#43 I think I'm set to go

Hello everyone I am now online with my computer. Feels wonderful. It's what they call a "stick", one of the biggest companies in India Tata makes it. Just put it into my USB port and I'm online. There are a few developments that happened over the weekend or today. One is that my visa does require me to leave in 90 days so I am going to go visit my brother in Australia. Please send me good energy that I find plane seats because it will be around December 16 that I need to leave which is getting into the holiday season. Then I will visit him and his family for around 2 months and come back to India, but I'm not sure how long that will be for because it will be heading into the really hot season here. I do want to come back because just today we think we have found the reason I have been directed to come here. There is a Dr. Patel who arrived around a month ago from the UK and he is trying to set up a Senior Wellness Program using outreach satellites of the hospital in areas a distance away so the seniors don't have to travel all the way to the hospital. Travel is difficult for everyone normally, I can't imagine how it must be for an older person with disabilities. His expertise is in Public Health and he studied Kaiser Permanente in the US as the model he would like to use. Humana who I used to work for is a competitor of Kaiser so this is right up my alley. I think it would be terrific if we could get something like this going in India. After Dr. Patel and I met, he took me to the Chief Administrator of the hospital to introduce me and things are rolling now. I am going to be sharing the desk and office with Dr. Patel. In his office is another American woman, Eileen, who is working on another project. We went to lunch and I met another Westerner who is here on a Fullbright Scholarship but the project she is working on slipped by me. I am sure I will be meeting and talking with her again soon. An email has been sent to IT to get me set up with wifi and the computer system of the Hospital so I can use the Hospital's internet for work. Dr. Patel and Eileen took me to lunch in a canteen for doctors and staff on the top floor of the hospital and it was the best food I've had since I arrived. It was a restaurant that they serve you on dishes, not metal plates, and there were even napkins. I'm considered staff and can use this restaurant. You can see I didn't learn my Camino lesson that food is for nourishment, not entertainment. It's my only vice - I love good food. I haven't mentioned that I have been battling a cough. Started in Kolkata, stuck with me in the north of India, I went to the clinic at one place and they gave me cough syrup but it didn't get rid of it. When I got here I went to a meeting with the Social Workers of the hospital and I went into a coughing fit that I had to leave the room. The next day I went to see a doctor. He gave me cough syrup and Singular, a medication for asthma. I finished them and still coughed. He wanted to make sure everything was ok so I had a chest x-ray done and blood work and all came back ok so then he gave me antibiotics, cough syrup and Singular. I have finished all but the cough syrup and I still have a residual cough. People tell me that we're in the tropics and this is why some people don't do well in India. Allergies to the mold, dust, plants, etc. It didn't affect me in the past - first time 22 years ago, and then 12 years ago. BTW, when I saw the Dr. he weighed me and I was 110 lbs. (50 Kilos)so I guess I did lose a little weight on the Camino. It's getting late so I am going to end now. Tomorrow the School of Nursing is celebrating their 10th Anniversary. I will be attending the festivities. Good night and thanks for all your prayers and good wishes. Love Marie

#42 Kochi (or Cochin) India

Hello Everyone I've made it to AIMS Medical Science Institute. Today is a holiday, Durga Puja. No work today but I can't say I have been doing any work, so far. I've been meeting lots of people and they are all saying they would like to have me help them - English classes, gerontology lectures, review of different grant applications and policies that they don't have elderly included on, such as emergency evacuations. I finally got a name badge with my photo on it. It's funny that some things they are so Hi-Tech, like everyone signs in using their finger print on a sensor pad. Then they are so antiquated that they keep ledger books for all their information, with a computer sitting right there on the desk. This computer is getting old for me so I'm going to close for now and as soon as I can use my computer on the internet, I'll let you know. Meanwhile know that I am doing fine. Love you all. Marie

#41 Ranchi, India

Hello everyone I am finishing my week here in Ranchi, India. It was very nice except for the fact that I have had a cough all this time. I actually went to the free clinic here and got some cough syrup and the doctor thought I needed vitamins. It's going away just in time for me to make my next trip. Tomorrow I get on the train for a 51 hour trip to Ernakulum, India. It's near Cochin, where the hospital is that I will be volunteering at. While I was here I did a little bit of travel with a Columbian woman who is married to an Indian for 37 years. She could pass for an Indian, speaks Hindi. We went to Purulla and Lakanpur, about 4 hours away by train and cost Rupees 20, less than US .50 cents. That's why I am going by train for the 51 hour trip. It would cost almost $200 if I was to fly. I have more time than money right now so I will learn to enjoy slowing down. I'll post when I get to Cochin and find out what I will be doing as a volunteer. Thank you for checking on me and sending me good thoughts. Love Marie

#40 Dakshineswar, India

Hi all my friends, Try looking this location up on your maps! I really am in rural India and if you saw where I am typing this you would laugh. From the outside you wouldn't think there is even electricity here but there are 7 computers going - with around 10 people huddled around them. All are young people and most are playing games and I see one Facebook going. I will be here until Saturday and then I go to Ranchi, India. I take an overnight train there so it should be fun. I have heard from the Hospital/University where I will be volunteering in Cochin, India and they have a Gerontology Department. They are looking forward to my arriving around October 15th. It will be a 28 hour train ride from Ranchi to Cochin but I still have to get my ticket for that. When I get there I should have no problem with access to a computer. So in the meantime, know I am well and having the adventure of a lifetime. Keep sending me good thoughts. Love, Marie