Funny Moments in Vellore

As we are getting ready to leave Vellore tomorrow morning, we've all shared our hospital stories but there have just been some funny moments about staying in the small town of Vellore for 2 weeks that have made this trip unique.

I think we can all agree that the Indian head nod has by far been one of the most complicating things to understand and master. Took us about a week to realize that the Indian head bob is not a definitive yes, or a no, but more of a yes/maybe/we'll try. No one tells you no here (except rickshaw drivers when you ask for too low of a price). The answer is usually yes, but it doesnt mean it will always happen. Accompany the ambiguous yes with the Indian head nod, and its a puzzle that we've all figured out by now (Alexis has even started to use it herself). Its not like our typical forward head nod which =yes, or our typical head shake for no, but in a different plane, more like a bobble head. It was confusing at first, but now we know that when someone shakes their head, its a yes, rather than a no. For example, at breakfast, when telling them our order, "Orange juice please and coffee". Followed by the head bob, which looks like a no and then we continued to repeat orange juice 10 more times thinking they were telling us no.

Rickshaw rides: another favorite part of our trip so far. Theyve become our morning and afternoon transportation to and from the hospital. You cant help but just crack up sometimes at the craziness of the traffic and then the bumpiness of the ride, combined with up to 5 of us crammed into 1 auto rickshaw, hanging on for dear life. A couple rides in particular have been memorable. Some where the driver is blasting indian music as they slam on and off the breaks and we're all sitting in the back with our heads just going back and forth. Today, we took a rickshaw, in the worst traffic, the hottest heat, Alexis hanging out the side bar, and just stop and go traffic. Its so different than anything we will ever experience in the US but is so much fun, such a different way to travel. Definitely one of my favorite parts of the day.

The power outages: a daily occurrence. Not quite sure why, but power outages are very common here. At first, a bit alarming, especially during inopportune moments (i.e. the 3 times Shivani has been mid-shower when everything goes black). Or mid-Twilight movie, all crammed in bed, anticipating the next cheesy line, and then everything goes black and then we all just start cracking up. Dinner on the roof top, and the power goes out 3 times in one dinner, and we now just keep on going with our conversation while not being able to see one another.

We've all learned now to lock our door after asking housekeeping to deliver something to the room as there seems to be no knocking protocol, but more of a general entrance policy. Unfortunately learned while putting on pajamas as housekeeping just starts opening the door to deliver towels as i'm hiding behind the door half dressed. Phone conversations become interesting when ordering things. For example, ordering tea and hot water and they show up with tea and bottled water. Or Jen asking for a floor towel and yelling into the phone "Floor mat! Like on the ground!" Not sure if they actually brought it.

One of my favorite moments was our Reliance Worldwide experience. After finding a high-speed reliance internet, we asked if they had high-speed computers and video cameras. After being told yes, Shivani, Caitlyn and I all bought a package of 15hrs for 100 rupees. Come back later that day (saturday), no cameras set up and the computers are slow as mud. Okay. He promises us to come back on Monday, internet will be fast, cameras will be working. Okay, come back on tuesday. Internet STILL slow, no cameras set up, ask him to help, he doesn't, then tells us we can use the camera in his office. Well at this point, Shivani and I have now gotten mad (which is never good). We decide to ask for our money back and to remove our names from their system. Shivani and I storm to the desk and she just takes it away. "You promised us high-speed internet - its slow. You promised us cameras and microphones - they're still not working. You lied! We want our money back". And I just stand there, nodding in agreeance and reiterating "Yea! We want our money back". Finally terrifying the manager, he just whips out his own wallet, gives us each 100 rupees and we leave defiant and feeling satisfied.

Tomorrow we pack up and leave for Mamallapuram, not sure what to expect seeing as though our hotel said "oh no reservations need, everything is open, just come!" Then we head to Chennai for 2 days before our trip to Goa!

Last night in Vellore

Today seems a bit bittersweet. Although we are all getting a little antsy and ready to start a new adventure, we have finally gotten used to the hospital, campus and the small part of town that we venture into every day.

We have tried almost every good restaurant (recommended by friends, physicians, students) in town, ironically the best one is at the rooftop of our own hotel! We have definitely been spoiled staying at a hotel in town, other visiting students who have been here or will be here for extended periods are all staying in hostels on campus (No air conditioning! We don't know how they do it!). Also, many of us have opted to take rickshaws instead of the bus to get around town. The bus, which has its very crowded moments (people literally hanging out of the door), also has routes that we can't quite seem to get. Even after waiting at the bus stop we will sometimes opt for a rickshaw! The security guard at our hotel has noticed our efforts and gave us a thumbs up the other day for squeezing all 5 of us into one after negotiating a good price!

We met with Dr. Varghese on Thursday for dinner at the rooftop restaurant. He was our main CMC contact since he is an adjunct WSUSOM faculty member. He told us stories about CMC, and even about his time spent in Detroit working in Infectious Disease! He really reminded me of Dr. Chandrasekar, the AAPI faculty sponsor at WSU, in the way that he spoke of his medical work and experiences. We hope to meet Dr. Varghese when he visits MI in the fall!

This week I was working in Endocrinology. I was able to join visiting physicians from all over India who are here taking a 1-wk course in diabetes care. They were so interested to hear about how I thought medical care differed between the two countries. I had to mention that in the US, our system is set up so differently from theirs, that it is almost impossible to compare the task that physicians have to undertake in each country.

I think these past two weeks have really opened my eyes to the financial side of medicine, and how much we take for granted, especially having every form of technology and test available to us. For instance, out of all of the patients that this department sees, only a handful are using an insulin pump to deliver their insulin. The reason is that most patients do not have insurance and each pump costs 10,000 rupees per month (close to $250/month). The department can sometimes sponsor a patient, but even then, the money invested in one pump could potentially sponsor medications for a larger number of patients not using an insulin pump. The fact that the first thought most doctors have when treating a patient is 'what are they able to afford?' and also, 'how long will this patient be in town for' (since many patients travel as far as West Bengal), completely blows me away. I will be taking these experiences with me when I leave and will never forget my time here!

Tomorrow, Yinan will leave to head back to Detroit (Rasika left on Friday to return), and Sarah, Alexis, Jen, Caitlyn and myself will travel to Mammalapuram, Chennai and finally Goa. We are ready to start our next adventure and hopefully I can post pictures soon!


Shivani

Urology!!

Greetings, earthlings!

I'm blogging on my lunch break because I am super pumped about what I discovered this morning....I love urology!!

Jen, Shivani, Sarah, Caitlyn and I all got up pretty early today (before 7 = early for me..) and waited FOREVER for breakfast because it was very busy today in the restaurant. We ended up getting a free continental breakfast even though we were a meal ticket short because they lost track of our tickets....woo to free food! All 5 of us then squeezed into a small rickshaw and made our way to work. I will always remember these morning rides...if you weren't fully awake before boarding the rickshaw, you are definitely awake by the end of the ride. SO much traffic and commotion and honking and just noise in general!

Jen and I were speaking to a doctor yesterday (John) who told us to come back this morning to watch a kidney transplant. We watched the urologist laparoscopically remove the donor kidney, which was coming from the wife of the recipient patient (none of his siblings would consent to donating a kidney :(, so they had to go to another loved one, even though she is only a 3/6 match with her husband). IT WAS SO COOL! Technology is ridiculously cool. The urologist was quizzing Jen and I the entire time about blood vessels, organs, and other structures....I am embarrassed to admit we didn't know all of the answers, but I suppose that's why we are only M2s (!) and not MDs.

We then walked to the adjacent OR to watch a trans-urethral resection of the prostate, which our doctor friend, John, was overseeing. He was an awesome teacher and did a great job explaining everything that was going on to us. Basically, as men age, their prostates hypertrophy due to an increase in growth factors and a decrease in apoptosis. Therefore, the prostatic urethra's lumen is narrowed and urinating becomes painful among other things.

Today was my favorite morning yet - the doctors were so great about teaching us and we got to see some really cool procedures. I feel bad saying this because I did love my OB/GYN rotation, but I really liked urological surgeries! Who knows, maybe I'll join the ranks of the minority of females who become urologists. I surprised myself by enjoying surgery so much! Not general surgery as much, but I enjoyed the focus on the kidney and other urological structures.

Starting to get really excited about Goa...can't believe our time in Vellore is almost over!

Alexis