Our day started at 5 am with the call to prayer that is broadcast through out the city ..... most amazing sounds.
Dr Vijaya met us at the hotel and we coordinated our outlines and headed off to the hotel where the workshop is being held. If we thought the traffic was crazy at 4:30 in the morning - it didn't touch what 8:30 held! There are only a few lights and they don't mean much - the one in the intersection whatever colour the light is - wins. One lane holds one bus, one car, one three wheeled taxi, one motor bike, bicycle and even those who are walking and are crazy enough to try and cut through all that. We were told the crime rate is not bad at all in Hyderabad but the accident rate is the highest in all of India. I am just amazed we have travelled back and forth for two days now and not seen one!
The Teaching Skills Workshop started yesterday and all I can say is ... amazing! Amazing women, some who have travelled 12 hours on the train to be here, two OB's, one psychologist and three others who bring their wisdom and passion for working with childbearing families.
I am mentoring/training Dr Vijaya to teach this program and we are having great fun and she is a natural! The stories that have been shared from these women, have once again humbled me, encouraged me and made me realize once again all we have in common wherever we are from and whatever our language is. The language of women and the language of birth is universal.
These women have such a depth and respect for the process that goes far deeper than the physical event of birth but rather focus their energies on the emotional and spiritual aspects as being the most important. They are all keen to get started as soon as they get back to their communites and we will be mentoring them as they work toward their certification with Lamaze.
These connections made are not for these four days, they will continue long after these days are done here and I value all they have already taught me!
Jet lag has set in ..... I was awake at 3 am this morning and I heard Brea say - "Mom, I am awake too" So we sat up and talked for an hour and a half about the workshop and the women and how great it was to have this opportunity. We never did go back to sleep, so it has been a long day .........
I needed to find chocolate coins for our closing gifts tomorrow, so we braved out with a driver from the hotel who know just where to take us. I just close my eyes and wait for the crash or until we reached our destination! He stopped outside the store and Brea and I ran in and found exactly what we were looking for. Five minutes at the most. Came out to find our driver in a shouting match with someone with a baseball bat! He claimed the driver had blocked his piece of the sidewalk and was demanding money. More than likely because the car had "Mariott Hotel" written on it.
It was the Marriott that was targeting in Mumbai and ever since then they have heightened security at this location. We still have to go throught the security checkpoints upon entering the hotel and now this weekend, being a celebration of one of their gods, it has been stepped up even more. We cannot enter the hotel until they scan our bags and take us into an alcove where a woman guard frisks us! On the other hand, I don't think we could be in a more secure place!
Our last day of the workshop tomorrow but we look forward to all of these participants staying for the Doula Skills workshop on Monday. We are being taken out for an Indian feast and then for some shopping at one of the most famous markets that is in the old part of Hyderabad.
Brea is already sleeping and I will soon be doing the same! Thinking about our family and friends that are just starting their day when we go to bed!
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
We have arrived!
We are here! A 31/2 hour flight to LA - our luggage arrived and we very quickly checked it through to Hyderabad. Had some quiet time in the LAX lounge and then boarded our 15 1/2 hour flight to Dubai.
Yikes.... never ever have been on a flight for that long. We tried every way to Sunday to find some comfortable positions to try and catch an hour here and there for sleep. To the credit of Emirates Airlines - the flight was very smooth but in economy class - there was no comfortable position to be had on this full flight.
We arrived in Dubai, slightly behind schedule and only enough time to find the terminal and the gate and get on the flight to Hyderabad. A very full flight. A jam packed flight and we were at the back of the bus. I had to keep my head in Breanne's shoulder in order to not be overcome with the "scents" of fellow passengers and the incredible noise level of very vocal passengers and the numerous babies and children. I was actually in tears for much of the 3 hour flight. Over tired and over-whelmed indeed.
When we arrived at the Hyderabad airport we were directed to the health screening area of the airport where we had to fill out detailed paper work of our health status and submit to a temperature reading before we were allowed throught to collect our luggage.
We finally got through the doors at 4:30 am on Wednesday and managed to find our driver from the Marriott hotel amongst the 2000 people lined up to meet the arriving passengers.
As we travelled though the streets in the wee hours of the morning, we were struck with the un-ending traffic and honking and bikes and three wheeled taxi's and trucks and people!!
I have to admit, I had a few thoughts of " I hope this driver really is from the Marriott hotel" and when he stopped on the side of some dark road , I thought "oh boy - we are going to get robbed and dumped!" He was adjusting our luggage that was threatening his steering wheel.
Sleep deprived paranoia stting in.......... We finally recognized our hotel but came to an abrupt stop outside the gates. Kathie says "oh is this where we get out?" and I was told to stay in the car. The car doors were opened by 8 security guards, two dogs and two guards with very big rifles. We were checked out and checked in at 5:30 am. We made it to our room and the first thing we noticed was the smell. I said "curry Breanne said "Vancouver Acquarium - the turtle and lizard room" ..... ah the smells of India.....
We had a few hours of exhausted sleep and then explored our hotel. We loved it! It really was everything the web site said it was and more. We are treated like royalty and every wish is our command! We had been warned that as good as the lake view sounded - don't do it. It is summer and it is noisey and smelly. So we chose the city view. Once I figure out how to post the pictures, I will share them. We opened our curtains and our "city view" consists of a broken down temple, squatter shacks and a very crude cemetary that has seen better days.
Obviously "city view" is relative and a much needed revelation to us. We are in India.
Our first day of teaching started today and that is another post.
Yikes.... never ever have been on a flight for that long. We tried every way to Sunday to find some comfortable positions to try and catch an hour here and there for sleep. To the credit of Emirates Airlines - the flight was very smooth but in economy class - there was no comfortable position to be had on this full flight.
We arrived in Dubai, slightly behind schedule and only enough time to find the terminal and the gate and get on the flight to Hyderabad. A very full flight. A jam packed flight and we were at the back of the bus. I had to keep my head in Breanne's shoulder in order to not be overcome with the "scents" of fellow passengers and the incredible noise level of very vocal passengers and the numerous babies and children. I was actually in tears for much of the 3 hour flight. Over tired and over-whelmed indeed.
When we arrived at the Hyderabad airport we were directed to the health screening area of the airport where we had to fill out detailed paper work of our health status and submit to a temperature reading before we were allowed throught to collect our luggage.
We finally got through the doors at 4:30 am on Wednesday and managed to find our driver from the Marriott hotel amongst the 2000 people lined up to meet the arriving passengers.
As we travelled though the streets in the wee hours of the morning, we were struck with the un-ending traffic and honking and bikes and three wheeled taxi's and trucks and people!!
I have to admit, I had a few thoughts of " I hope this driver really is from the Marriott hotel" and when he stopped on the side of some dark road , I thought "oh boy - we are going to get robbed and dumped!" He was adjusting our luggage that was threatening his steering wheel.
Sleep deprived paranoia stting in.......... We finally recognized our hotel but came to an abrupt stop outside the gates. Kathie says "oh is this where we get out?" and I was told to stay in the car. The car doors were opened by 8 security guards, two dogs and two guards with very big rifles. We were checked out and checked in at 5:30 am. We made it to our room and the first thing we noticed was the smell. I said "curry Breanne said "Vancouver Acquarium - the turtle and lizard room" ..... ah the smells of India.....
We had a few hours of exhausted sleep and then explored our hotel. We loved it! It really was everything the web site said it was and more. We are treated like royalty and every wish is our command! We had been warned that as good as the lake view sounded - don't do it. It is summer and it is noisey and smelly. So we chose the city view. Once I figure out how to post the pictures, I will share them. We opened our curtains and our "city view" consists of a broken down temple, squatter shacks and a very crude cemetary that has seen better days.
Obviously "city view" is relative and a much needed revelation to us. We are in India.
Our first day of teaching started today and that is another post.
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