Hello!

I’m on vacation! Wahoo! I’ve been so busy the past couple weeks. Last week we did case studies. My group of 6 decided to look at immunizations as a way to understand the Indian health system. We looked a recent policy that changed the way immunizations are delivered in rural areas. Nurses used to go door-to-door in the villages to administer vaccines. After 5 infants died from a mix up of vaccines last year, there was a huge media uproar which eventually lead to a policy change. Now nurses are no longer allowed to go door-to-door, instead a doctor must be present at all times. Although this seems like a good idea in theory, the problem is that now the people in the rural areas have to travel incredibly long distances to get to a public hospital where they can get the vaccines for free. Often times they end up not even going because it’s too expensive to get there. It was a really interesting topic to study and I ended up learning a lot! We visited a few NGOs working specifically on this issue and even visited a slum (don’t worry my country coordinator came with us). We went to the slums to interview people there to see how they were effected by the policy. We went to a slum in Chennai so it wasn’t as bad as the ones in slumdog millionaire. People were so excited to talk to us there. One family even invited us into their house. One thing shocked me was that they had a TV. Apparently the government had a policy that provided everyone below the poverty line with a free TV. So we were in this house that barely had anything, but they had cable TV. Talk about the government having their priorities straight huh?

On Saturday I moved out of my homestay. It was really hard to leave, they’re just so great! We traveled 9 hours on a bus to an ashram in rural India. It was so nice to be away from the city for a while. We just got to relax in the sun and check out waterfalls and walk around in the fresh air. It was so nice to have time to just relax. There were monkeys everywhere. Sorry Mo, but I don’t like them at all! They are so mean. They jumped on three people in my group to steal their food. Yah, not planning on messing with monkeys anytime soon.

Now I’m back in Chennai. I’m on vacation finally! I decided to come back and spend one more night with my homestay family. Tomorrow morning I fly to a place called Goa that’s known for its beaches. Sunday night I take a train to another place called Kerala. I’m traveling with 6 other girls, but a lot of the other people on my program are going to be in Kerala as well. We’re staying in a beach house and also on a boathouse for one night! Overall, things are going really well. I cannot believe I’ve already been in India for a month. It’s just flown by. Next Saturday I fly to China!
　
　

Vannakam from India! Sorry it’s taken me so long to write. I just finally got internet the other day. India is everything I expected and so much more. It’s so hard for me to even describe it. There are people everywhere! We got into the airport at 3 am and there was an enormous crowd of people. We spent the first week in a “hotel.” I had two roommates and we also had a guest cockroach one night. I’m a pro at bucket showers now. Last Friday I moved in with my host family. I live with one girl on my program named Kris. We have a mom, dad, and 12 year old sister named Pavithra. We also have a 20 year old maid. She has been with my family for a few years. She doesn’t speak English, but we’ve learned to communicate through hand gestures. It’s pretty funny. My host dad said tonight that although she’s his maid, he treats her like his daughter. With the exception of my maid, my host family speaks very good English and are amazing. From the second we walked through the door they have been more than welcoming. Initially I was nervous to do homestays, but now I’m so glad that I am. Homestays give you the opportunity to see the culture in a completely different light. I’m learning so much just from living here. I don’t want to leave! They love my hair and constantly say that I look like Barbie. I haven’t gotten sick yet (knock on wood)! I’ve been really careful about drinking the water which has definitely helped. My host family has been feeding me non-stop. They say that I’m too skinny and are definitely trying to fatten me up. They always ask if I want more food and even when I say no they just keep piling it on my plat. The food is a little spicy, but I’m getting used to. I ate kidney today….Not as bad as I would have expected. It was only a small piece though. The house that I’m staying at is really nice. I almost feel like I’m in Florida. We do have a squat toilet though…..quite the experience. My host parents also have another daughter, Pooja who is 17. She’s in her last year of high school and studying to be a doctor. She’s staying at her uncle’s while we’re here so she doesn’t get distracted. She came over last Saturday for the night though. It was so neat to get a perspective on India from someone close to my age. Two other girls on my program are staying with my host mom’s parents right down the road. My host mom’s parents do not speak very much English so my host mom brings them everywhere with us.

Everywhere we go people stare at us. One of our first days here we went to check out the beach. We were instantly surrounded and tons of people started taking pictures of us. It’s the weirdest feeling in the world to be stared at everywhere you go. I’ve never had that happen to me before.

There are no rules on the road here. The beep every time they pass a car (which is literally every 2 seconds). The beep to tell people to get out of the way, but also to let people know where they are. One of the first nights I asked my host-mom why she beeps her horn so much. “If you don’t beep they won’t know the importance of their lives” was her answer. Guess I’m going to be very careful when I cross the street. If you close your eyes and just listen it sounds so fake, almost like a recording of a city being played over and over again. We ride around in these things called auto-rickshaws. They’re like little bumper cars. There’s so much traffic that you’re going very slow, but it’s still scary! I feel like I’m in an amusement park ride every time I get on the road. It sounds dangerous, but there’s so much traffic that you’re not going very fast. Rear ending someone or sideswiping a motorcycle is a common occurrence and no one seems to notice.

Overall, I’m loving it. It’s chaotic, but it’s beautiful. I’m learning so much. I put up pictures today on facebook. Check them out! Let me know your addresses and I’ll send postcards! I have a week vacation beginning on the 24^th.. I have a place for us to stay…any takers?

Second Update From India

Ashley moved into her homestay yesterday. She has a very nice host family and a 12 year old host sister who loves her! She is getting around on a rickshaw (which she suggest if you care about her not to view a youtube video of one). Apparently it is not as bad as the video looks. She is able to tolerate the spicy food and learned to eat with her whole hand as compared to only 3 fingers. The plan is to attend a wedding tomorrow. Hello to all from her and she hopes to have internet access next week.

Update from India

Made it to India! Internet is super cheap, but such a hassle to get. I just ate a huge meal with dessert for $2. We went shopping today and bought some cool clothes. It looks just like the pictures. It's really neat, but definitely a HUGE change from Switzerland. It's really really dirty. The contrast is ridiculous. There a huge new hotels next to slums. I can't even explain it. The room is ok. I haven't showered in 2 days and I'm wearning pants and a cardiagan in 80 degree weather. We got to our hostel at 4 am last night. The plane ride wasn't too bad. I even got to watch a modern family episode. Today we went shopping and I bought some cute light shirts that I'll be able to bring home with me. Going to bed super early. My country coordinators are great. Oh, also, we don't have showers. We have to take a shower with buckets that we fill. Really hard not to drink the water, but getting used to it. Huge bottels of water are 50 cents. Other than that things are gonig well. Really big adjustment, I'm defintely roughing it. Let Steve Ware know I used my spoon/fork. It was to eat nutella out of a jar...gross. hahaha. I picked up a bunch of granola bars so I"ll be good wtih food. It's been really good so far though, just a little spicy. We are going to do yoga everyday and we have a dance session tomorrow. I will keep you posted when I can. Will you pass this on to people? COuldn't get onto my blog, but wanted to keep you posted. Love and miss you all. Can't say goodbye in Tamil yet, so byeee! Love you <3