Incredible India, part 2

Chennai, India
10:15pm
warm


Hey,

Been very busy during the last 10 days and am liking India very much!

On Tuesday last week, we went to Krishna Sweets. They have lots of sweets on display and seeing that I was introduced as the visiting German, the woman gave me free samples, which I enjoyed for the most part. Let me just say that Indian sweets are a lot different from German ones and some are way too sweet or buttery. From there on we where on our way to Chennai Beach, but not without stopping at a local clothe stores to get some “shirts” and pants for me. After I was officially “pimped”, we parked close to the beach, where Navin and I left Scott and Renu behind to wade through the waves. Indians do not use swim wear! They just wade into the water in Jeans and shirt or Sari and enjoy the warm water. The beach itself was not the cleanest, but they had some kind of mini carnival there and vendors walked along the shore, praising there goods.

On Wednesday and Thursday I went with Renu to the Banyan facilities. First of all: if you have some money to spare, these people will put it to very good use. Follow the link on the right!
My first experience was the Balm, which is a learning centre that has recently been opened. It is located in a small sea shore village and used for training session with staff, as well as partners. Arriving there, Renu started seeing to patients and I met up with Bettina, who is German, but has been living in India for a while now and is responsible for the contact between the B. and its partners. Her husband was giving her moral support, because that morning she was driving to the B. herself and promptly was caught in the mob after a car accident had taken the life of 2 children. In India you are told to leave a car accident scene as soon as you can, even if you were involved, because a mob will form and perform justice as they see fit. She didn’t know what had happened and soon people were shouting angrily at her and hitting the car. So she grabbed her bag and car keys and got out of the car seeking protection with a Banyan driver. Her husband had to come on a motorcycle and escort her to the Balm, where she was still visibly shaken.

That day was quickly filled with planning for my training sessions and we left soon after lunched.

Renu brought the idea up that I could get out and explore Chennai on my own if I wanted to. So, I put No-Bite on and left for Guindy train station, which is a 10 minute walk from the apartment. Indians are very open and friendly people, everywhere I went people stared at me (because of my skin colour), but as soon as I smiled, they’d smile back, some of the poorest offering me tea or food. I asked my way through to the ticket counter and got one for Mabalam (2 stations away) for 4 rupees (less than 0,10€).

Train ride was an adventure (no doors, open windows, lady’s compartment), but I arrived there save and sound and just followed the flow of the people.

It took a good 5 minutes do get off the station, but patience is something you learn to live with here.

But Mabalam was overwhelming – lots of people, shops everywhere, beggars, dogs, smells, sounds.

I did survive and even managed to get a couple of gifts for friends, though I hadn’t anticipated the ride back. The ticket counter was a lot more crowded and I got inkling to how full the train would be when I got onto the platform. The train arrived I stood first line in front of an open compartment. Lots of woman pushed out of the cart, while lots of woman pushed in.



You’d be amazed, but it worked. I was standing close to the other side of the train at an open door and just enjoyed the breeze while being imbedded in human bodies, taking a picture of a woman sitting on the ground, after she asked me to, seeing my camera.
I walked home, satisfied with my self and exhausted to the bone.

On Thursday I was introduced to Adaikalam, the transit facility of the B., currently home to over 200 mentally ill, homeless woman. But there too, people smiled at me. Everyone was friendly and very open with me. Vanitha (a senior Coordinator) told me all about Adaikalam and the program(s) of the Banyan, which was both educational and interesting. Then one of the Health Care Workers - HCW (girls from villages who are the main care givers concerning activities, hygiene, food etc.) showed me around. What these people have achieved in “short” time is amazing. I was treated to one of there outpatient programs and after enjoying lunch, left with Renu.

Friday was spent for further exploration of the city. Again riding the train to Eggmore station, I took an auto rickshaw to Government Museum. They have 6 exhibitions (archaeology, zoology, biology, bronze, portraits, modern art and children’s museum) and it is worth the entrance fee as well as the camera fee – 450 rupees (about 5€).

The afternoon and early evening were spent at Spencer Plaza, a local mall. I bought some more gifts as well as more clothes for myself.

Sunday the whole family, including me, piled into the car by about 6 am and left for the sea shore temple and other well preserved temples. The morning was spent outside, exploring temples, climbing huge rocks and looking at the sea.

We went for lunch to Renu’s brother’s house. He is happily married and they have a nearly 2 year old daughter Ahana.

She needed about 30 minutes before she had warmed up to us and enjoyed being the centre of attention until she fell asleep. The food was excellent and the conversation enlightening and entertaining.

I stayed at home on Monday, to prepare the 2 trainings of the HCW/ nurses and just relax a bit.
By Tuesday morning, I grabbed my backpack (including my laptop) and we were on our way to the Balm, where I (with lots of help by Renu and a translator) trained the first group of HCW in “assessing critical situation and acting accordingly” (Shock and general CPR) as well as “Wound management”. We started by 9:45am and suddenly Renu signalled me that the girls haven’t had breakfast yet. So, she organized some chips as a snack, tea and water as well a small breakfast afterwards. Theses young woman were motivate even before that, but now were much better equipped to listen and understand. I got the feeling that the HCW enjoyed the lesson and they were eager to learn and apply the knowledge in practical sessions. In the last years, I have always enjoyed teaching, but it is so much more fun if people actually want to learn.

Today I trained the second group, which was as eager and willing as the first one. This time though, the translator actually translated my English from the board into written Tamil so the HCW could copy it. All worked out well and I will be doing a practical training in wound dressing for them, tomorrow.

Around 1pm, another training in CPR will take place for Nurses, Social Workers and partners of the Banyan at Adaikalam.

The evening is also booked for a trip to Spencer’s plaza with the boys to pick my glasses up. Renu and I will go to watch a Tamil movie on Friday and around 4pm a neighbour will pick me up to go to a famous temple and buy a sari as well as some jewellery. Saturday, more Tamil movie, burgers and getting the rest of my gifts from the stores.

Well, as you can see, I’ve been busy, but am enjoying myself a lot and I am seriously considering coming back to India, soon.

Love,
Rea

“I am therefore I exist”
- The Banyan’s banner

Incredible India

Chennai, India
07:45pm
Hot

Namaste,

I am finally here in India and am enjoying myself immensely.

Early Friday morning after about 4 hours of sleep, Sandra drove me to the airport (Tegel, Berlin), where I caught my flight to London.

After hanging around on the airport for about 4 hours, the plane that took me to Chennai, India, finally took off. There were a lot of families with young children on the plane, though they were well behaved. The guy next to me had his arm on my armrest all the time, until I pushed him off, because my arm hurt. Anther positive thing were the Stewards! *wink*

I arrived right on time (3:25am) in Chennai, got through Immigration alright and received my suitcase from the almighty baggage claim. By 4:30am I called Renu and she and Navin were off to pick me up.

Traffic in India is an experience you should make if you can stomach it!

They use the horn constantly, there are no lanes on the street, mostly there are no streets and they have many types of traffic participants: cars, trucks, buses, rickshaws, two-wheelers (motorcycles), bikes, ppl in wheel chairs, carts and pedestrian. Renu and Scott are very good drivers and surprisingly so, I was not scared. As a pedestrian you have to be fearless to cross the street – use the magic hand (palm open, facing down and moving it in an up-down-fashion) and walk.

The Weiss family took me into their home in a strife. I have my small room with a small bathroom and even though the facilities are nothing compared to Germany, everything is clean and neat and I feel very comfortable here.

After arriving at their apartment complex, we read, greeted Scott, had breakfast (French toast and fruit) and Renu and I left for a medical conference.

The conference itself was awesome but I was already so tired that I nearly fell asleep before lunch break. The topics were from Rheumatology to TB and much more. Some were entertaining, others lots of information, but a bit dry. Lunch was amazing – soup (lime and coriander), rice, 6 different dishes (chicken stuff, macaroni etc), salad, dessert (ice cream + flan + Indian sweets). After lunch Renu called Scott and he picked me up. Scott and Renu are an odd couple, but they fit very well – he has a great sense of humour and a quiet, almost shy intellect (meaning you wouldn’t suspect that he is as smart as he is) and she has a strong personality, great sense of humour and an air of authority not even man twice her size posses sometimes.

I napped for 3 hours, then played video games with Navin and had dinner (apple, rice plates and chicken). Renu told me that 7am is good enough for getting up on Sunday, the 2^nd day of conference.

Sunday came all too soon, though I slept well with my fan on all night. After a quick shower (nearly cold water- best thing in the morning and best thing in this kind of weather) and breakfast, Renu and I headed back to the conference. One speech was about woman and mental health which was very good! Again Lunch and we headed back to the apartment seeing that it was only a half day. The four of us spend the evening buying clothes for me, grocery shopping, at the beach and having burgers at a local restaurant. It really helps being here with Renu; she knows whether the water is safe and the food edible. It is also very nice to have someone to converse with!

Today is monday - there's a bandh (strike) - so we slept in, watch a movie, played rummy...

CU
Love, Rea