[Eric R.] Initial Post

So, apparently my previous post is lost. I apologize! It was mostly about packing, and my running around to prepare for departure. I also gave a quick introduction to my project, and what I'll be working on while here. I will be sure to write about my project in the future.

This has certainly been an adventure, so far! I landed in Mumbai at 11.15p last night, and made it through customs and immigration very quickly. I was supposed to be looking for my driver, Santosh, who had a placard with my name on it. I exited the airport into a square surrounded by people, all holding placards! I had been warned of the smell – that I’d want to walk back inside and fly home. I can officially say, it’s not worth all the hype. Mumbai smells…humid, and a touch musty. But not bad.

I ended up using my phone briefly to call Santosh, and found him standing shyly in the corner with my placard: “Ayrik Reylan.” I suppose that’s close enough. I went with him to his car, and began the drive to Pune. Let me tell you, easier said than done. At first, there was only one tiny road. It wound through the slums of Mumbai, and had potholes and construction everywhere. Bikes and auto-rickshaws were weaving in and out of traffic, and sometimes the cars would come into the wrong lane to avoid a particularly large pothole (don’t forget they drive on the left, with the steering wheel on the right!). After leaving the island that Mumbai is on, we began to travel up into the mountains. Despite being about 1am, traffic was gridlocked. Going up into the mountains was slow going; cars were in the minority, and large trucks carrying carefully-balanced loads blocked most of the road. Driving on the shoulders was commonplace. My favorite sign I saw: “over-speeding causes accidents. Slow down.” Not speeding, just over-speeding. I heard (and sang along to) a medley from Kal Ho Naa Ho on the drive, and a few others I recognized from the films I’ve seen.

I rolled into Pune at 3.40a, and was greeted by Malik, who has become my guide for the time being. He showed me my room, and I was pleasantly surprised when he turned on the A.C. before leaving me for the night. I am fortunate enough to enjoy sleeping on a firm mattress; I think my bed is more like a cushion on a piece of plywood!

I slept very well, but briefly. I woke up at 8.30a when Malik walked in and asked if I’d like some tea. I said yes, of course, and came downstairs for some tea and crackers. He likes the word “going,” and uses it synonymously with “coming.” It made for some interesting conversation this morning, and we ended up walking a couple blocks around the guesthouse due to a misunderstanding (on my part, clearly!).

Malik asked me this morning if I was married; after clarifying to ensure I understood him, I quickly told him no! He laughed a bit, and said at 25/26/27 he will get married (he’s 20, I think). I told him I was only 21, and he told me I should start looking! We talked a little about our families, and bonded a bit. I hope we become friends!

Mr. Kumar, my contact at OHUM, is in Delhi today, and will be returning Saturday. However, I visited the OHUM office for an orientation this afternoon. There are two other interns starting with me; they are Masters in Health Administration (MHA) students (Ketaki and Yogindra). Yogindra is a doctor already, but is interested in managing a hospital. Apparently, about half of all Indian medical students do not practice medicine after graduation, but continue on to receive their MHA's, MBA's, etc. The three of us met with a number of employees at OHUM, and learned about their mission statement and their main piece of software, VistA. My task for the rest of the afternoon: read the 144-page user's manual to have more background information when I go to meet with doctors starting next week...wooo!!!!

-eric