The Waiting Game

Still no Dr. Shroff and still no treatment. She should be back in town tomorrow says the sisters... but I feel like I've heard that one before. No worries, I will just continue to pretend I am on vacation. That cerebral concoction I do quite well.

Today was more markets and more sweat and urine-soaked street walking. We managed to make it to 3 different markets and all feel quite skilled at loading and unloading a wheelchair from an auto-rickshaw.

I bought my first authentic Indian garment today, a KURTA--which is basically my favorite invention. It's not exactly a shirt but it's not really a dress either. The 3 of us spent about 2 hours tornadoing through Fabindia, a marvelous shop. I chose to make my purchase on feel rather than sight. I am pretty confident that I petted nearly 200 kurtas before making my decision.

Later that day on the way home, Sar and I stopped at Green Park Market near our hospital to buy some dish soap. We ended up with some great dish soap along with the new "Sex and the City" movie, "Juno", some animal documentary, and a fabulous Indian love story (assured the clerk,immediately seeing the romantic in me.) Each flick was about $3US. I am pretty sure that isn't legal.

Speaking of immediately seeing into people: Indians have a terribly uncanny way of seeing into you. They mostly don't say a word, but instead look at you... or through into you. It is incredibly frightening and wondrous all at the same moment. I wish I could do that.

Nothing Ever Happens On Sundays

This is what I am figuring out. Much like life works in hospitals in the States. So today the 3 Amigas charged through the hospital doors with a destination in mind: market shopping.

We walked from the hospital down a few blocks, stopping only to realize that we have no real destination in sight. After ending up in a plaza primarily reserved by a man showering and others receiving hair cuts in the street, we retreated deciding that it was way to intimate of a start. From there we hailed a rickshaw, (Erin doing the haggling for an appropriate white girl fee), and headed to the center of Delhi--a haven for shops, dining, and more touristy and comfortable beginnings for us.

Shopping was fun. The heat didn't bother us much aside from continually having to wipe foreheads and chug water.

Our adventures were supposed to cease as we hailed yet another rickshaw to return home. I was just about dying for a toilet at this point and I wasn't feeling quite Indian enough yet to do as the locals do (pee on a nearby building). One benefit to our return rickshaw: it was incredibly speedy to aid in the prevention of kidney reflux. One disadvantage to our return rickshaw: I thought I was going to die, so it really didn't matter what state my bladder was in. It was like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, but far more wild and a bit more toady. I have never seen or been privy to such maneuvers in a vehicle in my whole life...I know, hard to believe. We were on the road. We were off the road. We were on the wrong side of the road. We were on the median. We were lodged between a car and a mule. We were everywhere.

India is great. So far I have two favorite things. The first thing is VEG or NON-VEG. This option virtually applies to everything! The second thing is lizards. I saw a very tiny lizard on the hospital lift this morning which quickly achieved Honorable Mention on my list of cool things to write about.

If I am boring you to death, you may want to check out both Erin and Sarah's blogs and their perspectives of these experiences and others like them:
http://www.yourerinfix.blogspot.com/
http://europeansarahwilson.blogspot.com/

Day 2: Friends, Yoga, Fried Chicken Feet and A Belly Ache

Sarah arrived just after 3 in the morning. I awaited her arrival at the stinkin', stinky airport with one of the hospital security guards that claimed to speak English. Although when I asked him if he'd like to sit down, he simply replied, "yes," and kept standing for another hour or so.

After getting Sarah settled into the new sounds and smells that is to be her life for the next 2 months, we quickly fell asleep. Here is a picture of our room:

In the morning we awoke to a phone ring, not even the computer one. It was Erin and she was down in the hospital lobby.

Erin, Sarah, and I spent the day catching up and playing a new favorite, Apples To Apples. (If you don't know it, it comes highly recommended--by me). In the afternoon we were invited for a little bit of yoga down in the physiotherapy room with another patient, Leah. It was fun to watch...seeing as they wouldn't let me do anything except move my head from side-to-side. I have a feeling that someone is trying to frustrate me! Oh well, I'll get my turn. The yoga quickly turned into "hot yoga" in the heat of the Delhi afternoon. Everyone, save myself, was drenched in sweat by the time it was over. I got a good chuckle from that.

This evening, Sar and I had the pleasure of dining on authentic food from back home...uh-oh, you guessed it, FRIED CHICKEN. I have included a picture to explain:

This may be part of the reason my belly hates me right now.

As far as my treatment goes, things are a little confusing right now and I think that is just because Dr. Shroff is away. She will return on Monday?? I'm not really sure because it is really hard to understand some of the "sisters" or nurses sometimes, even though their good intentions are seen in their smiles for sure. In fact, a few of them were explaining some unique markets to venture to tomorrow, so that is what appears to be in store...seeing as we all need to get a little fresh air. That may be asking for too much.

Day 1: Rest and Relaxation

After actually being able to lie down for a bit and take a shower, I feel so much better. I thought that it might be hard to spend the first night alone, not really being able to anticipate exactly HOW I was going to feel. I've talked with Dad, Mom, and Sarah Martinez through Skype and each one of them asking in several different ways if I am feeling okay. I am. It is strange and I can't explain it, but I am fine, even pretty well for now.

Getting to Delhi was the way I had expected. At one point I was told that my luggage didn't make it and it was going to have to be sent back to the States. Luckily, that bonehead had no clue what he was talking about. Other than that, the flights were quite ordinary. I was only asked a handful of times if I could "walk just a little bit."

In the past 24 hours I have learned a bunch of things. Here is a glimpse of that:
--You can drive in the middle of 2 lanes in Delhi if you don't want someone to pass
--91F at midnight can be the norm
--The Hindi word for EXIT on a plane is far different than that of EXITing off the highway
--Pay attention when you get off the plane, even if you are getting back on that plane...it may move on you!
--Don't necessarily trust the guy that says your bags didn't make it
--To use an outlet in Delhi you must switch it on first
--Hospital beds can be interchangeable with yoga mats
--The Ellen Degeneres Show can be found pretty much anywhere

I knew this was going to be quite the experience when I first entertained it. I just want everyone to know that I am well and I would say so if I were otherwise. So stop worrying about me! :)

My best friend, Sarah Wilson, will be arriving at 11:30 tonight and I am in the process of arranging a ride for her. I am really excited to see her and to share this tiny hospital room with her.

I will meet with a doctor from the clinic today, sign a bunch of paperwork, and rest. I don't think that my treatment will start today...but I am not entirely sure of all the things they told me last night when I arrived.

No Worries, I'm Here...

with internet and a giant fan.

However, seeing as that it is 2:37am right now, I will have to update more later on my travels so that it appears to be more of a coherent entry.

Stay tuned...

Almost Half Way, At JFK

Surprisingly, the stomach ache that I have had for the past week and a half subsided virtually the moment I went through security in Denver early this morning.

Currently I am sitting at JFK airport smelling like recycled air and awaiting the longest trip of my life. I didn't sleep last night, seeing as I had to leave my house at 2:45am just to catch my flight, so I slept the majority of both of my morning flights and am feeling a little more lively.

I haven't been very forthcoming with some information about Sarah, my first companion and amazing friend. She has been camping out at the Indian Consulate or something for the past few days awaiting her visa (by no fault of her own). She is living in France and to explain the hardships she has had with the visa thing would be daunting. Needless to say, she should now arrive in Delhi on Friday night...with a little bit of luck and some superstitious finger-crossing.

It will be good to spend the first 24 hours alone, I just decided. I will need to form my own impressions and identity with Delhi and its inhabitants. I am up for a solo challenge...for 24 hours, that's about my cap I think.

The next time I update I will be in India! I am so excited to journal through my days via the internet. There are so many people that I want to be a part of this, and in this technological age, this is the way to do it!

Muah!! to everyone!!

How To Contact Me?

As I prepare to leave the country I am trying very hard to make it so that I can keep in touch with everyone. Here is what I suggest:

--Download SKYPE
(You can find me for sure using my log-in name of goldilaux8)
If you don't already know, SKYPE is a phone service through the internet. It is absolutely free to chat using SKYPE as long as the person on the other end is using it as well. There are both phone and messaging capabilities, I am even in the process of installing a webcam!
--Try to call me at 303-586-1808. This will ring my computer, no matter where I am. The only trouble is that there is a 11.5 time difference between Denver and Delhi.
--Good ol' snail mail. The address of the new clinic in Delhi is...
Nu Tech Mediworld
Nursing Home
H-8, Green Park Extension
New Delhi – 110016

Please try to keep in touch, as will I. It will mean a lot to me to have connection to all of you during my travels, even if it wakes me up in the middle of the night!

I Just Successfully Achieved An All New Low...

Currently I am sitting at the mall eating dinner. For those of you that don't know me, this is a terrible sign. Stress doesn't manifest itself in a typical manner with me. I don't run around frantically, I don't have any sort of retail therapy. I don't get stressed! Whatever.

About a year ago or so I realized that every time I reach a near-breaking point, I find myself at the mall. Of all places...the mall. Convoluted arrangements of merchandise and screaming babies. Sounds soothing, right? I can't really figure it out either. After my grandmother passed away I spent three hours at the mall without going into a single store. I am not even quite sure how I got there.

Today is no different. In fact, it may be worse. I have succumbed to the mall. I have embraced all of its wonder and chaos. I have eaten a burrito next to a group of high school cool kids just like it was the only thing I would ever want for my life. It all comes down to the fact that I must be getting nervous.

Now I am not outwardly nervous or concerned or anything (for that matter) regarding India. I have trouble looking into the future and can't really try to anticipate anything. For that, I am thankful...and strange. However, I have come to the conclusion that I must be anxious. This is the second time in 3 days that I have ended up here. A new world record.

And for those of you keeping track: we are now down to DAYS until departure. I can no longer use the word, "MONTHS" when describing my upcoming trip.