Oh, India.

Wow - I can't believe how quickly time is going... I'm not even really sure where to start with this post, I feel like so much has happened in the past week, but much of it is so difficult to explain... please bear with me.  I have learned a lot about a lot while I've been here - and actually have taught a couple of things about "America" while I've been here too.  Learning about Indian culture and experiencing how it functions - and then being accepted into the fabric of daily life here has been such a thrill.

It's just been within the past couple of days that I have begun picking up and remembering Kannada (the local language).  Living almost exclusively with Kannada speakers has been an immersion for me - when people are speaking, I can often get the gist of what is being said by picking up on commonly used words that I understand, and then facial expressions, tone of voice and body language.  It feels pretty cool, actually.  I now know enough to string together simple phrases, am able to properly greet people and to ask for (or decline) food.  When Sudha and I are walking in the morning, it always is so very beautiful or, "iidu tumba chanda" ("it is very beautiful"). In the morning, people always greet each other, "Namaskara sir/madam/ma'am. Iidu iayata?" ("Greetings, sir/madam/ma'am. Had your breakfast?"), to which you either say "iayatu" ("I did have.") or "illa" ("I did not.").  I try to practice every morning by greeting the people sitting in the hospital on my way to the office... my accent often makes it difficult for them to understand me, but it's much easier for them than if I speak English!  Oh well, it's good entertainment value for them.

After lunch the other day, I was sitting on some stones along the side of the road outside the hospital campus and a mother was also sitting there with her two small children.  They are absolutely adorable.  This image just doesn't capture how sweet the little girl was - she had such a huge, adorable smile and great big brown eyes.  She wasn't afraid to come right up to me, smiling and waving.

One of the funniest things though has been my attempts to Skype with family and friends at home, "in America."  I should preface this story by saying that privacy in India is not nearly as important (actually, I'd say it's not even considered here) as it is at home.  So when people want to read the email you're typing, or the webpage you're currently reading, or to talk with the people you're Skyping with - it's just normal.  So, so funny though.  I've talked with a couple of my friends and my family - and each time they get to meet someone (or someone just sits close-by to watch and listen).  The absolute funniest night, though, was about a week ago when I Skyped with Grant and my parents... they met so many people.  One man who I had never met before, Alistar, was very enthusiastic and excited to meet me.  He had an enormous smile and very happily began talking with me in the middle of my conversation with my family, "I'm a Christian! My name is Alistar! I'm from such-and-such-a-village in Tamil Nadu! Beautiful place! You've been, yes?!"... it was such a struggle to keep a straight face.  He then proceeded to sit down beside me and begin talking with Mom - oh gosh. It was so funny.  (I saw him again later in the week and he wanted to make sure my family was still doing well.  Very friendly.)

The best times here are the real-life moments.  The moments where I get invited into someone's home, or am able to just sit and talk with someone, or to actually do the things that real Indians do... those are always the best.  Work is great and rewarding, but it's the people that make a situation.  Spending time in Sudha's home is always a treat, her family is so warm and welcoming - and it's remarkable, Sudha has learned all of her English from her daughter, Vani ("Wani")... she speaks it incredibly well.

Sudha's family: Sushemah (her mother), Ganesh (her husband), Sudha, Vani (her daughter) and Vani's 3-month old son that has yet to be named.

Being invited into Dr. Arundhatti's home is always fun too.  She's always ready to show me something or teach me something new.  She's very soft-spoken, but with a sense of humour.  I've learned how to make a number of Southern Indian dishes from her - so look out at home, be ready for the Indian cooking! hahaha

One more story today.  The other day, the two girls from UCSF (University of California, San Francisco) and I decided that we would go to the canteen and observe Rangashetty (our cook) as he made dinner... unfortunately, he doesn't speak any English (except for "thank you," which he learned from me), so we were unable to explain what we were trying to do.  Instead, we went into the next room to help make chapati (similar to a thin, handmade flour tortilla).  We watched Sarojah expertly rolling perfectly round chapati - and then it was our turn.  We made the most misshapen, deformed looking chapati - but it was so much fun.  People were laughing at us and our ridiculousness... and we even managed to get a couple of the guys to come make them with us.  Rudrashetty (the accountant - I share an office with him) was hilarious about it - I convinced him to make one, and he said, "you must bless me, wish me, Jessica-ma'am!"  Yeah, like my chapati blessing would do him any good... it probably would've hindered his abilities.  Then he crouched down and rolled a perfect chapati - extremely satisfied with himself, he stood up and, I think, began trash talking the other guys.  It was absolutely hilarious.  The pharmacist, Praveen, then sat down to make one... he was about as good a calibre chapati roller as we were - so he decided to make the shapes of countries.  He made Sri Lanka and Australia... and they actually did resemble those countries.  The whole adventure only lasted about 15 minutes, but it was just one of those perfect moments.  One of those memories I'm going to have for a long time.