I now own half a fridge and half a water filter. I am now able to have cold safe water in my room.. Such an improvement. Before this I had to walk for about 5 minutes to get clean water. Plus I can now keep other things cold.
Yesterday I went to Nepal. I went with a couple of people from the hospital. First I went to the Indian Imigration hut and signed myself out of the country. Then we went across to Nepal and to it’s imigration. I was meant to get the free three day visa but the Nepal imigration offices wanted a tip. They wanted about 200Rs. Not a lot of money less then AU$10 but I wasn’t going to pay it. We waited for ages trying to get this sorted out. In the end I decide Nepal was for chumps and tried to go back to India.
When I got back to India though they wouldn’t let me back in the country. I hadn’t been somewhere else so they wouldn’t let me back in without leaving the country. So I decided to go back to Nepal Imigration and pay for a full 60 day multi-entry visa. It cost $US80 so it was a bit expensive.
Anyway I eventually ended up in Nepal. I brought myself some Pringles a toblorone, some other chocalate and some computer speakers. Then we did one or two hospital errands and went home. Leaving countries is always easier. The India Imigration guy was asleep when we arrived. That was kind of funny. Then I filled in the long Indian Customs form and we went back to the hospital.
Saw the river that divides India and Nepal yesterday. That was fun. Had a quick look at the leaper hospital too. The children here are so cute. Actually most people are cute. They say hello, good evening, namasta and shallom. It’s fun. You would not believe how much I am getting starred at. It’s okay just takes a little getting used too. It’s fun saying hello to strangers though.. We should do more of that back home.
Life in Raxaul is good so far. My day starts at about 6.20am with shaving followed by a cold shower. I am not a big fan of cold showers. Then breakfast followed by devotions. Then I meet up with the IT guy and we plan out what we are going to do today. I do some teaching and documentation. In the middle of the day I have lunch. Dinner’s at seven. Some days I do stuff with the Westerners.
Been doing an audit of the computer systems trying to work out what they computers they own and where they are. It’s been an interesting excersise. I have set aside one of the 6 days a week I volunteer, to reaserch and how to do things better. The other five I spend doing training, documentation and fixing problems.
Life in a hospital is a bit different. I am exposed to a fair few medical stories that a pretty gross. Medicine generally in India is very different. They don’t have as much hi-tech equipment and privacy just isn’t an issue here. Whole families go to visit the doctor. They sleep and hang around in the hospital grounds. They bring gas burners and cook meals. It’s a bit sad to see but at least they are undercover and can be dry.
There’s a reasonable sized group of foriegn people here. They are all pretty friendly people some are real long termers more then 20 years. Others are short termers only here for 4 weeks. I am glad I have a decent amount of time here. I feel like I’d miss a lot if I were only here a few weeks. We’re having a party tonight it should be fun.
Culturally lots of stuff different. Cheap labour changes things a lot. So much is done manually that we’d use machines for. The grass here is cut by hand with little knives. It’s a bit strange to see. But that’s the kind of thing that happens here. I am noticing class differences here a lot more then at home. 600ml coke is 17ruppies about 50c. 300ml is about 7ruppies but you have to return those bottles. I love cheap Coke though I haven’t been drinking lots of it though. There’s a limited supply.
I wish I was back home at the momment. Just cause stuff seems to be a bit of stuff is happening back home. I wish I could be there for people. It’s funny if it wasn’t for the Internet I wouldn’t know these things.
I am though really happy here in Raxaul. It’s hard work but it’s good. Fantastic people too.
YAY me.. I passed all my uni subjects last semester.
I am at Duncan in Raxual at the moment. Sitting in the dark writting this post the power just went out. Which is kind of fun. It’s rainning outside again and I left my raincoat back at my house. Oh well, the powers back. So I can see properly again.
It took a long time to get to here. Long boring train trip. Read Harry Potter Books 1 and 2 and got started on the God Of Small Things(I brought it in Delhi cause someone told me I had to).
I’m sharing a house here with an Americian. His pretty nice, the house is quite small though. My bed is in the main living area, which is okay but takes some getting used too. It rains a lot here. In fact the State of Bihar is pretty baddly flooded at the momment.
I’ve got introduced to lots of people. Most of whom I can’t remember the names of. The main guy I am helping train here is pretty quick, which is nice.
Anyway I might go now.
P.S. I’ll try and put some photos up soon.
I am at Duncan in Raxual at the moment. Sitting in the dark writting this post the power just went out. Which is kind of fun. It’s rainning outside again and I left my raincoat back at my house. Oh well, the powers back. So I can see properly again.
It took a long time to get to here. Long boring train trip. Read Harry Potter Books 1 and 2 and got started on the God Of Small Things(I brought it in Delhi cause someone told me I had to).
I’m sharing a house here with an Americian. His pretty nice, the house is quite small though. My bed is in the main living area, which is okay but takes some getting used too. It rains a lot here. In fact the State of Bihar is pretty baddly flooded at the momment.
I’ve got introduced to lots of people. Most of whom I can’t remember the names of. The main guy I am helping train here is pretty quick, which is nice.
Anyway I might go now.
P.S. I’ll try and put some photos up soon.
Went to look at blogfeed and it’s down. So too the rest of footboot. But at least I got to read all the blogger blogs. I think I might call some people up soon. I hope people answer their phones this time.
Well I am still in Delhi but I leave for Raxaul today. The trains not until 5pm so I’ve got a fair few hours to fill. You would not believe how heavy my suitcase is already. I am playing the postman, for a few people you see.
Why am I still in Delhi. Well my stomach kind of went to hell a few days ago and I really wasn’t sure if I could deal with a 25hour train trip feeling like that. Now I am feeling a bit better which is good.
Thursday I spent watching Sat TV. That was a little more fun then I care to admit. Bihar the state that Raxuals in is having some pretty major flooding. But I was told that as of yesterday the train line was still all good. I do hope my train trip goes through. The scale of these floods are pretty major. Yet they aren’t getting much news coverage. The Aids conference was not even mentioned in the last two days of the Indian Times newspaper. That was a bit appualing. How cool is Nelson Mandella though?
I had dinner with some Tear people here in Delhi last night. It was good fun. Such good people. I even may of come up with my thesis as a result of that dinner(something to do with native/cross language communication and AIDS). So many people are doing good things. Their Landlord popped in to collect the rent and have a bit of a talk. He was inspirational. Such an interesting journey. The world is so full of people affected by God’s awesome grace. It’s good to see.
I love India, but don’t worry I’ll still come home.
Today I leave Hebertpur for Delhi. Tomorrow I leave for Raxual. Friday I get to Raxual. It is going to be one hell of a long trip. I don’t like travelling for that long on trains. 8 hours is about my max enjoyable train trip. If you have a buddy it’s okay, but I am going solo :-(.
I am looking forward to getting to stay in one place for a decent amount of time. I hate packing suitcases. Though I am getting much better at it. I am starting to really understand the virtues of folding clothes.
Anyway Hebertpur has been fun. People have been good, wonder whether I’ll miss them. It’s only been a week but feels like longer. Oh and I actually managed to fix one whole computer whilst I have been here. How good am I?
Today I leave Hebertpur for Delhi. Tomorrow I leave for Raxual. Friday I get to Raxual. It is going to be one hell of a long trip. I don’t like travelling for that long on trains. 8 hours is about my max enjoyable train trip. If you have a buddy it’s okay, but I am going solo :-(.
I am looking forward to getting to stay in one place for a decent amount of time. I hate packing suitcases. Though I am getting much better at it. I am starting to really understand the virtues of folding clothes.
Anyway Hebertpur has been fun. People have been good, wonder whether I’ll miss them. It’s only been a week but feels like longer. Oh and I actually managed to fix one whole computer whilst I have been here. How good am I?
I went to a Hindi church service. That was kind of fun. The sermon was very boring though. I didn’t understand a word of it.
I wish I had the gift of tounges at the moment. It would be much quicker and easier.
Also went to an English worship meeting last night. That was good. A nice small humble group offering praise to our awesome God. We also got to sing silly songs like Life Without Jesus Is Like A Dougnut.
I just called about 5 different people and none of them answered there stinking phones. NOT HAPPY!! Oh well.
Well I’ve been in Herbertpur now for 3 days. It’s been pretty good. Very overwhelming at first, but more easy to deal with now. I’ve found myself a couple of Western friends which is nice. I am starting to enjoy myself. The food is not wonderful here but that’s not why I am here. Also doing some useful stuff now.
Went and saw a local residents drift wood collection, not as dull as it seems. It was a huge collection of drift wood all polished up and labeled. (in Hindi though). I’d blog more but the internet is just too damn slow here.
Well I’ve been in Herbertpur now for 3 days. It’s been pretty good. Very overwhelming at first, but more easy to deal with now. I’ve found myself a couple of Western friends which is nice. I am starting to enjoy myself. The food is not wonderful here but that’s not why I am here. Also doing some useful stuff now.
Went and saw a local residents drift wood collection, not as dull as it seems. It was a huge collection of drift wood all polished up and labeled. (in Hindi though). I’d blog more but the internet is just too damn slow here.