Harbor Lights, Hospital Tour and Heading Home

Harbor Lights, hospital Tour, and Heading Home

After a lovely day with Frank and 

Ringo, touring Lantau Island and visiting the Big Buddha(270 steps up), we packed up and joined Pikto for our final Chinese dinner.  The hotel restaurant served a variety of delicious items, including squid and scallops.  It was a festive way to wind up this long and complex trip.  Dinner was followed by a walk along the Harbor with Lettie and Tony to view the spectacular architecture and amazing lights of the Hong Kong  and Kowloon waterfronts.  In such a short time, Lettie and Tony have become good friends and colleagues. 

Having learned early that our flight home was delayed significantly, Lettie arranged for me to meet with the chief geriatrician to have a tour and learn about their hospital and programs.  The planned 30 minutes turned into two hours as I learned about their hospital and out patient approach, collaboration with their ortho colleagues, day hospital, and community nursing home service.  For over 20 years they have had a team of nurses and doctors visiting patients in nursing homes .  When their patients are seen in the ER, they are assessed first by the Geri team, before an admission decision is made.  They face many of the challenges we face with control of costs, readmit rates, and infection control.  Despite the very old facilities, and the cramped quarters, (8 patients to a room), they appear to have strong programming addressing the basic geriatric issues, and are providing excellent care at a fraction of the cost we have incurred.  Lots to be learned.  I also had a tour of their Chinese medicine wing, where patients are seen by Chinese medicine practitioners for herbal remedies, as well as massage and acupuncture.  Something over 60% of their patients utilize ,both Western and traditional Chinese approaches.  A visit to their herbal dispensing pharmacy was amazing.

We bid goodbye to Hong Kong, and Phil, who stays on for the rest of the week and headed for the long trip home.  I just woke up from 8 hours of sleep and we are almost in San Francisco .  Hope to arrive Denver this evening.  It has been a long, complicated, and challenging trip.  It will take some time to process everything we have experienced.  Each of us returns to the States with different perspectives and personal changes.  I recognize that for some, India posed physical and emotional challenges that were impossible to overcome.  Hong Kong is amazingly complex in history and current development, and was quite a stark contrast to India.

For me personally, The work In India provided the opportunity to live and work in a completely different culture, with different values and goals(as well as foods and lifestyles) and to be humbled by the ability of both children and adults to maintain close family relationships, and happiness in situations that some of us from the West might find unbearable.  I will never forget the smiles and laughter of the children of Chennai, nor will I forget the willingness of a small group of Westerners to get their hands dirty(feet as well), by jumping in teaching, playing, painting, and building boxes.  Waging peace, one person, one day at a time.

With love, and appreciation to all of you, almost home now

Barbara

A Day in Hong Kong and Phil goes to workThe

Phil headed off for his first day of teaching while we set out with our guide Frank and driver Ringo.  In this well orchestrated day we covered incredible ground, seeking the sights of both Kowloon and Hong Kong.  Highlights included:

• The walled city of Kowloon with its deep history and gardens
• The Chinese garden and magnificent nunnery and temple
• A ferry ride across the harbour
• Lunch and shopping at Stanley Market
• a sampan ride in Aberdeen to visit the huge yachts juxtaposed against The old wooden floating fishing village
• A trip up to the Peak with magnificent views 

And, finally dinner and a stroll through the Ladies Market. With its overwhelming neon signs, merchandise and people everywhere. It was a day filled with history,great views, and interesting people.

Meantime, Phil had a stimulating day, teaching the pediatricians about diabetes and learning about their hospital and their system.

Hard to believe, but tomorrow brings my last day before the long flight home on Wednesday.  Phil stays on for the rest of the week of lecturing and rounding.

We hear there is a blizzard in store for everyone, please stay safe and warm,

With love from Hong Kong

Barbara

Exhausted and well fed

Seemed like we had just fallen asleep when the alarm went off at 6am for our early morning hike withYouth diabetes Action.  Great to see Pikto who picked us up and shepherded us along to the opening ceremony, introducing Phil as a big expert from the USA along the way.  We got to see the south side of Hong Kong Island, with its lush and rolling hills and beaches, shake the Health Minister,s hand, and do a 5K hike.  And the day had just begun!

The rest of the day involved driving around Hong Kong with Pikto, a quick visit to his apartment,a crazy dim sun lunch, with fabulous food(no curry in sight!) and several more harbour  hikes.  The day ended with a luscious dinner with Phil's host  for the week, Lettie and her husband Tony.  We dined at the elegant Hong Kong Jockey Club, where we over indulged on a variety of Chinese delicacies.  The conversation was wide ranging, including politics, Obamacare, childcare, children and grandchildren.  What a warm and lovely way to end our first night in Hong Kong.  Despite the outrageously disparate settings: a small, worn guesthouse in Chennai, versus a landmark of prior British colonial rule, evenings together over food and drink, with new and old friends have many similarities.  We are so lucky to have experienced such hospitality in Chennai with Stephen and Sheeba, and now here in Hong Kong.

Tomorrow brings Phil's first day of rounding and 3 lectures, while the rest of us enjoy a tour of Hong Kong.

Love to all of you
Barbara

Leaving India behind,arriving Hong Kong

We got up really early to set off for the airport.  We said last goodbyes to the remaining team and headed off.  The Chennai airport is modern,large, and expansive, but with plenty of time allotted , we had a few moments to spend our last rupees before heading off on our first leg to Kuala Lumpur.  After an intense 2 weeks living in Chennai, it was strange to be leaving.

After a long, but uneventful two flights, with movies and finally a beer, we arrived in Hong Kong, where we were met and whisked away to our hotel.  We have had only a fleeting glimpse of this enormous metropolis, with huge skinny skyscrapers everywhere.  Our hotel is lovely, with modern furnishings, soft pillows, quilts, real showers, and hot water.  Funny what one finds  important after having spent the last two weeks in much less comfortable accommodations and surroundings.  Spotless around here so far!

A few hours of sleep and we head out with Pikto for a local diabetes walk.

On another note we were stunned this am with the news from Paris.  So scarey that it seems there is violence everywhere.  We felt lucky to be safe and not to encounter any significant travel delays.

More when we get rested and settled.

With love from Hong Kong,
Barbara

Out of India, on to Hong Kong

Rain pounded and lashed again all night.  I tried the mantra " lucky team"  to keep my attitude positive.  Facing our last day as another rain day for PRS school was daunting: we had so looked forward to return to the kids for more classes and photos.  The monsoon rains in the morning prevented that opportunity.  All schools closed again for rain.  No worries we headed to SEAM, this time walking through ankle deep water to get there.  The boys, as usual, happy and cheerful to have us.  Puzzles, flash cards, coloring and games ensued.  Kathy, Phil and the older
Boys worked steadily on finishing 9 out of 10 boxes.  Lots of excitement as the boys learned how to wield screwdrivers and drills.

The evening brought our final celebration and goodbyes with the boys.  I donned my sari for the event.  Thank yous, dances, cards and songs(as well as a few tears) with earnest requests by the boys for our return next year.  A final restaurant dinner and we find ourselves packed and ready for an early morning departure.

Southern India is not quaint or easy to understand.  For some on the team, the poverty, lifestyle, and filth have been intolerable. Others have found hope in the happiness and contentment of the children and adults, despite what many from the West might find intolerable conditions.  Some have found Chennai to be a big, busy, impersonal city.  Others have found our neighborhood to be filled with interesting nooks and crannies, and now familiar and friendly faces.

I have found a bit of everything:

•  amazement at the overwhelming sensory displays of colors, smells,sights and sounds
• Gratitude for Stephen and Sheeba who are the heart and soul of the program, it has been an honor to serve under their leadership 
• Fellowship and friendship with the rest of the team, new friends and old
• Fondness for our local neighborhood and now familiar routes through the streets of Chennai
• Satisfaction with a job well done teaching (and playing)
• And.....most importantly, great affection for the children at PRS and the boys at SEAM(guess who was crying?)

As always I am so grateful to everyone at home and at work, carrying on while I am away.  I am deeply appreciative.

Next stop Hong Kong, for a few days of relaxation before our return to the States.  More from there,

With love from Chennai 

Barbara

We are the lucky team

Lashing wind and rain overnight resulted in muddy roads and flooding(again) and thus the surprise and disappointment of another rain day.  We had been looking forward to seeing the kids at PRS school.  Instead we headed to SEAM to work with the boys and on the boxes.  We received a rowdy greeting and set about with coloring, flash cards and reading.  By late morning all had cabin fever so I suggested some gentle exercise(yoga perhaps?). This resulted in a raucous 30 minutes of cartwheels, somersaults and head stands with a bit of break dancing Thrown in.  The boys we intent on outdoing themselves and each other.

After lunch some headed  into the city to The famous textile, and jewelry stores.  This proves to be not only an amazing retail experience but a total cultural immersion.  We were (as we have been most of the trip) the only foreigners.  We were wowed by the Indians love for gold in its biggest versions as well as splendid  color and fabrics.  The textile store Was Like Macy's  on steroids.

Return to SEAM in the late afternoon revealed that someone had donated 15 boxes of firecrackers for the boys, making it impossible to get them to concentrate on reading and writing.  Thus we watched sparklers and worked on the boys boxes.

After dinner included practice donning saris which we hope to model tomorrow for
The kids.  The giggles and smiles were proof of how well the women have all bonded on the team.

During the evening conversation Stephen was apologizing for The many rain caused schedule Changes and disappointments. But then he pointed out that actually we are the Lucky Team:  bringing rain this time of year is critical for Southern India to Thrive.  Without rain now, volunteers would not be able to come in a few months as there would severe water shortages and drought.  Changes one's thinking about the minor inconveniences of rain.

From the Lucky Team with love
Barbara

Traditional Indian luncheon and dance

The noise and smoke from last night gave way to a very quiet night.  Phil,Kathy and I headed to our now favorite housewares store(aka you can find almost anything) to find supplies for the boys boxes as well as plasticware for the library.  We found the right rubber mat but only a me and n the store.  Just a minute they said, we will get more in 5 minutes.  I looked at Phil...he knew what I was thinking...likely we'd be there all day waiting.  Of course the wait allowed me to find a few more indispensable items.  A mere 10 minutes later, the stack of mats arrived, we finished up our purchases, and headed on our way to SEA with Phil carrying the mats on his head Indian style.

Arrival at SEAM allowed us to work on the boxes, using a drill and screwdriver together proving to be a "marriage encounter " as Phil and I were working on the same box.  All ended with smiles, and several boxes near completion.

On return to the guesthouse we were treated to a traditional Indian luncheon by Stephen and Sheeba.  Served on banana leaves we are our lunch with our hands.  It was a delicious assortment of curries and other Indian delicacies.

After our now usual afternoon siesta, we headed back to SEAM where we were treated to an exposition of traditional Indian dance. A Catholic priest who has been studying dance since age 10 held us spellbound while he did several traditional Hindu and Christian dances.  The boys at SEAM were entranced.  The evening ended with yet another round of firecrackers for the boys who couldn't get enough.  It is humbling to experience what great joy comes to those with so little from simple pleasures.


Thinking of all of you
With love
Barbara