Entry #13
May 13, 2014
Technically it is 1:30am on the 14th. I know I should sleep plenty before I wake up at 7:40, but I need to write! First I would like to mention how grateful and amazed I am for global connectivity through the internet. I am fortunate to have been able to keep in consistent contact with family and friends. Also a quick shout-out to Greg for bringing, not just one, but two devices that connect to wifi. Let's give it up for Greg, everyone!
I woke up this morning determined to hate on Greg and send him death glares and cold shoulders throughout clinic. He eventually wore me down by asking nonstop why I was angry and I calmly reamed him out. He apologized. I soon realized how pointless and misdirected most of my frustrations were so I apologized also. We moved on and went back to being a dynamic duo. We had a fun day exploring and hanging out. Remember, kids, communication is key! I don't know exactly why I was so angry this morning, but now that I think about it, I was probably PMSing. I'll have to tell Greg that tomorrow. I'm sure my hormonal cycles are his top concern.
I enjoyed having Greg with me today because I had someone to talk with, someone to confide in when I could hear absolutely nothing through the stethoscope and I felt more confident about asking questions or for clarification. We read many EKGs, none of which we understood. We spent hours tonight looking up and jotting down notes of how to interpret the darn things. Hopefully we understand more tomorrow.
The first thing we did in Dr. Joshi's clinic today was examine a 2-month old's heart with an echocardiogram (an ultrasound on the heart). I was amazed by the clarity of the image and how well I was able to recognize the heart's anatomy. The baby had ASD (atrial septum defect) and VSD (ventricular septum defect). Essentially, neither septum are intact. Dr. Joshi prescribed corrective surgery. I asked Dr. Gandhi if we could learn how to work the EKG machine and he said he would teach us the minute we walked in tomorrow.
After clinics, we went shopping. It rained this morning, which is very early in the year for this part of India. By the end of clinics, the rain had stopped and the sun had made its appearance. It was about 73 degrees Fahrenheit outside, perfect shopping weather. I dragged poor Greg along through the shops for about four hours. Luckily he is the most patient and supportive male shopping partner I have ever known. I assume I can thank his girlfriend Delaney for that! I, once again, spent a lot more money than I planned or desired to. I have since realized that I will probably never see India again and should take as much of it back with me as baggage restrictions will allow. Furthermore I do not regret purchasing the most beautiful saari and the only one that made my jaw drop. It was saari-love at first sight! I only wish that I had known it did not come with the necessary blouse (crop top), shoes (slippers) and that I would need to have it tailored. Cha-ching! I will handle the rest of that tomorrow. During the walk through the market, we were harassed by beggar children. They hung on to our clothes and arms for minutes on end, begging and pestering us. There were so many children that we could not risk giving change to one for fear that the rest would swarm us. They would not leave us alone, and I am not ashamed to say that I have never wanted to push a child down or throw one into a bush more than at that moment. Any sane adult who was subjected to the same tiny hands clinging and tiny voices perpetually begging for money would feel the same way. Tonight, I was a victim of child harassment.
We returned home and bonded with Mrs. Mehta over our recent purchases. A great way to bond with anyone, I've learned. I am very glad we are forming a better relationship with our homestay mother. She is very understanding and flexible about making our meals.
Until now, I have neglected to discuss women's styles in India. This is one of the first contrasts I notice when traveling outside of the U.S. I love the style here. Most women cover up their legs and upper arms, but this is not required or strictly followed. Saaris are also an interesting piece because they expose the midriff. Unfortunately almost every saari-adorned woman I've seen had very excessive fat or loose, flabby skin in the exposed region. I commend these women for displaying their bodies so freely, without fear of judgment. Almost all women also have nose rings and multiple ear piercings. Even many of the junior school students in Patti had pierced noses. The way scarves are worn in India is simply around the chest, with both ends of the scarf hanging off the shoulders, down the back. This style requires frequent adjustment of the scarf. There are so many variations on style based upon the individual woman's beliefs. These include but are not limited to: tikkas between the eyes; red paint along the hair's part; henna drawn on the hands; and covering of the entire head with a scarf. I find the Indian styles very different from typical American styles, especially considering the high temperatures here.
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