Independence Day

August 15th is a national holiday celebrating the independence of India. This year is the 68th anniversary of India's Independence from British colonial rule.  Rambo was selected among four other schools to participate in a dance competition that will be viewed by local government officials. All the students worked very hard on their dance to prepare for the show. Some classes were cancelled just so the students can have time to practice their dance. 

The dance followed the Indian Punjabi tradition, Punjabi is a large ethnic group in India. The song was sang in the Punjabi dialect and the students were costumes that were traditional Punjabi attitres. Normally, the students all wear uniforms to school. However, on the day of the performance all the students were dressed in beautiful Punjabi suits that consisted bright colors.

In the midst of monsoon season, many of us were worried about the weather for an outdoor event. It ended up being a sunny (and very hot) day for the event. There were thousands of people at the celebration and all the schools were given standing room in tent viewing area. Although the performance was a bit hard to capture on camera due to the crowds of people, I still managed to see the whole dance. Rambo ended up getting second place which made the students and teachers very happy.

Also, today was one of the medical students' last day. It was bittersweet to wish him farewell. I know that next week this time I will be heading home as well, and although I am excited to be home, it also saddens me that I must leave this place where so many memories are made and part ways with all the great people I've met. Either way, I want to make my last week here as fulfilling as possible.

Have a safe trip back to England Ben!

Giving Blood

Before coming to Mungeli, I have never given blood before, I didn't even know my blood type. Due to lack of donors, the blood bank at Christian Hospital Mungeli is in constant shortage. Most of time, the patient's family members must donate blood on the spot if a blood transfusion is needed. After hearing about this, my friend Paige (who is a nurse) and I decided to give blood for the hospital to provide to future patients.

After completing the blood test, I found out that I was eligible to give and that my blood type was O+, meaning that all Rh positive blood types can receive my blood. I was a bit nervous about the procedure, since I have never had that much blood drawn out of my body before. The process only took about 5 minutes, which was very surprising, and I didn't feel too different afterwards, only a bit tired. 

The next day, we were told that Paige's blood had already been given. The receiver was man who was brought in from a motorbike accident in the middle of the night. My blood was given close to a week later to an elderly woman with type O+, she was extremely anemic due to multiple myeloma, a cancer that starts from the bone marrow. It was quite moving to experience the whole blood giving and receiving process. For me, the process did not just stop with seeing a sealed bag of blood, I had the chance to trace my donation all the way to the receiver at the hospital. Only then did I fully grasp the importance of giving blood, for one's decision to give could save another's life.

Bilaspur - Domino's & Kuta

This past Saturday, all the students from the guest house decided to take a group trip to Bilaspur, a city about an hour and a half away from Mungeli. I desperately needed some Indian clothing, and we had heard from others that they have a Domino's Pizza there. So we rented a car and off we went.

On our way there we decided to stop by a zoo that was about 8km outside of Bilaspur. Apparently very few foreigners have visited that area, and we ended up in the local newspaper for simply being the 19th foreigner to ever go to the zoo. I guess it is nice to feel like a celebrity once in a while.

Bilaspur was definitely more modernized than Mungeli. It had two western style malls that housed quite a few American fast food chain restaurants ( I satisfied my pizza craving). The markets were also larger than the ones in Mungeli. 

Specialty pizza with paneer

One thing I must mention is my shopping  experience here. The Indians have created a haven for people who hate shopping. When we entered a traditional clothing store, we were brought to the second level. The entire floor was covered with a very thin mattress ( they were kind of like seat cushions, but covered the entire floor, like carpet.) along the walls there were shelves full of clothing and fabric. The shopkeeper and his associates requested us to sit down while they brought out outfits for us to look at. The Kuta is the traditional Indian clothing, women usually wear it with leggings or cotton pants. It was the most relaxing shopping experience I have ever had, coffee and chai were even brought to us as we were looking through the clothing that was presented to us. I left the shop happily with two outfits and wishing that all shops in the U.S were the same way. No one would ever find shopping stressful because the process of shopping was an experience in itself.

Unfortunately I forgot to take a picture of the shop, but here are a couple Kutas I got in Bilaspur.

Lovely Mungeli

It has been 4 days since we arrived in Mungeli, and I must say I am absolutely loving it. We were received by the warm welcome of Dr. Anil Henry, the doctor who took on the Christian Mungeli Hospital project. Paige and I got settled in at the Guest House located within the hospital compound, which will be my home for the next 4 weeks.

Our guest house, the lady on the second floor is our lovely cook. She is wonderful!

The Christian Hospital Mungeli can be described as more of a community . The compound does not only include the hospital, but also the staff housing, the guest house, the nursing school and the nurse dormitories. In other words, everyone who works at the hospital also lives within the compound. The people here are all so kind and always willing to help you with anything.

My job here is mostly focused on the Rambo English School located right next to the hospital. Everyday, I make a short walk on the dirt roads of Mungeli to teach Secondary English and Social Science to the students at Rambo. The students do not have much resources to work with; their classrooms are located in a one story house/shed with just one wall to    separate the rooms. However, this did not affect the students' willingness to learn. Their curiosity and eagerness for knowledge even affects me; I try my hardest to teach them well because I know how important it is to them.

My 11th grade students!

During my free time, I have gotten to know many other students who are staying in Mungeli. There are medical students from England, Denmark, Norway, and other parts of India. Through long conversations, pool sessions, and just spending time with one another. I have learned so much about not just Mungeli, but also about other parts of India and other countries through my new friends. Who knew that by living in a small village in India, I am seeing the world.

Until next time!

Touch Down in Delhi

As our plane landed in New Delhi, my heart was filled with excitement. My friend and counter part, Paige and I had decided to spend two days in New Delhi with Isaac and Grace before they depart back to the states. The hot and humid air was my first memory of Delhi, and chaos. It was close to 4 a.m. yet the streets were crowded with people and all sorts of vehicles. The scene would make even  seasoned travelers feel a bit nervous. Luckily, the moment we left the airport we were greeted with warm welcomes from Isaac and Grace (who waited very patiently for us as we got through customs and baggage claim).

New Delhi is the capital of India, a city that I still do not quite know how to describe it. I would say if you are a first time solo traveler or someone who resent massive cultural shock, Delhi is not a place for you. Delhi is a city that demands to be seen and heard. She shows you her beauty, and it is magnificent. To truly enjoy Delhi, you must accept that you will be frustrated at times. I learned to compromise with the culture of Delhi. You learn to bargain almost every time you pull out your wallet , you learn what it really means to firmly say no (seriously), you learn to pick your food options carefully. And most importantly, you learn to get used to being a little confused all the time.

When you get pass all the differences and your frustration, I promise you that Delhi will reveal her beautiful side. The historical architectures will amaze you, the rich and dynamic culture makes you wonder how did the people manage to live peacefully in chaos, and you learn to enjoy the food.. hopefully. Compared to the West, New Delhi is by no means a modern, developed city. However, it is perhaps one of the most vibrant and lively city that I have ever been to.

I loved my experience in Delhi, but as I conclude my first journal in India on my flight to Raipur, I must say that I cannot be more excited to be with the people in Mungeli.