I've been here a solid 2 weeks and am proud to say my spirits are still up and I'm loving my time here- even the lows. I spent last week in Than Gaon, a mountain village about 35 km away from Dehra Dun. The drive up... well lets just say if we swerved ~2 feet to our right we'd get a free skydiving experience! Now in the states.. this drive would be manageable but we were sharing the road with motorcyclists that came flying around the bend, livestock, and monkeys! Once we reached our destination, I was in awe- of making it but of where we were. Wow. STUNNING view- it's situated in the foothills of the Himalayans and is just as breathtaking, maybe more, than I imagined. Green trees/grass, BLUE sunny sky, mountains all around. The first morning we hiked down the back of the mountain to a river that flowed between two mountain peaks... it was so picturesque I can't even describe! we walked up, in and through the river to a quiet area with a waterfall and swimming hole, laid out on big rocks with our feet in the cool, fresh river. AMAZING! We did yoga twice a day- morning and evening with Dherindra, our personal Yoga instructor. It took everything in me to not bust out laughing the first day- he had a very theatrical voice that was so un-like his normal accent "RElaaaaaaaaaaaaaaax. picture your whole body in your forehead, tell your bodyyyy" After that first session, I got into it and was able to truly relax and really enjoy it! I even did a nasal rinse... he assured me I wouldn't get a cold/cough all winter! Tuesday and Thursday we hiked to surrounding villages and set up a medical camp- I learned how to take blood pressure and check ears and throat! SO COOL! We made chapati (flour and water only!) with the cooks, were accosted by two of the BIGGEST spiders I've ever seen, played volleyball with the locals as the sun set behind the Himalayans. It was a pretty sweet week!
We came back on Friday evening- to a fully decorated town ready for Diwali. This is basically India's Christmas, thanksgiving, and halloween wrapped up into one big weekend long celebration. It is celebrating the return of Lord Rama's kidnapped wife Sita. The town was ON! People were dressed in their best, and even the houses looked like they had sparkling jewelery draped over them (they use lights similar to during Christmas time but in a very different style). The night was unreal. we hung out on the rooftop of our house, danced and listened to Punjab (Indian) hit music and watched the happenings- fire'crackers' going off EVERYwhere- even from up in the mountains. It was really fun shopping the day before and buying an Indian style shirt and matching bangles!
My highlight of the day was watching a baby being born! I mean I was right there behind the doctor. it was SO COOL. wow. I can't believe I didn't pass out (the day before I almost did watching a different procedure that was really hard to handle). The poor woman today, had severe (atypical) postpartum hemorrhaging and it was an intensive 30-40 minutes of getting the bleeding under control and suturing up the tearing (AH) and cutting. I think I was able to handle this knowing the outcome of the procedure was a brand new life! and on that note... thank you MOM- miss you love you and appreciate you more than you know!
Much love and appreciation to all of you~~
Christy
Tuesday, 20 October 2009
Saturday, 10 October 2009
Cannot describe...
Words cannot describe this place; they don't show the vivid colors of the women's saris. Pictures are not enough, they don't capture the noise of the chaotic streets. Videos are not complete, they don't hold the feeling of walking past crippled children begging for food.
I don't know how to share where I am with you! It's so foreign. I've adjusted pretty well- lots of ups and downs through out the first week. I am taking one day at a time and just embracing the roller coaster! Out of self-preservation I've had to desensitized myself to what I see and walk past even when what I know is to help. I try and do as much little things as I can- having some treats/nuts/coins in my pocket to hand out.
You never know what you're going to get here... while walking down the one sidewalk they have in the city to get to the doctors, 3 donkey's come parading toward us and we have to leave this little peice of safety and chose either to step to our left into a garbage filled foul smelling sewer or to our right into fast crazy unorganized cars, bicycles, rickshaws, and vikrams. Today, we were riding in the rickshaw when a whole parade- music, people dressed up, cars, horse- comes through and we have to turn around (into on coming traffic) and take a 'back' road aka pretty much a motorcross track to get home! Waking up in the morning to the fruit man announcing his presence throughout the neighborhood (if you listened closely.. you might have been able to hear him back at home). And then, while riding home I look out to colorfully dressed children guy laughing in a small group, men being incredibly resourceful with all kinds of material welding, widdling, creating items, a family run restaurant making food on the street.
One thing is for sure, this experience is UNforgettable. The lessons I am learning on a daily basis will be with me for the rest of my life!
I don't know how to share where I am with you! It's so foreign. I've adjusted pretty well- lots of ups and downs through out the first week. I am taking one day at a time and just embracing the roller coaster! Out of self-preservation I've had to desensitized myself to what I see and walk past even when what I know is to help. I try and do as much little things as I can- having some treats/nuts/coins in my pocket to hand out.
You never know what you're going to get here... while walking down the one sidewalk they have in the city to get to the doctors, 3 donkey's come parading toward us and we have to leave this little peice of safety and chose either to step to our left into a garbage filled foul smelling sewer or to our right into fast crazy unorganized cars, bicycles, rickshaws, and vikrams. Today, we were riding in the rickshaw when a whole parade- music, people dressed up, cars, horse- comes through and we have to turn around (into on coming traffic) and take a 'back' road aka pretty much a motorcross track to get home! Waking up in the morning to the fruit man announcing his presence throughout the neighborhood (if you listened closely.. you might have been able to hear him back at home). And then, while riding home I look out to colorfully dressed children guy laughing in a small group, men being incredibly resourceful with all kinds of material welding, widdling, creating items, a family run restaurant making food on the street.
One thing is for sure, this experience is UNforgettable. The lessons I am learning on a daily basis will be with me for the rest of my life!
Monday, 5 October 2009
Basically... Im in India!
I'm in INDIA!! Other than a long wait to get my luggage, it was such a smooth transition. The flight here from Bahrain was way shorter than I expected! only ~3 hours. I was still trying to get comfortable with a plane full of coughing Indian men (seriously, more than half the plane was hacking!) when the flight attendant came on saying we were preparing to descend! When we get pretty close to the ground, i hear click-click- the sound of seat belts being unbuckled. I stay firmly latched in and am amazed that as the wheels touch the ground 5 or 6 men hurriedly walk pass me. Then comes an announcement- "We will be taxing for awhile, please stay in your seats..." Against the persistent request of the flight attendants, some people just would not sit. It takes about 10 minutes until we are allowed to stand up and me being in the back of the plane think no rush- right? wrong. everyone starts frantically piling into the aisle. I put one foot in the aisle, gripping my bag and get swept into the flow! I have to push just to not get run over! I laughed through it and had my first "just adjust" moment before even setting foot in India!
I got through the mandatory health check and customs, got my luggage, headed for the exit and immediately saw my name on a sign. such relief!
I've had a hard time getting to sleep the last 2 nights- but i'm not surprised. Arriving into Dehra Dun was unforgettable! It's SO cool being in a completely new, foreign environment. It is so loud- the honking!! Everyone is in everyone's way. on my first ride on the road I see... small shops lining the road, cows wandering proudly along the road, a small parade with music, firecrackers, and people dressed up, a brave man dressed in a uniform directing traffic.. kind of.
My first day at the clinic with Dr. Ghandi was today. The first patient was a man with active TB is seen, we get this chest x-ray and figure out what it is, then he asks... what do you see and we tell him (well Christina a 4th year med student tells him ha!) so the man needs to be admitted and given treatment, but for the time being he lays in the bed thats in the office Dr. Ghandi and us are in with the other patients... just coughing away less than 5 feet from us. we'd get their EKG and find any abnormalities (P wave, QRS, T wave...) and then he'd ask normal? and most of the time it was. Then we did rounds! crazy, awesome, interesting stuff!
On the ride home in the Vikram, a girl asks while shaking her head side to side in a very classically indian way, "so... basically where are you from?" I love it!
much love!!!!!!!!!
-Christy
I got through the mandatory health check and customs, got my luggage, headed for the exit and immediately saw my name on a sign. such relief!
I've had a hard time getting to sleep the last 2 nights- but i'm not surprised. Arriving into Dehra Dun was unforgettable! It's SO cool being in a completely new, foreign environment. It is so loud- the honking!! Everyone is in everyone's way. on my first ride on the road I see... small shops lining the road, cows wandering proudly along the road, a small parade with music, firecrackers, and people dressed up, a brave man dressed in a uniform directing traffic.. kind of.
My first day at the clinic with Dr. Ghandi was today. The first patient was a man with active TB is seen, we get this chest x-ray and figure out what it is, then he asks... what do you see and we tell him (well Christina a 4th year med student tells him ha!) so the man needs to be admitted and given treatment, but for the time being he lays in the bed thats in the office Dr. Ghandi and us are in with the other patients... just coughing away less than 5 feet from us. we'd get their EKG and find any abnormalities (P wave, QRS, T wave...) and then he'd ask normal? and most of the time it was. Then we did rounds! crazy, awesome, interesting stuff!
On the ride home in the Vikram, a girl asks while shaking her head side to side in a very classically indian way, "so... basically where are you from?" I love it!
much love!!!!!!!!!
-Christy
Thursday, 1 October 2009
Last day in Europe!
Hello!
A little re-cap...
We spent 2 glorious days in Venice
highlights: swimming in the Adriatic sea, eating a (whole) pizza at a cafe along the grand canal, getting gelatto too many times to count, and getting losts in the small, winding streets of Venice (only twice!), running into someone from my comm 218 class staying at the hostel, riding in a gondola across the grand canal...
Venice was incredible... high point of the trip!
Then we took the train to Munich and man oh man, was that crazy- thousands of people were flooding to Munich to take part in the annual famous Oktoberfest. We spent a morning touring the city and learning some history- it was really fascinating! And we spent an afternoon/evening at Oktoberfest. I loved seeing all the people dressed in traditional clothing, playing german songs, dancing (often on tables) and singing- children, adults, old-old adults! We saw it all!
From Munich we headed to Prague. Prague is an interesting city, it's only been freed from harsh ruling since 1989 and really it wasn't till a couple years later it became more establised. It was spared from WWII battle and so there were OLD buildings (one built in 1410)- the free walking tour we did was so cool- definitely my favorite tour so far!
Highlights: going to the largest Castle in europe, hanging out on the 'luckiest' bridge- Charles Bridge, going to the Jewish memorial museum and cemetery (a whole building with just names written ceiling to floor of Czech Jew's that were killed. Also there was artwork that the children drew while in the camps; it survived, they didn't and this is the only real proof of their time on the earth. It was very emotional and hard to look, but so powerful.
We left Prague and arrived in Frankfurt earlier today- luckily our hotel is 2 blocks from the main station and we were able to check in right away and look around the city! We've treated ourselves to some more gelatto and went to a real restaurant for dinner (1st time this trip!) seeing as is my last meal before curry, curry, and more curry!
I am preparing and attempting to get ready for my next adventure- this time into a much more foreign land. I know it will be incredible as well and I can't wait to see what it is like!
Much love~~~
Christy
A little re-cap...
We spent 2 glorious days in Venice
highlights: swimming in the Adriatic sea, eating a (whole) pizza at a cafe along the grand canal, getting gelatto too many times to count, and getting losts in the small, winding streets of Venice (only twice!), running into someone from my comm 218 class staying at the hostel, riding in a gondola across the grand canal...
Venice was incredible... high point of the trip!
Then we took the train to Munich and man oh man, was that crazy- thousands of people were flooding to Munich to take part in the annual famous Oktoberfest. We spent a morning touring the city and learning some history- it was really fascinating! And we spent an afternoon/evening at Oktoberfest. I loved seeing all the people dressed in traditional clothing, playing german songs, dancing (often on tables) and singing- children, adults, old-old adults! We saw it all!
From Munich we headed to Prague. Prague is an interesting city, it's only been freed from harsh ruling since 1989 and really it wasn't till a couple years later it became more establised. It was spared from WWII battle and so there were OLD buildings (one built in 1410)- the free walking tour we did was so cool- definitely my favorite tour so far!
Highlights: going to the largest Castle in europe, hanging out on the 'luckiest' bridge- Charles Bridge, going to the Jewish memorial museum and cemetery (a whole building with just names written ceiling to floor of Czech Jew's that were killed. Also there was artwork that the children drew while in the camps; it survived, they didn't and this is the only real proof of their time on the earth. It was very emotional and hard to look, but so powerful.
We left Prague and arrived in Frankfurt earlier today- luckily our hotel is 2 blocks from the main station and we were able to check in right away and look around the city! We've treated ourselves to some more gelatto and went to a real restaurant for dinner (1st time this trip!) seeing as is my last meal before curry, curry, and more curry!
I am preparing and attempting to get ready for my next adventure- this time into a much more foreign land. I know it will be incredible as well and I can't wait to see what it is like!
Much love~~~
Christy
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