Monday, May 28, 2012

my first week on the job

So, maybe I was a little more freaked out than I needed to be before I started this session because it has been absolutely wonderful so far. I couldn't love my volunteers anymore and I think I am doing at least a decent job of keeping everything under control and running smoothly. I have had some very reassuring moments this week from how well I'm getting along with everyone, how comfortable I am feeling leading (but I mean, when have I had trouble telling someone what to do?), and even a moment of spiritual confirmation that I felt telling me you are exactly where you need to be right now, there is no better place for you than right here, doing what you're doing. Little moments like that calm me down like nothing else can.

This week with the volunteers, we have had to spend a significant time taking bus rides (for example I calculated that last week I was in a bus, car, or air conditioning-less jeep for 32 hours. ouch). This week is a little more calm, and I have to do a lot more running the show since the nursing group is now splitting into two groups, me taking one of the groups and one of our doctors taking the other, but I think I got this. I think...

I actually have discovered that it has been really exciting to be the medical coordinator for the nursing group since they get to do some things that we don't take our regular volunteers out to. We have visited some tribal villages (one of them was up in the mountains where elephants and tigers live...and although I scoured the jungle the whole drive up I wasn't able to see any), and also taken them to some hospitals in the area to see how they work here in India. But, I know what you really want, the pictures.

These first few are from the tribal village that we went to up in the mountains. The drive may have been incredibly long, but at least the scenery and the destination were great. I loved playing with the kids in this village.

This little girl climbed up me and refused to let go. She was the closest thing to a monkey I think I have ever held. But isn't she precious? 

I just think that water buffalo are cool. Plus this shows off a little bit of the view. 

I got to spend most of the time we were there playing with the kids since all the nurses were the ones doing the medical work. I can't say I'm mad. 

This village for sure had a different social life than ours. These girls were all only 11, but it was common here for girls to get married at around 13. Most of the girls my age there probably already had at least 2 kids. Crazy.

There my little monkey is again. Even after I pried her off of me she needed to be picked up again when she saw me later. 

We also went another tribal village this week. Unfortunately we didn't get to see too many patients there because it was "free rice and fan day" so many of the villagers were gone collecting there goodies. But, this meant that we got to spend more one on one time with the sweet villagers. Normally we keep our volunteer work with the leprosy afflicted, but we wanted our BYU medical session to get to experience patient care on others too.
The women of India are beautiful, and this lady was no exception.

This village was just as lovely as the last one. No complaints here.

The people cut up coconuts for us to drink. Supposedly this is really good for you since it is full of electrolights and great for re-hydration. That would of been fantastic at this point if I could stand drinking coconut milk...

We couldn't take vehicles up to this village because there weren't roads all the way, so instead we had to trek up some hills and through a couple streams on a 30 minute hike to get up here. At lest we weren't carrying anything on our heads like these guys. 

This is one of Rising Star's nurses, Shymarla. I absolutely love her, maybe she doesn't look like it here since a lot of Indians don't like to smile in their pictures, but she is a riot. I spent this day helping her count pills and we were laughing together the whole time. So glad that I get to work with incredible people like  when I am here. 

The best news yet, the kids got here this weekend and we finally got to go play with them today!! Maybe I'm just crazy, but I always get those first day jitters, though am always instantly settled when I get out to the playground and am immediately smothered by love from all the kids. Though I think that to some of them I will forever be known as "Rochelle sister," guess my big sis is just a legend that I can't escape.
Tonight as the medical coordinator I had to organize the delousing of all 230 children. It was absolutely insane. But, all the volunteers assured me that they had a great time, which is a huge relief to me since this was the first big thing that I had to organize and I was mostly coming up with my game plan as I went.
I absolutely love the volunteers, staff, patients, children, and people in general that I am working with. Can't believe that I get to stay here for the whole summer. I'm so lucky, even if it is over a hundred degrees on the daily.

peace. love. and tribal villages

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