They are everywhere! "Osho" followers that is. Here is yet another interesting conversation I had with a man here is Rishikesh:
Me: That looks pretty good, what is it?
Guy: It's the spinach omelet, part of the green hills breakfast.
Me: Oh yeah looked pretty good. You sound like you're from the states? Maybe New England somewhere?
Guy: I'm from Brooklyn, but I have spent around 30 years in Arizona. What about you?
Me: I'm from Oregon, Portland area.
Guy: Oh really? I spent a little more than a year in Oregon.
Me: Oh great, where?
Guy: Rajneesh Puram (again, there was something very stern in the way he said it). You know it?
Me: Well, yes, I wasn't alive when it was the Rajneesh Puram, but my parents lived in Bend. I heard there was some sort of water poisoning business associated with it?
Guy: Hmm, I'm not sure, but I know Osho was sent back to India.
He looked skeptical at the thought of his commune doing anything wrong. Nonetheless, I had a good conversation with him about many things, including our shared belief that religion has become too much about religion and not about how you express your faith. I also argued my case for Christ, which took us down a plethora of paths. After we were done speaking and he left, I slowly realized that I have learned so much, mainly about myself and where I stand on things, by talking to the most unlikely of people. I think about all my experiences with homeless people in Eugene and the poor people of this country, as well as strange characters like Krishna and this other Rajneesh guy, and I always feel like I understand the world a little better, until the next conversation and I realize I don't. But, I especially feel like I understand more and more why Christ reached out to the people he did. In Shane Claiborne's book, "The Irresistible Revolution", Claiborne makes a stunning case that Jesus was homeless...I wholeheartedly agree. Look at the gospels, he was an outcast Himself. This fact moves me to cling to, and express, the LOVE that Jesus talks about.
Rishikesh is a magnificent place. Set in the foothills of the Himalayas, it is sort of a haven/basecamp for yoga lovers and pilgrims trekking up to the head of the Ganges River. I'm just here to hang out and buy some nifty wool products, maybe take a hike to a waterfall. T-minus 4 days until I board my flight back home, but until then I'm gonna...
let er fly,
Reido
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Sunrise.
Unfortunately, I was NOT able to get an ex-Officio picture at the Taj this morning. Security is pretty tight there, and they would not even let me bring in my 'on-the-go' lemonade packets. However, I still enjoyed the overly extravegant mausoleum built for some shah's wife, and some nice French people took my picture. Agra is a great city, not too big and crowded, comparatively, and I met a very reliable richshaw driver to help me navigate the sights. However, I almost been driven insane by the rickshaw/taxi drivers that swarm around the hotels and shops, considering you crazy if you don't want a ride somewhere. I just wanna WALK somewhere, but some of these people are nuts for tourism. I had one man show me his shop before I went into the Taj, and when I came out, he popped up outta nowhere and asked me what it is that I wanted. I just laughed and told him I wanted him to get away from me, as least harsh as possible. Sometimes, you just gotta slam your foot down.
I have a nice overnight bus ride to Haridwar tonight, then on to Rishikesh for a few days....boogie on upside.
Taj Mahal, sucka:
let er fly
Reid
I have a nice overnight bus ride to Haridwar tonight, then on to Rishikesh for a few days....boogie on upside.
Taj Mahal, sucka:
let er fly
Reid
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Not a big fan of Chennai...
Well, it's only because I had a bad experience. I said, I had a bad experience. In Kerala, I was convinced to skip Kanyakumari by my hotel host, Samesh, because there was nothing to see there, only the southern most tip of India. Somewhat reluctantly, I agreed and decided to go straight to Chennai after another night at the guesthouse I was in, which was a great place. In many ways, the exact reason I choose to go to some places is because there is nothing to see except the southern most tip of India, and for the sheer enjoyment of saying I went there. However, the combined coaxing and thought of being short on time made me cut it out of the plan and head to Chennai before making the long trek to Agra. Needless to say, I will be coming back...maybe to make an exclusive trip to Kanyakumari to see nothing at all. THERE. In your face, Samesh.
The journey to Chennai has been one of my worst by far. I had to reserve a ticket last minute, so I got stuck with a sleeper-car chair seat, not a bed, for 14 hours. It wasn't so bad after we got going, and after 3 or 4 hours a man boarded the train and offered to switch his bed for my seat, which was just above it. After a few more hours of frequently interrupted sleep (mainly food vendors and the men that sell coffee with their heavy accents, so it sounds like 'copy copy copy copy copy' ) , I felt a little bit of the famed "Delhi Belly" coming on. I tried to fight it in my mind and prove that I wouldn't be susceptible to it at this point in my travels. But sure enough, there I was, ralphin' out the side of a speeding Indian train in the the middle of the night on way to Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Hence, the terrible night on the train and onset of some sickness made for a very bad introduction to Chennai. I arrived exhausted and dehydrated, without an idea where my hostel was in a very big city. I found a pre-paid taxi, which took me to the Salvation Army guesthouse I had booked for and entered my fairly dilapidated room, ready to pass out. To make matters worse, I sharted. Yes, that's right, I sharted. If you don't know what that means, look it up or ask a friend. I won't go into details, but let's just say I'm glad I brought some extra t.p. and there was a wash bucket nearby.
Let me be clear people, this stuff just happens. It's India, and I'm a foreigner. I don't mean to complain, and I've been in mostly good spirits about it. I met some older men from Holland and Switzerland, also backpacking, and we have shared a couple of meals together so far. There are valleys of sorrow in our lives, and they can really beat us up. But there is always a river of joy waiting, and that river came when I finally found someone who helped me with my train tickets. The ticket to Agra was not confirmed and I was on the waiting list, but the lady at the reservation office in Chennai sorted it out, and made it clear that I have a guaranteed seat on the long, 25 hour trip to the north. The Lord is showing me the meaning of relying on Him, and singing praise even in the crappiest of train rides or hostel stays. My experiences with travel troubles are nothing compared to the vast poverty and brokenness of this subcontinent, which I see every day in various ways, always giving me something to ponder and to pray for. Tomorrow morning (6.12.09) I will be on my way to Agra to see a gleaming white tomb and a red fort, then on to Rishikesh to relax and get my yoga on ;]
let 'er flyyy
Reid
The journey to Chennai has been one of my worst by far. I had to reserve a ticket last minute, so I got stuck with a sleeper-car chair seat, not a bed, for 14 hours. It wasn't so bad after we got going, and after 3 or 4 hours a man boarded the train and offered to switch his bed for my seat, which was just above it. After a few more hours of frequently interrupted sleep (mainly food vendors and the men that sell coffee with their heavy accents, so it sounds like 'copy copy copy copy copy' ) , I felt a little bit of the famed "Delhi Belly" coming on. I tried to fight it in my mind and prove that I wouldn't be susceptible to it at this point in my travels. But sure enough, there I was, ralphin' out the side of a speeding Indian train in the the middle of the night on way to Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Hence, the terrible night on the train and onset of some sickness made for a very bad introduction to Chennai. I arrived exhausted and dehydrated, without an idea where my hostel was in a very big city. I found a pre-paid taxi, which took me to the Salvation Army guesthouse I had booked for and entered my fairly dilapidated room, ready to pass out. To make matters worse, I sharted. Yes, that's right, I sharted. If you don't know what that means, look it up or ask a friend. I won't go into details, but let's just say I'm glad I brought some extra t.p. and there was a wash bucket nearby.
Let me be clear people, this stuff just happens. It's India, and I'm a foreigner. I don't mean to complain, and I've been in mostly good spirits about it. I met some older men from Holland and Switzerland, also backpacking, and we have shared a couple of meals together so far. There are valleys of sorrow in our lives, and they can really beat us up. But there is always a river of joy waiting, and that river came when I finally found someone who helped me with my train tickets. The ticket to Agra was not confirmed and I was on the waiting list, but the lady at the reservation office in Chennai sorted it out, and made it clear that I have a guaranteed seat on the long, 25 hour trip to the north. The Lord is showing me the meaning of relying on Him, and singing praise even in the crappiest of train rides or hostel stays. My experiences with travel troubles are nothing compared to the vast poverty and brokenness of this subcontinent, which I see every day in various ways, always giving me something to ponder and to pray for. Tomorrow morning (6.12.09) I will be on my way to Agra to see a gleaming white tomb and a red fort, then on to Rishikesh to relax and get my yoga on ;]
let 'er flyyy
Reid
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
To the south I go...
An interesting conversation I had with a man that I stayed with in Calicut, Kerala, especially if you know about Young Life/Oregon's history :
Me: You have a very nice home, it's just you and your wife?
Krishna: Yes.
Me: Oh, that's nice. (I started staring at a poster on the wall)
Krishna: You know of Osho?
Me: Um, no, but I have been noticing you have many of his posters on your walls.
Krishna: Yes, he is my leader. He has passed. You said you are from Oregon?
Me: Yes, I am.
Krishna: Osho spent most of his life in Oregon, maybe you have heard about him?
Me: I'm not sure, but he does look very familiar, does he go by any other name?
Krishna (looking very stern) : Rajneesh.
Keep in my mind I was told that this man was a friend of someone in Pen, so I figured it was a safe place to stay, and indeed it was. However, I changed my plan of staying two nights to just one after I learned of his Bhagwan connections, as I felt a little skeptical of his motives. He was in fact a very nice man that took me in and fed me, which was great not to have to spend any money there, and he seemed very dedicated to his job as a primary school teacher and yoga instructor. However, I was really kind of freaked out from all the books he had written by Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, and decided to get the heck outta there :]
Currently, I am Alleppey, Kerala on a last minute decision to see the backwaters here. It is an incredibly beautiful place; very tropical looking and rich with culture. The trains I have taken to get here have been some of the most memorable experiences...one being crammed into a sleeper compartment with two, hash-smoking, jackandpepsi-drinkin, obnoxious Russians and a man in the Indian Navy. On another train, which was a little emptier, I decided to do like the Indians do and lean out the open car door for a peak at the scenary when my hand slipped on the rail and I just barely hung on for dear life. God is good.
More updates coming....
let 'er fly!
Reid
Me: You have a very nice home, it's just you and your wife?
Krishna: Yes.
Me: Oh, that's nice. (I started staring at a poster on the wall)
Krishna: You know of Osho?
Me: Um, no, but I have been noticing you have many of his posters on your walls.
Krishna: Yes, he is my leader. He has passed. You said you are from Oregon?
Me: Yes, I am.
Krishna: Osho spent most of his life in Oregon, maybe you have heard about him?
Me: I'm not sure, but he does look very familiar, does he go by any other name?
Krishna (looking very stern) : Rajneesh.
Keep in my mind I was told that this man was a friend of someone in Pen, so I figured it was a safe place to stay, and indeed it was. However, I changed my plan of staying two nights to just one after I learned of his Bhagwan connections, as I felt a little skeptical of his motives. He was in fact a very nice man that took me in and fed me, which was great not to have to spend any money there, and he seemed very dedicated to his job as a primary school teacher and yoga instructor. However, I was really kind of freaked out from all the books he had written by Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, and decided to get the heck outta there :]
Currently, I am Alleppey, Kerala on a last minute decision to see the backwaters here. It is an incredibly beautiful place; very tropical looking and rich with culture. The trains I have taken to get here have been some of the most memorable experiences...one being crammed into a sleeper compartment with two, hash-smoking, jackandpepsi-drinkin, obnoxious Russians and a man in the Indian Navy. On another train, which was a little emptier, I decided to do like the Indians do and lean out the open car door for a peak at the scenary when my hand slipped on the rail and I just barely hung on for dear life. God is good.
More updates coming....
let 'er fly!
Reid
Monday, November 23, 2009
boogie across India
This is my final week here in Pen, Maharashtra, and it's closing up fast. The amount of activities Jessica and I are doing has dwindled considerably; with the end in sight and the November temperature sitting at a blazing 30 degrees centigrade, we both feel a little apathetic. But, things are gettin a little wild at the end of the week. For those of you who don't know, I'll be backpacking for my last two weeks here, and coming home December 17th. I thought I might give you my tentative schedule of travel just to put the area of India in perspective....these are cities and states:
First stop, arriving in Anjuna, Goa on Nov 27th.
On to Calicut/Alleppey, Kerala on Nov 29th.
On to Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu by Dec 2nd.
Up to Chennai, Tamil Nadu by the 5th.
Taking a long ass train ride on the 6th, and reaching Agra, Uttar Pradesh by Dec 7.
Leaving the next day for Rishikesh, Uttarkhand, and staying until the 14th, where I will then make my way back to Mumbai, owiee!
let er fly,
reid
First stop, arriving in Anjuna, Goa on Nov 27th.
On to Calicut/Alleppey, Kerala on Nov 29th.
On to Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu by Dec 2nd.
Up to Chennai, Tamil Nadu by the 5th.
Taking a long ass train ride on the 6th, and reaching Agra, Uttar Pradesh by Dec 7.
Leaving the next day for Rishikesh, Uttarkhand, and staying until the 14th, where I will then make my way back to Mumbai, owiee!
let er fly,
reid
T.I.I.
In India, It's common practice to drive as impatiently as possible and risk weaving through oncoming traffic just to get in front of a bus or cow.
The interns and I take daily note of ridiculous things that take place here, shocking us but seem so normal to the people here. For instance, the public bus and rail systems seem to have no order or rules, and I have literally seen men push and shove and fight as they bottlenecked onto a simple inter city bus, or someone may put their fanny directly into your face while attempting to squeeze into a seat next to you. Just the other day, I saw an elderly man slowly bend down and pick up a rock and feebly throw it at a barking dog. It's dangerous to ride a motorcycle here, not just because of the traffic and people on the side of the road, but because the tires might slip out on a fresh cow pie. When it comes down to it, we just have to laugh at things if they are completely frustrating or if something seems totally ludicrous, and just say 'T.I.I.' 'This is India." And I have to be honest, I actually stole this line from the movie "Blood Diamond" where Leo uses the phrase 'T.I.A.' (This is Africa). The cultural differences here are incredibly vast, and I often cannot finds the words to explain it to someone, or describe it accurately. So, for now, T.I.I.
as someone here once spelled my name,
Rid
The interns and I take daily note of ridiculous things that take place here, shocking us but seem so normal to the people here. For instance, the public bus and rail systems seem to have no order or rules, and I have literally seen men push and shove and fight as they bottlenecked onto a simple inter city bus, or someone may put their fanny directly into your face while attempting to squeeze into a seat next to you. Just the other day, I saw an elderly man slowly bend down and pick up a rock and feebly throw it at a barking dog. It's dangerous to ride a motorcycle here, not just because of the traffic and people on the side of the road, but because the tires might slip out on a fresh cow pie. When it comes down to it, we just have to laugh at things if they are completely frustrating or if something seems totally ludicrous, and just say 'T.I.I.' 'This is India." And I have to be honest, I actually stole this line from the movie "Blood Diamond" where Leo uses the phrase 'T.I.A.' (This is Africa). The cultural differences here are incredibly vast, and I often cannot finds the words to explain it to someone, or describe it accurately. So, for now, T.I.I.
as someone here once spelled my name,
Rid
Monday, November 16, 2009
Coming and Going...
Here I am again in Cyberlink Communications, our local internet cafe with an appropriate cheesy title. Regretfully, I have taken a brief hiatus from blogging, as I simply have not had the time or energy to come here and write about what is going on here and my feelings on the matter. There has been plenty to talk about, but with an inconvenient schedule and crappy internet connection, I have not been able to do some of my experiences justice. The good news is that I have mostly everything written in my journal...so whenever I get around to reading my journal over, I'll post a blog. Sounds promising, doesn't it?
Anyway, one of the biggest things I am realizing right now is how fast the end is coming. I knew it from the beginning, that my time here would fly by, but it was not until this past Friday that I realized I have only two weeks of my program left. I plan on traveling afterwards, so I have about a month left to go, but still, I am 2/3 of the way through. For the past two weeks, we had someone by the name of Mohit join us in our bungalow. Mohit is a cancer researcher from Canada, who decided to come here on his own and volunteer with the India Study Abroad Center for two weeks, who placed him with us to work with CFI. His hope was similar to mine, in that he wanted to see medical practices and public health care in a rural area of a developing country. I have to say, it was awesome having a male around for two weeks...not that I don't like the girls, but it was nice to talk to a guy for a change and have someone explain cricket to me. During his time here, I kind of revisited some of the things I did when I first got here, so he would have some company...we went with the mobile vans and visited the government/CFI hospital to see different surgeries, as well as visit a school called Suhit Jeevan Trust, which caters to students who are mentally handicapped and hearing impaired. All this was always accompanied by endless confusion and waiting for people to get their butts in gear.
During the second week Mohit was here, Kelly left for Mumbai. She left us. She left us. Kelly was offered another sort of option to finish her internship in Mumbai, spending time in an orphanage with kids who are victims of HIV/AIDS, or whose parents are victims of the same. While we were all sad to see her go, this was a great opportunity for her and having heard from her since, she is doing great. Now, it's just Jessica and I, which is a little bit lonely, but we are still having new experiences every day, sharing them with each other and becoming closer friends with our neighbours, who always have a cup of tea waiting for us if we want it :]
let 'er fly,
Reid
Anyway, one of the biggest things I am realizing right now is how fast the end is coming. I knew it from the beginning, that my time here would fly by, but it was not until this past Friday that I realized I have only two weeks of my program left. I plan on traveling afterwards, so I have about a month left to go, but still, I am 2/3 of the way through. For the past two weeks, we had someone by the name of Mohit join us in our bungalow. Mohit is a cancer researcher from Canada, who decided to come here on his own and volunteer with the India Study Abroad Center for two weeks, who placed him with us to work with CFI. His hope was similar to mine, in that he wanted to see medical practices and public health care in a rural area of a developing country. I have to say, it was awesome having a male around for two weeks...not that I don't like the girls, but it was nice to talk to a guy for a change and have someone explain cricket to me. During his time here, I kind of revisited some of the things I did when I first got here, so he would have some company...we went with the mobile vans and visited the government/CFI hospital to see different surgeries, as well as visit a school called Suhit Jeevan Trust, which caters to students who are mentally handicapped and hearing impaired. All this was always accompanied by endless confusion and waiting for people to get their butts in gear.
During the second week Mohit was here, Kelly left for Mumbai. She left us. She left us. Kelly was offered another sort of option to finish her internship in Mumbai, spending time in an orphanage with kids who are victims of HIV/AIDS, or whose parents are victims of the same. While we were all sad to see her go, this was a great opportunity for her and having heard from her since, she is doing great. Now, it's just Jessica and I, which is a little bit lonely, but we are still having new experiences every day, sharing them with each other and becoming closer friends with our neighbours, who always have a cup of tea waiting for us if we want it :]
let 'er fly,
Reid
Monday, October 26, 2009
Happy Diwali! or How I nearly lost my hearing and two fingers...
October is indeed a very festive time for all of India. Two holidays in the beginning of the month, one called Desra, and on October 15th - 17th, the festival called Diwali takes place (also called the Festival of Lights). Kids get 15 days out of school, working folks get the Monday following the festival off, for more time to spend with family. This time of year for Indians could be compared to our holiday season, kind of like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years all wrapped into one. Each day there is a different set of events and celebration, but the general theme is to eat as much food as you can and blow up as many firecrackers as you can. Being a lover of Independence Day myself, and things that go boom, I had to try out some of these Indian firecrackers. Now I realize why they are illegal in most states. In fact, the fireworks here would probably be illegal in all of the U.S. Even the small firecrackers are loud enough to make your heart race, and I lit a few off pretty darn close to my face. The problem is with the fuses...they burn to quick to get adequate distance, so lighting them and running away will simply not do. Ergo, I would light them in my hand and throw....as fast as I could. On one occasion, the fuse was so faulty it blew up before I could get it completely out of my hand, and I am so thankful that I still have all my fingers with no marks of any kind.
Aside from having a bit of a festival by myself, the girls and I also took a trip to Pune by bus. The bus ride takes about 4 hours, and the travel there really exasuted us, because you can't forget the auto rickshaw ride to our hostel which was the bumpiest ride I have ever been on. Our hostel was perched atop a huge hill, about 30 minutes outside the city, and gave us a grand view of the nearby scenary. After we were settled in our room, into the city we went where we spent the day walking around shopping (the girls shopped, I got a beer.) and seeing more Diwali festivities. We had lunch and dinner in the city, at Domino's Pizza and McDonald's respectively. It was great to get some food that wasn't loaded with chilis and spices, a little taste of the glory you could say, even if the burger I had at McDee's was some kind of spicy chicken thing. The fries were just like home :]
If the firecrackers I did by myself were not enough to blow out my typanic membranes, the rickshaw ride through the city at night was. As soon as it got dark, the city lit up with loud bangs and mortars in the sky; a beautiful sight but also complete chaos. A few times we actually ran over a few exploding cherry bombs. Paper schrapnel doesn't hurt, but it scares the hell out of ya, nonetheless.
let er fly,
Reid
Aside from having a bit of a festival by myself, the girls and I also took a trip to Pune by bus. The bus ride takes about 4 hours, and the travel there really exasuted us, because you can't forget the auto rickshaw ride to our hostel which was the bumpiest ride I have ever been on. Our hostel was perched atop a huge hill, about 30 minutes outside the city, and gave us a grand view of the nearby scenary. After we were settled in our room, into the city we went where we spent the day walking around shopping (the girls shopped, I got a beer.) and seeing more Diwali festivities. We had lunch and dinner in the city, at Domino's Pizza and McDonald's respectively. It was great to get some food that wasn't loaded with chilis and spices, a little taste of the glory you could say, even if the burger I had at McDee's was some kind of spicy chicken thing. The fries were just like home :]
If the firecrackers I did by myself were not enough to blow out my typanic membranes, the rickshaw ride through the city at night was. As soon as it got dark, the city lit up with loud bangs and mortars in the sky; a beautiful sight but also complete chaos. A few times we actually ran over a few exploding cherry bombs. Paper schrapnel doesn't hurt, but it scares the hell out of ya, nonetheless.
let er fly,
Reid
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Alibag or bust
ok, so, there is a lot going on, and much to update. So many praises, but many frustrations as well.
We are definitely feeling like we are more into a routine now, but I for one am not pleased with the routine itself. The first two weeks we were here, the three of us were more or less guided around town, into the CFI office, and through some introductory field work in villages. This had its pros and cons, but we had a general idea of what we were doing for the day, and we were occupied with the task of getting to where we needed to go. Now, there does not seem to be any criteria or even requirement to work, it really all depends on our personal motivation to get going and take on a task. Don't get me wrong, I am motivated in just being here...I am so eager to learn more about the medical world, as well as the different aspects of social work. And I am learning, and contemplating, and questioning things I had never questioned before. It's good. The amount of personal reflection I go through in one day is amazing, and I could not get this kind of experience anywhere else. I will share more of this personal reflection later, but the point I am trying to make is that it's like I just showed up for the first day of kindergarten, and there is no teacher. I get to school with my lunch pail and I'm so jazzed to color with crayons and eat paste, take a nap, and learn my left from right, but there is no one there to tell me what to do. Now, as exciting as that freedom may sound, it can become chaos very fast. It would just be nice to have some direction on a daily basis, as opposed to a few suggestions of what to do in the day. This is one thing I definitely need prayer for, in that I would have tolerance for the way they do things and that I would learn to take initiative on things even though I don't know how to do them. It is hard to explain just how different it is here, with all the cultural challenges, climate, religion, and the STARING. We were always taught not to stare in the states, and sometimes it frustrates the heck out of me when every person on the block is looking directly at me with no expression at all. Just something to get used to...
Anyway, I also wanted to share a little bit about our adventure to Alibag, a town on the Arabian Sea about 20 km away from Pen. Last Saturday, Kelly and I (Jessica was not feelin' fine) hopped on a bus headed for Alibag, costing us each a whopping 20 rupees. *Just a reminder, 1$ = ~45 rupees * It was so great to get out of our town for a few hours and just explore. We ate lunch in a nice restaurant, had some kabobs and other delicious food, and the best part: a cold, refreshing 650 mL Fosters! All for about 350 rupees each. Then we made our way to the beach, took some pictures, gathered some shells, and took turns swimming/watching our bags. We had a blast, and nice to get some salt on the skin that wasn't from sweat ;] Here are a few pictures:
Playin ball with some locals:
Sunset from our balcony in Pen:
Let 'er fly,
Reid
We are definitely feeling like we are more into a routine now, but I for one am not pleased with the routine itself. The first two weeks we were here, the three of us were more or less guided around town, into the CFI office, and through some introductory field work in villages. This had its pros and cons, but we had a general idea of what we were doing for the day, and we were occupied with the task of getting to where we needed to go. Now, there does not seem to be any criteria or even requirement to work, it really all depends on our personal motivation to get going and take on a task. Don't get me wrong, I am motivated in just being here...I am so eager to learn more about the medical world, as well as the different aspects of social work. And I am learning, and contemplating, and questioning things I had never questioned before. It's good. The amount of personal reflection I go through in one day is amazing, and I could not get this kind of experience anywhere else. I will share more of this personal reflection later, but the point I am trying to make is that it's like I just showed up for the first day of kindergarten, and there is no teacher. I get to school with my lunch pail and I'm so jazzed to color with crayons and eat paste, take a nap, and learn my left from right, but there is no one there to tell me what to do. Now, as exciting as that freedom may sound, it can become chaos very fast. It would just be nice to have some direction on a daily basis, as opposed to a few suggestions of what to do in the day. This is one thing I definitely need prayer for, in that I would have tolerance for the way they do things and that I would learn to take initiative on things even though I don't know how to do them. It is hard to explain just how different it is here, with all the cultural challenges, climate, religion, and the STARING. We were always taught not to stare in the states, and sometimes it frustrates the heck out of me when every person on the block is looking directly at me with no expression at all. Just something to get used to...
Anyway, I also wanted to share a little bit about our adventure to Alibag, a town on the Arabian Sea about 20 km away from Pen. Last Saturday, Kelly and I (Jessica was not feelin' fine) hopped on a bus headed for Alibag, costing us each a whopping 20 rupees. *Just a reminder, 1$ = ~45 rupees * It was so great to get out of our town for a few hours and just explore. We ate lunch in a nice restaurant, had some kabobs and other delicious food, and the best part: a cold, refreshing 650 mL Fosters! All for about 350 rupees each. Then we made our way to the beach, took some pictures, gathered some shells, and took turns swimming/watching our bags. We had a blast, and nice to get some salt on the skin that wasn't from sweat ;] Here are a few pictures:
This was actually take in Murud, a smaller town a few km south:
Playin ball with some locals:
Sunset from our balcony in Pen:
Let 'er fly,
Reid
Monday, October 5, 2009
CFI
I feel like I did not do CFI (Children's Future India) justice in my last post. I highlighted most of the flaws that I have seen, and not the good stuff. Believe me, there is an incredible amount of good stuff done by this organization. It is important to point out that the backbone of what is done at CFI is the sponsorship program. This is a program set up to help children in the area, both in the city and in rural villages, get education and healthcare for absolutely no cost to their family. The program was set up and is funded by an organization in Norway, and they contribute the funds necessary to sponsor over 3,000 kiddos. The sponsoring takes the kids all the way through higher education, or graduate school or whatever they might need to specialize in something, up to the point where they start their career. It is amazing to see the social workers here dedicate themselves to meeting the children and constantly writing progress reports, modifying what any particular child may need.
In addition to this department, there is a department for HIV/AIDS awareness, general social work, women's community, healthcare, and they even have their own hospital, where residents can get treatment and surgeries for free. More details on the intricacies of CFI later....
let er' fly,
Reid
In addition to this department, there is a department for HIV/AIDS awareness, general social work, women's community, healthcare, and they even have their own hospital, where residents can get treatment and surgeries for free. More details on the intricacies of CFI later....
let er' fly,
Reid
Sunday, October 4, 2009
No dog is neutered and all cows have diarrhea...
....these are just two of the many differences between the U.S. and India I have noticed so far. It is fairly inconvenient when, every place you walk, you have to be on the lookout for piles of fecal matter from dogs, cows, or goats. Kelly, one of my fellow interns, hopped out of our truck the other day and her foot planted right into a glob of the good stuff, which is especially unfortunate because it is mostly runny in nature. Taking a walk to the market to get some bananas just may have a few surprises :]
Anyway, I want to give you an idea of what I am actually doing here, as that was actually pretty unclear even to me before I arrived. I'm not even in the same city as I previously thought...I am in Pen, if you are wondering. The two other interns and myself work for an organization called CFI, or Children's Future India. This multi-faceted NGO has buildings in most of the states in India, with sub-unit office buildings in the different districts of the states. We are in Raigad, Maharashtra. I must say, it has been overwhelming getting to know this organization, as we are constantly working with different people every day. On top of that, each department of CFI has its own project going on, and there is little communication between departments. This works for them, because they know the needs of the community and do not need coordination or approval the other departments. So we are stuck sometimes, being told to work with a specific department and that department not even knowing we are there. Needless to say, we have gotten used to waiting and making small talk in the office with our very poor Marathi.
Sharad, our program supervisor, does direct us where to go for the most part. The first week, he would have us meet a social worker, and we would travel with that social worker to a village, or migrant worker camp and give a seminar on HIV/AIDS. Let me be clear though, we never have any idea of what they are saying or doing...we just follow and they explain later. It has been beneficial when the social workers bring brochures to help explain how to prevent disease and the misconceptions about it; they have pictures, so it gives us some idea of what they are telling the residents. The second week, we worked with a doctor and accompanied her in the mobile health vans (not actually vans but an SUV). This was an interesting. And very exhausting. In this situation, not having very much Marathi or Hindi was extremely challenging. The mobile vans only go to VERY rural villages where the people there speak little to no English. We would basically ride with the doctor and driver to the village on a less than comfortable bumpy road, take pictures of the beautiful scenery, get ogled by the villagers, watch the doctor give out medicine, and go home. The heat and humidity does not help either. While we did indeed feel quite useless, it was a big reminder that we are here to observe, not necessarily to help...but my hands-on nature compels me to learn a few more words in Marathi. I know there is something to be gained from hearing only a few medical words and getting somewhat of an explanation from the doctor about what problems and diseases that these villagers face.
Village pictures:
Well, we have a new week in front of us, and I have no idea of which department we will sample in, but I am ready to rock. All three of us are feeling a little more settled in now, and definitely able to talk about our frustrations together.
A quick word about the food....it's kinda like Mexican food: it makes your nose run and goes right through ya.
let er fly,
Reid
Anyway, I want to give you an idea of what I am actually doing here, as that was actually pretty unclear even to me before I arrived. I'm not even in the same city as I previously thought...I am in Pen, if you are wondering. The two other interns and myself work for an organization called CFI, or Children's Future India. This multi-faceted NGO has buildings in most of the states in India, with sub-unit office buildings in the different districts of the states. We are in Raigad, Maharashtra. I must say, it has been overwhelming getting to know this organization, as we are constantly working with different people every day. On top of that, each department of CFI has its own project going on, and there is little communication between departments. This works for them, because they know the needs of the community and do not need coordination or approval the other departments. So we are stuck sometimes, being told to work with a specific department and that department not even knowing we are there. Needless to say, we have gotten used to waiting and making small talk in the office with our very poor Marathi.
Sharad, our program supervisor, does direct us where to go for the most part. The first week, he would have us meet a social worker, and we would travel with that social worker to a village, or migrant worker camp and give a seminar on HIV/AIDS. Let me be clear though, we never have any idea of what they are saying or doing...we just follow and they explain later. It has been beneficial when the social workers bring brochures to help explain how to prevent disease and the misconceptions about it; they have pictures, so it gives us some idea of what they are telling the residents. The second week, we worked with a doctor and accompanied her in the mobile health vans (not actually vans but an SUV). This was an interesting. And very exhausting. In this situation, not having very much Marathi or Hindi was extremely challenging. The mobile vans only go to VERY rural villages where the people there speak little to no English. We would basically ride with the doctor and driver to the village on a less than comfortable bumpy road, take pictures of the beautiful scenery, get ogled by the villagers, watch the doctor give out medicine, and go home. The heat and humidity does not help either. While we did indeed feel quite useless, it was a big reminder that we are here to observe, not necessarily to help...but my hands-on nature compels me to learn a few more words in Marathi. I know there is something to be gained from hearing only a few medical words and getting somewhat of an explanation from the doctor about what problems and diseases that these villagers face.
Village pictures:
Well, we have a new week in front of us, and I have no idea of which department we will sample in, but I am ready to rock. All three of us are feeling a little more settled in now, and definitely able to talk about our frustrations together.
A quick word about the food....it's kinda like Mexican food: it makes your nose run and goes right through ya.
let er fly,
Reid
Friday, September 25, 2009
Honking Redefined
Hello! It has been a while....writing a good update has been difficult without a steady internet source. However, I am now feeling established in Pen, India, where I will reside for the next 10 weeks in India, so I should be able to update regularly. There is a local internet hangout, which is a nice place to escape the house and heat for a little while.
A brief recap on the travel before arriving here in India....After my mother and I finished up in the UK, we were on to Berlin, Germany to see the city and then begin our trek through the country by car. Berlin was an amazing thing to see; very fast and industrious. I have found that I really don't do well with big cities for a long time, so it was nice to pick up our car and hit the road to Munich, or Munchen as it is in Deutsch. It was a quick one, as I tested the autobahn out with a nice cruising speed of about 160 km/hr (top speed was 200 km/hr!) owieee!! In Munich, we met up with my dear friend and brother Mr Tony Williams. The three of us then traveled throughout southern Germany and the Bavarian Alps, with too many adventures to discuss here. We finally left the car in Konstanz, Germany, then rocked and rolled to Zurich, Lucerne, Venice, Florence, and lastly Rome. Sooo many astounding sights and experiences, and memories that will last forever. We had our moments of frustration and exaustion, but with the occasional cheap Italian beer on the steps of a church in Florence and good rest in the seats of a Kia See'd outside a hotel in Konstanz, we all agreed that the trip had been a success.
Now for a few details on life so far in India. I write this not to complain in any way, but hopefully to give you a taste of how different this country is from the U.S. India is VERY populous, even in small cities. More people means more waste, commercial and human, more traffic, more of everything. Because there are so many people, it is much more difficult to maintain sanitation, *clean* water distribution, among many other things. We live in a town called Pen, where 60,000 people live and work. I live in a two bedroom bunglow with two girls, Kelly and Jessica. The girls share a room and a bathroom, and I have my own room and bathroom. The bathroom is set up with a shower, toilet, and sink in one small room. Bathing is an intersting endeavor. The shower heads in both bathrooms have not been functional for quite some time, so the method of choice is to fill a bucket with water, and use a small pitcher to soak up and to rinse, with a later-up in between. It's right up my alley. An additional use to this bathroom is the ability to wash our clothes. Same procedure as the shower really, just fill the bucket with soap and water, dunk your clothes and rinse them in a different bucket with clean water, hang to dry. While we are no longer priveledged with the comforts and conveniences life in the states, this is how life is here, and adjusting to these differences is part of the journey. I have probably missed many details about home life so please feel free to ask questions through facebook or email, and I can try to answer them next time.
In regard to honking...Indians do not use their horns out of frustration or panic or their discontent with another driver....they use their horns merrily and incessantly to let others know they are there. Five seconds does not go by on an Indian street without hearing 5-10 loud honks, in every form. It's quite annoying.
I am eager to write more as my time goes on here, as there are many sights, sounds, and smells worth sharing on a daily basis, but I will try giving a weekly update of what we have experienced in our program. Many thanks to all who are praying for me; I will need continual prayers for our safety and strength to press on in a strange world.
Grab a hold of whatcha got,
Reid
A brief recap on the travel before arriving here in India....After my mother and I finished up in the UK, we were on to Berlin, Germany to see the city and then begin our trek through the country by car. Berlin was an amazing thing to see; very fast and industrious. I have found that I really don't do well with big cities for a long time, so it was nice to pick up our car and hit the road to Munich, or Munchen as it is in Deutsch. It was a quick one, as I tested the autobahn out with a nice cruising speed of about 160 km/hr (top speed was 200 km/hr!) owieee!! In Munich, we met up with my dear friend and brother Mr Tony Williams. The three of us then traveled throughout southern Germany and the Bavarian Alps, with too many adventures to discuss here. We finally left the car in Konstanz, Germany, then rocked and rolled to Zurich, Lucerne, Venice, Florence, and lastly Rome. Sooo many astounding sights and experiences, and memories that will last forever. We had our moments of frustration and exaustion, but with the occasional cheap Italian beer on the steps of a church in Florence and good rest in the seats of a Kia See'd outside a hotel in Konstanz, we all agreed that the trip had been a success.
Now for a few details on life so far in India. I write this not to complain in any way, but hopefully to give you a taste of how different this country is from the U.S. India is VERY populous, even in small cities. More people means more waste, commercial and human, more traffic, more of everything. Because there are so many people, it is much more difficult to maintain sanitation, *clean* water distribution, among many other things. We live in a town called Pen, where 60,000 people live and work. I live in a two bedroom bunglow with two girls, Kelly and Jessica. The girls share a room and a bathroom, and I have my own room and bathroom. The bathroom is set up with a shower, toilet, and sink in one small room. Bathing is an intersting endeavor. The shower heads in both bathrooms have not been functional for quite some time, so the method of choice is to fill a bucket with water, and use a small pitcher to soak up and to rinse, with a later-up in between. It's right up my alley. An additional use to this bathroom is the ability to wash our clothes. Same procedure as the shower really, just fill the bucket with soap and water, dunk your clothes and rinse them in a different bucket with clean water, hang to dry. While we are no longer priveledged with the comforts and conveniences life in the states, this is how life is here, and adjusting to these differences is part of the journey. I have probably missed many details about home life so please feel free to ask questions through facebook or email, and I can try to answer them next time.
In regard to honking...Indians do not use their horns out of frustration or panic or their discontent with another driver....they use their horns merrily and incessantly to let others know they are there. Five seconds does not go by on an Indian street without hearing 5-10 loud honks, in every form. It's quite annoying.
I am eager to write more as my time goes on here, as there are many sights, sounds, and smells worth sharing on a daily basis, but I will try giving a weekly update of what we have experienced in our program. Many thanks to all who are praying for me; I will need continual prayers for our safety and strength to press on in a strange world.
Grab a hold of whatcha got,
Reid
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Monday, September 7, 2009
London Heathrow
greetings! Deborah and I are currently waiting for our flight to Berlin from the London airport. We had such an incredible time in Dubin and Edinburgh, although the bustle of city walking can get rather exausting. The highlights of the trip so far were seeing Ray LaMontagne in Dubliin and the Edinburgh Castle. There was a lovely statue of William Wallace adorning the gates to the castle...it was a heart-freeing moment. Now we are on toBerlin where we will rent a car and have a bit more freedom with our time...we also get to meet Tony in Munich. nothin to it, but to do it!
Cheers!
Reid
Cheers!
Reid
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Reid Harrison - travel idiot?
A part of me wishes traveling abroad was still like it was before the Wright Brothers started messin around with wood and glue at Kitty Hawk, NC, and people still had the patience to take a several month journey by horse and ship. Yes, this might seem absurd, but so does cramming yourself on an airplane with hundreds of potentially sick people with snappy flight attendants and children screaming so loud as though they were actually being strangled by their parents. (that was for you Tony) I feel bad for the kiddos; so happy in the terminal, but when confined to a small space with no room to play, the tears start flowin'. Another issue I have with air travel is that the flight attendants NEVER give you enough time to finish your tiny snack and ginger ale before coming back again, demanding your trash. Maybe it's because I eat slow. Whatev. What I am really trying to say here is that I don't sleep well on planes, and I will ALWAYS be startled by the flush in airplane bathrooms.
let 'er fly,
Reid
let 'er fly,
Reid
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Nighthawk Chronicles
Now that work and summer school has ended, I have truly felt the freedom of what summer should be for a student like me. The responsibility of a job and going to class every day was a rigorous endeavor, but definitely contributed to growth in my faith in Christ, and shaped my summer for the good. As some may know, I lived in a canvas army tent for six weeks in July and August, along with two excellent men; Tony Williams and Graham Kelley....each in their own separate tents. I recommend tent living to anyone in search of a simple life with low upkeep, bugs, and filthy belongings.
I am writing right now mainly to tell of an adventure I took to the coast, shortly after I was relieved of summer school and work duties...relieved in the literal sense as I peed my pants as soon as it was over.
After the tent was packed away, I loaded up smokey the nighthawk (my honda motorcycle) and headed up 99w towards McMinneville. I then took hwy 18 west where it met up with hwy 22 towards Tillamook. A quick stop at the cheese factory was necessary, as there were plenty of free samples to go around, then on to Rockaway beach on hwy 101. There I met up with the wedding party of Devin Smith; brother to Reid Smith and son to David Smith...whom I consider to be my own kin, the dirty dogs they are. It was a blessing to see them and catch up, but as they were on their own agenda for the upcoming wedding, I decided to do some solo wanderin' up 101. Falcon Cape in Oswald West state park was the destination. I parked the hog, grabbed my gear and hiked up the trail to a secluded spot on the cloudy, misty cape. The solitude I experienced was exactly what my soul needed after a busy summer, and the details of which I will keep to myself. It was a great time to reflect on my life and my walk with the Lord, which is an ever changing one, all the while admiring the mighty Pacific!
Seeyalaters took place with the Smiths, and I took the the road again, up 101 and east on hwy 26 back to Cedar Mill. However, God had different plans for the journey home. We never really know how or why "bad" things happen, and I always catch myself thinking that I could have done just one thing differently in order to change how something takes place. The bottom line, in my belief as a Christian, things happen for a specific reason, and that reason is often a mystery to us. For some reason, I crashed my motorcycle heading up hwy 101. Some may say that I just got a job with NASA and I was just spacin out a little too much. But, I reacted to some stopped traffic somewhat hastily with a quick stop and a turn to the left. Laid it down to the left, totaling the bike and leaving me with a few scrapes and a sprained ankle. I am thankful I was not more hurt, and even more thankful for the family that graciously stopped and took me all the way to Portland.
Tragic ending to the trip? Not in the least. A bummer, yes, but I am still rockin and rollin.
I am writing right now mainly to tell of an adventure I took to the coast, shortly after I was relieved of summer school and work duties...relieved in the literal sense as I peed my pants as soon as it was over.
After the tent was packed away, I loaded up smokey the nighthawk (my honda motorcycle) and headed up 99w towards McMinneville. I then took hwy 18 west where it met up with hwy 22 towards Tillamook. A quick stop at the cheese factory was necessary, as there were plenty of free samples to go around, then on to Rockaway beach on hwy 101. There I met up with the wedding party of Devin Smith; brother to Reid Smith and son to David Smith...whom I consider to be my own kin, the dirty dogs they are. It was a blessing to see them and catch up, but as they were on their own agenda for the upcoming wedding, I decided to do some solo wanderin' up 101. Falcon Cape in Oswald West state park was the destination. I parked the hog, grabbed my gear and hiked up the trail to a secluded spot on the cloudy, misty cape. The solitude I experienced was exactly what my soul needed after a busy summer, and the details of which I will keep to myself. It was a great time to reflect on my life and my walk with the Lord, which is an ever changing one, all the while admiring the mighty Pacific!
Seeyalaters took place with the Smiths, and I took the the road again, up 101 and east on hwy 26 back to Cedar Mill. However, God had different plans for the journey home. We never really know how or why "bad" things happen, and I always catch myself thinking that I could have done just one thing differently in order to change how something takes place. The bottom line, in my belief as a Christian, things happen for a specific reason, and that reason is often a mystery to us. For some reason, I crashed my motorcycle heading up hwy 101. Some may say that I just got a job with NASA and I was just spacin out a little too much. But, I reacted to some stopped traffic somewhat hastily with a quick stop and a turn to the left. Laid it down to the left, totaling the bike and leaving me with a few scrapes and a sprained ankle. I am thankful I was not more hurt, and even more thankful for the family that graciously stopped and took me all the way to Portland.
Tragic ending to the trip? Not in the least. A bummer, yes, but I am still rockin and rollin.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Dipping, of the skinny variation
Something that I have recently been pondering is how awesome skinny dipping is. If you have never been skinny dipping I strongly recommend it. Maybe I am just a total nut and I enjoy weird things like this, and I understand that some individuals might not be so comfortable with being nude, but it is something I love. There is a certain rush of adrenaline that comes from its rebellious nature, which in my mind, really reminds me that I am ALIVE! Jumping into sometimes very cold water and feeling it to the max brings such excitement to my soul. I recently partook in a skinny dip into the illustrious Puget Sound. Not only was it very dark outside and the water black and unknown, there were jellyfish a-swimmin' and a certain surprise...diatoms. Diatoms are microscopic algae that have high levels of Phosphorus in their cell bodies. When that Phosphorus is exposed to Oxygen, it glows. I only did some surface level research on diatoms, so please correct me if I'm wrong. But the point is, when my naked buddies and I jumped into this dark water, there was a brilliant blueish glow around us for a few seconds. Simply amazing sight.
We all need to be a little crazy once in a while, so get out their and enjoy being alive, naked or not. I will also say that while I am unmarried, same gender skinny dippin' is the way to go.
Grab a hold of whatcha got, and let 'er fly.
Reid
We all need to be a little crazy once in a while, so get out their and enjoy being alive, naked or not. I will also say that while I am unmarried, same gender skinny dippin' is the way to go.
Grab a hold of whatcha got, and let 'er fly.
Reid
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