Today I learned that there is 1 cow for every 2 people here that means there are over 400 million cows in India. That is A LOT of cows just wondering around where ever they feel like.
Last night the power went out in the middle of the night, which mean we got a mosquito infestation, I was hot and sweaty and had to put on bug spray, ick.
Today we went to junction to buy train tickets. There was some construction by the bus stop men were building cement pillars, they would fill a bowl with cement and pass it to the next man then the next man then they dumped it on the wood scaffolding. It was so simple, and neat to see.
Junction was unusually smelly today. I also discovered that bugs in my bedroom don’t freak me out anymore. Actually, not much scares me anymore.
Maybe being dropped in a forest completely alone, that might be scary…
Any way Kodai Kanal tomorrow!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
July 30
Next week I get to go to the Leprosy clinic. I’m really excited about it, but Zelda says it wasn’t that great of a trip, but it’ll be nice for a change of pace from C-sections and births. I leave Tuesday evening and come back on Thursday evening.
There was nothing abnormal or weird today, feel strange saying that, I guess it just means that I really am getting used to it here. We had eggs for breakfast this morning which was really nice.
I can't believe that I'm only here for a few more weeks, I wish I could stay another month.
India is an amazing place, what is the most amazing about it is that it works, as a society as a country it not only functions but it works.
Tonight Zelda and i went out for pineapple, and as I was walking back home, barefoot, carrying my pineapple and pondering what foods could not go with pineapple, I realized that I was in India walking home carying a pineapple.....it was a weird feeling, and yet an amazing feeling.
There was hot water in the shower tonight, it was really strange, I didn’t use it, it felt to weird.
I wish I could be philosophical and deconstruct India, and the things that I’ve done here. But on the other hand I’m not entirely sure India can be deconstructed. I’ll stop rambling now.
Oh, and I do not like papaya at all.
There was nothing abnormal or weird today, feel strange saying that, I guess it just means that I really am getting used to it here. We had eggs for breakfast this morning which was really nice.
I can't believe that I'm only here for a few more weeks, I wish I could stay another month.
India is an amazing place, what is the most amazing about it is that it works, as a society as a country it not only functions but it works.
Tonight Zelda and i went out for pineapple, and as I was walking back home, barefoot, carrying my pineapple and pondering what foods could not go with pineapple, I realized that I was in India walking home carying a pineapple.....it was a weird feeling, and yet an amazing feeling.
There was hot water in the shower tonight, it was really strange, I didn’t use it, it felt to weird.
I wish I could be philosophical and deconstruct India, and the things that I’ve done here. But on the other hand I’m not entirely sure India can be deconstructed. I’ll stop rambling now.
Oh, and I do not like papaya at all.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Weekend in Kovalum
We got up at 5am today to go to Kovalum, we packed took a bus to junction, then walked to the train station, found our platform, everything was the same as usual. Just less crowded because it was morning we got on the train (which has wood benches for seats, and fans in the ceiling) I'll never take cushions for granted again.
I saw some police today, and it made me think, how in China I felt like the government was everywhere, but in India I feel like it doesn't exist.
On the train the man across from me is sleeping and the one next to him ate something from a plastic bag, when he was done with it he threw the bag out the window. A person wearing and Armani belt just walked by.
We took the train to trivandrum and then took a bus to Kovalum. Kovalum is beautiful. The beaches have black sand and huge waves. I found beautiful India. Once we figured out where we were going we found a restaurant on the beach and bought a pineapple from some woman with a basket on her head. (best pineapple I've ever had) There are a lot of tourists here, which feels strange. After lunch we went hotel searching we found a pretty nice one for 250 Rs (aroudn $6) dropped off our stuff, and went for a walk. We walked through this back area, it was swampy, and gorgeous. At one point on the walk we were followed by a dog. I've never been so afraid to have dogs around but the doctors all talk about Rabies a lot so, I was afraid. On the beach there were people selling cotton candy. After we walked around for a while Zelda wasn't feeling well, so we went back to the hotel. I went back out later for a short walk.
Later that night, we went to dinner at a restaurant, that was pretty much exactly the same as lunch, except located in a different spot. It was just between two walls with some cloth over it for a roof.
My second day at Kovalum I had food poisening so all I did was sleep after breakfast. For breakfast we went to the German bakery which has a "French Breakfast" that consists of a croissant, cafe du lait, and a ciggarette. During the day while I was in the hotel the hotel owner came by and looked in the window and then opened the door, um CREEPY.
The third day at Kovalum I was feeling a little better, so we went back to the German Bakery, and got juice and banana cake (which had red bananas, which are really weird) We stayed there for a while reading, then went to "The rock" island thing which was beautiful except for the Indian boys who kept trying to get my phone number, and talk to me. As i walked away from them they were saying "follow me", but when I didn't listen to them they started following me.
After a while we went to swimming, and met a woman from Ireland, and talked to her for a while. The water was kind of cold, it was really nice. Unfortunatly there were some not smart white people swimming in bikinis, which attracted all of the Indian men on the beach, they were lined up, take pictures and staring.
Dealing with the men might be the hardest part about being in India.
I saw some police today, and it made me think, how in China I felt like the government was everywhere, but in India I feel like it doesn't exist.
On the train the man across from me is sleeping and the one next to him ate something from a plastic bag, when he was done with it he threw the bag out the window. A person wearing and Armani belt just walked by.
We took the train to trivandrum and then took a bus to Kovalum. Kovalum is beautiful. The beaches have black sand and huge waves. I found beautiful India. Once we figured out where we were going we found a restaurant on the beach and bought a pineapple from some woman with a basket on her head. (best pineapple I've ever had) There are a lot of tourists here, which feels strange. After lunch we went hotel searching we found a pretty nice one for 250 Rs (aroudn $6) dropped off our stuff, and went for a walk. We walked through this back area, it was swampy, and gorgeous. At one point on the walk we were followed by a dog. I've never been so afraid to have dogs around but the doctors all talk about Rabies a lot so, I was afraid. On the beach there were people selling cotton candy. After we walked around for a while Zelda wasn't feeling well, so we went back to the hotel. I went back out later for a short walk.
Later that night, we went to dinner at a restaurant, that was pretty much exactly the same as lunch, except located in a different spot. It was just between two walls with some cloth over it for a roof.
My second day at Kovalum I had food poisening so all I did was sleep after breakfast. For breakfast we went to the German bakery which has a "French Breakfast" that consists of a croissant, cafe du lait, and a ciggarette. During the day while I was in the hotel the hotel owner came by and looked in the window and then opened the door, um CREEPY.
The third day at Kovalum I was feeling a little better, so we went back to the German Bakery, and got juice and banana cake (which had red bananas, which are really weird) We stayed there for a while reading, then went to "The rock" island thing which was beautiful except for the Indian boys who kept trying to get my phone number, and talk to me. As i walked away from them they were saying "follow me", but when I didn't listen to them they started following me.
After a while we went to swimming, and met a woman from Ireland, and talked to her for a while. The water was kind of cold, it was really nice. Unfortunatly there were some not smart white people swimming in bikinis, which attracted all of the Indian men on the beach, they were lined up, take pictures and staring.
Dealing with the men might be the hardest part about being in India.
Crazy Man on the Train
We got on the train from Trivandrum to Tiruneveli, and there were almost no seats left, Zelda sat next to a Man, and I was next to a man and his family, which was automatically uncomfotable. but then the man next to Zelda and Diagonal from me handed me a card, he did it so fast I didn't have time to not take it from him, so I looked at it, it said something about police acadamy, and something else. I just handed it back to him, after a while he touched my leg and said something Malayalam. this attracted the attention of the man next to me, and the two in the single seats by the window. He touched my leg again, and said something and the dad looks at me and gots slap him away and say "Don't touch me!" Hos sound who is probably 10 or 11 says "you have to fight". Then the other man tried to hand Zelda the card but by then we knew he was weird so she slapped it away. Pretty soon everyone sitting there is yelling at him, and the two men at the window make zelda and me take thier seats. after a few min they are screaming at him and some college kid comes down to our end of the train looks around, walks away and returns with 4 of his friends, (and a cell phone playing theme music) and they yell at him. (this is all in another language so I have no idea what is going on). Before I can even guess what it happening pretty much every man in the car is surrounding where this guy is sitting, blocking us. At one point he triet to get up , but they pushed him down and slapped him. Some kid standing next to me looks at me and goes, he's mental and drunk. No one speaks much English. at the next stop people are looking for police, but there aren't any. one of the men in the pile looks at us and says " you are our guests because we are Indian"
Eventually we switched seats with the "mental drunk man" and after a couple stops, three guys threw him off the train and gave him to the police. Our protectors asked us questions, Where are you from? Where are you staying? How are you getting there? the guy up in the luggage rack offered to buy us chai coffee.
They were all really amazing. I've never seen a bunch of strangers who don't speak the same language protect people like that. It was really awesome. When we got to the stop they told us we were there.
Its hard to know who out of the men are crazy and who are just being nice. Some of them are so sweet and willing to help and want to give you something, and help you find your stop but others are such jerks. You can never tell, and its hard.
It was weird getting back to Tiruneveli, I felt comfortable and like I was home. Jhansi made us chicken noodle soup that night. It felt good to be home.
Eventually we switched seats with the "mental drunk man" and after a couple stops, three guys threw him off the train and gave him to the police. Our protectors asked us questions, Where are you from? Where are you staying? How are you getting there? the guy up in the luggage rack offered to buy us chai coffee.
They were all really amazing. I've never seen a bunch of strangers who don't speak the same language protect people like that. It was really awesome. When we got to the stop they told us we were there.
Its hard to know who out of the men are crazy and who are just being nice. Some of them are so sweet and willing to help and want to give you something, and help you find your stop but others are such jerks. You can never tell, and its hard.
It was weird getting back to Tiruneveli, I felt comfortable and like I was home. Jhansi made us chicken noodle soup that night. It felt good to be home.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Day 4 in India
This morning I had a fever and found tons of little red dots on my arms. So I slept in. I don't know what the rash is from, but I don't like it.
When Zelda got back we went to the store to exchange fabric and then we went to a Tailor. To get to the tailor we climbed this narrow green staircase to this "landing" and there were three Indian men there, one was putting on a shirt. They took measurements and said my clothes would be ready on Sunday. Then we found a market and bought cheese, and went to RMKV which is this perfect clean and cir conditioned building. It looks very out of place, from there I bought an in-skirt for my sari, and a pre-made churridar.
I'm starting to get used to it here, and i'm starting to like it. I still kind of want to be home, but not nearly as much as I wanted to yesterday.
Breakfast: Porridge
Lunch: Oakley, Rice and Crisps
Dinner: Banana Crepes, and Mango chutney.
When Zelda got back we went to the store to exchange fabric and then we went to a Tailor. To get to the tailor we climbed this narrow green staircase to this "landing" and there were three Indian men there, one was putting on a shirt. They took measurements and said my clothes would be ready on Sunday. Then we found a market and bought cheese, and went to RMKV which is this perfect clean and cir conditioned building. It looks very out of place, from there I bought an in-skirt for my sari, and a pre-made churridar.
I'm starting to get used to it here, and i'm starting to like it. I still kind of want to be home, but not nearly as much as I wanted to yesterday.
Breakfast: Porridge
Lunch: Oakley, Rice and Crisps
Dinner: Banana Crepes, and Mango chutney.
C-Section, and other stuff
The power is turned off everyday in the morning from 7am-8am and again in the afternoon from 12-1:30 (the afternoon one varies a little bit), to keep Tamil Nadu from having a power surge.
Today we went to Junction and bought our train tickets to Kovelum. On the way to Junction the bus took a long way through a new part of the city. We stopped for 10-20 min at one section, it smelled like sewege and mango, not so pleasant. Through the bus ride there were cows and goats eating signs off the walls.
What fascinates me the most, I think, is driving through a city and seeing people, starving, garbage and dirt everywhere but then seeing a pristine air-conditioned building among all the filth, like RMKV or the police office. It doesn't make sense to me. Zelda was right when she said the best way to descrive India is "what the hell?" because no matter where you are or what you see, it always applies.
Then we went to the hospital, we went straight to the OR rolled up our pants, put on gowns, masks and hats, then went and wiped our BARE FEET on a bunny/dog rug, put on hospital regulation FLIP FLOPS and went into the OR. There is no steril entryway. there is an area with sinks, that are dirty, for the doctors to wash thier hands in. We were about to see a c-section. The anestesiologist gave the woman shots, no gloves for that. The "sterile" instruments were under a stained sheet on the table. The doctor and the nurses wear gloves, everyone is quiet. No one says much to mom. They get the baby out, the dr. holds him upside down and practically tosses him to a nurse. who immediatly sets him in a metal pan ON THE FLOOR. Everything they throw out goes in buckets, no trash bags or anything, just buckets.
The smell of the OR is terrible and when I first walked in it took a minute before i could breath. as they are stiching up the first lady they bring in another one. no clean up between procedures, they just start the next one. They show the mom her baby and take him away weigh him and wrap him in a plastic blanket then they give him to his grandmother and father, who are sitting on a cement floor in the "waiting room". Directly outside the OR the family will sit on the floor waiting.
Somehow all of this works, its shocking but it works, 1.8 billion people live here and live like this and go to hospitals like this, and it works. The driving is something that you would never see at home, and yet they have less car accidents. Nothing in the hospital is steril and yet people live. It works, and its amazing.
On the way back from the hospital it looked as if school had just gotten out, there were lots of children in uniforms. I had to take a rickshaw back alone, because Zelda was staying to go somewhere with the sisters (nurses) they dropped me off at Lakshmi hospital, I was a little confused and disoriented at first, but I found my way back. I'm really starting to like it a lot, maybe even love it. Tomorrow morning we're leaving for Kovalum.
Breakfast: Noodle patties, with milk, sugar, banana, and coconut
Lunch: noodles, green beans, carrots, tomatoes, and peppers. and mango chutney
Dinner: Noodles, and mango juice.
Today we went to Junction and bought our train tickets to Kovelum. On the way to Junction the bus took a long way through a new part of the city. We stopped for 10-20 min at one section, it smelled like sewege and mango, not so pleasant. Through the bus ride there were cows and goats eating signs off the walls.
What fascinates me the most, I think, is driving through a city and seeing people, starving, garbage and dirt everywhere but then seeing a pristine air-conditioned building among all the filth, like RMKV or the police office. It doesn't make sense to me. Zelda was right when she said the best way to descrive India is "what the hell?" because no matter where you are or what you see, it always applies.
Then we went to the hospital, we went straight to the OR rolled up our pants, put on gowns, masks and hats, then went and wiped our BARE FEET on a bunny/dog rug, put on hospital regulation FLIP FLOPS and went into the OR. There is no steril entryway. there is an area with sinks, that are dirty, for the doctors to wash thier hands in. We were about to see a c-section. The anestesiologist gave the woman shots, no gloves for that. The "sterile" instruments were under a stained sheet on the table. The doctor and the nurses wear gloves, everyone is quiet. No one says much to mom. They get the baby out, the dr. holds him upside down and practically tosses him to a nurse. who immediatly sets him in a metal pan ON THE FLOOR. Everything they throw out goes in buckets, no trash bags or anything, just buckets.
The smell of the OR is terrible and when I first walked in it took a minute before i could breath. as they are stiching up the first lady they bring in another one. no clean up between procedures, they just start the next one. They show the mom her baby and take him away weigh him and wrap him in a plastic blanket then they give him to his grandmother and father, who are sitting on a cement floor in the "waiting room". Directly outside the OR the family will sit on the floor waiting.
Somehow all of this works, its shocking but it works, 1.8 billion people live here and live like this and go to hospitals like this, and it works. The driving is something that you would never see at home, and yet they have less car accidents. Nothing in the hospital is steril and yet people live. It works, and its amazing.
On the way back from the hospital it looked as if school had just gotten out, there were lots of children in uniforms. I had to take a rickshaw back alone, because Zelda was staying to go somewhere with the sisters (nurses) they dropped me off at Lakshmi hospital, I was a little confused and disoriented at first, but I found my way back. I'm really starting to like it a lot, maybe even love it. Tomorrow morning we're leaving for Kovalum.
Breakfast: Noodle patties, with milk, sugar, banana, and coconut
Lunch: noodles, green beans, carrots, tomatoes, and peppers. and mango chutney
Dinner: Noodles, and mango juice.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Day 3 in India
We got up at 7am, had breakfast and then took a bus and a ride share to the hospital. The bus was bumpy, and the ride share, was crowded, like 12 people in something the size of two rickshaws. The hospital was crazy, so many people, and strange smells. In the OR you have to take off your shoes and wear hospital regulation flip flops, some of the doctors just go barefoot. I'm not even kidding most people are barefoot all the time (I didn't bring sandals, I had to buy a pair) The OR smells are really strange.
There wasn't anything happening in the OR so we went to the birth center. Where I saw a baby being born. Right after the baby was born the electricity went out, apparently it happens all the time so it was no big deal. It seemed so different from the US. The woman was alone on a metal table. There were rubbler gloves hanging up drying, apparently they reuse them here. After the baby was born, there was blood on it and then I got really light headed, and almost fainted, but I sat down in time. and was fine.
After that nothing else was happening so we went to a shop to buy fabric for churidars, and then to the supermarket for water and appy fizz. then to an internet cafe and then to the shoe store. From there we walked home.. It was really hot, and I still didn't feel very well so the rest of the day I read and slept.
I found out that doggie eats cheap rice that jhansi cooks for him. There was some funny noise last night, and the lizard (who I now call Dennis) was back this morning. I think the maid took my toothbrush. I bought shampoo at the supermarket.
Breakfast: Porriage
Lunch: Potato Soup and Idly
Dinner: Garlic Toast and Soup
There wasn't anything happening in the OR so we went to the birth center. Where I saw a baby being born. Right after the baby was born the electricity went out, apparently it happens all the time so it was no big deal. It seemed so different from the US. The woman was alone on a metal table. There were rubbler gloves hanging up drying, apparently they reuse them here. After the baby was born, there was blood on it and then I got really light headed, and almost fainted, but I sat down in time. and was fine.
After that nothing else was happening so we went to a shop to buy fabric for churidars, and then to the supermarket for water and appy fizz. then to an internet cafe and then to the shoe store. From there we walked home.. It was really hot, and I still didn't feel very well so the rest of the day I read and slept.
I found out that doggie eats cheap rice that jhansi cooks for him. There was some funny noise last night, and the lizard (who I now call Dennis) was back this morning. I think the maid took my toothbrush. I bought shampoo at the supermarket.
Breakfast: Porriage
Lunch: Potato Soup and Idly
Dinner: Garlic Toast and Soup
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
On to the Placement
I got up at 8:15 and washed my hair in a bucket, It never felt clean after that, Learned how to flush a toilet using a bucket, brushed my teeth with bottled water over a questionable sink. The projects abroad people told me to be ready at 9:30, but called at 8:30 and wanted me to magically be ready then. I asked for 20 min and they let me have it. How annoying. Then I repacked everything and went to breakfast, I met this guy from Canada, had chenna bhatori for breakfast. then we went to the office and I got to watch other people fill out their forms. Then we went to a shop, I bought and Indian cell phone. Then we drove the Canadian to his placement. It was nice to be able to share fears with someone.
While they dropped him off I had to wait in the car. Everytime I wiped my face tons of dirt came off. It took about a half hour, I would have rather gone in with them then sit in a hot car being stared at.
After that we went to my hospital. It looked nothing like the picture of it they gave me. there were tons of people waiting to see a doctor. Only the dr's offices are air-conditioned. Time to freak out again (and I was doing so good). I'm supposed to be there at 7am. Then they took me to the house. Jhansi is so nice she gave me lunch, and was worried that it was too spicy. She has a dog, his name is Doggie. I met Zelda who would be staying for the whole month with me and Cordelie, who would be leaving that night. Everyone was really nice. I wasn't really a fan of the guy who dropped me off.
Zelda and Cordelie showed me the house. The whole house is really nice, the bathroom has a western toilet and a shower. and apparently the water comes from someplace special and you can brush your teeth with it. I just took a shower and I feel a lot better, almost clean. Tomorrow we will go to the internet cafe.
Today was really just a lot of driving. I saw an Indian weigh station, which looks nothing like a US weigh station. And there was a lizard on my wall for most of the afternoon. Now I have a headache. I'm split about being here today part of me just wants to go home, and part is excited to see what tomorrow will bring.
While they dropped him off I had to wait in the car. Everytime I wiped my face tons of dirt came off. It took about a half hour, I would have rather gone in with them then sit in a hot car being stared at.
After that we went to my hospital. It looked nothing like the picture of it they gave me. there were tons of people waiting to see a doctor. Only the dr's offices are air-conditioned. Time to freak out again (and I was doing so good). I'm supposed to be there at 7am. Then they took me to the house. Jhansi is so nice she gave me lunch, and was worried that it was too spicy. She has a dog, his name is Doggie. I met Zelda who would be staying for the whole month with me and Cordelie, who would be leaving that night. Everyone was really nice. I wasn't really a fan of the guy who dropped me off.
Zelda and Cordelie showed me the house. The whole house is really nice, the bathroom has a western toilet and a shower. and apparently the water comes from someplace special and you can brush your teeth with it. I just took a shower and I feel a lot better, almost clean. Tomorrow we will go to the internet cafe.
Today was really just a lot of driving. I saw an Indian weigh station, which looks nothing like a US weigh station. And there was a lizard on my wall for most of the afternoon. Now I have a headache. I'm split about being here today part of me just wants to go home, and part is excited to see what tomorrow will bring.
Monday, July 21, 2008
First Impressions-India
and 
I'll come back to the events leading up to this hotel later. I'm at the hotel sitting on the bed, maybe bed is the wrong word, how about we go with cot. In the bathroom is a squat toilet that doesn't flush, a sink and a bucket that you fill with water to shower in. The room itself is a cement cube with tile floors a wardrobe that smells funny, a mirror and three, yes three different nightstands and a fan. Which I already really appreciate, and I'm sure by the end of the night I will have more respect for that fan then I have now. Right now I want to be home, I already have at least two bug bites, if there was a shower I could deal, I think. but there isn't I'm alone, scared and sad. Soon I apparently have to go to the office. I would rather just sleep until I get moved tomorrow.
We landed at the airport got off the plane and it all started I was shoved onto a buys, taken across dirt roads to a blue carpet with a red rope, dropped off. I walked into the airport, it was white, with marble floors. Then I headed to customs there were three lines. I was expecting something like the US where one was for India Nationals and one wasn't, but nothing was posted so I got in a line. Apparently I was right, and all lines were the same. The customs guy said absolutly nothing to me. I then walked into another room with 2 conveyor belts and waited, someone asked me if I wanted help (I think) I said no, and waited. My luggage was near the front so i got it fast. And had to guess where to go next. I walked through some lines, and the next customs guy was nice, because apparently I hadn't filled out the form right, but he smiled and told me what I had to fix. Then I left the airport, walked outside, it was hot, there were tons of people, and it was loud. I found the projects abroad guy he took me to the bus. there were 15 other high school students waiting. We all got on the bus and started our 6 hour bus ride. Our luggage was tied on top and we were squished to gether, there was a nice breeze at first so it wasn't too hot. It took about an hour before the bus was ready to leave. (about 6am) The bus was small neither heated (of course) or air conditioned. there were status and a TV it was carpeted all over. Like something out of a movie. We stopped by a hotel to pick up another person and then we began to drive.
We drove through a city, there were tents and shacks constufcted out of whatever was around. next to those were beautiful clean fenced 2 story houses. This continued the houses were either huge or tents, we passed coutless numbers of cows, goats, dogs, chickens, and there were garbage laden streets rivers and fields. Three men were talking one lifts up his skirt (doti) and squats and the bus drives on. People are bathing in a river, children are running naked through the fields. Women have baskets on thier heads, people go places, life is happening, in this hot croweded dirty place life is happening. but I am listening to my ipod and top gun is playing on the tv in the bus. we stop and a man squating on the street waves. it gets unbearably hot.
We get to "the office" it is air conditioned....how weird and yet what a relief. We go to a temple and we must take off our shoes to go in, I'm walking barefoot, its raining. The people are happy and excited to let us pretend to be a part of thier religion. they put dogs of ash on our foreheads we are exciting to them, people stare. I get back to the hotel for the night. There are no white people.
A buzzer keeps going off, in the hotel room. The lights went out for a little while, It was scary, but what isn't scary right now. I still want to go home, but I'm going to go to sleep and see what tomorrow brings.
I'll come back to the events leading up to this hotel later. I'm at the hotel sitting on the bed, maybe bed is the wrong word, how about we go with cot. In the bathroom is a squat toilet that doesn't flush, a sink and a bucket that you fill with water to shower in. The room itself is a cement cube with tile floors a wardrobe that smells funny, a mirror and three, yes three different nightstands and a fan. Which I already really appreciate, and I'm sure by the end of the night I will have more respect for that fan then I have now. Right now I want to be home, I already have at least two bug bites, if there was a shower I could deal, I think. but there isn't I'm alone, scared and sad. Soon I apparently have to go to the office. I would rather just sleep until I get moved tomorrow.
We landed at the airport got off the plane and it all started I was shoved onto a buys, taken across dirt roads to a blue carpet with a red rope, dropped off. I walked into the airport, it was white, with marble floors. Then I headed to customs there were three lines. I was expecting something like the US where one was for India Nationals and one wasn't, but nothing was posted so I got in a line. Apparently I was right, and all lines were the same. The customs guy said absolutly nothing to me. I then walked into another room with 2 conveyor belts and waited, someone asked me if I wanted help (I think) I said no, and waited. My luggage was near the front so i got it fast. And had to guess where to go next. I walked through some lines, and the next customs guy was nice, because apparently I hadn't filled out the form right, but he smiled and told me what I had to fix. Then I left the airport, walked outside, it was hot, there were tons of people, and it was loud. I found the projects abroad guy he took me to the bus. there were 15 other high school students waiting. We all got on the bus and started our 6 hour bus ride. Our luggage was tied on top and we were squished to gether, there was a nice breeze at first so it wasn't too hot. It took about an hour before the bus was ready to leave. (about 6am) The bus was small neither heated (of course) or air conditioned. there were status and a TV it was carpeted all over. Like something out of a movie. We stopped by a hotel to pick up another person and then we began to drive.
We drove through a city, there were tents and shacks constufcted out of whatever was around. next to those were beautiful clean fenced 2 story houses. This continued the houses were either huge or tents, we passed coutless numbers of cows, goats, dogs, chickens, and there were garbage laden streets rivers and fields. Three men were talking one lifts up his skirt (doti) and squats and the bus drives on. People are bathing in a river, children are running naked through the fields. Women have baskets on thier heads, people go places, life is happening, in this hot croweded dirty place life is happening. but I am listening to my ipod and top gun is playing on the tv in the bus. we stop and a man squating on the street waves. it gets unbearably hot.
We get to "the office" it is air conditioned....how weird and yet what a relief. We go to a temple and we must take off our shoes to go in, I'm walking barefoot, its raining. The people are happy and excited to let us pretend to be a part of thier religion. they put dogs of ash on our foreheads we are exciting to them, people stare. I get back to the hotel for the night. There are no white people.
A buzzer keeps going off, in the hotel room. The lights went out for a little while, It was scary, but what isn't scary right now. I still want to go home, but I'm going to go to sleep and see what tomorrow brings.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Flying to India
I wrote a journal while I was in India, I'm not publishing it, I'm not a good blogger, and I'm just copying word for word what I wrote in my journal....so here it goes!
At the Detroit Airport:
Like I wasn't nervous enough already, I gt to the airport and went to check in at those e ticket kiosks that Northwest has, I swiped my passport and it told me that I couldn't check in until 24 hours before my flight. I was confused because my flight was in 3 hours. I asked for help and the guy at the counter said that my ticket was booked from JFK to DTW rather then the was it was supposed to be. Apparently you shouldn't book tickets while having an allergic reaction. The NW guy got me on the next flight to JFK but we couldn't get a late enough flight on the way back so I will be in New York for a night on my way back. But I have a flight so thats ok. After that everything went pretty smoothly, right after security the fire alarm went off and we couldn't go anywhere but it got clear so that was fine. (My luggage is only checked to Kuwait, good thing I checked because the guy at NW said that it was checked all the way, I'll take care of it when I get to Kuwait)
At the New York Airport:
I got to JFK airport and had no idea what I was supposed to do next. I waited to see if I needed to pick up my luggage, it didn't come out so I suppose that means its already checked onto my Kuwait flight. (hopefully) So then I found the Terminal I needed, got in line, payed what I owed, got back in line, checked in, ran across the airport and found security. Showed some girls my epi-pens (they were curious) After security there was nothing in the airport but one pub and a store, sat around for ever texting and making phone calls. Then bored the plane, which was HUGE and there was lots of foot room and foot rests and screens in the seats mine doesn't work, but I don't want to switch seats because I have an empty seat next to me. They handed out face towels, menus, and a little ziper case with head phones, toothbrush, toothpaste, and an eye mask. The guy next to me is praying and singing. And now onto my nap.
On the Flight to Kuwait:
When I woke up we were 25 minutes from descent I slept 7 or 8 hours of the flight. Which was nice I would love to do that again. I'll I see below us is dessert. This is the first time that as I'm landing the airport and the area around it doesn't look anything like home. There is sand and dessert and oil? and a few small subdiviss and a highway. Right now I think I'm the only white person around which feels kind of strange, I'm not used to being the minority, but I guess its a good thing that I get to experience that.
At the Kuwait Airport:
At first the Kuwait airport was overwhelming and I had no idea where to go, but now I've been here for awhile and its fine, Its really a nice airport, I want to take pictures, but I dont feel like I should. I have to go check on my luggage in a few minutes, then there is a free dinner at 6:30 pm. I think that there are a few people that came from Detroit with me. I can't believe that in a few hours I'll be in India!
On the Plane to Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum):
The piolet just made some announcement about someones airspace and professionals, and turbulance, and headlights. I have no idea what he said. I'm sure I'll find out if it was something important..... This time I am for sure the only white person, its still weird. I was next to this really nice Indian woman at the begining of the flight but her and her baby moved so now I have the window all to myself. I saw another side of Kuwait as we took off, it was busy and there were streets and shops and roads and houses, such contrast, I knew Kuwait had to be more then desserts.
At the Detroit Airport:
Like I wasn't nervous enough already, I gt to the airport and went to check in at those e ticket kiosks that Northwest has, I swiped my passport and it told me that I couldn't check in until 24 hours before my flight. I was confused because my flight was in 3 hours. I asked for help and the guy at the counter said that my ticket was booked from JFK to DTW rather then the was it was supposed to be. Apparently you shouldn't book tickets while having an allergic reaction. The NW guy got me on the next flight to JFK but we couldn't get a late enough flight on the way back so I will be in New York for a night on my way back. But I have a flight so thats ok. After that everything went pretty smoothly, right after security the fire alarm went off and we couldn't go anywhere but it got clear so that was fine. (My luggage is only checked to Kuwait, good thing I checked because the guy at NW said that it was checked all the way, I'll take care of it when I get to Kuwait)
At the New York Airport:
I got to JFK airport and had no idea what I was supposed to do next. I waited to see if I needed to pick up my luggage, it didn't come out so I suppose that means its already checked onto my Kuwait flight. (hopefully) So then I found the Terminal I needed, got in line, payed what I owed, got back in line, checked in, ran across the airport and found security. Showed some girls my epi-pens (they were curious) After security there was nothing in the airport but one pub and a store, sat around for ever texting and making phone calls. Then bored the plane, which was HUGE and there was lots of foot room and foot rests and screens in the seats mine doesn't work, but I don't want to switch seats because I have an empty seat next to me. They handed out face towels, menus, and a little ziper case with head phones, toothbrush, toothpaste, and an eye mask. The guy next to me is praying and singing. And now onto my nap.
On the Flight to Kuwait:
When I woke up we were 25 minutes from descent I slept 7 or 8 hours of the flight. Which was nice I would love to do that again. I'll I see below us is dessert. This is the first time that as I'm landing the airport and the area around it doesn't look anything like home. There is sand and dessert and oil? and a few small subdiviss and a highway. Right now I think I'm the only white person around which feels kind of strange, I'm not used to being the minority, but I guess its a good thing that I get to experience that.
At the Kuwait Airport:
At first the Kuwait airport was overwhelming and I had no idea where to go, but now I've been here for awhile and its fine, Its really a nice airport, I want to take pictures, but I dont feel like I should. I have to go check on my luggage in a few minutes, then there is a free dinner at 6:30 pm. I think that there are a few people that came from Detroit with me. I can't believe that in a few hours I'll be in India!
On the Plane to Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum):
The piolet just made some announcement about someones airspace and professionals, and turbulance, and headlights. I have no idea what he said. I'm sure I'll find out if it was something important..... This time I am for sure the only white person, its still weird. I was next to this really nice Indian woman at the begining of the flight but her and her baby moved so now I have the window all to myself. I saw another side of Kuwait as we took off, it was busy and there were streets and shops and roads and houses, such contrast, I knew Kuwait had to be more then desserts.
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