[Brad] Week 4

Although I have learned that many things as we know them in the United States are merely relative conceptions in India, paying attention to time has been really surprising.  Firstly, research takes a lot of it.  Building rapport in a large organizational community is difficult.  Getting to know others and forming trust takes time and exposure.  I realized that it took almost three weeks before the allopathic medicine dispenser let me help dispensing medicines.  I don’t believe this was an example of distrust, but rather, I think that the clinic has very high standards of professionalism for its staff and volunteers, and after having problems trusting other volunteers (being listed in the Lonely Planet guidebook means that a lot of people ask for letters of invitation to apply for visas and then flake out), I think it took some time for everyone to feel comfortable with me helping.  Also, most of the time I get refusals when I offer to help because I am a guess.  I’ve never met people as generous as I have found here.  Setting up interviews is a painstakingly long process, as there is only a narrow window of opportunity during which a researcher can speak one-on-one with staff at the clinic. 

Many locals have a different perspective on time than I am accustomed to in the US.  Everyone at the NGO attended a play about children’s rights at a nearby school from 3-5 PM.  I, along with other volunteers, went at 3 PM, where we sat with the school kids for 45 minutes before the play started.  The play then ended before 4:45 PM.  I guess time is all relative in the basti. 

Setting up interviews is a multi-day affair, as the time you designate is often interrupted by unexpected appointments and quests, pushing data collection back constantly.  I can say that I have learned a lot of patience, and if that’s the only way in which I grow from this experience, that would be enough.