The trip is over-

Hello everyone-I would have posted on Sun-but, when I got home from the airport, I was too tired.
So, my India trip is over....but, my journey has just begun.
My journey into learning and knowing people-----my perceptions have changed, and I will improve in my relationships with them. Not only the populations of the communities I serve, but, in my personal life as well.
Signing off----
A changed and enlightened nurse......Lynn

Leaving India-

It's now 11:15pm in Delhi. I've eaten a wonderful non-vegetarian meal of lamb-prepared mildly spicy----with THE best cr. of mushroom soup I've eaten in my life. In addition, we watched our cooks prepare the Nann--a wonderful rolled, thinned, and baked piece of white flour bread---but not bread as in slice----but rather like a large odd shaped crepe'. It was light and browned, infused with spice and garlic. After baking it was brushed with butter------OH my goodness!!!! Delightful!
Our dinner hosts were attentive, engaged us in conversation, and tended to our every need. We even had warm water finger bowls with lime after dinner. Exquisite!

This fabulous meal was shared with two wonderful traveling companions----two women with whom I would travel anywhere with. Such humor and warmth! Thank you two so much for teaching me some of the traveling ropes! May I travel again with you!
Attached are a few pictures-----the first at the bottom of the Himalayas, yes, they do have camels here (no-I did not go for a ride-(I went over and spoke to the horse that was there), and this is how the women ride, always. I saw one woman driving her own bike-----out of the hundred or so I've seen here!
Time for bed now----
Lynn

Presentations-

I just now came back from the presentations the students gave to the ACN student body.
Each year gave a presentation on what we taught them. In addition, the students presented on their mental health clinical rotation, and their OB/GYN rotation, done in another town, I don't remember where each was. But, rest assured it takes at least 3 hrs to get to the one town, and 4-5 hr to get to the other major city for the OB/Gyn rotation. They go for a month at a time, with their instructors.
In addition, we each had to talk about our impressions of our visit-I must say, I'm becoming more comfortable talking in front of large groups!
We were presented with gifts by Dr. Atwal, and Dr. Neelam Kaur.
It is interesting-one instructor's husband is living and working in the US-in Milwaukee in business. His wife says they've been married for four years. I asked her when does she see him-she said she's coming to the US in Nov. It will be her first time here! Small world!
I don't want to leave these students or this place-----I've been made to feel very welcome here----
We are leaving Baru Sahib in the am--0900. We will stay overnight in Delhi, and board our plane Sat night at about 1045pm. I'm not looking forward to the 15 hr plane ride home.
Good night!
Lynn

My 3rd yr class-

I love students! They're a lot of fun!

Good morning all!

Well, the rain stopped. I taught my last class at 9:00am. It was only an hour class due to the festival.
The students were attentive-but I'm sure wanted to be out on time for the festival.
I am going to miss them......
The festival was wonderful....I am going to try to post pictures and video to view. I haven't yet found out what exactly is being celebrated.

Well, for some reason the video clip won't load---sorry about that!

Lynn

Wed evening-

Just about every day here, the power will go out for a short time in the afternoon. Usually just a few moments. The campus has about 30 huge solar panels it uses to help supply electrical-in addition, a power generator. Today at dinner, the power went out for about, oh, 30 sec-1min. Immediately you heard cheers and shouts--like young people will do everywhere when such an event occurs! It was humorous.
About 9pm we developed a beautiful thunderstorm here in the Himalayas-----it has been raining steadily ever since.
The festival planned for tomorrow only takes place in the Sikh community once/year---and it is celebrated in all Sikh commnunities, all over the world, on the same day. (I wonder what they do if it continues to rain?)
I can't believe our good fortune during this adventure; to be able to take part in the medical camp, now this Sikh festival. It has been an amazing time.
Lynn

Good afternoon!

I finished teaching a little bit early today. The students were happy! They asked me if there is class tomorrow afternoon because there is a Sikh festival which starts at 10:30am. If I understood Sumeti correctly, the Sikh community takes the Baba Ji in a float around the streets, and out to a neighboring village. Then they return. I guess it is all about 4-5 km of a walk. They walk the whole way. So, we decided to hold class at 9:00a-10:00. I have to finish promptly by 10:00.
Then in the evening, we attend a presentation where the students teach us what they've learned from us the last two weeks!
Well, I need to prepare my test questions and final lecture. Dr. D will be videotaping the session for my practica requirements.
Lynn

Just some pics I haven't shown yet. Their trucks are brightly painted and adorned.

Hello all!

Again I didn't take any pictures today. It rained this afternoon while we were in class. The students are almost always interested and pay attention. It's interesting though, not very many take notes. Maybe they all study together, or perhaps they have complete audio recall....

No pictures again today!

Lynn

Beautiful day-

Hi everyone-
Not much to tell here today-except it was beautiful day-very comfortable.
I helped with a skills lab with Dr. D, busy preparing my class materials for the next three days teaching.
My goodness-I didn't even take any pictures today!

See you tomorrow!
Lynn

Sun shopping in Shimla-

Yesterday, we went to Shimla. A town about 60km or so away. It takes 4 hr or so to get there. It is an outdoor mall type situation, there are tons of shops, and they give horse rides up and down the mall. It is an all-day affair, we didn't get back until about 7:30pm. It is nice though, lots of "stuff" to buy. It used to have more cultural appeal, but, that was years ago we're told-that seems to happen everywhere-things become commercialized. The picture of the figure is a statue of the Father of Himachel Pradesh.

Nice day-

Today was another great day! It was the 2nd final day of Medical Camp. Everything was a bit quieter at the hospital today. We went up in the morning. I got to find a 7mth old infant there for eye surgery-he had (no diaper on) a wandering eye-and one dysmorphic ear, one ear tag. Nothing else I could see. I had the student listen to his heart. I'm not sure she heard it well-baby was moving a lot-and she'd never heard an infant heart before.
Then I talked with two Sikh girls-one was there to have her teeth braces looked at. They taught me how to say,"What are you doing", "What is your name", and "Thank you" in Hindi. Very cool!
We came back to the hospital in the afternoon-and it was even quieter than in morning since surgeries were being wrapped up, and patients were either discharged or had seen the specialist they needed. It will be interesting to see how many were treated this time.
One has to wonder though-what the rate of infection is, and wound dehiscience. I think they probably don't use general anesthesia unless they absolutely have to-due to the potential associated complications, and recovery time. Many of the patients will be here still for a few more days-but, some go home within hours of their surgery-probably never to be heard from again.

All for tonight---tomorrow we're going to Shimla to shop----it's about 60miles but takes 3hr to get there!

Just pics-

This gentleman is a traditional Sikh, with the traditional, full-length sword. Now most wear a small bent blade sword about 5-6" long. He is not allowed to ever draw the sword.

This infant is 7mths old-but looks like a 4-5 month old. I don't know anything else about the infant. She's not there for surgery though. Infants don't wear diapers-they just get their clothes changed a lot. Really! Diapers too expensive.

Medical camp-

Hi everyone-
Today at 8:30am, we went up to the temple for a presentation/reception of all the visiting physicians, nursing faculty, etc. We were presented with a head wrap, in a Baru Sahib bag. (Now I have two!) We had to remove our shoes which were "checked" nearby, then wash our hands, and step in a water trough before entering the temple. Men and women's heads covered at all times in temple.
We left there, and returned to our rooms-didn't realize we were supposed to go up to the auditorium at the Engineering College right away for another presentation. We were late! They came to get us and drove us up there quickly! We walked in and of course they had already started! We were so embarrassed. We came in the middle of the video about Kalgidhar Trust and the work it's doing in India. It also reported the rate of addiction and rehabilitation in the country.
We spoke with Dr. Atwal, the head of Eternal University, who told us there are currently 3, 000 students there right now. The thing is, there is no place for the students to go when not in school. I guess students and faculty do get time off here and there. But, there is absolutely nothing here, or even in surrounding areas. Dr. Atwal has a hard time keeping faculty because no one can stand it for more than a year at a time.
Then we were presented with a rose, and a ringed binder of paper. Everyone went up individually to receive this. Dr. Jill was asked to take part in the lamp lighting ceremony.

From there we were driven up to the  hospital. We were escorted through the hospital by Sumetha. The first place I went was the OT (Operating Theatre) There are four OTs.
On the floor downstairs, I saw two older girls there for cleft palate repairs. They were about 8 and 12 yrs old. Sumetha asked the student nurse what grade the older girl was in, and if she was talking now. The student said yes, she was in fifth grade, and 1st in her class.
The people all over are in various stages of their care in the hospital. Some stay for 23hr post-surgery, some may stay for 4-5days. The patients who are allowed to eat are provided with food. Most of the people who come there have already been seen, labs and testing done before they come to hospital.
We're going up to the hospital later this afternoon, and hopefully the nsg school faculty will let us roam around-and not feel they have to 'take care of us'! It's unnerving after awhile!

Thur-

Today it rained here twice. Dr. D says it's never rained here when she's been here.
The whole town is getting ready for the medical camp which is run Fri and Sat. People come from all over the Himalayas to receive care. Doctors come in from all over to provide services, including surgery. So, starting at 0800, the camp will begin. These clinics are done twice a year, so they really draw a large number of people. The nursing students from all four years regularly staff the hospital-although normally there aren't many patients. They all also participate in providing care during the camp. So, there won't be classes tomorrow.

Wed pics-

Tonight I'll just say it with pictures, mostly! I had a good class with the 3rd year students today. I wowed them with NICU equipment, and overwhelmed them with information! I'll be slowing down tomorrow though as I delve into infant cardiac/respiratory assessment.

The students in green are performing an educational play in a nearby community about TB. They did a fantastic job, and the results will be measurable. The townspeople came to listen and stayed for the entire program. They will likely come in now, if they have s/s, to be screened/diagnosed, and receive treatment. The student in black is TB, the dying one didn't take her meds the entire Tx interval, as we often see.

Each yr student wears the same purple uniform.

There is a medical camp at the hospital this week on Fri/Sat where any needed medical care will be provided to the surrounding communities free of charge. Otherwise, there really aren't any patients in the hospital routinely.

The 'communities' are often small groups of people dotted everywhere throughout the mountain-sides.

 All for now-enjoy!