first haircut

I feel like I know so many locals now that I have been here for a month. The funny thing is they all know me too, I guess it’s not hard to recognize one of six white girls walking around town. Everything time i pass my favorite shops or restaurants they say hi and offer me tea. I love the people here and they treat me so well, I feel part of it maybe because I work at the mission hospital or maybe it’s because I’m one of the few white people they have ever interacted with. The other day I got invited to a local party. It was called a mundi which is a celebration of a baby’s first haircut. I had never been to one let alone every heard of one. I didn’t realize how big of a celebration this was until I realized that everyone in town was going to it. My friends and I got dress up in our traditional Indian clothing and jewelry. Getting ready for this party was comparable to getting ready for prom. Really exciting, you wear your nicest clothes, and a lot of pictures were taken.  The family had an entire building rented out, along with a DJ and someone to cater.  We were served a 9 course meal on banana leaves and we had to use our hands to eat. I was so full!!!! Later that night I practiced my Indian dancing.

Dr.Sanjay

Last Monday we had this amazing discussion with Dr. Sanjay. He was a guest speaker that came from Varanasi and is also a friend of Liz. He is a huge women right activist in India. Sanjay is actually his first name and only name. He dropped his last name because he no longer wanted to be identified by his cast. In India you can easily identify the cast a person belongs to by their last name. The cast system is technically illegal but it is so deeply imbedded in the Indian culture discrimination still occurs. He held a class to talk about his campaign and I loved it. I really feel this man is way ahead of his time concerning human rights in India. He started the class with everyone hold hands tell us we are all equal both men and women. This was so nice to hear because being in India as a female  really makes you revaluate your importance in this world as a female . He then separated us into two groups, male and female. We then talked about the different issues we face as separate sexes. Dr. Sanjay then explained his life story as to why he is so passionate about gender equality. He talked about the male ego and how it is hegemonic and dominating. He talked about dowry burning, rape and other acts of violence that occur in India against women. He said educating  women is only the beginning to gender equality.  In the Indian society were males are so dominate we need to educate men as well. He said we need to stop promoting gender difference and that men and women need to be able to coexists peacefully. I loved listening to him because he was so passionate when he spoke. He said his family does not support him or his wife on their quest to fight gender inequality. He said his family harassed his wife and child because they are all feminists.  The last thing he said was gender inequality needs to stops and we need to support the men and women who protest it. Dr. Sanjay was such a breath of fresh air.

temples

The other day I visited all the Temples in Manali. I really enjoyed being allowed in the Temple, I got to see all of their different god as well learn how to pray to their gods. I had to wear a shawl over my head to go inside, once you were done praying your head was marked with red paint. It was really cool and great exposure to their culture and religion. I also went to the biggest temple in old Manali, I had to wait in line to get in and once you were allowed to enter the temple you went up to god at this temple and touched her feet. Touching a gods feet is a sign of respect and acknowledgement of her power. After visiting this temple you are then required to go to the open tree temple to make your visit count. If you go to both temples then this god will grant you one wish! The only catch is you must go to both temples and you have to desire your wish with all your heart.  I only had one wish so I had to think about it for a while to make sure it was good enough. In the end I think I made a great wish.

: (

I had another really sad experience last Sunday, it made it even worse since it was Fathers Day. I was at the hospital and all the people were gathered around the court yard. Immediately I questioned what happened because the only time I have seen so many family members gathered in the same spot is if someone died. A woman walked out of the hospital hysterical being guided by her husband, the whole family looked very upset. The man walked back into the hospital. While he was gone the nurses were blessing the family members. A few minutes later the same man walked out of the hospital with a white body bag in his hands. You could tell he was carrying a very small body. He then got in the car with all of his family and they drove away. Later that day I found out that the same car the family drove away in was the car his daughter died in. They had been in a car accident t. Looking at the car i would have never guessed that, it only had a few dents. I asked how his daughter could die in such a minor accident. Apparently his daughter had her head hanging out the window at the time of the crash. Everyone in the car survived and was unharmed including the little girls twin sister. I imagine this family was out for father’s day vacationing in Manali and then this terrible thing happened.  Life can just be ripped away at any moment.

snake charmer

My life is so crazy right now i never want to leave India! This past week I went on a 5 hour hike to a beautiful waterfall, I went to karaoke bar and once again made a fool out of myself with my lack of singing ability, went to several temples and hot springs and finally was entertained by a snake charmer. Literally the scariest thing I have ever seen in my life. By the end of his performance I had a cobra on my head and a python around my neck. I was shaking… I never realized how afraid i am of snakes! Thank goodness for pre pressure because I just had another amazing experience!

c section

This past week has been absolutely perfect. I was given free rein of the hospital. I saw so many different and interesting cases; it’s amazing with such a small staff that the Mission Hospital can basically handle everything. The most common injuries I saw where those due to car accidents and TB. Probably the most memorable cases were the most bloody or heart wrenching. I saw a man get his finger reattached in the ER, another man who literally broke his jaw and spine in half because he fell from a tree drunk, a family lose their loved one, a little girl that was hit by a car, several surgeries both major and minor, and finally what I have wanted to see my whole life… the birth of a baby!!!! I was so fortunate to see a child be born here because it’s very uncommon for women go to a hospital to give birth. Many of them don’t understand it is a lot safer to give birth in a hospital than in a village. I was so lucky because I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. I was doing round with sir when I saw a lady taken into the OT. I asked what was going on because all surgeries are on Tuesday or Thursday, a med student told me that this patient had gone in to labor and they needed to do an emergency cesarean section.  I ran over to the OT so I wouldn’t miss anything.  LOL I ended up beating the doctor there. The lady was screaming in pain… I became a good hand holder!!!The surgery lasted 2 hours but it only took about 5 mins to get the baby out. This birth was the most beautiful and yet most disturbing thing I have ever seen in my life. I was so excited by this birth I can’t even imagine what it would be like to be a parent in this situation. It was incredibly disturbing because it was the bloodiest thing I have ever seen in my life.  So fortunate to have the experience of witnessing a healthy birth!!! Next thing on my list, witness a vaginal birth.

so fast

This trip is flying by : ( here are a few of my favorite moments so far!