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From September 1999 until Juli 2000 I went to India through the negotiation of the Commissie Samen for a step into the unknown. I thought it would be fantastic to be able to live for half a year on a project, that way being able to experience a different culture, nature, life.. I never went with the thought to be able to help other people, but living with them would be an unforgettable experience, for me as well as for the people out there.

The first three weeks after my arrival I could just look around and become familiar with all the different departments of the project. That way I could get used to the food, the people and that way the boys and staff could get to know me as well. Everywhere I went I was stared upon, 'what is that white man doing here?' But as soon as most people knew I was just Mark from Holland it was time to move on for the next step in the integration process.

There was someone needed for the Re-Orientation Camp. In this camp there is a group of about 20 boys, who have been living on the street for a long period, who stay in the camp for a period of six weeks. Because they lived on the street for such a long time, they have developed a sincere time-lag with their schoolgoing age-group and their sence of day ritme is totally gone. So it was my task, together with Anand, my Indian collegue/friend/ex street boy, to teach those boys a little bit and to give them some insight in the life they would get when they decide to get back into society. Short said, after six weeks they should be able to know the ABC and to come in time if asked from them.

We have played, made drawings, played with Lego, cried a lot but most of all laughed a lot. My doubts about my teaching skills dissappeared very quickly through the enthousiasme of the boys to learn things. They are eager, want to know everything from you and have an unbridled energy. And, when it happened that I didn't know what to do, then they always had ideas for a nice game. Or, if we just wanted to do nothing on some afternoon, then that was no problem as well. Those boys, sometimes without parents, or just not wanting them anymore, or not having the slightest idea where they come from, have become my little brothers, one-by-one. So my nick name was quickly found. Markbrother... Those faces are still etched in my mind and I found it very difficult to leave them again. The happyness they showed when they saw me every morning was touching.

Offcourse sometimes it was not nice. Sometimes they were extremely irritating and annoying. But those were the moments that I realised that they too were just boys, like me... And that makes it so beautifull when I think about it. I have learned to know some beautifull little human beings, each with a different story, harsh or sometimes more hopefull. We were all together.

So many times I think of them. And then I find that they enriched me with an enthousiasme to live, learn to know the unknown, making the best of it, but mostly to laugh a lot, evenings and nights long...

Mark Bos