Today we got to go to a bunch of indian hospitals.... we got to be IN with surgery, see the end of historectomy, and see the entire laproscoping falopian tube tying surgery! Very unexpected but SO cool. More to come soon with a better blog and explanation of experiences.
Indian healthcare was very interesting to see, especially SO up close!
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Scooters!
One of the most fun things about India is the fact that EVERYONE rides scooters. There are more scooters than there are cars! Because we aren't from India, however, my grandmother seemed to think that we would probably die while on a scooter... therefore, we were never allowed to ride one. Today, however, my sister (Radhika) and I (Rachna) managed to convince her to let us ride a scooter... so. much. fun!!! It's one thing riding a rickshaw... you get to see and experience everything from within a tin-like car, but you don't really get to see everything out in the open. On a scooter, however, India is a whole different experience. First of all, no one here wears helmets, so its rather dangerous. Second of all, people don't have any concept of what a driving lane is... there are always people passing each other, constantly honking, screaming... its total chaos. Therefore, scooters are always swerving in and out of the way to dodge cars and other scooters. But, like I said, it was a lot of fun, and I'm pretty sure that the rest of India had fun watching two American girls try to ride on a scooter... I fell of almost every time I tried to get on or off the thing.
Tomorrow, we are going to Ahmedabad to stay at my mom's friend's house, and we leave for Nepal on June 30th! Jess and I are both very excited, and we'll make sure to keep in touch!
Tomorrow, we are going to Ahmedabad to stay at my mom's friend's house, and we leave for Nepal on June 30th! Jess and I are both very excited, and we'll make sure to keep in touch!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
more pictures
Here are pics of us in Punjabis, at the temple, school, and zoo!
http://s295.photobucket.com/albums/mm133/RachnaJess/India%202/
http://s295.photobucket.com/albums/mm133/RachnaJess/India%202/
We're turning into mangos....
Jessi had never had a real, whole mango before. Mango sorbet, of course, but not the real fruit. Here, we are having mangos for breakfast, and every other possible time of the day. They’re great! Especially since Rachna’s family owns parts of different mango farms. Today, we took a ride out to more rural areas.
First, we picked up Rachna’s aunt and uncle (Mami and Mama in Gujarati language) and then drove out to a beautiful Hindu temple. This was a temple of Shiva, one of the Hindu gods. After the heat of touring and then cooling off with some ice cream, we drove out even more into the “country” to see the mango farm. It was a nice break from the traffic, honking, and dust of the city, but it was still very hot. The farm area was very peaceful, and we got to see some mangos still on the trees! It is nearing the end of mango season, so they are almost all picked.
Later, we stopped at a village where Mami and Mama have a second home. Rachna’s great grandfather and other family members also used to all live in this village. The people were very nice. After that, we drove back to Mami and Mama’s house and had a large lunch. There we saw their cousins and one cousin had a little baby, Adi. After lunch, we returned home.
We have continued to enjoy playing games with the children who live behind the house, Sejal and Mehul. Jessi has been teaching handclap games to Sejal, and Rachna and the kids come up with silly names for us. We went shopping in the late afternoon, and then came home, took the kids to the park and went to the cybercafe. At the park, we had a huge game of leapfrog. We had all these kids lining up and playing, Gujarati, Enlgish, it didn’t matter. We also learned some of their games while taking turns at the cybercafe!
Tonight, we ordered pizza (just like American), tried on our Punjabis (Indian traditional clothing) and watched Hindi TV.
First, we picked up Rachna’s aunt and uncle (Mami and Mama in Gujarati language) and then drove out to a beautiful Hindu temple. This was a temple of Shiva, one of the Hindu gods. After the heat of touring and then cooling off with some ice cream, we drove out even more into the “country” to see the mango farm. It was a nice break from the traffic, honking, and dust of the city, but it was still very hot. The farm area was very peaceful, and we got to see some mangos still on the trees! It is nearing the end of mango season, so they are almost all picked.
Later, we stopped at a village where Mami and Mama have a second home. Rachna’s great grandfather and other family members also used to all live in this village. The people were very nice. After that, we drove back to Mami and Mama’s house and had a large lunch. There we saw their cousins and one cousin had a little baby, Adi. After lunch, we returned home.
We have continued to enjoy playing games with the children who live behind the house, Sejal and Mehul. Jessi has been teaching handclap games to Sejal, and Rachna and the kids come up with silly names for us. We went shopping in the late afternoon, and then came home, took the kids to the park and went to the cybercafe. At the park, we had a huge game of leapfrog. We had all these kids lining up and playing, Gujarati, Enlgish, it didn’t matter. We also learned some of their games while taking turns at the cybercafe!
Tonight, we ordered pizza (just like American), tried on our Punjabis (Indian traditional clothing) and watched Hindi TV.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
More from Vadodara...
Monday, June 23rd
This morning we had to wake up and be ready by 9:30am because Rachna’s uncle was scheduled to pick us up to see his son’s school. Around 10:15am (India Standard Time or IST, hehe) we pulled out on a rickshaw. We had through the zoo to get to the school. It was nice having a break from all of the traffic, scooters, rickshaws, cows, honking, etc. The entrance of the school was immaculate, complete with basketball hoops and a playground. Through the gorgeous grounds was a building that we learned was not actually a “school” in our terms. The facility was a recreational center.
When we arrived, Rachna’s uncle introduced us to the teacher in the classroom (she spoke English). There was one classroom of kids aged 6-25. They are supposed to serve 6-16 years old, however since there is no place for adults with disabilities to go, they do not send them away after 16 years of age. There was one teacher and 3 classroom aids. There were around thirty kids with disabilities in the class, and that was the only class in this building at the time. Basically, it was a segregated facility that for three hours a day, provided children with disabilities with programming, not academic learning. We observed their yoga session. We learned that they also do music, arts and crafts, and other activities.
Many of these kids were actually high functioning. Most greeted us appropriately, and almost all provided eye contact. Almost every kid followed the yoga directions exactly and was attentive. We were extremely surprised that such high functioning kids would be in such a segregated environment! These children were obedient, socially appropriate, and attentive, yet the most they get in any form of schooling is three hours a day of recreation with peers with disabilities.
In talking to the teacher, she explained the “school” as a “Social Welfare Project,” not a government or public run school. We also learned that the teacher only went to school/university for one year to become a special education teacher. When Jessi asked, “Do you see a lot of children with autism?” the teacher pointed to one boy in the class and then explained that there is a whole “school” just for children with autism.
Rachna’s uncle was SO nice in taking us to the school, then stayed with us and walked us around the whole zoo. We saw a lot of different animals, even the exotic “American Duck.”
After the zoo, we went to the Vadodara Historic Museum and Picture Gallery. It was very eclectic in its displays, as there were artifacts and objects from all over the world. One of our favorite exhibits was the musical instruments. There were some really neat, exotic, and ancient instruments. One looked like a banjo combined with a harp! In the basement was a gigantic, 72-feet long blue whale skeleton!
We arrived home to Ba’s house to play with Sejal and Mehul and then go shopping. All of us bought Punjabis (Indian traditional clothing). After a lot of shopping, we came home and took Mehul and Sejal to the park (which is conveniently across the street from the internet café).
Tuesday, June 24th
We woke up today because we were to be ready at 8 o’clock sharp. Rachna’s uncle and aunt met us at the house around 8:30 (again, IST) to take us to a well-known Indian temple at Pavagadh. The drive was about an hour and a half and took us halfway up a mountain were we got out of the car. We took a gondola up the mountain and then hiked up to the peak. Rachna, with her bad knee, was tough, and Ba, with her 69 years, was a freaking beast. On our way up, we saw many small shops, all selling bangris (Indian bracelets), prayers cloths, prayer videos and cassettes, and also some very American-looking toys. It was interesting to see that the place was very touristy but not a very touristy place for Americans. Instead, the place was filled with Indians from all over, and we didn’t see any non-Indians (except for Jess, of course).
Once we made it up the mountain, we took our shoes off before entering the temple, climbed up the stairs barefoot, and entered the temple. We received blessings from the maharaj (Indian priest). He said a prayer as each of us walked up to him and the statue of the gods, gave us phool (flowers) and prasad (holy food) that had been used in prayer, and used his thumb to place a red mark on all of our foreheads (which represents the third eye through which Hindus believe you can see into your own soul). We each gave a small donation to the temple and then left. We climbed down the mountain some of the way and then took the gondola down back to our car. We had a small meal at the restaurant in the hotel that was near by and then drove home.
This morning we had to wake up and be ready by 9:30am because Rachna’s uncle was scheduled to pick us up to see his son’s school. Around 10:15am (India Standard Time or IST, hehe) we pulled out on a rickshaw. We had through the zoo to get to the school. It was nice having a break from all of the traffic, scooters, rickshaws, cows, honking, etc. The entrance of the school was immaculate, complete with basketball hoops and a playground. Through the gorgeous grounds was a building that we learned was not actually a “school” in our terms. The facility was a recreational center.
When we arrived, Rachna’s uncle introduced us to the teacher in the classroom (she spoke English). There was one classroom of kids aged 6-25. They are supposed to serve 6-16 years old, however since there is no place for adults with disabilities to go, they do not send them away after 16 years of age. There was one teacher and 3 classroom aids. There were around thirty kids with disabilities in the class, and that was the only class in this building at the time. Basically, it was a segregated facility that for three hours a day, provided children with disabilities with programming, not academic learning. We observed their yoga session. We learned that they also do music, arts and crafts, and other activities.
Many of these kids were actually high functioning. Most greeted us appropriately, and almost all provided eye contact. Almost every kid followed the yoga directions exactly and was attentive. We were extremely surprised that such high functioning kids would be in such a segregated environment! These children were obedient, socially appropriate, and attentive, yet the most they get in any form of schooling is three hours a day of recreation with peers with disabilities.
In talking to the teacher, she explained the “school” as a “Social Welfare Project,” not a government or public run school. We also learned that the teacher only went to school/university for one year to become a special education teacher. When Jessi asked, “Do you see a lot of children with autism?” the teacher pointed to one boy in the class and then explained that there is a whole “school” just for children with autism.
Rachna’s uncle was SO nice in taking us to the school, then stayed with us and walked us around the whole zoo. We saw a lot of different animals, even the exotic “American Duck.”
After the zoo, we went to the Vadodara Historic Museum and Picture Gallery. It was very eclectic in its displays, as there were artifacts and objects from all over the world. One of our favorite exhibits was the musical instruments. There were some really neat, exotic, and ancient instruments. One looked like a banjo combined with a harp! In the basement was a gigantic, 72-feet long blue whale skeleton!
We arrived home to Ba’s house to play with Sejal and Mehul and then go shopping. All of us bought Punjabis (Indian traditional clothing). After a lot of shopping, we came home and took Mehul and Sejal to the park (which is conveniently across the street from the internet café).
Tuesday, June 24th
We woke up today because we were to be ready at 8 o’clock sharp. Rachna’s uncle and aunt met us at the house around 8:30 (again, IST) to take us to a well-known Indian temple at Pavagadh. The drive was about an hour and a half and took us halfway up a mountain were we got out of the car. We took a gondola up the mountain and then hiked up to the peak. Rachna, with her bad knee, was tough, and Ba, with her 69 years, was a freaking beast. On our way up, we saw many small shops, all selling bangris (Indian bracelets), prayers cloths, prayer videos and cassettes, and also some very American-looking toys. It was interesting to see that the place was very touristy but not a very touristy place for Americans. Instead, the place was filled with Indians from all over, and we didn’t see any non-Indians (except for Jess, of course).
Once we made it up the mountain, we took our shoes off before entering the temple, climbed up the stairs barefoot, and entered the temple. We received blessings from the maharaj (Indian priest). He said a prayer as each of us walked up to him and the statue of the gods, gave us phool (flowers) and prasad (holy food) that had been used in prayer, and used his thumb to place a red mark on all of our foreheads (which represents the third eye through which Hindus believe you can see into your own soul). We each gave a small donation to the temple and then left. We climbed down the mountain some of the way and then took the gondola down back to our car. We had a small meal at the restaurant in the hotel that was near by and then drove home.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Hi from a cybercafe across from the park in Vadodara, India! Where Ba, Rachna's grandmother lives. We have been keeping our blog but hve not had internet to put it up, so here it is for the last few days!
Vadodara Day 1
On the day that we arrived (June 19th), my uncle, aunt, grandmother, and my mom’s friend came to pick us up from the airport around 7:00 am when our flight landed. We slept. We went on a walk to a neighborhood park/garden, sat and talked a little in the evening. Rachna’s grandmother feeds us very well and often! Then, a bunch of family members came over to visit in the evening.
Vadodara Day 2
This morning, we woke up pretty early. Jess was the last one to arise and it was only 7:15! We did “Slim and Six” workout in the early morning heat, but it felt good to move and stretch. Then, we walked around the near-main street a little.
After showering, Jess went outside to read for a bit in the garden, and after about a page, a very large animal sprinted across the garden and over the fence. She let it go, thinking a very big dog got spooked and was just running around. A second later, another huge animal came by, and this time I saw it coming... it was a GIANT monkey!!!!!
Later, we went shopping... lots of pretty fabrics. They pick out fabrics to get the outfits hand-made. Shopping is very personalized.
There are cows on the streets everywhere! Cyclists, motorcycles, rickshaws (tiny taxi-like rides), pedestrian, and cows share the streets equally with few rules about lanes or traffic. It is crazy how everyone magically seems to stay accident free with all of the close calls we witness every time we’re on the roads. People here know what they’re doing.
Saturday, June 21
Everyone woke up this morning around 7:00, and we ate our daily dish of mangoes and a cup of chai. After we had all showered and dressed, we got ready to head to the mall to meet with Rachna’s cousin, Jaimin. Jaimin just received his commercial pilot’s license and is currently flying for King Fisher airlines and also interviewing for pilot’s positions in other airlines. We met him at Vadodara Central, one of the many new malls that just opened in Vadodara. At the mall, Rachna bought an international cell phone that she will use while in Kathmandu. Jess bought a headband to control those crazy curls that seem to go wild in this unbearable humidity! It was interesting to see a mall that carried both Indian and American clothes, but the thing that caught us off guard the most was to see so many American items (clothes, makeup, perfume, and even food) in the middle of an Indian city!
After leaving the mall, we picked up one of Ba’s friends and went to the restaurant at the Hotel Suriya. It was very nice inside, and the greatest perk was that it was air-conditioned! At the restaurant, we had a delicious Punjabi meal which only cost 750 rupees (or about $16 dollars) for the five of us!
We went to Ba’s friends house afterwards to sit down and talk for about an hour. After we left, we went to a shopping center where Jess and Radhika bought Indian-style hobo bags. We also went and looked around in some of the nearby clothing stores. We then left and came home. Around 8 pm, we finally got access to the Internet at one of Ba’s neighbors houses. It was a relief to finally be able to check our e-mail and contact our friends! Other than that, we spent the rest of our time reading, eating, and watching TV – a very chill and relaxing evening.
Sunday, June 22
This morning, after breakfast at 7:30am, we went to the park with the children who live behind the house (Sajol and Mahul). We planned to run/workout and then play on the playround, but after three laps of the track we had to stop. We wanted to keep running, it felt good, but it was just WAY too hot. We played tag with the kids and then played on the playground for a while. We came back to the house and the kids showed me their school work. They did lots of cool drawings, and English numbers and letters. Sejal, the eleven-year-old girl counted to 100 in English!
The children’s mom works in Ba (grandma’s) house, and they live on the property right behind Ba’s own house. We then played music with them and sang. We started off with the ABC’s and some other things with silly hand motions they could follow. Then, we remembered that Sejal was learning animal names in her English book, so we sang the longest version of “Old Mac Donald Had a Farm” that we have ever sang. She came up with some very interesting animals, i.e. sparrow, crow, frog, etc. We had a lot of fun singing.
In the afternoon, the dressmaker came. Rachna and her family get all of their clothes (mostly Indian traditional wear) handmade by fabric they select on their own. The dressmaker comes to the house and measures them and then constructs beautiful clothing made especially for them!
After that, we went to a cousin’s neighborhood. There, we sat with the family, and played cricket in the street with all of the boys from the neighborhood! It was the first time we had ever played cricket. There was also a boy there with Down syndrome, and we are going tomorrow to see his school! Apparently, he goes to an inclusive public school, very cool. We are excited to see it, and will tell about it in our blog tomorrow! Goodnight!
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