Hi all,
I have been back in the States since Friday, June 12. Yesterday I was out running around all day and find that my stamina is definitely not back to normal yet.
To finish off the trip: I left Zamorin's at 6AM on Thursday, June 11, 2009. Colonel Babu came to see me off as did Kirish and Sibeon (They sleep on the floor in the livingroom in case of medical emergencies so they didn't really have a choice.). Colonel Babu actually gave me a big hug (I first asked him if I could give him a hug not knowing whether that was kosher or not.) and told me that I will always have a home at Zamorin's. We arrived at the airport in an hour and a half. Part of the trip was on a new four-lane highway where it looked like if houses were partially in the way of the construction, they had just ripped off that part of the house and left the rest. EVERYone was very nice to me all the way back to the States and went out of their way to help me. When I went up to the Emirates Air desk, I asked the guy if he spoke English, which he did--very well, in fact. David had difficulty having his luggage sent all the way to the States and had to pick his up in Dubai. The gentleman had never processed luggage to the States (and he was in training), but his supervisor was there and helped him route it to South Bend. I still had to pick it up in Washington, DC for customs, but just walked it about 15 feet to put it on a conveyer belt to go to the next airplane. Unfortunately, it did not arrive in South Bend when I did, but it did come in yet on Friday and was delivered.
At the Cochin Airport, I couldn't find any books or bottled water, but I could have lunch at 8 AM from the one deli I saw. Nope. Not up for that. I did have a granola bar in my carryon so I had that. There were virtually no snacks except candy available.
Emirates Air is a great airline!!!! They had many attendants who were actually working for the entire 4 hour flight. First they gave everyone a small sealed cup of lemonade. And I think we had lunch. Lots of water handed out. Part of lunch was fresh fruit so that was good. Again, everyone was very nice and personable.
The Dubai airport is very modern. BTW at Cochin and at Dubai, everything and everyone goes through security twice. Once before they let you in and once before they let you on. At Dubai, the women were wanded in a curtained enclosure due to the prevailing modesty and saris and Muslim dress and such. Let me tell you that wand was right up on me. By a woman, of course.
The only airports that made me take off my shoes were in the States. Every foreign airport makes you go through immigration as did Washington, DC. In every airport EXCEPT Washington, DC, if there were a lot of people, screeners were added at Immigration--and there were already a lot of screeners. In the US there were easily 250 people in each of 2 lines--one for US citizens and one for non US folks. And 3 passport screeners. And none added.
Anyway, back to Dubai. The airport is ultra modern. We arrived 45 minutes early. I only saw two shops going out of the airport. No restaurants. I was able to get bottled water in the airport. Once I got out in the foyer so-to-speak, my cell phone wouldn't let me text because it had to be digital and, being the technologically-challenged person that I am, I didn't know how to do anything about that. So I tried to use a telephone to call Leslie, Jeff's sister. But an airport person in a suit said it took a card (probably pre-paid card) to use that phone. So he called Leslie and helped me hook up with her and even took me to her car. So helpful. See what I mean by going out of their way??????
And so I spent the rest of the day with Leslie and her family and had a great time. It was really hazy in Dubai, but Leslie drove me around so I saw the highlights. We spent some time running kids while she answered my questions about Islam. Leslie's husband is Palestinian I'm told, but I think maybe he was raised in Jordan as that is where he would like to retire when the time comes. He went to undergrad at Vincennes University here in Indiana and got his Master's at University of Dayton, which is where he met Leslie, I think. The whole family was very friendly, and I enjoyed my time with them. There are two girls-maybe 16 and 19 and two boys ages 7 and 12. There is another daughter married and living in Arizona who is a doctor looking for a residency in orthopedic surgery, I think. She was doing general surgery in Dubai. The fam has been in Dubai for 16 years. Did I mention how great the fruit is in this area of the world????
The pineapple is to die for. The orange and banana I had at Leslie's were great. There was also a fruit which has a spiny outside (which you do not eat) and a delicious inside. She also made some Arab food? which was very tasty and not spicy--chicken, rice, eggplant, and cauliflower I think. Yum! We also went to a mall which was cool. Literally. But they also had great shops and underground parking so the car didn't get hot. It was only 43 degrees centigrade which is somewhere around 105 degrees farenheit. Fortunately, very low humdity.
Leslie dropped me back at the airport about 9:30 PM for my midnight flight. And this is the part of the airport which is truly amazing. Shop after shop after shop. They are forecasting $1 billion in sales for this year. I think there were also places to eat, but I certainly wasn't hungry. I upgraded my flight to Economy Plus so I had a lot more (it's all relative) wiggle room and empty seats on both sides of me. There was a continuous map which showed the flightpath and gave vital statistics such as airspeed, altitude, outside temp, etc. Kind of cool. We definitely did not take the most direct route as we flew over Turkey, Warsaw, Poland, the Norwegian Straits (?) just south of Scandinavia, north of England, the Atlantic, just south of Iceland, and then down the interior of the East Coast. ie we were inland aways and not over water. The flight was uneventful. We had dinner in the wee small hours. A snack later. And then breakfast before flying into DC. It's really hard to be focussing on fruits and vegetables when whoever makes the food is not, but I only took one teeny bite of the chocolate brownie served with something. I just remembered that I was asleep during dinner so the brownie wasn't during dinner. Maybe I just dreamed about a brownie? I remember that there was fresh fruit with breakfast though. This flight was 14 hours long, and at one point the map said we had a headwind of 100mph which tends to slow down one's airspeed.
So then we deplane and head for immigration. Everyone was well-behaved and somewhat subdued after a 14 hour flight except for the guy from the US Embassy in Baghdad who badmouthed everyone and everything in sight. No wonder people have bad opinions of us when people from the US--not just this guy--are rude, crude and unattractive.
No problems at all until Chicago where there was a little bit of a delay due to a mechanical problem. My luggage didn't arrive in South Bend with me. BUT I had the greatest welcome in the world at the South Bend airport. Jenny and all four kids came to greet me, bringing hugs, flowers, and balloons. There's nothing like being welcomed home by your grandchildren and daughter-in-law!!!!
I haven't had a whole lot of problem readjusting although I have been in bed by 8 PM every night. I've been walking the last 4 days. And yesterday, I overdid myself running around, having lunch with Mrs. J. and going shopping with her. But I am taking it easy as recommended by Dr. Baji.
I have been asked if I would do this fabulous trip again. I would. I had a fantastic time--not withstanding the medication-- learning about another culture, meeting people, seeing things and doing things I never would have seen or done otherwise. The movie star--whom my Indian doctor here had heard of--and her friend Maya thought Amelia and I were both positively nuts for our response to the elephant so we were at least entertaining in that respect. Oh, yeah, the Ayurveda was cool, too.
Thanks for reading. I will occasionally keep you updated with regard to the aftermath of the Ayurveda. Probably not more than once a month. I will try to do that on the 12th of the month so you won't have to check everyday.
Love and blessings to all.
Love,
Mom/Peggy/Granny etc.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
June 10, 2009 addendum
Wednesday, June 10, 2009 addendum
28 days with no chocolate, no diet coke, no watch, and very little TV.
I gave the women a tip today, and it seemed they really appreciated it. After 4 weeks it is hard to say good-bye. Dr. Baji gave me medication to take with me. No diet restrictions. Eat more fruits and vegetables and use the 25/75% split and walk.
Love,
Mom/Granny/Peggy
28 days with no chocolate, no diet coke, no watch, and very little TV.
I gave the women a tip today, and it seemed they really appreciated it. After 4 weeks it is hard to say good-bye. Dr. Baji gave me medication to take with me. No diet restrictions. Eat more fruits and vegetables and use the 25/75% split and walk.
Love,
Mom/Granny/Peggy
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009--Day 28
You are NOT going to believe this!!!!!!!!!! I asked Colonel Babu about having an elephant come here because I saw one in the pictures of the grand opening and because Dr. Baji said they used to do that. That was only last night! And do you believe...this morning about 9 AM an elephant came. We were able to pet it and feed it. Amelia rode on it! She had to climb up on him, and I didn't think I was that limber so I just watched. They are huge! This one is 35 years old and looks to be about 20 feet high. Of course, the Indian patients couldn't see what all the excitement was about. They see elephants at nearly every festival, and there are a lot of festivals. So cool. The trainers seemed pretty confident the elephant wouldn't do us any harm, but I understand that you never know. Lots of elephant pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Speaking of the three patients from India--including the movie star and friend. They really get in to this servant thing. I'm sure that the two ladies probably have several servants at home. But poor Kirish is kept running with this, that and the other thing. I just don't care for the tone of voice they use.
And last night we had a fantastic performance by a group of drummers and cymbal players. They played for over an hour--never stopping. Groups like this and the drums they use are unique to Kerala. The Colonel and Dr. Baji stayed for the performance. There was lighting all around the stage by the yoga hut--not candles, but whatever they burn at the temples in the prayer candles. There were 6 drummers and two cymbal players. Small symbols. I first thought they might be lids from pans (like pots and pans), but they were real cymbals. 4 of the drummers kept the time, and the two main players would trade off or sometimes play at the same time. One would play and the other would copy it and so forth. It kind of loses something in my description, but it was really great!
Today is my last post from India. I leave tomorrow morning at 6 AM on a 2 1/2 hour ride to the Cochin Airport. From there it is 4 hours to Dubai, an 11 1/2 layover during which time Jeff's sister is going to show me around. Then I think David said it's a 14 hour flight to Washington, DC, and then on to Chicago and South Bend. I'm guessing it will be about 36 hours from start to finish. And I will blog whenever I can see straight about Dubai. I hope you have enjoyed reading these blogs. For me, it is writing about things when they happen so I will have a written record to go with my 200+ pictures.
Take care.
Love to all,
Mom/Peggy/Granny et al
You are NOT going to believe this!!!!!!!!!! I asked Colonel Babu about having an elephant come here because I saw one in the pictures of the grand opening and because Dr. Baji said they used to do that. That was only last night! And do you believe...this morning about 9 AM an elephant came. We were able to pet it and feed it. Amelia rode on it! She had to climb up on him, and I didn't think I was that limber so I just watched. They are huge! This one is 35 years old and looks to be about 20 feet high. Of course, the Indian patients couldn't see what all the excitement was about. They see elephants at nearly every festival, and there are a lot of festivals. So cool. The trainers seemed pretty confident the elephant wouldn't do us any harm, but I understand that you never know. Lots of elephant pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Speaking of the three patients from India--including the movie star and friend. They really get in to this servant thing. I'm sure that the two ladies probably have several servants at home. But poor Kirish is kept running with this, that and the other thing. I just don't care for the tone of voice they use.
And last night we had a fantastic performance by a group of drummers and cymbal players. They played for over an hour--never stopping. Groups like this and the drums they use are unique to Kerala. The Colonel and Dr. Baji stayed for the performance. There was lighting all around the stage by the yoga hut--not candles, but whatever they burn at the temples in the prayer candles. There were 6 drummers and two cymbal players. Small symbols. I first thought they might be lids from pans (like pots and pans), but they were real cymbals. 4 of the drummers kept the time, and the two main players would trade off or sometimes play at the same time. One would play and the other would copy it and so forth. It kind of loses something in my description, but it was really great!
Today is my last post from India. I leave tomorrow morning at 6 AM on a 2 1/2 hour ride to the Cochin Airport. From there it is 4 hours to Dubai, an 11 1/2 layover during which time Jeff's sister is going to show me around. Then I think David said it's a 14 hour flight to Washington, DC, and then on to Chicago and South Bend. I'm guessing it will be about 36 hours from start to finish. And I will blog whenever I can see straight about Dubai. I hope you have enjoyed reading these blogs. For me, it is writing about things when they happen so I will have a written record to go with my 200+ pictures.
Take care.
Love to all,
Mom/Peggy/Granny et al
Monday, June 8, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009--Day 27
Since I have only recently discovered how to read the comments on my own--David helped me with a couple before he left, I feel the need to respond to some of them now.
Dave, Sr.: Do you know what you are doing to your heart eating a McDonald's? Quarter pounder and cheese (or something just as deadly) a shake, and I can't remember what else. Not to mention what may have happened to me if I had read that on May 16. I probably would have come back with David and missed all those massages and sitting her typing with Jasmine in my hair. Seriously, glad you are enjoying the blog. I enjoy writing it as well. This way I write down things as they happen, and I will have a travelogue (The King's English) to refer to in the future.
Bob: By all means, put my condo up for sale.
Questions asked:
How is my health? Actually I didn't think there was anything wrong with it in the first place. Granted I could take better care of myself than I do, and I do plan to do that in the future. Everyone my age has aches and pains even if we don't talk about it. Has my health improved since being here? Probably, since I have dropped at least 7 kilos. And what better way than to eat, sleep, walk, have two massages/day, read--a lot, have stimulating conversations with Dr. Baji and Colonel Babu, and learn about a foreign culture.
My mental health? I remarked before the end of the first week that I hadn't felt so peaceful since I went to prison. (THAT ought to get some people talking.) I have really enjoyed my walks and meeting people and my road trips. The environment is very different from everything I've heard from other people and from everything I previously knew about India which wasn't very much. I have only done email with my family electing not to answer any college or association emails. Much less stress that way. And I feel good!!!!!!
What is the science behind Ayurveda? Between 5,000 and 10,000 years of practice. There is no way to measure preventive medicine. Also, I think I addressed how there can't be a standard for medications like in the States because each doctor tailor's his medications to his individual patients.
Toxin elimination? Definitely toxin elimination because for a long time there was considerably more output than input. When I perspire, for example, I don't taste salt although I have applied more salt to my food than ever in my life. Normally I don't add salt except on hard boiled eggs.
Toxin elimination has been easily managed.
Benefits to massage? This is not muscle massage. I'm sure there is imjprovement in circulation. Ayurveda is centered about heat so much of the treatment such as application of hot oil is about making you sweat. It's not uncomfortable, but I know I am doing well when I sweat.
Dr. Baji said that we should massage our skin when we return home to help with circulation.
Skin Texture? By the end of Day 3 my skin was softer than baby Sam's. Dr. Baji says that our lotions, etc. don't really do the trick. He suggested coconut oil and massage. Hope I can find some at a reasonable price.
And so...Amelia is leaving on Sunday. She will take a few days in N. Kerala and then a few days beachside in Cochin before returning to Austria. She is full of life and a joy to be around. She told me that she couldn't understand me at first. And she thought, "Oh, these Americans." But now I don't think there is any language barrier for us.
Faritta's friend came today. I haven't met her yet, but I understand her son is India's heartthrob in the cinema.
Just in case the internet is not working tomorrow--my last day--, I will blog after I return to the States to tell you about the trip and my time in Dubai.
(I cannot believe that the internet has worked for 2 straight hours for me. Amazing!)
Take care.
Love,
Mom/Peggy/Granny
Since I have only recently discovered how to read the comments on my own--David helped me with a couple before he left, I feel the need to respond to some of them now.
Dave, Sr.: Do you know what you are doing to your heart eating a McDonald's? Quarter pounder and cheese (or something just as deadly) a shake, and I can't remember what else. Not to mention what may have happened to me if I had read that on May 16. I probably would have come back with David and missed all those massages and sitting her typing with Jasmine in my hair. Seriously, glad you are enjoying the blog. I enjoy writing it as well. This way I write down things as they happen, and I will have a travelogue (The King's English) to refer to in the future.
Bob: By all means, put my condo up for sale.
Questions asked:
How is my health? Actually I didn't think there was anything wrong with it in the first place. Granted I could take better care of myself than I do, and I do plan to do that in the future. Everyone my age has aches and pains even if we don't talk about it. Has my health improved since being here? Probably, since I have dropped at least 7 kilos. And what better way than to eat, sleep, walk, have two massages/day, read--a lot, have stimulating conversations with Dr. Baji and Colonel Babu, and learn about a foreign culture.
My mental health? I remarked before the end of the first week that I hadn't felt so peaceful since I went to prison. (THAT ought to get some people talking.) I have really enjoyed my walks and meeting people and my road trips. The environment is very different from everything I've heard from other people and from everything I previously knew about India which wasn't very much. I have only done email with my family electing not to answer any college or association emails. Much less stress that way. And I feel good!!!!!!
What is the science behind Ayurveda? Between 5,000 and 10,000 years of practice. There is no way to measure preventive medicine. Also, I think I addressed how there can't be a standard for medications like in the States because each doctor tailor's his medications to his individual patients.
Toxin elimination? Definitely toxin elimination because for a long time there was considerably more output than input. When I perspire, for example, I don't taste salt although I have applied more salt to my food than ever in my life. Normally I don't add salt except on hard boiled eggs.
Toxin elimination has been easily managed.
Benefits to massage? This is not muscle massage. I'm sure there is imjprovement in circulation. Ayurveda is centered about heat so much of the treatment such as application of hot oil is about making you sweat. It's not uncomfortable, but I know I am doing well when I sweat.
Dr. Baji said that we should massage our skin when we return home to help with circulation.
Skin Texture? By the end of Day 3 my skin was softer than baby Sam's. Dr. Baji says that our lotions, etc. don't really do the trick. He suggested coconut oil and massage. Hope I can find some at a reasonable price.
And so...Amelia is leaving on Sunday. She will take a few days in N. Kerala and then a few days beachside in Cochin before returning to Austria. She is full of life and a joy to be around. She told me that she couldn't understand me at first. And she thought, "Oh, these Americans." But now I don't think there is any language barrier for us.
Faritta's friend came today. I haven't met her yet, but I understand her son is India's heartthrob in the cinema.
Just in case the internet is not working tomorrow--my last day--, I will blog after I return to the States to tell you about the trip and my time in Dubai.
(I cannot believe that the internet has worked for 2 straight hours for me. Amazing!)
Take care.
Love,
Mom/Peggy/Granny
Monday, June 8, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009--Day 26
Still no chocolate. Still no diet coke. But, alas, I did break down and turn on the TV to see if I could find Roger Federer and the French Open. I didn't, but the paper this morning said he had won--and in only 3 sets!
Are you aware that the US Embassy has a travel advisory for India due to possible terrorism???
Wonderful. And Colonel Babu called a woman this morning asking her to come tomorrow instead of today because some bigwhig in the Kerala government was arrested for murder Saturday night, and there could be problems on the road from Cochin. About the advisory he said we were safe here in Kerala. Hope they get the rest of it cleaned up by 6AM on Thursday. Hate to have to walk 60 Kilometers to the airport.
There is a photo album that Colonel Babu brought showing their opening of Zamorin's Health Retreat. They had an elephant at this shindig. Dr. Baji said he would talk to the Colonel about bringing an elephant over. In the past elephants were walked to wherever they were supposed to be, but now there is a law saying that they have to be transported--they can no longer walk long distances on the roads. If it's hot, it will burn their feet. So now where do you find a truck big enough to transport an elephant? There aren't any. They tried a lorry, which is a three wheeled vehicle--very flimsy--and it turned over when the lorry stopped and the elephant didn't. They also managed to electrocute an elephant because all the electrical wires hang down low. They seem to have a lot of laws here that no one abides by. Bpth the giving of a dowry and the taking of a dowry are punishable, but it still goes on.
Francis-the manager- told us he didn't speak English until he took this job eight months ago. He is doing very well!
The beach where we were is on the Arabian Sea.
I had to come to India to get stung by a wasp. Kathy, one of the technicians, gave me a sari and dressed me up in it. Colonel Babu thought it was great. So I wanted a picture and walked out in the drive. It's not the custom to wear Ryka shoes with a sari so I was taking my shoes off and stepped on a wasp which had been booted off the little porch dying of bug spray. Guess he got the last laugh. Colonel Babu acted as surgeon and got the stinger out. Then the ladies crushed some kind of a leaf and put the results on my toe. It didn't swell and it wasn't painful. I asked for baking soda, but their method worked better.
Someone has asked for my thoughts on Ayurveda. In a way I can equate Ayurveda with psychotherapy. If something didn't work, I tried something else. As far as I'm concerned Eastern medicine, of which Ayurveda is a part, shouldn't just be for Easterners. For my sciatica I tried physical therapy and I tried being nice to the sciatica nerve and I tried subluxation, which is a chiropractic method. They didn't work to my satisfaction. My satisfaction being no pain ever again. I probably won't know for at least six months if this particular treatment is going to work long term so I guess I will be adding to the blog monthly after I leave here just to let you know. With regard to the other issue I am working on, I can tell you it's working. Again, the treatment here is just the beginning. If I follow instructions for six months, I should see much greater progress.
The way they are feeding us is a great way to do what the Surgeon General wants us to do--eat more fruits and vegetables. Nothing wrong with that!
Ayurveda makes sense. I'm not talking necessarily about the ins and outs that you may be reading in a book in the US. Dr. Baji has great concerns about the book I have and others written in a language other than Sanskrit. (sp?) There is no straight translation from Sanscrit (sp--that one doesn't look any better) to English so as good a book as you might think it is, it isn't 100% accurate. NO ONE can diagnose another person in Ayurveda other than an ayurvedically-trained doctor. And no one should be treating someone with Ayurveda who is not an ayurvedically-trained doctor.
Also, yoga is included in the wholistic-method used here. I don't know if that is normally part of Ayurveda or not, but my guess is that they go hand-in-hand. Ayurveda is over 5000 years old and is volume after volume of material. There are 7 vedas. No 1/2 inch book in English is going to fill the bill. It may lay the foundation for you, but nothing else.
I have not seen, heard, or done anything that does not make sense while I have been here. Admittedly, eastern medicine is totally different from Western medicine so it takes some getting used to. But if it works, why not. BTW: Dr. Baji would much prefer getting people in the EARLY stages of their serious illnesses rather than after all modern medicine avenues have been tried to no avail.
I don't know if this answers the 'thoughts on Ayurveda' question. If it doesn't, email me or leave a coment on the blog.
Just about time for treatment.
Love,
Mom/Peggy/Granny/et al
I swear I can smell a hamburger cooking somewhere.
Still no chocolate. Still no diet coke. But, alas, I did break down and turn on the TV to see if I could find Roger Federer and the French Open. I didn't, but the paper this morning said he had won--and in only 3 sets!
Are you aware that the US Embassy has a travel advisory for India due to possible terrorism???
Wonderful. And Colonel Babu called a woman this morning asking her to come tomorrow instead of today because some bigwhig in the Kerala government was arrested for murder Saturday night, and there could be problems on the road from Cochin. About the advisory he said we were safe here in Kerala. Hope they get the rest of it cleaned up by 6AM on Thursday. Hate to have to walk 60 Kilometers to the airport.
There is a photo album that Colonel Babu brought showing their opening of Zamorin's Health Retreat. They had an elephant at this shindig. Dr. Baji said he would talk to the Colonel about bringing an elephant over. In the past elephants were walked to wherever they were supposed to be, but now there is a law saying that they have to be transported--they can no longer walk long distances on the roads. If it's hot, it will burn their feet. So now where do you find a truck big enough to transport an elephant? There aren't any. They tried a lorry, which is a three wheeled vehicle--very flimsy--and it turned over when the lorry stopped and the elephant didn't. They also managed to electrocute an elephant because all the electrical wires hang down low. They seem to have a lot of laws here that no one abides by. Bpth the giving of a dowry and the taking of a dowry are punishable, but it still goes on.
Francis-the manager- told us he didn't speak English until he took this job eight months ago. He is doing very well!
The beach where we were is on the Arabian Sea.
I had to come to India to get stung by a wasp. Kathy, one of the technicians, gave me a sari and dressed me up in it. Colonel Babu thought it was great. So I wanted a picture and walked out in the drive. It's not the custom to wear Ryka shoes with a sari so I was taking my shoes off and stepped on a wasp which had been booted off the little porch dying of bug spray. Guess he got the last laugh. Colonel Babu acted as surgeon and got the stinger out. Then the ladies crushed some kind of a leaf and put the results on my toe. It didn't swell and it wasn't painful. I asked for baking soda, but their method worked better.
Someone has asked for my thoughts on Ayurveda. In a way I can equate Ayurveda with psychotherapy. If something didn't work, I tried something else. As far as I'm concerned Eastern medicine, of which Ayurveda is a part, shouldn't just be for Easterners. For my sciatica I tried physical therapy and I tried being nice to the sciatica nerve and I tried subluxation, which is a chiropractic method. They didn't work to my satisfaction. My satisfaction being no pain ever again. I probably won't know for at least six months if this particular treatment is going to work long term so I guess I will be adding to the blog monthly after I leave here just to let you know. With regard to the other issue I am working on, I can tell you it's working. Again, the treatment here is just the beginning. If I follow instructions for six months, I should see much greater progress.
The way they are feeding us is a great way to do what the Surgeon General wants us to do--eat more fruits and vegetables. Nothing wrong with that!
Ayurveda makes sense. I'm not talking necessarily about the ins and outs that you may be reading in a book in the US. Dr. Baji has great concerns about the book I have and others written in a language other than Sanskrit. (sp?) There is no straight translation from Sanscrit (sp--that one doesn't look any better) to English so as good a book as you might think it is, it isn't 100% accurate. NO ONE can diagnose another person in Ayurveda other than an ayurvedically-trained doctor. And no one should be treating someone with Ayurveda who is not an ayurvedically-trained doctor.
Also, yoga is included in the wholistic-method used here. I don't know if that is normally part of Ayurveda or not, but my guess is that they go hand-in-hand. Ayurveda is over 5000 years old and is volume after volume of material. There are 7 vedas. No 1/2 inch book in English is going to fill the bill. It may lay the foundation for you, but nothing else.
I have not seen, heard, or done anything that does not make sense while I have been here. Admittedly, eastern medicine is totally different from Western medicine so it takes some getting used to. But if it works, why not. BTW: Dr. Baji would much prefer getting people in the EARLY stages of their serious illnesses rather than after all modern medicine avenues have been tried to no avail.
I don't know if this answers the 'thoughts on Ayurveda' question. If it doesn't, email me or leave a coment on the blog.
Just about time for treatment.
Love,
Mom/Peggy/Granny/et al
I swear I can smell a hamburger cooking somewhere.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Sunday, June 7, 2009--Day 25
To finish up on the topic of Government which I started yesterday:
The biggest mistake made by the Communist Government as far as helping the people is that there has been no industry created and no foreign investment. There are many educated people in Kerala but no jobs for them. People here do not pick up and move for jobs. They might temporarily go to school in another place like Dr. Baji spending 14 years in Chennai getting his medical/ayurvedic training. But otherwise you stay where you were born. Please don't think that I am in favor of communism. It's just in this case it has benefitted the vast majority of the people.
Other tidbits:
Everyone here calls me Madame.
STD does not mean sexually transmitted disease. It is the place where there is a phone and a post office. I'm trying to get a picture of the many signs. At first I thought, Wow! There sure are a lot of STD clinics around here.
Faritti's friend missed her flight so she won't come in until tomorrow.
I now know what a monsoon is. For the past two days there have been brief periods when there is no rain. Brief periods when there is light rain. And many periods where it absolutely pours. It was so hard earlier that I thought there was hail--but no hail. That would be a real sight here in India. The rain is still warm so if I go for a walk and it starts raining, it isn't a bother. This morning a woman sheltered me with her umbrella until we got to her house where her husband told her to give me the umbrella. I told her that I couldn't take her umbrella--I might never find her house again. There are water shortages here in India on a regular basis so the people don't mind the rain. There is a river in N. Kerala that people are afraid will disappear because so many people are drawing from it for drinking water and other uses. The river is now very low and only 20 feet across. There used to be a lot more ponds and backwaters according to Colonel Babu, but they have either been filled in or used up. Dr. Baji said when he was a child everyone knew how to swim because they would hang out at the local watering hole swimming and playing. Now the children do not know how to swim. A couple of years ago 18 children were on a field trip with their teachers, and the boat overturned drowning everyone. Now the government is saying that at least some of the schools have to have swimming pools and teach children to swim. I am positive that not all schools have complied so I don't know if just high schools or what. He made his children and wife take swimming lessons this year at one such swimming pool.
Well, it's Sunday. My last Sunday. The internet usually lasts long enough for me to get excited before it poops out.
Speaking of poop. Five students at one of the technical colleges have figured out a way to make elephant poop into paper. I'm NOT kidding. This is super for more reasons than one. Remember the elephant farm we went to with 60+ elephants? Your average elephant poops about 400 pounds of poop a day so the poop plant will take care of a lot of that. PLUS, there is great concern about the deforestation that is taking place in order to make paper. 80 tons of paper can be produced from 350 tons of elephant poop saving 2000 trees. Well, I don't know if you had fun reading that, but I surely was laughing while I was writing it.
This is probably not the best time to tell you that I finally learned how to read comments from the readers. Although it doesn't always work or I can't always find the right thing to click on.
Sorry, Jenny. The word poop just makes it so much more fun than the word dung.
I hope you all have a pleasant day.
Love,
Mom, Peggy, Granny, et al
To finish up on the topic of Government which I started yesterday:
The biggest mistake made by the Communist Government as far as helping the people is that there has been no industry created and no foreign investment. There are many educated people in Kerala but no jobs for them. People here do not pick up and move for jobs. They might temporarily go to school in another place like Dr. Baji spending 14 years in Chennai getting his medical/ayurvedic training. But otherwise you stay where you were born. Please don't think that I am in favor of communism. It's just in this case it has benefitted the vast majority of the people.
Other tidbits:
Everyone here calls me Madame.
STD does not mean sexually transmitted disease. It is the place where there is a phone and a post office. I'm trying to get a picture of the many signs. At first I thought, Wow! There sure are a lot of STD clinics around here.
Faritti's friend missed her flight so she won't come in until tomorrow.
I now know what a monsoon is. For the past two days there have been brief periods when there is no rain. Brief periods when there is light rain. And many periods where it absolutely pours. It was so hard earlier that I thought there was hail--but no hail. That would be a real sight here in India. The rain is still warm so if I go for a walk and it starts raining, it isn't a bother. This morning a woman sheltered me with her umbrella until we got to her house where her husband told her to give me the umbrella. I told her that I couldn't take her umbrella--I might never find her house again. There are water shortages here in India on a regular basis so the people don't mind the rain. There is a river in N. Kerala that people are afraid will disappear because so many people are drawing from it for drinking water and other uses. The river is now very low and only 20 feet across. There used to be a lot more ponds and backwaters according to Colonel Babu, but they have either been filled in or used up. Dr. Baji said when he was a child everyone knew how to swim because they would hang out at the local watering hole swimming and playing. Now the children do not know how to swim. A couple of years ago 18 children were on a field trip with their teachers, and the boat overturned drowning everyone. Now the government is saying that at least some of the schools have to have swimming pools and teach children to swim. I am positive that not all schools have complied so I don't know if just high schools or what. He made his children and wife take swimming lessons this year at one such swimming pool.
Well, it's Sunday. My last Sunday. The internet usually lasts long enough for me to get excited before it poops out.
Speaking of poop. Five students at one of the technical colleges have figured out a way to make elephant poop into paper. I'm NOT kidding. This is super for more reasons than one. Remember the elephant farm we went to with 60+ elephants? Your average elephant poops about 400 pounds of poop a day so the poop plant will take care of a lot of that. PLUS, there is great concern about the deforestation that is taking place in order to make paper. 80 tons of paper can be produced from 350 tons of elephant poop saving 2000 trees. Well, I don't know if you had fun reading that, but I surely was laughing while I was writing it.
This is probably not the best time to tell you that I finally learned how to read comments from the readers. Although it doesn't always work or I can't always find the right thing to click on.
Sorry, Jenny. The word poop just makes it so much more fun than the word dung.
I hope you all have a pleasant day.
Love,
Mom, Peggy, Granny, et al
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009--Day 24, I think.
The place is getting crowded. Yesterday Gerhard from Switzerland came in. He's 46. I think he said he was in Information Technology for 20 years, majored in law and political science, considers himself a professor (but doesn't teach anymore), but has an international PR consulting firm. His English is very good.
We met the movie star at breakfast this morning. Faritti is how the name sounds. She's at least as old as me, but looks to have had some work done. Her English also is good. As as group we don't feel really comfortable with her, but it's getting better. Her friend (female, I think) is coming tomorrow and requested the same room Adam is in so he graciously agreed to move. His new room is by the computer I use, and it has an internet hookup so he is fine with it.
If another woman comes in tomorrow, I honestly don't see how the female technicians are going to handle it time-wise. All the staff, except Francis, pretty much work everyday of the year except for Festival time in August. Festival is 10 days long, but I don't know if they get all 10 days off.
Topic for the Day: Government in Kerala
The present day state of Kerala was formed in 1956 from three other states. As I've told you, it is probably the wealthiest state in all of India. In 1957 (remember that India won Independence from the British in 1947.) "Kerala had the first freely elected communist government in the world" and the communists have been in power ever since. But this appears to be the best of communism because it really has been good for the people. The government is socialist, and it
has been very beneficial. Whereas it used to be that all of the land was owned by 5% of the people, it is changing. 91% of it's people are literate as compared to the rest of India at 46%. All children are supposed to go to school. Of course, the schools the poor children go to are not as good as the ones the rich kids go to if only because the former go to government schools whereas the latter have access to private schools. There are programs to give 25 kilos (Xs 2.2 lbs) of rice to below poverty families. It is not expensive to go on in school, but you do have to pass entry exams. There is affirmative action in place much like we had before.
Treatment times have changed with the addition of a person so I have to go.
Love,
Mom/Peggy/Granny
The place is getting crowded. Yesterday Gerhard from Switzerland came in. He's 46. I think he said he was in Information Technology for 20 years, majored in law and political science, considers himself a professor (but doesn't teach anymore), but has an international PR consulting firm. His English is very good.
We met the movie star at breakfast this morning. Faritti is how the name sounds. She's at least as old as me, but looks to have had some work done. Her English also is good. As as group we don't feel really comfortable with her, but it's getting better. Her friend (female, I think) is coming tomorrow and requested the same room Adam is in so he graciously agreed to move. His new room is by the computer I use, and it has an internet hookup so he is fine with it.
If another woman comes in tomorrow, I honestly don't see how the female technicians are going to handle it time-wise. All the staff, except Francis, pretty much work everyday of the year except for Festival time in August. Festival is 10 days long, but I don't know if they get all 10 days off.
Topic for the Day: Government in Kerala
The present day state of Kerala was formed in 1956 from three other states. As I've told you, it is probably the wealthiest state in all of India. In 1957 (remember that India won Independence from the British in 1947.) "Kerala had the first freely elected communist government in the world" and the communists have been in power ever since. But this appears to be the best of communism because it really has been good for the people. The government is socialist, and it
has been very beneficial. Whereas it used to be that all of the land was owned by 5% of the people, it is changing. 91% of it's people are literate as compared to the rest of India at 46%. All children are supposed to go to school. Of course, the schools the poor children go to are not as good as the ones the rich kids go to if only because the former go to government schools whereas the latter have access to private schools. There are programs to give 25 kilos (Xs 2.2 lbs) of rice to below poverty families. It is not expensive to go on in school, but you do have to pass entry exams. There is affirmative action in place much like we had before.
Treatment times have changed with the addition of a person so I have to go.
Love,
Mom/Peggy/Granny
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Friday, June 5, 2009
Friday, June 5, 2009--Day 23, I think.
The internet has been a problem for me the last two days. Apparently it's available at 1 and 2 AM--according to Adam. But to get to the computer at that hour, I would have to step over sleeping bodies. Anyway, that's why the blog hasn't been published the last two days.
I'M PUBLISHED. When you apply for a teaching position at a place like Indiana University, Purdue University, Michigan, Texas A + M, IUSB, Stanford, they want to know what you have published (most generally in the way of scholarly research). So now I am published in the arena of cultural education!
A couple of days ago Amelia and I went shopping and to the beach. Amelia is a shopper. I am not. But she was having so much fun, how could I get upset? She even bargained with the shop owners! And that was AFTER Francis got them to take off 5%! I found some bracelets for Ella and Lauren. Most of the kids don't seem to have toys here, and the toys in the shops were junk. Very poor quality. Made of plastic, but I was afraid they would break on the way back to the States so I am still looking for Keagan and Sam. I found a book in English, which I think Keagan could have read with help, but the subject matter was probably not going to be appropriate. I definitely haven't found anything I thought was safe enough to give Sam. (A man tried to sell me a book in English about Kerala, which I probably would have liked, but he wanted 1600 rupees--Manufacturer's Retail Price--which is about $35 US, and it definitely wasn't worth that. And I only had 400 + rupees anyway. So, saved by the rupee.)
The only toy I have seen a child play with besides a bicycle here is a stick and an old bike tire, which is like my father played with when he was a kid--a hoop and a stick. Amelia bought the kids a ball. I didn't think of it or I would have, too. I was thinking of sending them some whiffle balls, but I will have to check on import issues before I do that.
Back to the story: Our taxi driver was recently returned from Dubai where he was one of the people from Kerala who went there for the money for his family. He spent 15 years there, coming home every two years for two months. He said there are a lot of Americans in Dubai. His reason for returning to Kerala was that Dubai had gotten two expensive for him. Colonel Babu told us that they sleep in rooms of 15 to 20 men so he must have been sending almost all his money back here. He was driving a Toyota Minivan which looked fairly new--I'm not a good judge of such things. My Accord looks new to me. It had air conditioning, thank heaven, because it was an afternoon of very high humidity. The windows were roll down windows as are all vehicles with windows here. And no safety features like airbags. BTW: that afternoon was the first time I had seen someone lose their temper in the driving. It wasn't our driver. It was someone helping someone turn this big old truck around in the middle of an intersection, which is a nearly impossible thing to do.
At the market, we found a place for Amelia to buy a sari and a whatever it's called for her husband made out of really high quality cotton. Remember I told you that Indian cotton has a higher quality than cotton from England? We looked in some other shops then walked by the Hindu temple we were not allowed to enter. As we walked past it the first time, there was no sign of police. As we walked back there were TWO. One was following us! I guess we're dangerous. He would not allow us to take pictures of this smaller pool within a humongous pool attached to the temple ostensibly because people were bathing. Their private parts were covered, but... You would need a telescopic lens to even see that. So I didn't take a picture.
On the walk back to the car we came across our first beggar--an old lady who was not happy with whatever amount Amelia gave here. On the street there are vendors roasting peanuts--kind of like the chestnut vendors in London. We aren't allowed to eat or drink anything off the street. I did take my water bottle so I stayed more or less hydrated.
Next we went to the beach where there was a stiff wind blowing. It was a fisherman's beach, meaning they put out from this beach to fish and return to this beach with their catch. On the 15th of June they are not allowed to fish for 45 days in order to protect the spawning of lots of different types of fish, crabs, etc. A hardship for them. The beach is very steep and there is a strong undertow so not many people get in the water past their knees. There were only a few children in the water and no adults. There were lots of people on the beach, however. The beach is not groomed except by the tides so there was quite a bit of litter and small sticks such that I didn't take my shoes off. I had already been told by Dr. Baji I couldn't go swimming, and it seemed like he wasn't exactly thrilled about walking in the water either. "You are still in treatment." Two nice young men dressed in western clothing came up to us to practice their English. One was an English teacher; the other was his student He had a belt on which said USA. Their English was most definitely better than the English teacher who helped me find my way back to Zamorin a couple of weeks ago. I asked them how they knew we might be the only English-speaking people on the beach? Joke. We were the only two with white skin on the whole beach. (Francis was within two yards of us the whole time.) Amelia wanted to wait to watch the sun go down, and I love the beach so we had time to talk to these two. I kept looking at Francis to make sure it was okay. He wasn't concerned until a third man joined us. He was a fisherman--and proud of it. After about two minutes, Francis moved us away because he was concerned that more people would join us, and who knows what could happen. He is in charge of our safety so we left and walked back down the beach and waited for the sunset, which was ok.
The boats these fishermen use are shaped like canoes, maybe 20 feet long, no motor, maybe 3-4 feet deep. Not as deep as I am tall. They use nets. Made of heavy wood. I would think it's a hard life. Made harder by the ban on fishing.
Have to go to treatment. It was soooooooo gooooooood to have some communication!!!!!
Love,
Mom/Peggy/Granny/et.al.
The internet has been a problem for me the last two days. Apparently it's available at 1 and 2 AM--according to Adam. But to get to the computer at that hour, I would have to step over sleeping bodies. Anyway, that's why the blog hasn't been published the last two days.
I'M PUBLISHED. When you apply for a teaching position at a place like Indiana University, Purdue University, Michigan, Texas A + M, IUSB, Stanford, they want to know what you have published (most generally in the way of scholarly research). So now I am published in the arena of cultural education!
A couple of days ago Amelia and I went shopping and to the beach. Amelia is a shopper. I am not. But she was having so much fun, how could I get upset? She even bargained with the shop owners! And that was AFTER Francis got them to take off 5%! I found some bracelets for Ella and Lauren. Most of the kids don't seem to have toys here, and the toys in the shops were junk. Very poor quality. Made of plastic, but I was afraid they would break on the way back to the States so I am still looking for Keagan and Sam. I found a book in English, which I think Keagan could have read with help, but the subject matter was probably not going to be appropriate. I definitely haven't found anything I thought was safe enough to give Sam. (A man tried to sell me a book in English about Kerala, which I probably would have liked, but he wanted 1600 rupees--Manufacturer's Retail Price--which is about $35 US, and it definitely wasn't worth that. And I only had 400 + rupees anyway. So, saved by the rupee.)
The only toy I have seen a child play with besides a bicycle here is a stick and an old bike tire, which is like my father played with when he was a kid--a hoop and a stick. Amelia bought the kids a ball. I didn't think of it or I would have, too. I was thinking of sending them some whiffle balls, but I will have to check on import issues before I do that.
Back to the story: Our taxi driver was recently returned from Dubai where he was one of the people from Kerala who went there for the money for his family. He spent 15 years there, coming home every two years for two months. He said there are a lot of Americans in Dubai. His reason for returning to Kerala was that Dubai had gotten two expensive for him. Colonel Babu told us that they sleep in rooms of 15 to 20 men so he must have been sending almost all his money back here. He was driving a Toyota Minivan which looked fairly new--I'm not a good judge of such things. My Accord looks new to me. It had air conditioning, thank heaven, because it was an afternoon of very high humidity. The windows were roll down windows as are all vehicles with windows here. And no safety features like airbags. BTW: that afternoon was the first time I had seen someone lose their temper in the driving. It wasn't our driver. It was someone helping someone turn this big old truck around in the middle of an intersection, which is a nearly impossible thing to do.
At the market, we found a place for Amelia to buy a sari and a whatever it's called for her husband made out of really high quality cotton. Remember I told you that Indian cotton has a higher quality than cotton from England? We looked in some other shops then walked by the Hindu temple we were not allowed to enter. As we walked past it the first time, there was no sign of police. As we walked back there were TWO. One was following us! I guess we're dangerous. He would not allow us to take pictures of this smaller pool within a humongous pool attached to the temple ostensibly because people were bathing. Their private parts were covered, but... You would need a telescopic lens to even see that. So I didn't take a picture.
On the walk back to the car we came across our first beggar--an old lady who was not happy with whatever amount Amelia gave here. On the street there are vendors roasting peanuts--kind of like the chestnut vendors in London. We aren't allowed to eat or drink anything off the street. I did take my water bottle so I stayed more or less hydrated.
Next we went to the beach where there was a stiff wind blowing. It was a fisherman's beach, meaning they put out from this beach to fish and return to this beach with their catch. On the 15th of June they are not allowed to fish for 45 days in order to protect the spawning of lots of different types of fish, crabs, etc. A hardship for them. The beach is very steep and there is a strong undertow so not many people get in the water past their knees. There were only a few children in the water and no adults. There were lots of people on the beach, however. The beach is not groomed except by the tides so there was quite a bit of litter and small sticks such that I didn't take my shoes off. I had already been told by Dr. Baji I couldn't go swimming, and it seemed like he wasn't exactly thrilled about walking in the water either. "You are still in treatment." Two nice young men dressed in western clothing came up to us to practice their English. One was an English teacher; the other was his student He had a belt on which said USA. Their English was most definitely better than the English teacher who helped me find my way back to Zamorin a couple of weeks ago. I asked them how they knew we might be the only English-speaking people on the beach? Joke. We were the only two with white skin on the whole beach. (Francis was within two yards of us the whole time.) Amelia wanted to wait to watch the sun go down, and I love the beach so we had time to talk to these two. I kept looking at Francis to make sure it was okay. He wasn't concerned until a third man joined us. He was a fisherman--and proud of it. After about two minutes, Francis moved us away because he was concerned that more people would join us, and who knows what could happen. He is in charge of our safety so we left and walked back down the beach and waited for the sunset, which was ok.
The boats these fishermen use are shaped like canoes, maybe 20 feet long, no motor, maybe 3-4 feet deep. Not as deep as I am tall. They use nets. Made of heavy wood. I would think it's a hard life. Made harder by the ban on fishing.
Have to go to treatment. It was soooooooo gooooooood to have some communication!!!!!
Love,
Mom/Peggy/Granny/et.al.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Tuesday, June 2, 2009--Day 20
I read David/s blog yesterday, and he did an excellent job of describing Ayurveda! So, if you haven't read it, I recommend that you do.
The palace has two patient rooms of which I was unaware. Both are on the bottom floor. We have a man named Gerhard coming on Friday and a famous female actress from India coming on Sunday so it will be a full house for a few days. Only one bedroom will remain unoccupied. Dr. Baji said that they had had 30+ people in the last 6-9 months. Some stay 2 weeks. Others stay as long as 2 months.
Before David left, the ladies gave me a bindi. The red dot you sometimes see on women of Indian origin in the States. Moslems do not wear them. Only Hindus. I consider it an honor for them to give me one to wear. All of the staff have said something about it, and the village people seem to appreciate it even on a white American. There is apparently no special significance to it. It's mostly decoration, but it also means that I have been accepted by the lady technicians.
Being basted like a turkey is supposed to be good for sciatica and whatever else may ail you. The oil is fresh every three days and is made especially for me. Everyone's oil is unique to that person. It's probably what was simmering in the three-foot diameter kettle in Dr. Baji's factory when we were there.
No field trips since David left.
Should any of you be thinking about trying Ayurveda, please do not go to one of the sites in the States. At $700/day, it is not cost effective because your insurance is not going to pay it. Also, it is illegal to export any of the fresh Ayurveda herbs or roots to other countries. So, if you go in the States, you basically get massages and little else of value. Besides, where could you possibly have the cultural experience that goes with this place?????????
Dr. Baji and the Colonel generally come for a couple of hours every day except Sunday. Among other topics, integrity was the one for last night. Also, I asked how they got together to pull this off, and it turns out they are cousins. I think the way it goes is that Colonel Babu's father is Dr. Baji's mother's brother. It also turns out that Dr. Baji's father is a quite famous author of short stories as well as information about Ayurveda toxicology. One of his books has been honored with a prestigious award--don't know which one though.
The people here in Kerala are considered black due to the darkness of their skin, but they don't have any of the other features of blacks. Many long years ago, this section of India broke off from Africa. So there are all different color levels with the whites being in the North. My doctor in Mishawaka has the last name of Singh, which means she is Sikh and very light skin (white.)
It has been so good to learn all of these things about India and her people. The other wealthy state is Punjab where there have been riots having to do with politics, I think.
If a man asks the daughter's father for a dowry, there is a very stiff legal consequence. As I told you, dowries are illegal, but still everyone subscribes to giving a dowry. Wow be unto men with lots of daughters because dowries are very expensive. The older of David's two technicians just had one of his daughters return to his house with three daughters of her own because her husband ran off. The man already has another 3 daughters to marry off. Now he is responsible for 6 more dowries.
I think I fell asleep in Yoga today.
Take care.
Love,
Mom/Peggy/Granny et al.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Monday, June 1, 2009
Monday, June 1, 2009--Day 19
Today I did go for a walk--only 35 minutes, but going for a walk and seeing new things is the exciting part. Everyday is pretty much the same here except on Sunday when thre is no yoga and Colonel Babu and Dr. Baji are just here for a short time. Boring!!!
Kirish went to see his family yesterday--an hour and a half away. He was just like a kid-antxy-until the time to go came. He was back early enough to present us with our medicine at 6:30 this morning. He went by bus. There are lots of buses Greyhound size. There are no windows in the buses. Driving here is akin to kamikaze driving. I would say bumper cars, but I have yet to see an accident. There is a lot of horn-honking, but it is merely to let the pedestrians or other vehicles know where you are. Going around a curve or coming up to a thoroughfare, it is always good to honk your horn before proceeding. The buses don't bully anymore than in the States, mostly because they are slower getting started after a bus stop. That's the time when everyone tries to pass them. But there are so many!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When I am walking, the vehicle, whether bicycle, tricycle, truck, or bus, always let me know. Like England, they drive on the other side of the street. I've about decided to continue walking on the side I normally do and just stop and wait for the vehicle because a tricycle came as close as he could to me before going around me. When people are getting out of tricycles, it seems to be on the fly if you are a man.
Haven't seen them do that with women or children though.
There are government hospitals here and private hospitals. An American ALWAYS wants to go to a private hospital. In the paper this morning it said that 15 of the government hospitals here were going to be equipped with some version of a powered washing machine. They have been relying on women to hand launder the sheets. If it's like here, the sheets don't always get dry enough to put back on the beds. So the other part of the program is to have 5 sheets per hospital bed. We have never been sheetless here, but sometimes our clothing doesn't get dry enough in one day to give back to us.
Dinner last night was a little sparse (sp). No tomatoes or cucumbers (none for lunch today either). So I had a dry chipotle, a few spoonfuls of soup, and the equivalent of an apple. My stomach still does not settle well with most of the vegetables they give me. I am looking forward to fixing my own food. (If I could only have bananas like Amelia.)
The neighbor family apparently comes over early in the morning and picks up mangoes that have dropped on the ground. Apparently it's okay. The baby must be feeling better as no crying today. BTW children sleep in the parents' room until they are 12 years old. All I've got to say is that some of those bedrooms must be awfully crowded as some families seem to have had babies about every year.
Found out today that Kathy's husband works in the rice fields. It sounds like a lot of the men around here do that although they don't own the land they farm.
Hopefully I'll talk with you tomorrow. I did make a list, but, of course, it is in my room. Still, it's helpful. I don't know if I have enough material for 9 more days.
Take care.
Love,
Mom/Peggy/Granny, et al
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