Surrender to India!

India is a beautiful symphony of chaos. You have to go with it, forget everything you've known from your home life and surrender to India. Don't resist. Embrace the crazy. Then you can truly enjoy the experience. I certainly did.

Last Day...

He recited a sweet little rhyme

I thought by Monday I couldn't handle another Rotary project, I was getting a bit grumpy, maybe that was my homesickness coming out, but I was tentative about this last visit. Boy, was I wrong! Capt. Kumar is the Rotarian who organized most of our travel arraignments and this last day we saw his pet project, a vocational school in the slum area of Delhi. We took a bus to a certain point, then the streets got too small and we transferred to 3 cars. We saw classrooms of small children, rooms for tailoring and embroidery, beauty school and a computer room. In the beauty area I got some lovely henna! The children's area was so cute, they would stand up and recite a little poem in English, although it was quite hard to decipher I couldn't stop smiling. It was so adorable. 

What's also very cool is that sewing machines are often given to the women after they complete their courses and they can provide themselves with an income! It's about $45 USD to purchase a non-electric sewing machine that can change a person's - no a family's- life! Maybe my Project Runway friends would be interested in buying a few machines, to support fellow designers! :-)

Back to Delhi

Another long bus ride took us back to Delhi, to the EROS hotel which we stayed at in the beginning of the journey. On Friday Feb 24 we went to a few Rotary projects. We saw a Rotary community center under construction, visited a blood bank (great for me, more medical induced nausea) and had lunch with a Rotary Club. We also visited a clinic for prosthetics. I was probably the sickest I've been while on the trip, but managed to take enough drugs to tour with the group. I did feel about 2 sizes smaller, which was the ONLY bonus to the traveler's sickness! Our leader Ann Lee was very sick with laryngitis, so she stayed in the hotel the whole day. Our afternoon was pretty free so we were on our own for dinner. Sarah, Dorothy, Lefty, Brenda and Julia met up for dinner at the hotel, and also got to see an authentic Indian Wedding. Sarah and I have decided this is the best way to be wed. Now if we can only convince our men...

We spent Saturday at the Polio Summit, where the Indian Prime Minister spoke to the auditorium. Ann Lee also spoke later in the afternoon. It was great, but also a bit boring for a gal who really can't handle medical things. I skipped the summit on Sunday, just could NOT do it. Instead I opted to get a manicure and eat a leisurely breakfast and read the paper. After lunch Sarah met me and we went SHOPPING! Another great day indeed. 

To Agra!

look familiar? Yes, Princess Diana sat here.

We left Kolkata to fly back to Delhi, after a quick lunch we boarded a bus for Agra. It's about 5 hours drive, maybe more since the roads are gnarly in India. And the brakes are squeekey and the whole bus is bumpy, and I now (never used to) get really car sick! I'm writing this with a smile on my face, because it's actually pretty funny, makes for a good story. Checked into a very nice hotel near the Taj Mahal.


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Woke up early to see the Taj Mahal at dawn. This was another day where pictures serve best to tell the story.

After breakfast we went to the Red Fort - there's some historical story about the guy who built it, he was the same one who built the Taj, and then his son held a coup, or killed him or something. It was cool.
we then had lunch and hit the road to Delhi. Another long, nausiating ride on a sweaky brake bus, but we managed to giggle a little bit. At one point int he day I over heard Dorothy say, I'd pay a thousand roupees for a tooth pick. Then while we're at dinner in Delhi, finishing up and the waiter puts a little cup of toothpicks in front of her! But she doesnt exactly realize what they are, and thinks maybe the cup is made of chocolate. I say, "that will be 1000 rpee please." She and I are in stitches, the whole table is punch drunk, and I cry a bit I'm laughing so hard. All over toothpicks.
Our guide later tells about about the road from Delhi to Agra, and that it's scheduled to be re paved, so it should only take 2 hours instead of 5-6. Dr. Wik, who's about 75, and dry as can be, says, "That'll be nice. For someone else." The poetry was in his delivery.

Sarah and the foggy Taj Mahal

Maybe the humour was amplified by the fact that we were all so tired from getting up early to see the Taj. Fun day.

Last Day in Kolkata

The Piyali Girls welcome us!

Long dusty road to Piyali School for Girl Child, met some lovely girls and teachers.We then went to a rehab hospital for people who have lost limbs or are using prosthetics and/or calipers. Some polio patients. Then we went to the Mother Home. I got a few Mother Teresa medals.
That night we went to the Polio Committee forum put on by a few of the Rotary clubs of Kolkata. We were all pretty tired from a long day, and I thought it was pretty boring, but one of the panelist must have been more bored, because he was falling asleep on the STAGE. Magic.
Then Sarah and I popped down to the bar near our hotel for 2 drinks. Sometimes one needs to get out of the group! Again we find that Indian people are really kind.

The Mother Tomb

Peace begins with a smile! - MT knows her stuff

Intense Day in South Kolkata

I was lucky enough to be with the group that went to South Kolkata, then we broke into groups of 2, and I got to follow along with a Doctor from UNICEF, and a health care worker who were making house calls to check if the children were vaccinated then mark the homes with chalk. Really intense situations, and the pictures can probably tell a better story than I can.

These health workers could be making more money by sewing in the garment district but instead they help to vaccinate children in the poorest areas of the city

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She kept a very tidy home. Her son is 8 months old.

From Delhi to Kolkata

Day 3 fly from Delhi to Kolkata, then a long bus ride North to West Bengal.6 hrs in crazy bus, I rode in the very front with the driver who was mental and didn't speak ANY English.  Arrive in Murshidabad at Hotel Sunshine, very close to Bangledesh. Met Suran our guide. Bengali Indian people are very nice.


Day 4 rode from Hotel Sunshine to Murshidabad to meet the district Magistrate in his office. Was cool. Then another 30+ mins to village for NID activities. I did put drops in one baby's mouth, and marked fingers of a few others. Even one new born, smallest little finger I ever saw!
The women wore very beautiful saris, nose piercings and had long thick hair. kids in tee shirts, small saris for some little girls, or only short pants.Just like a page out of Nat Geo. When we arrive with our cameras the children were a bit shy, but soon warmed up. Sarah (blonde cutie) and I were clearly the crowd favorites and they took my camera to take pictures of me with them. :-) They wanted to practice thier english with me, and some were bashful to speak to me, or didnt really understand. We hung around outside and took pics ( they LOVE to be photographed and then see themselves) and we chatted.
I asked, What's your name? they all said, "My name is......." but when asked how old are you? they couldn't respond.
Some of the older kids spoke better English, and asked were I was from and what do I do for work (I lied and told them about my old job) Then I signed a guest book for the school, saying thank you for having us. Keep up the good work. xo, Melissa and my curly haired smiley face.
Then an older boy (maybe teacher) asked for my autograph. Our guide said to me, you are celebrity, it must be your smile!
My heart is still smiling along with my face. When I would say "thank you" they'd say "thank you," and If I said "Shukira" - hindi for thank you, they smiled brightly. I also said to one little girl "Al saleem aleekum" to which she shook my hand and replied, "al saleekum salum."
Then I did the same with about 100 kids in the village, many more than once. Our guide, Suren, translated for me what one mother said to him, "When she says those words - it sounds so very sweet." She really liked when I tried to speak to her in her language. Little gestures go along way.

It did get a bit hectic, and overwhelming, but for me it was an extactic, happy, joyful, sweet, uplifting, positive experience. Still floating down off my cloud, but I'll be here for a few more days, maybe weeks.

Made a fast friend in Suren, who says I will come back and stay with his family, he's very sweet. Like I said the Indian people are very welcoming. 

 

Today, Feb 19 spent the day with the Rotary Club of Kolkuta, they showed us many different check points, where they look for small kids under 5 years old, and ensure they've been given the vaccine. We went to Kolkuta's train station, and saw all the entry and exit points where we vaccinated some and checked all the little fingers, also went to various different vaccinating booths, some indoor at schools, some were just stands set up. Went to an amusement park, zoo, police station, all to check and make sure the small children were vaccinates. It's a clever campaign and it's working! Met many, many kind and hospitable Rotarians, volunteers, and one smart looking doctor. Tall drink of water, that one.

We then went to a hospital for children who are recovering from polio surgeries. Met some really sweet kids and held a little boy who had a cast and a brace from a surgery. Not all were polio victims, so the vaccinating campaign is clearly working. Another fine day in India.

It's mental here... and I love it!

Like no where I've been before! It's so crazy here, the drivers honk A LOT, and there are so many people, and it's dusty, but the people have been very kind and welcoming, especially the Rotarians from Delhi. They gave us all a gift of a lovely scarf. First we went to the World Health Organization, and learned more about polio from Dr. Patell. Then we went over to St Stephen's Hospital, where I got a bit nausiated while Dr. Joseph was showing us a slideshow of polio victims and the surgeries he performed. Great work, but I just can't stomach it.

medical stuff makes me queezy. Good thing my roommate is a nurse!

This guy.

Then we had lunch, lentils, chicken, curry, masala, the list goes on and the aroma is seeping out of my pores! All good. Then a tour guide showed us a bit of Old Delhi. We got on two by two on rickshaws, or what I know them as in the States as pedi cabs. I was with my roommate Sarah and I was holding on to her for our dear lives! About 18 times in 22 mins, I thought she was going over board and would be lost in the crowd. They took us through the most crowded streets I've ever seen, where we eventually ended up in a mosque. We took off our shoes, and I covered my hair with a scarf. Was really nice in the mosque. Then our tour guide for the afternoon had the bus driver take us to a place where there was "very clean restroom" and "very good rugs for to buy" Can't blame him, he obviously got a cut of the sales when he brings his tours to this place. We ended up being too short on time and headed to the hotel for about 5 mins, change, then out to have dinner with a Delhi Rotary Club. More authentic Indian cuisine. I'm stuffed and happy!

Tomorrow, early flight to Calcutta. We'll be there for about 5 days.

Lmfao

I am pretty sure I saw LMFAO in Newark airport. How can they be mistaken? It's hard to see but they were in that shuttle.

Carry on

Yes, I did.

Packing

All this into a carry-on roller? Yes, I can! Ok, obviously I will need to edit. 

Int'l phone

I can make free calls! The number to reach me is 765-293-4706. The app is Whistle Phone. I can make calls to the US for free from any where in the world with this app. Pretty sweet. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Whistle/108583155834824

T minus 6 days...

I'm headed to India with a group organized by Rotary International. We'll vaccinate against polio. This is my travel blog.