India Translations
Has hot water- probably doesn't have water at all
Yes- Maybe
No- Yes
Air conditioned - has open windows, or is completely open
Free- Expensive
Cheap- Expensive and won't work
One of a kind- One of a million of the same thing
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Leprosy day 3
Today we went to the clinic and watched walk-in consulationtions. The doctor is very detached, maybe you have to be. Lots of people came in, non of them had leprosy. One woman saw us, and so she spoked English to the doctor, it was sweet.
After the visits we went to the physical therapist who showed us how he checks sensory. And some of the treatments, we got to cast a man’s fingures and see lots of the symptoms and side effects. After that our clinic time was over. We arranged to go back after lunch and buy baskets and candles and take picturesin the wards. We got back and no one was there to take us. Lauren accidentally drank water that belonged to a man with leprosy. We found some people who spoke some English to take us around, we bought the baskets and paid them a little extra for them, we knew that it was going directly to the patents. We later found out that everyone who works there (aside from the doctors) are people who had leprosy but are cured. After our last time around the wards, we played with the girls until Austin came. We all wanted to stay longer, it was really hard to say goodbye to them. They carried our bags and gave us hugs.
We headed back and got read to get on the overnight train to cochi. The train was miserable and cramped and long. We got in at about 4am Friday morning.
After the visits we went to the physical therapist who showed us how he checks sensory. And some of the treatments, we got to cast a man’s fingures and see lots of the symptoms and side effects. After that our clinic time was over. We arranged to go back after lunch and buy baskets and candles and take picturesin the wards. We got back and no one was there to take us. Lauren accidentally drank water that belonged to a man with leprosy. We found some people who spoke some English to take us around, we bought the baskets and paid them a little extra for them, we knew that it was going directly to the patents. We later found out that everyone who works there (aside from the doctors) are people who had leprosy but are cured. After our last time around the wards, we played with the girls until Austin came. We all wanted to stay longer, it was really hard to say goodbye to them. They carried our bags and gave us hugs.
We headed back and got read to get on the overnight train to cochi. The train was miserable and cramped and long. We got in at about 4am Friday morning.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Leprosy day 2
We got up and had breakfast (another fried egg ) and went over to the hospital and had a lecture about what leprosy was. Then we got biscuits and 7-up. And went into the wards, we started with the men’s ward. Walking in, it wasn’t shocking to see them, it was what we expected and what we were prepared for, the conditions of the hospital for the men aren’t as bad as I thought they were going to be. The men smiled and greet us with a small bow. Some were making baskets others candles and palm baskets. It was amazing to see what they could do with such little mobility. There were men there as young as 23 and as old as 70. All had varying degress of the disease. They were happy to show us how they lived. Every smile from us made them happy. At one point wen wet to a man who was blind, the guy leading us a round touched him and he jumped, he seemed so scared, that was the first really sad thing we saw.
After the men’s ward we went to the woman’s ward. It was drastically different, dirtier and hotter. One woman was covered in flies and almost in tears. There was a 17 year old girl with a disease that wasn’t leprosy that they allowed to stay there. An elderly woman sang us a song, Lauren put her and on a woman’s shoulder and the woman’s face lit up. One lady want to pray for us, for anything we wanted her too. Walking through there you just want to sit on the bed and hold them, some of them look so fragile and so scared, its heart wrenching and had all three of us in tears at one point or another. They wanted to give us what they had to offer, even if it wasn’t much, just for being there.
After the ward tours we went back for lunch and a nap, and to reflect on what we had just seen. Then back to the clinic for a presentation by a nurse, and then to the lab to see the M. Leprae bacteria. That finished our day in the clinic and we headed back over to play with the girls, I taught a group of the ‘Johnny Johnny’, Lauren taught them thumb war, and we played blue bells and Jesus (Simon) says we let them take our cameras and take pictures of what they wanted, one little girl tod me she was said I was going to go back to America. They were so sweet. Then we went to prayer and dinner. I love those little girls.
After the men’s ward we went to the woman’s ward. It was drastically different, dirtier and hotter. One woman was covered in flies and almost in tears. There was a 17 year old girl with a disease that wasn’t leprosy that they allowed to stay there. An elderly woman sang us a song, Lauren put her and on a woman’s shoulder and the woman’s face lit up. One lady want to pray for us, for anything we wanted her too. Walking through there you just want to sit on the bed and hold them, some of them look so fragile and so scared, its heart wrenching and had all three of us in tears at one point or another. They wanted to give us what they had to offer, even if it wasn’t much, just for being there.
After the ward tours we went back for lunch and a nap, and to reflect on what we had just seen. Then back to the clinic for a presentation by a nurse, and then to the lab to see the M. Leprae bacteria. That finished our day in the clinic and we headed back over to play with the girls, I taught a group of the ‘Johnny Johnny’, Lauren taught them thumb war, and we played blue bells and Jesus (Simon) says we let them take our cameras and take pictures of what they wanted, one little girl tod me she was said I was going to go back to America. They were so sweet. Then we went to prayer and dinner. I love those little girls.
Leprosy day 2
We got up and had breakfast (another fried egg ) and went over to the hospital and had a lecture about what leprosy was. Then we got biscuits and 7-up. And went into the wards, we started with the men’s ward. Walking in, it wasn’t shocking to see them, it was what we expected and what we were prepared for, the conditions of the hospital for the men aren’t as bad as I thought they were going to be. The men smiled and greet us with a small bow. Some were making baskets others candles and palm baskets. It was amazing to see what they could do with such little mobility. There were men there as young as 23 and as old as 70. All had varying degress of the disease. They were happy to show us how they lived. Every smile from us made them happy. At one point wen wet to a man who was blind, the guy leading us a round touched him and he jumped, he seemed so scared, that was the first really sad thing we saw.
After the men’s ward we went to the woman’s ward. It was drastically different, dirtier and hotter. One woman was covered in flies and almost in tears. There was a 17 year old girl with a disease that wasn’t leprosy that they allowed to stay there. An elderly woman sang us a song, Lauren put her and on a woman’s shoulder and the woman’s face lit up. One lady want to pray for us, for anything we wanted her too. Walking through there you just want to sit on the bed and hold them, some of them look so fragile and so scared, its heart wrenching and had all three of us in tears at one point or another. They wanted to give us what they had to offer, even if it wasn’t much, just for being there.
After the ward tours we went back for lunch and a nap, and to reflect on what we had just seen. Then back to the clinic for a presentation by a nurse, and then to the lab to see the M. Leprae bacteria. That finished our day in the clinic and we headed back over to play with the girls, I taught a group of the ‘Johnny Johnny’, Lauren taught them thumb war, and we played blue bells and Jesus (Simon) says we let them take our cameras and take pictures of what they wanted, one little girl tod me she was said I was going to go back to America. They were so sweet. Then we went to prayer and dinner. I love those little girls.
After the men’s ward we went to the woman’s ward. It was drastically different, dirtier and hotter. One woman was covered in flies and almost in tears. There was a 17 year old girl with a disease that wasn’t leprosy that they allowed to stay there. An elderly woman sang us a song, Lauren put her and on a woman’s shoulder and the woman’s face lit up. One lady want to pray for us, for anything we wanted her too. Walking through there you just want to sit on the bed and hold them, some of them look so fragile and so scared, its heart wrenching and had all three of us in tears at one point or another. They wanted to give us what they had to offer, even if it wasn’t much, just for being there.
After the ward tours we went back for lunch and a nap, and to reflect on what we had just seen. Then back to the clinic for a presentation by a nurse, and then to the lab to see the M. Leprae bacteria. That finished our day in the clinic and we headed back over to play with the girls, I taught a group of the ‘Johnny Johnny’, Lauren taught them thumb war, and we played blue bells and Jesus (Simon) says we let them take our cameras and take pictures of what they wanted, one little girl tod me she was said I was going to go back to America. They were so sweet. Then we went to prayer and dinner. I love those little girls.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Leprosy day 1
Today is my halfway point, if I could extend this a month, I would. The last few days have just been normal, not much is shocking anymore, everything is just a part of life. I’ve seen a lot of things that I couldn’t or wouldn’t normally see in the US. I love India.
Today I left for the leprosy clinic, we picked up Amelia and Lauren and and went about an hour away. The hospital is, creepy, for lack of a better word. We are staying in a girls home which houses children who have no other family. There are 8 beds but only 3 of us staying there, there is also and eating area and a bathroom. After getting settled we went out to play with the children. The were so excited to see us, they kept running up to us pointing and saying “my name?!” they wanted us to wing with them, they asked about our parents, they loved singing the weels on the bus, and head and shoulders, some of them would try to talk to us in tamil. One little girl glued herself to me, we each had a group, but this one was really attached, we played duck duck goose and taught them the macarina. Then it was time for them to pray, they grabbed our hands and took us with them, they made us sing with them and tried to find English lyrics. One girl would read the bible verses to us in English, so we could understand them. After prayer we went and played some more, and had dinner, which included a fried egg. All the food was really good, after dinner we just talked for a while and then went to sleep
Today I left for the leprosy clinic, we picked up Amelia and Lauren and and went about an hour away. The hospital is, creepy, for lack of a better word. We are staying in a girls home which houses children who have no other family. There are 8 beds but only 3 of us staying there, there is also and eating area and a bathroom. After getting settled we went out to play with the children. The were so excited to see us, they kept running up to us pointing and saying “my name?!” they wanted us to wing with them, they asked about our parents, they loved singing the weels on the bus, and head and shoulders, some of them would try to talk to us in tamil. One little girl glued herself to me, we each had a group, but this one was really attached, we played duck duck goose and taught them the macarina. Then it was time for them to pray, they grabbed our hands and took us with them, they made us sing with them and tried to find English lyrics. One girl would read the bible verses to us in English, so we could understand them. After prayer we went and played some more, and had dinner, which included a fried egg. All the food was really good, after dinner we just talked for a while and then went to sleep
Monday, August 4, 2008
August 4
Both of us slept through the alarm today, once we woke up we went to Balai for the usual errands; Internet, Spencer’s and then we went to some shops at junction. Then on to the hospital. Where we sat around and talked to the sisters for a while and then when to the OR and saw a laparoscopy. At one point the anaesthesiologist took out his phone and made a call and talked for a while. When they first started the camera wasn’t working, eventually they got it to work though. Halfway through the laparoscopy they brought in a woman to have a c-section; they worked on both at the same time (1 anaesthesiologist for both) they were both successful and normal other then that.
After the hospital we headed home, there was a cow in the middle of the street eating grass. After dinner we went out to find ice cream and fruit. The lady at spencers introduced herself too us it was cute. We got mango and green oranges, and made mango ice cream sundaes. There was a completely naked little boy walking down the street. We also got pineapple juice on the way home.
I do my laundry in a bucked with tide jasmine and rose laundry detergent.
The hospital reuses everything, I guess I knew that.
After the hospital we headed home, there was a cow in the middle of the street eating grass. After dinner we went out to find ice cream and fruit. The lady at spencers introduced herself too us it was cute. We got mango and green oranges, and made mango ice cream sundaes. There was a completely naked little boy walking down the street. We also got pineapple juice on the way home.
I do my laundry in a bucked with tide jasmine and rose laundry detergent.
The hospital reuses everything, I guess I knew that.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
August 3- Adventures on the train, yet again
We met for breakfast at nine and we went to the market, I bought a coconut monkey. Then we got on a coach that projects had hired to take us back to maidura. The coach was “too new” to make up the hill outside the hotel so most people had to get off and meet it at the top. The coach ride was rough, winding down the mountain. But the bollywood film was fun. WE got to Madurai and took a train with 2 other girls who were also going back to tirenuvelli (I had no idea there were other people in the same town as us) We got ice cream and played cards before the train came, why not draw more attention to ourselves.
On the train, some guy sitting in the luggage rack gave us homemade hawal, pecan flavoured. Another one of those times where you don’t know what to do, it was wrapped in a leaf and newspaper, he said his wife made it….uh decisions, we all had a little bit of it. It was really good, and turned out not to be too dangerous. He gave Zelda the phone so she could talk to his friend . After he left another man came. He was probably my favourite person so far. He told us he was 58 years old. He saw Lauren’s I pod and wanted to know what it was, he listened to a song, but was disappointed when there was no Tamil on it. Then he had Lauren take a picture of him, then he took her phone and used it. He was adorable and hilarious. Later he asked again to listen to music, he was dancing this time. He also made sure someone would tell us when we were at our train stop. He was a nice guy.
On the train, some guy sitting in the luggage rack gave us homemade hawal, pecan flavoured. Another one of those times where you don’t know what to do, it was wrapped in a leaf and newspaper, he said his wife made it….uh decisions, we all had a little bit of it. It was really good, and turned out not to be too dangerous. He gave Zelda the phone so she could talk to his friend . After he left another man came. He was probably my favourite person so far. He told us he was 58 years old. He saw Lauren’s I pod and wanted to know what it was, he listened to a song, but was disappointed when there was no Tamil on it. Then he had Lauren take a picture of him, then he took her phone and used it. He was adorable and hilarious. Later he asked again to listen to music, he was dancing this time. He also made sure someone would tell us when we were at our train stop. He was a nice guy.
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