Field Visit - 2

The second day of our field was very interesting, yet ineffective. We seem to drive around aimlessly from village to village and see if there were any health care workers that we could speak with. In the end we only conducted two group discussions that didn't give us much information on reproductive health but voiced many concerns about water scarcity. 

Women doing drought relief work, they fill the bowls with stones and dirt and carry them on their heads in order to contruct a type of dam. When I ask where the men were, I was told that they were the "supervisors" who oversaw the project by sitting in the shade and smoking beedis.

This women is from one of the lower castes in the village, they wear bracelets that span across their entire arms.

 Very barren land but you can see the turbine field in the distance. 

 A well that was installed by the government a few years ago. Many of the groundwater sources here are contaminated with excess fluoride causing a crippling disease called fluorisis in many people. There are no water testing or water treatment facilities so many people are sick before the well is shut down. This leaves them with the only option of buying water tanks from trucks that drive around the area.

Field Visit - 1

After some insisting on my part to my boss that my internship for the summer is suppose to include field visits and not just sitting in front of a computer in an office for 8-9 hours a day, we headed to the Jodphur District in Rajasthan to conduct some fieldwork. The goal of the visit was to interview and have group discussions with people in villages about child and reproductive health. Although, I don't think that they way we conducted the research was very effective I got to meet and see how people live in the Thar Desert of India.  

 The women above is the local midwife in a small village. She is the only one who helps women deliver babies in this region and she has never had any formal training. She tells us of the common health problems women face here.

 The two girls that I am standing beside are 13 and 14 years old. They are already married and will soon go to live with their husbands.

I think that this women might have the saddest story I have ever heard. She was pregant 8 times and only two children survived. Her son (15), has polio which is a common disease found in the area since many of the children are not vaccinated. Her daughter who was slightly older, was married at an early age and after being pregnant 5 times died in  her first attempt at child birth. The family does not believe in medical centers and is convinced that the family is cursed. 

 Village meeting to discuss the health needs and water scarcity issues. 

A woman who was very thankful that we came to listen to complaints and issues of the village

 The kids here are adorable, fascinated by my white skin, curly hair and little Hindi I try to speak. I attempt to engage in the staring contest but I always end up losing. 

 Very interested faces...

If I had a dollar

If I had a dollar for every time I...

• Saw a man peeing on the side of the road
• Heard someone honked necessarily 
• Saw a cow blocking traffic
• Smelled urine or feces
• Was asked "what is your name?" or "where do you come from?"
• Saw an ad for a telephone company 
• Watch someone carry something 10 times too heavy or 10 times too big on a bicycle
• Lost a staring contest with someone
• Told a rickshaw "no thanks we're taking the bus"

I would have made my trip money back this summer

Wildlife in the City

Although I am living in a city of more than 2 million people, I think I've seen more wildlife here than my country home in Canada. In the streets, priority is first given to cows, water-buffalo and camels who don't even seem to notice you walking 2 inches beside them. You have to be careful though, walk to slow in front on these guys and they feel no shame in giving you a little head butt to get a move on. 

What are you staring at?

Camels used to carry construction material

Everybody loves a water buffalo

Two little pigs!

Swimming Pool

During one of our times out in the city we came across this! It looks pretty interesting like it would be used for some kind of game or ceremony but it is actually a community swimming pool. It fills up during the rainy season and you can jump off any of the stair levels. There are apparently seven more stair levels that you cant see right now below the water level. It looks like fun, but I don't think that you could pay me to jump in that water.

The 30 rupee Tour

They call it a scam, but I kind like it. 

It is where bicycle rickshaw comes up to you and says "30 rupees! 1 hour! Tour of the city!" You think how can that be, 1 hour, 3 people for only 30 rupees (about 75 cents) and they are going to bike around in this heat. The answer is... commission. 

The first place we were brought to was a small temple. Our driver gave us a little history on Buddhism and we admired the statues and wall murals. 

We then headed into some back alley ways and arrived at a smaller jewelry shop. The owner assured us that we would get "the best prices" because "you are my friend". I am not sure how many times I have heard those words said in a store but I think the man was disappointed with our last of enthusiasm about jewelry. 

The water temple

A fine balance

The commission opportunities just kept coming as we arrived at a textile factory. We were able to see how the fabric was dyed, cut, and how block printing is made. It ended with us heading into the main store where we were assured that everything was the "highest quality."

What would a tour be without a little garbage?

The Bird

Growing up in the country I feel as though I am use to the all the sounds of nature. You could always tell that it was spring or summer at our house because the birds, insects and frogs would make noises in the evening and early mornings. Now, living in India I find myself sitting at my desk wondering what kind of weapon to use to put an end to the bird that is making the most horrific squawking call I have ever heard.  It starts at a normal sound level with a kind of whistling “ahh ah, ahh ah” and soon is grows and grows until its throat gives out like a boy hitting puberty until it finally sounds like someone screeching  in agony. This bird torments me every day and my roommate Ece cannot seem to get enough of it. I asked her one day “Do you just like that bird because I hate it so much.” She answers “No, well… now I think that it is a little of both.” One of the India men informed me that the bird only calls out like this when it is going to rain, it just so happens we are only working here during the monsoon season. 

Monkey Business

They said that there would be monkeys in Jaipur but they never said how unafraid and casual they would be. The monkeys that hang around at various temples and monuments have absolutely no fear when it comes to getting close to you. It is the other way in fact. Almost every time I have been somewhere with lots of monkey someone ends up screaming because a monkey has jumped at them to grab their bags or cameras. Standard rules are (although they are not posted); don't try to touch the monkeys, don't stare right at the monkeys, don't use flash on your cameras. Surprisingly most places sell food which you can feed to the monkeys. I say to anyone who buys it "good luck". More often than not you feed a monkey a nut and he lunges at you, grabs the whole bag, and you watch a bunch of them ripped the bag apart fighting for a piece. 

Food and Fabric

I think that one of the best things about India is that many markets that fill the streets, full with fruits and vegetables. Everyday my room mate I set out to the market near our house and purchase a variety of tomatoes, cucumbers, bananas, papayas, and of course mangoes for dinner. We also sometimes try to get yogurt from another street vendor by shouting various versions of "yogurt, curd, dahi?" until they finally understand or offer us milk instead.

Just the average grocery store

Currently living in one of the textile capitals of the world gives a constant overwhelming and exciting feeling about the colours swirling around me. Whether it be the woman in their saris or the scarfs and sheets hanging from a market stand, it hard to resist the temptation not to buy something in every colour. I tell you, I have not resisted. I have become somewhat of a shopaholic since I have been in India but since I came with almost nothing it means that now just have an extensive India wardrobe. Normally shopping at home almost feels like a chore but there is just something about outdoor markets, bartering and people constantly saying "Miss Miss, please look, looking is free you know." Yes looking is free, but they always seem to know the thing that will grab your attention.

Fabric, Colours, Everywhere!

The Monkey Temple, Jaipur

A few weeks ago some other interns and I visited the "Monkey Temple" on the East side of the city. We were greeted by numerous monkeys, all who could probably care less about the travelers passing by their home. On the way in you, you are haggled to buy food to feed them and guides to lead you up, I suggest not getting any food cause the monkeys are very forward and good thieves of cameras and purses. So try to keep them at a distance and not look them directly in the eye.

Monkeys hanging out at the gate of the Temple of the Sun God (Monkey Temple)

Road to the temple

 This is one thing that I really love about India, nothing is sugar coated here. You go to a famous tourist attraction and you are still surrounded but the roaming animals (cows, pigs, sheep, goats) and lack of a garbage or sanitation systems. It is, what it is.

This was a very knowledgeable guide that lead us up to see the Temple. These kids are very talented and if you are not sure where you are going they can get you up there with some interesting diversions along the way. Make sure you ask how much they are going to charge as a guide and they will usually say "What ever you want, if you like it you can pay me, if you don't you can kick me!" At the end of our tour we provided them with a few hundred rupees but that apparently was so appallingly low that he could not accept it. Eventually, he devastatingly took the money from us and led us back down. This was the same rate as what you pay the professional tour guides in the city and I was later assure that it was more than enough.

Sleeper Class

This week, I traveled with my boss 7 hours by train into the Thar Desert to do some field work. It was not my first experience taking sleeper class in the train, but it was my first experience trying to sleep in it. The whole thing was very exciting as I "slept" in the middle bunk with all my possessions curled into my body. In the middle of the night I was awoke by the women next to be moaning and wailing at she grabbed her head and shaking her ear. People were shouting "Do you have oil?!" I didn't but in a few minutes it appeared and they put a few drops into her ears and she quickly turned her head over to drain it out. With the oil came a white slender bug about 1 inch long, I asked my boss how he knew to use oil and he replied "Indian First Aid".  I covered my ears and went back to sleep but was awoke several times during the night by screeching trains passing by and people turning on and off the light trying to show their tickets. Even though there was a breeze provided by the open window I still woke up covered in sweat and tried to secure my things back into my seat. Although the name may be deceiving I think that if I intend to get a good nights rest I will have to avoid the "sleeper class" and take 3A.