Nyauk Pin Zauk

We thought Northern Shan State would be our last occasion to give away glasses. But it turned out to be our penultimate opportunity. Our last destination was Nyauk Pin Zauk in Magwe Division to discuss the Clean Water Project and we found 18 people who needed glasses. So, in total this time, we have driven 1,150 miles and given away 138 pairs of glasses.

Our first villager at Nyauk Pin Zauk stood outside her house. It was made of very dry and very elderly palm leaves. It was almost impossible to believe anyone lived there, as we could see no possessions inside. Daw Aye Thi walked barefoot beside us to the slightly more substantial house of her neighbour. It was made of bamboo with a palm leaf roof. Inside that house all we could see were two mosquito nets and two large sacks, so the inhabitants were hardly any better off. Saya Htay sat down on a bench outside, got out her bag of glasses and found a pair suitable for Daw Aye Thi. After a few moments other villagers started to arrive.

Most of the villagers there are farmers growing peanuts, beans, sesame and betel leaf. Some wanted awegyi to see across their fields, others were excited when they found we had some bifocals and they could see both near by and far away.

Daw San Laing was a weaver in her younger days, but had not been able to ply her craft for years. When she walked away she said excitedly that she would start weaving again tomorrow! Giving anigyi to Daw Than Sea was also rewarding as she was a tailor and it will help the standard of her work. It turned out that Ko Mao Myo climbed toddy palms twice each day. As these are 45 feet high, I was relieved to think anigyi might make his job a little safer.

Many villagers, including Ko Mg Thin, a committee member of Nyauk Pin Zauk Village, told us doctors had told them they needed treatment for their eyes but none of them had any money so how could they pay? They were surprised to hear that all our glasses were free. I mentioned that many came from Australia (thank you Shae Dixon for collecting so many). Daw Mya Hat who was 73 declared she could see me now and that I was a foreigner and that I had a mosquito bite on my foot! She sent a girl to collect her grinding stone and lathered my foot with some brown traditional medicine. So far so good!

We were particularly pleased to help Daw Shwe Gyi because she is one of the poorest of the poor. Anyone who does not own land in a village is termed a ‘worker’ and has to do whatever job comes their way just to be able to feed themselves. A woman next to her tried on glasses and commented: I could start a fire with these. We gave her a less powerful pair! Daw Mya Yea exploded into giggles when she found a pair of glasses that suited her. I am a model now, she declared, at which the rest of the women joined in her merriment.

A bullock cart drew up. U Le Ye (74) farmer was on his way back from farming and wondered at the crowd in the lane. He told us the glasses have put his sight back the way it was when he was a young boy. U Wad Gyi told us for years he had asked his daughter to take him to Pakokku to buy some glasses but my daughter said how can you go you have no money?

Possibly for the last time – certainly for this visit – I was thanked because I am a good nat and they hoped the good nat would come again.