I do not know how this major event that happened in Kerala slipped my mind!!!
So, before we left for Kerala my big toe on my left foot became sore and red...I stubbed it somewhere on something and noticed one day that it was bleeding. With all the crap on the streets of India, any number of things could have gotten in there. I would have just ignored it, but the fact that we are going to the Himalayas for 10 days was weighing on my mind. I did not have the luxury of having a toe infection while hiking for 10 days...so, I decided that going to the doctor once I reached Kerala was the best idea.
After our 12 hour train ride...where I slept on the floor until 3:30am when a man tapped me and told me he was getting off the train so I could use his seat, we got to the airport and reached Trivandrum (very close to the most southern tip of India). Hannah and I slept for the rest of the afternoon and evening after that night in a packed train with people who do not know what deodorant is used for...
So, we decided for the first day that we would shop around and just walk around the city. The first thing on our agenda, though, was Geetha Hospital.
We walk in, the receptionist asked my name and I spelled it out for him, which was translated into Nikhil LeGare. After about less than a minute I was called to see the doctor. I sat down, showed him my toe. He asked if it was "paining"and of course I confirmed, that yes, indeed, it was paining. He pressed down on my toe, which hurt, and he started writing a prescription for me. He wrote 3 separate prescriptions and sent me to the "Treatment Room". I wish I could hook up my camera to this computer so I could upload a picture of the room! It was very small with one examination table. I hopped up on there and told Hannah and Mary Beth that they could not leave me alone in that room.
I freaked when I saw a needle...They then told me to lay down and turn over...I tried to protest and asked what the needle was for (I was nervous). They told me it was a tetanus booster and they would not be able to put it in my arm...soooo I had to roll over and I clenched Hannah's hand as they injected me. I started laughing because of the whole situation and they thought I was crying..
I got my "tablets"after that - an anti-biotic, some pills in case the anti-biotic made my stomach feel a little woozy, and then some casual pain killers. My toe was really not "paining"THAT bad that I felt the need to take pain killers - but since they do not use labels on the medication, I had to just take all 3 pills for 3 consecutive days.
I know you would be happy to know that I am 100% cured of my toe infection. The best part about that hospital visit was that 1. It lasted for no more than 20 minutes. and 2. It cost me 230 rupees (divide that by 49 and you get a grand total of $4.69.)
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Long Time Overdue
SO I don't know where to begin so I will write about what is currently happening over here in India.
I am currently sitting in the "Transit Center"at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. We were supposed to fly out to Bagdogra to make our way to Darjeeling today..buuut since there is a "change in the seasons"today, our airplane was first downsized to hold only 135 passengers instead of 150, and when they tried to accommodate us on another flight, we learned that ONLY 2 flights go to Bagdogra airport a day, SO lucky us, we are staying overnight at the airport. Mike (our volunteer coordinator) is on his way to Kolkata then on to Bagdogra - he is unaware that we are still in Hyderabad...
Well, at least the internet is complimentary here!! That is a plus!
Hannah and I went to Kerala last week as there was a nun convention at the convent - so we had to be out of there. So, we went to visit Mary Beth in Trivandrum. Kerala was beautiful. Coconut trees are everywhere. We stayed in a house there, and I literally felt like I was in the Jungle Book when I stepped outside. We went to Kovalam Beach where we got burnt to crisps, but swimming in the Arabian Sea was awesome!! We also went to a place to ride elephants. We were driven to the location (not quite sure where it was....) and we were told to put our stuff in our little house that we would be staying in and to then meet the people at the entrance to go on a "trek". Well, what we thought was going to be a nice little nature walk, turned out to be a nice little 10k. Then it started to rain, so we had to wait another hour and a half to ride the elephants. BUT once we finally did - it was pretty sweet. Hannah and I rode together on Jaysree. She is a 36 year old elephant, the oldest elephant there is 89. I guess they live to around 100 years...crazy. We got to feed her afterwards and then go and see the 2 younger elephants, who are 8 and 9. The 9 year old put his trunk on my head for a "blessing."
So, this week we will be hiking the Himalayas in Nepal and then Hannah and I head off to Goa for some beach time. I return home on November 18th, juuust in time for the ND vs Army game.
I know that so much more has happened since I last wrote in here, buuuut this is what is going on at the moment sooo, here ya go!
I am currently sitting in the "Transit Center"at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. We were supposed to fly out to Bagdogra to make our way to Darjeeling today..buuut since there is a "change in the seasons"today, our airplane was first downsized to hold only 135 passengers instead of 150, and when they tried to accommodate us on another flight, we learned that ONLY 2 flights go to Bagdogra airport a day, SO lucky us, we are staying overnight at the airport. Mike (our volunteer coordinator) is on his way to Kolkata then on to Bagdogra - he is unaware that we are still in Hyderabad...
Well, at least the internet is complimentary here!! That is a plus!
Hannah and I went to Kerala last week as there was a nun convention at the convent - so we had to be out of there. So, we went to visit Mary Beth in Trivandrum. Kerala was beautiful. Coconut trees are everywhere. We stayed in a house there, and I literally felt like I was in the Jungle Book when I stepped outside. We went to Kovalam Beach where we got burnt to crisps, but swimming in the Arabian Sea was awesome!! We also went to a place to ride elephants. We were driven to the location (not quite sure where it was....) and we were told to put our stuff in our little house that we would be staying in and to then meet the people at the entrance to go on a "trek". Well, what we thought was going to be a nice little nature walk, turned out to be a nice little 10k. Then it started to rain, so we had to wait another hour and a half to ride the elephants. BUT once we finally did - it was pretty sweet. Hannah and I rode together on Jaysree. She is a 36 year old elephant, the oldest elephant there is 89. I guess they live to around 100 years...crazy. We got to feed her afterwards and then go and see the 2 younger elephants, who are 8 and 9. The 9 year old put his trunk on my head for a "blessing."
So, this week we will be hiking the Himalayas in Nepal and then Hannah and I head off to Goa for some beach time. I return home on November 18th, juuust in time for the ND vs Army game.
I know that so much more has happened since I last wrote in here, buuuut this is what is going on at the moment sooo, here ya go!
Monday, October 4, 2010
Secunderbad
Where to begin...
Maaaany changes have happened since I last wrote on here. Hannah and I moved out of Chandur for various reasons and we are now in Secunderbad at another convent. The superior here is really very nice though, her name is Sister Alice. There are only 10 girls that live in this home. They are originally from Navajeevana which is the street home located about 10 minutes away. These girls speak English very well and are wonderful to be around. Since there are only 10 of them, we are able to get to know them better and have an actual relationship with them. I have a funny feeling it will be much harder for me to leave them than it was to leave Chandur. There were just so many girls in Chandur (about 150) and they spoke such little English that it was tough to form an actual relationship with them, aside from being the American that lived with them.
SO Hannah and I, during the day, are going to be going to Navajeevana to be with the girls who are street children. If you have seen Slumdog Millionaire you can get a good picture of the children we are with every day. About 40 girls are residents there now. The sisters there pick up girls off the street who are beggars, or who are caught up in the sex slave business that goes on unnoticed...The sisters literally save them. Most of the girls they pick up, after a a bath, new clothes, and some meals, the parent(s) or a relative will come to claim them - but some girls are never claimed and become residents of this home. They stay and live there until they are married or can live on their own with their own job. The youngest is probably 2 or 3 and the oldest is 17. I cannot think of any other word to use to describe the emotions I feel while I am there, other than the word "intense". I really like it so far, we sing and dance and play hand games with the girls. Some speak a decent amount of English and others speak none at all.
The girls who live where I live are from Navajeevana originally but have come here to live. I think they really are the lucky ones. It feels like a family here. They all call me and Hannah "akka" which means big sister and I really feel like their older sister. We help them with their homework and studies, it's fun.
My mom came in last week. She is having quite an experience; it definitely is no vacation. It is nice to have someone from home experiencing what I am experiencing - it really is an experience that words cannot justify. I am currently listening to the song: Tumse Hi Tumse from the Bollywood movie Anjaana Anjaani. that was a great movie! Dancing and singing and many tears from all the characters. The depiction of the Hudson river makes it look like the Caribbean. And apparently there is a beautiful beach somewhere in Manhattan. The way the portrayed all the while women were complete trash. Hahah it was very entertaining to say the least. That was our big trip out this weekend.
We have yoga every morning at 10am with a Yoga teacher - it's very therapeutic; it feels like to actually do something resembling exercise. I would attempt to run - but I would not be allowed to wear shorts soooo that is out of the question.
Things are going reallllly well though. I have moved my departure date up to November 18 so I will be able to go to the ND vs Army game on the 20th! :) I am SO EXCITED that I will be able to go to a game!! And it will be nice to be home. Since I don't teach a set class anymore, I will be shifted around from now until I leave - so leaving earlier doesn't really matter at all.
Maaaany changes have happened since I last wrote on here. Hannah and I moved out of Chandur for various reasons and we are now in Secunderbad at another convent. The superior here is really very nice though, her name is Sister Alice. There are only 10 girls that live in this home. They are originally from Navajeevana which is the street home located about 10 minutes away. These girls speak English very well and are wonderful to be around. Since there are only 10 of them, we are able to get to know them better and have an actual relationship with them. I have a funny feeling it will be much harder for me to leave them than it was to leave Chandur. There were just so many girls in Chandur (about 150) and they spoke such little English that it was tough to form an actual relationship with them, aside from being the American that lived with them.
SO Hannah and I, during the day, are going to be going to Navajeevana to be with the girls who are street children. If you have seen Slumdog Millionaire you can get a good picture of the children we are with every day. About 40 girls are residents there now. The sisters there pick up girls off the street who are beggars, or who are caught up in the sex slave business that goes on unnoticed...The sisters literally save them. Most of the girls they pick up, after a a bath, new clothes, and some meals, the parent(s) or a relative will come to claim them - but some girls are never claimed and become residents of this home. They stay and live there until they are married or can live on their own with their own job. The youngest is probably 2 or 3 and the oldest is 17. I cannot think of any other word to use to describe the emotions I feel while I am there, other than the word "intense". I really like it so far, we sing and dance and play hand games with the girls. Some speak a decent amount of English and others speak none at all.
The girls who live where I live are from Navajeevana originally but have come here to live. I think they really are the lucky ones. It feels like a family here. They all call me and Hannah "akka" which means big sister and I really feel like their older sister. We help them with their homework and studies, it's fun.
My mom came in last week. She is having quite an experience; it definitely is no vacation. It is nice to have someone from home experiencing what I am experiencing - it really is an experience that words cannot justify. I am currently listening to the song: Tumse Hi Tumse from the Bollywood movie Anjaana Anjaani. that was a great movie! Dancing and singing and many tears from all the characters. The depiction of the Hudson river makes it look like the Caribbean. And apparently there is a beautiful beach somewhere in Manhattan. The way the portrayed all the while women were complete trash. Hahah it was very entertaining to say the least. That was our big trip out this weekend.
We have yoga every morning at 10am with a Yoga teacher - it's very therapeutic; it feels like to actually do something resembling exercise. I would attempt to run - but I would not be allowed to wear shorts soooo that is out of the question.
Things are going reallllly well though. I have moved my departure date up to November 18 so I will be able to go to the ND vs Army game on the 20th! :) I am SO EXCITED that I will be able to go to a game!! And it will be nice to be home. Since I don't teach a set class anymore, I will be shifted around from now until I leave - so leaving earlier doesn't really matter at all.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)