First Clinicals...

For those of you concerned about the color of this blog, I apologize, for there is little I can do about it- these computers are very primitive and I have short access time... and it just is not working out much. If difficulties persist, try copying it into a different document for now. Also, this entry may be missing a lot of "w"s in the ords, as the key board is slightly broken and ill not allo it most of the time and I haven't time to correct it. So, to read this may be an adventure.

I have made my first fe purchases of India clothing, and now have 2 sets of Salware Kameze, which are very comfortable! The pants are 10 sizes at least too big, while the ankles are very snug as the ankle is not to be shown. The trick is that a draw string is attached to the top to sinch it, making the leg part something of a balloon. The top is a long tunic, and no I have a white tunic ith a gold pattern on the front, and a burnt orange one ith gold trim. Purchasing clothing is something of a mad adventure, especially in downton Vellore, where there are many shops crowed together, and of course all want to sell something. They are actually not as persist ant as other parts of the world, but are also good salesmen. I also purchased a Saree on Sunday at a little shop by the fort, where I toured ith Barb in a little tut-tut. Those drivers are something else, and you really must haggle ith them before you even get in or you risk being ripped off like crazy.
Money here is something that is giving me stress and headache, as it is impossible sometimes to figure out how to purchase something, especially at the canteens, where we have all of our coffee/tea breaks in the morning and lunch in the afternoon. They may or may not provide a menu on the wall, and they seem to expect you to decide what you want in line, and count out the exact change before you get to the counter. Thus, you hand them the exact change, and then tell them what you want, and they put the money in a drawer loosely (no organized stacks of bills- just a wad) and print out a small receipt, which you bring to another counter for drinks, and a separate receipt and counter for food. You then hand in the receipt, and they somehow keep track of many receipts being thrust at them, and bring you your food. At first I didn't understand this system, but now am able to catch on much better. However, headache still exists... no one seems to respect the concept of lines, though the concept exists- sometimes people stand in them, and sometimes they just push to the front. The stronger usually get in first, and especially men, who ride right past the women. If you are not aggressive, you never get your receipt. And, they usually hate to give change... I don't understand why, as they have plenty of it... but they will not serve you unless you have exact or very close. If a meal costs 24 Rupees, you cannot give 30 Rupees, as that is too much change. If you only have 100 Rupees, they will not serve you. If you owe 21 rupees, and give a 20, they will forgive you before you have a chance to hand in more. So, they are always having a problem with my payment and keep saying "change" or "no-no" or wave me on at seeming random, and everyone gets frustrated as I don't kno why they are saying any of this... I can certainly understand what it means to be a foreigner "no-speekie" and a minority. Today I began to catch on more to their no change policy, so came prepared with only slightly too many Rupees- my stash of small bills is running dangerously low, so I need every opportunity possible to exchange them, and apparently change doesn't work- but today I had a new problem as the sum was close enough to be accepted, but there was a small rip in the center of my 10 rupee bill, and they wanted me to change it for another, wich i didn't have! Nothing was missing from the bill- it was only ripped, and they were having a hard time communicating this to me so they recruited a doctor near by to help explain the situation, but I had no bill, and the doctor did not seem to think it was a huge deal either, and they finally accepted it, but were not too happy.

On Sunday, a small group of us went to a church service at a chapel in a near by campus of CMC. It was in a small round building in the center of campus, and was very informal... we sat in benches lining the circular wall around the alter, and the pastor came rolling in at the last minute ith his wife and daughter, and we became "good friends" ith them. Most of the attenders were patients dran in by the singing. The pastor's ife was very good with English and translated for us, and led us in singing English songs that I knew, like "as a dear pants for water" etc, and then a second group led everyone else in Tamil songs, and then the pastor spoke for about a half hour about Paul's conversion, and how bad things happen but God is still in control, using examples from the audience, who were patients. It was very inspiring. After that, we took tut-tuts to Darling's restaurant, which is very nice and one of the only truly "safe" places to eat out. I had some kind of northern curry. It took forever to be seated and get through lunch- they seem to be in no hurry... this computer is testament to that. But, the food was good and it was a fun outing. We took the tut-tuts back, and I convinced Barb to join me for visiting the fort, which is a historical site in Vellore, but I have not had time to research the history. It is very pretty with a temple of sorts on the inner side, but we did not go in- we just walked around on the edge of the wall looking down into the moat, which was dried up on one side. There were cows trapped below in the space between the main wall and the wall we walked on, and I felt very sorry for the poor things who couldn't possibly have an easy way out. There was plenty of grass growing in there for them. There were a lot of sick and elderly townspeople gathered there, and Barb says we walked by at least one person who certainly had TB... I've probably been exposed several times. There were a lot of questionable boys that we were kind of going around with, and who wanted me to take a picture of, and who wanted to take pictures with us etc. We kind of avoided them, but they were still there. I think they were harmless, but rowdy, and I was glad Barb was with me, since she lived in India for a while, in a place not too far away. After the fort, we went across the street and she helped me buy a Saree, which is being tailored, so tomorrow I must figure out how to pick it up. I think Barb will come with me. That night (Sunday) a group of us went to the Golden Temple, which is Hindu. I was much more careful than my group mates were- I just wanted to see it, they wanted to experience it. It is free, but takes forever to get through. Everyone was excited to meet us... and it took about 2 hours to walk through the path that takes you through the one way, crowded temple campus. We were given special privileges to get up close to the gods as they were being awakened with hand bells and incense, and it was all very creepy. The Indians had to wait outside, but us Americans were ushered right on in, and the priest waking the gods up came and blessed my group individually and marked their foreheads with a red ash stuff. I boycotted, as gracefully as I could and somehow managed to get away with it. The temple itself was very beautiful, it must be said. They spared no expense. The building is made of pure gold and is light by diamond chandeliers that glitter and sparkle in the night. It is surrounded by a Robbin's egg blue moat, and in the center is their most favored god, next to a picture of someone (I think the president????) Not sure... which they were also honoring. I was very glad to leave it all, but the building was very pretty, and quite a wonder like is not often seen. Oh, Sunday morning we woke up at 5am to go on a hike, and went up college hill, near Bagayum. We made it up in time for sunrise and didn't hit any vipers or scorpions which made me happy because I was blazing the trail through tall grass for everyone else about half the hike. We didn't see any sunrise, however, as there was so much haze. We saw a faint glow in the distance for a minute, but that was about it. It simply brightened, and we were able to get a good view of Vellore. We haven't seen the sun much since being here and I have never needed sunglasses- the haze keeps that comfortable, but the sun is hot, and you sweat away most of what you drink. You just can't always see it clearly.
Last Saturday, we went to school bright and early for lectures about infectious disease presented by doctors and professors. It was very interesting, and we had to cross the road to get there, and managed not to become road kill. After that, I spent a good 3 hours trying to get Internet going, and went back to Bagayum to go to a pool party near Bagayum in honor of a girl in our group (Heidi)'s birthday. It was maybe the nicest, most refreshing pool I have ever used. There are so many contrasts of prosperity and disparity side by side.

Yesterday, we went to RUSHA, a community satellite of CMC in the rural area, and learned how they work to impact the people. It was very interesting, and is apparently the ideal model for this kind of concept, which is quoted internationally for its excellence, and I believe it, though you would not think so to look at it. I will have to elaborate more later. Last night, we had a gathering for all international students at CMC currently, and there was quite a turn out. The MC was a Scottish man living in Vellore and working for CMC as he was inspired to come by Paul Brand. There were doctors, students, and other health care professionals representing Germany, the Netherlands, south Africa, UK, USA, Canada, Sweden, and a couple other places. It was weird to see so many white nationalities uniting as minorities... but it was good to meet them and I made a few new friends from Germany.

Today was my first set of clinicals. I was split into a group of 4 going to pediatrics, and together the 4 of us were oriented by a nurse named Rama, who was quite interesting. I enjoyed the small group format, as it was easier to ask questions. Then, after a confusing set of paperwork and diplomacy, we arranged how to split the group of 4 into pairs, and each pair went to a different department in peds for half the day, and a different for another. I was paired with Becky (Barb's daughter) who is only here because her mom is a teacher, so she is not related at all to health care- she wants to be a high school math teacher. She is very nice though, and it was good to be with her for the day. We were in medical peds at first, which involved little action, as many of the patients where babies sleeping with their mothers, and many had fever. After lunch, we were rotated to ped surgery, which was mostly burns. We had more to see, and learn, but soon it became quiet, so we spent about 2 hours in a back room with a young nurse about our age named "Lovely" who was very kind and explained in great deal a whole bunch about the inside of India health care, the culture and politics, and even some history. I have a suspicion she is a kindred spirit. Tomorrow I am going to emergency, I believe, and the day after that I am going back to the ICU of the ped department and something else. Friday, I may be going back to peds, but will likely be placed somewhere else by then. On Saturday... there are plans in the air to make it to a Safarie, a river raft trip, and a palace tour for a weekend escape... we will see if it works out... I will elaborate more on the health care system, but I must go and try to catch the general store before they close and see if they can grant me some smaller change so I will be ready the next time they call out "change" with a frown on their face.

(I'm back, after just having been automatically logged off).

I am learning so much!