condition in order to optimize costs.

http://www.toronto.ca/ems/overview/cost.htm

Kiki

Hey Curly,

Your "greatest fear" should be that you go to India and come back unchanged. Your second greatest fear should be being in Calcutta in the Summmer. Yikes! But, seriously, you just need to take the risk and go and volunteer and see how things work out. Ignore the negative things you read in this thread. It seems to have become very hip to criticize Mother Theresa and others like her these days. She never said she was perfect. She just wanted to dedicate her life to helping others. I would feel very proud to be as flawed as Mother Theresa!

There are now ATM's all over India and I'm sure they exist in Calcutta as well. Your parents would just need to put money into your account in your home country and you could take it out with your ATM card in India. Simple as that.

Good luck!

indiaddict

Temp, this is about working for the poor not about "evangelizing" them. However, your hometown is in bad need of your volunteering efforts.....

Nick-H

You are answering a post from 2005.

It's easy, when browsing the site, to jump on stuff that interests, stimulates, or even annoys, without noticing how old it is.

This is a double-edged sword, because it can mean interesting stuff returns to the surface of our huge pile, but it can also restart old controversies, and there is no point in that.

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Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

curly wurly

hey kiki,
thank you so much for replying and for the calming and great answers. how long were you there?
is it easy to go from there into town where i can go into the internet or call my parents?
is there anything i should take with me besides clothing? and is there a place around where i can wash my clothes? (sorry for so many questions at once.)
thanks again so much.

Kiki

It would be good if you posed these questions on the "india travel basics" forum where there's a lot of info and people to answer. I haven't been to Calcutta for a long time. You'd get more current info from others.

good luck!

machadinha

Heheh. Curly Wurly has actually just kindly been requested by the moderating team to keep her questions on the subject together I imagine s/he'll be a little confused by now as to how best to post.

Maybe a new thread on the whole thing would be best yes. So Curly: Fire away and start a new thread of your own!

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Kiki

Well...I'm confused now also! Oh well. I've nothing more to offer poor Curly anyway.

pquekel

http://www.secularhumanism.org/libra...elds_18_1.html

I think the article you can find following the link above is quite interesting!

curly wurly

thanks very much for the suggestion and the webpage and sorry webmaster.

facing the end

just a quick response,
few month ago I went into a grocery store and I saw a DVD on the shelf called "Mother Theresa", I bought it, its in english
in case you dont know here is the trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxQb3nHdPkI

A wonderful film on Mother Teresa, I have watched many times and enjoy it each time that I do. actress Olivia Hussey has spoken of her delight at being chosen to play Mother Teresa of Calcutta in a new television series for Italian TV, produced by Lux Vide. It was shown around the time of the beatification of the world's most famous nun, October 2003.

navinkurian2002

Article by: Vanessa Arrington, December 2007
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/travelst...nkolkata_1207/

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I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare dream of meeting your heart's longing. Budget Hotels ]

facing the end

I am not a Christian (Islam's my faith)
@Mother Teresa Channel
http://www.catholic-tube.com/video-c...=8TY22Zm43Q Q

A Very Special Human Being - Mother Teresa
Who has not heard of her. This nun has touched countless of hearts, one way or another, mostly good. I am not a Christian (Islam's my faith). However in some ways, this special nun touched my heart too. Included here are some of her words. Rest In Peace Mother Teresa. May GOD Bless you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TY22Zm43QQ

Spend all your time waiting for that second chance
For the break that will make it ok
There's always some reason to feel “not good enough�
And it's hard at the end of the day
I need some distraction, oh beautiful release
Memories seep from my veins
They may be empty and weightless, and maybe
I'll find some peace tonight

In the arms of an Angel, fly away from here
From this dark, cold hotel room, and the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage of your silent reverie
You're in the arms of an Angel; may you find some comfort here

So tired of the straight line, and everywhere you turn
There's vultures and thieves at your back
The storm keeps on twisting, you keep on building the lies
That you make up for all that you lack
It don't make no difference, escaping one last time
It's easier to believe
In this sweet madness, oh this glorious sadness
That brings me to my knees

In the arms of an Angel, far away from here
From this dark, cold hotel room, and the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage of your silent reverie
In the arms of an Angel; may you find some comfort here