Thailand and India (the first three weeks)

Hi all,

Sorry it has taken me so long to update this thing. It was all in Thai when I was in Thailand, and I now just seemed to get it working while in India.

Thailand was a lot of fun. I, of course, had my freak out moments of "oh my god what the hell am I doing...and by myself" but I've managed to calm down a bit.

I went North to a small place called Ayothaya and then south to the beaches of Ko Samet. I met three great British girls while down south and I ended up staying there until my last night in Thailand (which I went back to Bangkok for). Next time I come to SE Asia I am definitely hitting up Thailand as well as getting over to Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. I'm glad I didn't do it this time since I was by myself, but I definitely want to come back this way again.

India has been a whole lot of ups and downs. Mostly ups, but things aren't exactly how I had planned. The hospital is actually pretty good size, and it's still in construction phases so I'll be curious as to what the end product will look like. But, the Indian culture is so completely different from anything I have ever encountered before. The hospital itself is a good hour outside of the town of Vijayawada and several hours outside of anything you would consider a real city. Although this was my first taste of culture shock, I've learned to enjoy it and to take the non stressful lifestyle as a good thing, rather than freaking out about not really having much to do (such a change from our hectic and busy lifestyle in America)...it's definitely giving me time to think...

The medical students are interesting here. I don't even know how to describe them (Stef, if you are reading this, it is like middle school all over again). Most of them are just out of high school, and the ones from America absolutely hate the place. But, I've managed to meet a few people who know how to stay positive and don't continually ask me "why the hell I've come to this godforsaken place"(actual quote from one of the non-resident Indian boys here).

Today was amazing too. I got to see an open heart surgery and that pretty much made everything bad here seem like nothing. As always though, things are a lot different here than in America (for one, not as sanitary...only the main doctors were wearing gloves). But, as soon as they open the guys chest and I could see the beating heart, I knew this was a good place for me to learn things I wouldn't really get to see while in the states...

I am being cared for by a man named B.K. (too long of an Indian name to spell or pronounce). He is the perfect mentor for me, although he's a nurse, he has been everywhere and seen nearly everything. He's also helping me to not be so sensitive when the doctors are rude to both me and the patients. His job here is to improve patient care and so he's a great source for all information relating to public health and needed health improvements in India.

I am headed to Goa on the 15th with two of the NRI medical students. I am excited for the trip, it'll be a good break from the hostel food (which is absolutely horrible, although I didn't really realize it until the second week and everything really started tasting the same) and rules.

Next time I'll go into more depth about some of the crazy patients I see and the actual workings of the hospital and hostel...

Until then. Miss you all, hope you are doing well!