Day 19- Thursday, January 4
Well fans, the adventure to The Orient is just about over. In less than 3 hours, the bus will be here to take us to the airport.
On Wednesday, we presented our projects to the mentors and a few vice-presidents. Bob and I did a good job, and received some good questions that I think we handled fairly well. Our project is a hot-button issue at the company, so it was good to go back and forth with the vice-presidents about our findings.
We didn’t have work on Thursday, so I tried to finish up some shopping. It was a dismal failure. If you know my mom you know that woman likes teapots and quilts. I didn’t think my chances were that good at finding an American quilt for my mom, nor getting said quilt back to the US, so I have been focusing on a teapot. The past three weeks I have been diligently searching, but could not find one non-imported teapot. I guess you could say that I am a failure. That wouldn’t too far off. I did get some good stuff (I think) for my sister and myself. I know, I know….selfish.
Thursday night we had a big send-off dinner. The dinner was at the Leela Hotel (cheapest room- $350/night) and it was pretty amazing. I am still amazed to find these pockets of excess wealth surrounded by below-poverty living conditions. The guest of honor at the dinner was the CEO of TVS. We had a lengthy discussion at how the program could be improved, and then a really nice meal. We also found out that the program was entirely funded by a $50,000 donation to Purdue that the CEO made. Apparently, he wanted the gift to be able to show quantifiable results and a learning experience from those who benefited from it. He is also a Purdue graduate. After the meal, TVS lavished us with gifts.
I had a very interesting conversation with my mentor, Karthik about his country. He said that since India had been conquered so many times in its history, the people have learned to accept things the way are. This is what leads people to see someone lying in the ditch in front of a brand new building and not think twice. Sure, it may be sad, but that’s the way it is. There are so many causes to fight for, that if people were hostile about things the country would tear itself apart.
This leads me to another point, and that is that the Indian people are some of the most peaceful people I have ever encountered. I have never once feared for my safety. The Indian people just take things the way they are, and keep on going. No use in fighting about it. I think many cultures could learn from that.
There are stills things about this country that I will never be able to get used to. The continuous honking of horns makes me want to be deaf every time I go into the street. I still have a hard time seeing men walking hand in hand or with their arms around another guy when walking down the street. This doesn’t indicate they are gay, but it isn’t socially acceptable to have a girlfriend. Most men marry at 28 or 29, so they are just really close with their male friends.
One thing that I haven’t talked about yet that drives me CRAZY is how Indians say yes. In America, we nod our head up and down to indicate we agree with something. An Indian will shake there head from left to right. Not back and forth like they are indicating no, but left to right like they are tilting their head to the right and then quickly to the left. It is really distracting to talk to someone and have their head flopping all over the place. Sometimes my brain stops functioning watching their head. This usually occurs in the middle of a sentence.
Who I consider coming back to India? Yes. Would I consider coming back to India during Christmas Break? No. Would I consider coming back to Bangalore? I would have to think long and hard about it. Would I eat camel? Of course.
Thanks for listening. I hope you enjoyed it.
Song Recommendation- La Cienega Just Smiled by Ryan Adams
Monday, January 08, 2007
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
The Sickness Strikes Back
Day 17- Tuesday, January 2nd
Things did turn around for me. They turned down a road where death seemed like the best option. I feel asleep Thursday night quite easily, but woke probably 5 to 6 times throughout the night to vomit and have what the Indian medical community calls loose motions (hey, I never said disease was pretty). I also started to pass blood, which was obviously quite scary. That night dragged on forever, and the morning couldn't come soon enough. Eventually though it was 9 o'clock and my car had arrived to take me to the Manipal Hospital. The residence was also nice enough to send an Indian with us to translate, unfortunately he didn't speak English.
We walked into the hospital and filled out a one sheet registration form. Name, Address, Age, and Religion. Whenever I gave my form to the lady she spelled my name wrong, so I known as Mr. Nichoas all weekend. Say that outloud, now imagine and Indian saying it. Apparently no one is allegeric to medication in India because they didn't bother to ask, and I am. We were directed to a waiting room on the second floor where I saw a Dr. Shetty. Dr. Shetty is a white-haired man of about 70, and everytime I saw him he was wearing a 3-piece suit. He asked about symptoms, gave me the standard once-over (I had a temp of 100 at the time, and felt like I was normal in that way. This makes me think that my temp on Thursday was at least 103 or 104). He thought I had colitis (inflammation of the intestines), but wanted to admit me to the hospital to put me on an IV and to run some tests.
To get admitted to the hospital we had to do this really cool maze. It's even cooler if you try it when you are dehydrated and nauseous. First we had to walk downstairs and fill out paperwork, then we had to walk back upstairs and have the doctor (who was already with other patients) sign a form, then we had to walk back downstairs to fill out admissions paperwork, then we had to walk back upstairs and wait. After awhile, a hospital employee came and got us and walked us to my room. I had to share the room with another person who liked to make noises, but as I stared at the ceiling (wondering how a hospital would allow mold to take over the light fixture) while the lady put the IV in my arm I felt like maybe I would get better. Then about 4 people from TVS showed up, and when added to the contingent that took me to the hospital the room was clearly too crowded. This was not a stress free environment.
What all my visitors did do was get my transfered to a private room (Executive Luxury level at that....which is fitting because most people think of me as an executive anyway). You see the world in a much different way when you are being rolled through it on a stretcher...you also learn to hate hospital employees when they knock you into every door possible. The private room was nice and equipped with TV and safe. I was given lots of saline for the dehydration and other drugs for the infection. After a while two Indian males helped me get into my scrubs (they probably had to draw straws to see who got to see the white man naked) and then rolled down to have an ultrasound. They put that jelly on my stomach and did the whole bit. I kept trying to look up at the screen to watch some shots of stomach while it was working, but alas I failed.
The rest of the stay was pretty boring. The doctors found out that I had a bacterial infection. Since I don't drink water here or even use it to brush my teeth AND I didn't eat anything that someone else didn't eat I don't really know where I got this bacteria. Once they got me on the right medicine my condition quickly improved. Unfortunately the doctor doesn't come in on Sundays and I had to stay until Monday evening. I watched a lot of Pop-Up Video and English Premier League Soccer, Cricket, CNN about Saddam and New Years,The Bourne Identity, and The Parent Trap (w/ Lindsay Lohan). I tried to watch a Bollywood movie, but that stuff is just too weird. I ended up spending my New Years at the hospital, which wasn't all bad because I could see a concert off in the distance and hear them playing covers of disco songs. At midnight, everyone set off fireworks and my 8th floor room provided a great viewing window for watching. The nurses were also pretty nice, although the dietician and I didn't get along. How and I supposed to tell her what I want to eat, if I can't name one Indian dish.
Because of this adventure I never made it to the Taj Mahal. Everyone that went said it was awesome and that they had a great time, but these things happen in life. I know I had an Indian experience that was uniquely my own. In less than 3 days I will be on a plane back to America. We also decided we would be going to Steak N Stake on the way home.
Song Recommendation- Three More Days by Ray Lamontagne
Things did turn around for me. They turned down a road where death seemed like the best option. I feel asleep Thursday night quite easily, but woke probably 5 to 6 times throughout the night to vomit and have what the Indian medical community calls loose motions (hey, I never said disease was pretty). I also started to pass blood, which was obviously quite scary. That night dragged on forever, and the morning couldn't come soon enough. Eventually though it was 9 o'clock and my car had arrived to take me to the Manipal Hospital. The residence was also nice enough to send an Indian with us to translate, unfortunately he didn't speak English.
We walked into the hospital and filled out a one sheet registration form. Name, Address, Age, and Religion. Whenever I gave my form to the lady she spelled my name wrong, so I known as Mr. Nichoas all weekend. Say that outloud, now imagine and Indian saying it. Apparently no one is allegeric to medication in India because they didn't bother to ask, and I am. We were directed to a waiting room on the second floor where I saw a Dr. Shetty. Dr. Shetty is a white-haired man of about 70, and everytime I saw him he was wearing a 3-piece suit. He asked about symptoms, gave me the standard once-over (I had a temp of 100 at the time, and felt like I was normal in that way. This makes me think that my temp on Thursday was at least 103 or 104). He thought I had colitis (inflammation of the intestines), but wanted to admit me to the hospital to put me on an IV and to run some tests.
To get admitted to the hospital we had to do this really cool maze. It's even cooler if you try it when you are dehydrated and nauseous. First we had to walk downstairs and fill out paperwork, then we had to walk back upstairs and have the doctor (who was already with other patients) sign a form, then we had to walk back downstairs to fill out admissions paperwork, then we had to walk back upstairs and wait. After awhile, a hospital employee came and got us and walked us to my room. I had to share the room with another person who liked to make noises, but as I stared at the ceiling (wondering how a hospital would allow mold to take over the light fixture) while the lady put the IV in my arm I felt like maybe I would get better. Then about 4 people from TVS showed up, and when added to the contingent that took me to the hospital the room was clearly too crowded. This was not a stress free environment.
What all my visitors did do was get my transfered to a private room (Executive Luxury level at that....which is fitting because most people think of me as an executive anyway). You see the world in a much different way when you are being rolled through it on a stretcher...you also learn to hate hospital employees when they knock you into every door possible. The private room was nice and equipped with TV and safe. I was given lots of saline for the dehydration and other drugs for the infection. After a while two Indian males helped me get into my scrubs (they probably had to draw straws to see who got to see the white man naked) and then rolled down to have an ultrasound. They put that jelly on my stomach and did the whole bit. I kept trying to look up at the screen to watch some shots of stomach while it was working, but alas I failed.
The rest of the stay was pretty boring. The doctors found out that I had a bacterial infection. Since I don't drink water here or even use it to brush my teeth AND I didn't eat anything that someone else didn't eat I don't really know where I got this bacteria. Once they got me on the right medicine my condition quickly improved. Unfortunately the doctor doesn't come in on Sundays and I had to stay until Monday evening. I watched a lot of Pop-Up Video and English Premier League Soccer, Cricket, CNN about Saddam and New Years,The Bourne Identity, and The Parent Trap (w/ Lindsay Lohan). I tried to watch a Bollywood movie, but that stuff is just too weird. I ended up spending my New Years at the hospital, which wasn't all bad because I could see a concert off in the distance and hear them playing covers of disco songs. At midnight, everyone set off fireworks and my 8th floor room provided a great viewing window for watching. The nurses were also pretty nice, although the dietician and I didn't get along. How and I supposed to tell her what I want to eat, if I can't name one Indian dish.
Because of this adventure I never made it to the Taj Mahal. Everyone that went said it was awesome and that they had a great time, but these things happen in life. I know I had an Indian experience that was uniquely my own. In less than 3 days I will be on a plane back to America. We also decided we would be going to Steak N Stake on the way home.
Song Recommendation- Three More Days by Ray Lamontagne
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