Well it is almost one week since we returned and what a week it has been! It has been wonderful to share our stories and adventures with family and friends and yet not be able to really articulate what this experience has been. When you talk to people that have been there, they get what we can't say.
Jet lag has been one of the hardest thing for us. I was told that it takes one day for every hour of time difference - so that is putting us at around 11 days ... arrrgggg. It was way worse coming back than going and I look forward to getting past 4 am!!
Did I accomplish what I set out to do for Douglas College? That and more - no question! I continue to receive emails every day from one or several of those who were part of the workshops as they continue to share their experiences lived with new information and always "when are you coming back?" My answer, taken from Onika's evaluation at the Mumbai workshop.. " Dear Kathie, If you give a man a fish, he eats for a day. If you teach a man to fish, he eats for a lifetime. You have made fishermen of us all, nourishing us with knowledge and food for thought." This is what I feel I have accomplished and as much as I would go back to do this again, I left my fishing gear with Dr Vijaya in Hyderbad. I know she will also be making fishermen throughout India and Douglas College will continue to be well represented.
I would like to thank our Dean, Mike Tarko, for his support in helping to make this happen and I look forward to sharing my "brag book" with Health Sciences and anyone else who might want to listen!!
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Bye to Hyderabad
Today is our last day in Hyderabad. It has been great to have a couple of days without responsibility - other than to stay safe!
Vijaya took us shopping yesterday and knew all the best places to go :) We did make it to Charmina - what an experience! Pictures to follow as only they could portray what we saw.
We are heading to an area of Hyderabad called "Paradise" to meet with Carol Roberts for lunch. She is from the US and is a doula and lamaze educator who is working with the families who live in the slums and in the aids camps. She invited us to come and see where she works and we declined - not because we didn't want to see where she is working but appreciate it is not a place for spectators. She is bringing pictures and her stories!
From there we go back to JJ Hospital and meet with Dr Jayanthia. She is the OB who owns the hospital and has made so many incredible changes in the face of much resistence from her colleauges.
And then to pack the freeking suitcases once again!! Even though most of the contents from one of them will be staying wtih Vijaya - we have managed to fill all the empty spaces!
We leave at 7 am tomorrow for Dubai and can hardly take in how fast our time has gone here. Amazing experiences like we have never had/seen before and the highlights have definitley been the amazing women and men we have met along the way.
Home is sounding really nice ........ have had my share of waves of home sickness and missing my husband and kids! It was the greatest surprise to pick up the ringing phone at 12 midnight our time to hear my grandson " Hi Toto ...." Prepared him for lots of long hugs when I see him!
Sorry about the lack of pictures ... the only thing I lost along the way was my charger for my camera battery ...... I was able to download what we have to date and will post those tonight.
Vijaya took us shopping yesterday and knew all the best places to go :) We did make it to Charmina - what an experience! Pictures to follow as only they could portray what we saw.
We are heading to an area of Hyderabad called "Paradise" to meet with Carol Roberts for lunch. She is from the US and is a doula and lamaze educator who is working with the families who live in the slums and in the aids camps. She invited us to come and see where she works and we declined - not because we didn't want to see where she is working but appreciate it is not a place for spectators. She is bringing pictures and her stories!
From there we go back to JJ Hospital and meet with Dr Jayanthia. She is the OB who owns the hospital and has made so many incredible changes in the face of much resistence from her colleauges.
And then to pack the freeking suitcases once again!! Even though most of the contents from one of them will be staying wtih Vijaya - we have managed to fill all the empty spaces!
We leave at 7 am tomorrow for Dubai and can hardly take in how fast our time has gone here. Amazing experiences like we have never had/seen before and the highlights have definitley been the amazing women and men we have met along the way.
Home is sounding really nice ........ have had my share of waves of home sickness and missing my husband and kids! It was the greatest surprise to pick up the ringing phone at 12 midnight our time to hear my grandson " Hi Toto ...." Prepared him for lots of long hugs when I see him!
Sorry about the lack of pictures ... the only thing I lost along the way was my charger for my camera battery ...... I was able to download what we have to date and will post those tonight.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Welcome to Mumbai
I haven’t been able to blog until now due to the fact of being completely overwhelmed with this city called Mumbai.
Arriving at one of the most crowded airports I have ever seen, we were very relieved to finally see our luggage lumbering along the carousal. Vijaya looked after getting a taxi to take us to the hotel. We looked at the taxi and I kept looking for a bigger one or the second one that would take the 3 of us with 5 huge suitcases to our hotel. Very quickly four men surrounded us and our luggage and hoisted 4 of the suitcases onto the roof of the car and tied it down with rope. We piled into the car and off we limped!
The freeway …… at least we were all going in the same direction, weaving in and out of traffic, passing busses, trucks, motor bikes and rickshaws, hurtling over pot holes and hanging on for dear life. I kept looking out the back window to see if the contents of our suitcases were strewn on the road behind us! I would have been okay if it was our clothes but please …. not my teaching aids! Picturing pelvis’s, knitted uterus’s and breasts rolling into the slums that lined the road ways all the way from the airport to the hotel.
We arrived at the hotel and when we got out of the taxi, the smell almost finished me. I have a very sensitive gag reflex and it was all I could do to hold it together. The slums obviously have no indoor plumbing or outhouses and the smell permeates everything.
Once inside, we were informed that although we had the room booked for the workshop, there were no rooms available. We sat in the lobby and waited Indian time. They managed to find one room and were looking at moving some of us to their sister hotel that was about 10 minutes away. I jumped at that and said Brea and I would be fine to take that option! They sent a car to get us and the 10 minute journey at 6:30 pm took us close to an hour.
When we arrived at the hotel, we were thrilled that there had been a miscommunication – there is no way I could have stayed at that hotel.
The meeting room for the workshop is separate and the smells are only evident when the door is opened.
That all aside – what has enabled me to survive this assault to the senses is the women that are here for the 3 days Teaching Skills workshop and Doula Skills workshop on Sunday.
I can’t tell you what it has been like to get to know these women. Two of the OB’s, Mauli & Shirta, have been most receptive and eager to do what they can to change some of the practices that are done in the name of routine. It is so encouraging to see them open to new ways of learning and doing things.
The two midwives, Lina from England and Red from my home town of Abbotsford (!!!) have shared what it is like to work with the women and families who live in the slums and on the train stations. Sharing what it is like to go to a government hospital and see them so abused by the medical staff as they are giving birth. We treat our animals way better than these women are treated. Yet they continue to try and make a difference in such an archaic and broken system.
Onika, a researcher from New York flew to Mumbai to take this workshop and spend some time volunteering in India.
Rita, a passionate and wise woman who is the only person in her city (500 miles away) who is trying to help women learn about normal birth.
Shrreya, an author and yoga instructor from Pune, 24 years old, who has the most incredible passion and energy …… we know Pune will be well served!
We met with members of Birth India for dinner last night and it was sitting around the table with these women and men from all over India and other countries that I realized this was what I wanted from India. For me it is not about the sites to be seen but rather the lives to be shared, to touch and be touched and to teach and to learn, to laugh and to cry, to be proud and to be humbled. Half way around the world and we all speak the same language.
We finished the workshops today and our closing was one of the most touching and emotional that I have been privileged to be a part of. Their words, poems and appreciation for us coming to Mumbai, moved me beyond tears.
We are meeting some of them for lunch tomorrow and then will be flying back to Hyderabad. We have three days with Dr Vijaya and she has assured us that there will definitely be time for shopping in Old Hyderabad!!
Hoping some of the pictures I am trying to post, will give you a small glimpse of what this has been for us.
Arriving at one of the most crowded airports I have ever seen, we were very relieved to finally see our luggage lumbering along the carousal. Vijaya looked after getting a taxi to take us to the hotel. We looked at the taxi and I kept looking for a bigger one or the second one that would take the 3 of us with 5 huge suitcases to our hotel. Very quickly four men surrounded us and our luggage and hoisted 4 of the suitcases onto the roof of the car and tied it down with rope. We piled into the car and off we limped!
The freeway …… at least we were all going in the same direction, weaving in and out of traffic, passing busses, trucks, motor bikes and rickshaws, hurtling over pot holes and hanging on for dear life. I kept looking out the back window to see if the contents of our suitcases were strewn on the road behind us! I would have been okay if it was our clothes but please …. not my teaching aids! Picturing pelvis’s, knitted uterus’s and breasts rolling into the slums that lined the road ways all the way from the airport to the hotel.
We arrived at the hotel and when we got out of the taxi, the smell almost finished me. I have a very sensitive gag reflex and it was all I could do to hold it together. The slums obviously have no indoor plumbing or outhouses and the smell permeates everything.
Once inside, we were informed that although we had the room booked for the workshop, there were no rooms available. We sat in the lobby and waited Indian time. They managed to find one room and were looking at moving some of us to their sister hotel that was about 10 minutes away. I jumped at that and said Brea and I would be fine to take that option! They sent a car to get us and the 10 minute journey at 6:30 pm took us close to an hour.
When we arrived at the hotel, we were thrilled that there had been a miscommunication – there is no way I could have stayed at that hotel.
The meeting room for the workshop is separate and the smells are only evident when the door is opened.
That all aside – what has enabled me to survive this assault to the senses is the women that are here for the 3 days Teaching Skills workshop and Doula Skills workshop on Sunday.
I can’t tell you what it has been like to get to know these women. Two of the OB’s, Mauli & Shirta, have been most receptive and eager to do what they can to change some of the practices that are done in the name of routine. It is so encouraging to see them open to new ways of learning and doing things.
The two midwives, Lina from England and Red from my home town of Abbotsford (!!!) have shared what it is like to work with the women and families who live in the slums and on the train stations. Sharing what it is like to go to a government hospital and see them so abused by the medical staff as they are giving birth. We treat our animals way better than these women are treated. Yet they continue to try and make a difference in such an archaic and broken system.
Onika, a researcher from New York flew to Mumbai to take this workshop and spend some time volunteering in India.
Rita, a passionate and wise woman who is the only person in her city (500 miles away) who is trying to help women learn about normal birth.
Shrreya, an author and yoga instructor from Pune, 24 years old, who has the most incredible passion and energy …… we know Pune will be well served!
We met with members of Birth India for dinner last night and it was sitting around the table with these women and men from all over India and other countries that I realized this was what I wanted from India. For me it is not about the sites to be seen but rather the lives to be shared, to touch and be touched and to teach and to learn, to laugh and to cry, to be proud and to be humbled. Half way around the world and we all speak the same language.
We finished the workshops today and our closing was one of the most touching and emotional that I have been privileged to be a part of. Their words, poems and appreciation for us coming to Mumbai, moved me beyond tears.
We are meeting some of them for lunch tomorrow and then will be flying back to Hyderabad. We have three days with Dr Vijaya and she has assured us that there will definitely be time for shopping in Old Hyderabad!!
Hoping some of the pictures I am trying to post, will give you a small glimpse of what this has been for us.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
India and more
We have finished the workshops in Hyderabad and it is hard to find words that describe what these days have been for us.
The women who attended the Teaching Skills Workshop taught us so much. The presentations they were required to do as part of the workshop, gave evidence of the amazing educators they are going to be. I was glad that we only really had to say goodbye to one of them, the OB from Bangalore. All the others were able to stay for the Doula Skills workshop we had on Monday.
We ended the workshop on Saturday with a tour of the hospital and the Birthing Centre. When you see the pictures, you will realize how much of an achievement this has been for Dr Vijaya and her husband Krishnan. It is one small step but knowing them and seeing what they have accomplished, know it is only the beginning of giant steps for the future of birthing families in India! Dr Jayanthia is the OB who runs the hospital and who gave them the opportunity to transform the space that is now Healthy Mother's Birthing Centre. She came for all three days of the workshop as well as the Doula Skills Workshop and made sure I knew that the workshops have already changed some of her practices!
Some of the routine practices here are shaving, enemas, episiotomies, oxytocin administered while moms are pushing and fundal pressure to get the babies out as soon as possible and vigorous preparation of breasts for breastfeeding. Babies are immediately taken to be cleaned, weighed, vit K and eye treatment and then given to the mother.
Dr Vijaya has been modeling the Lamaze best birth practices by her prenatal education and care of the women during labour and birth and in turn have seen many of these "not best birth practices" gradually change.
When we arrived at the hospital, some of the doctors, nursing staff and housekeepers were there to greet us and present Brea and I will huge fresh flower leis that came down to our knees! They treated us like we were royalty and followed us throughout the tour with big smiles and bowing.
Dr Vijaya and Jayanthia arranged for the doctors, nurses and housekeepers who work in the birthing centre to take the Doula Skills Workshop. No small feat to arrange for them to have the day off and you could tell by their faces when they came, that they had no idea what to expect. I took direction from Vijaya as to what would be the best information for them and for the time we had. I cannot tell you how much fun we had - I was so thrilled that they got me and my sense of humour! They warmed up right away and the hands on part of the afternoon included Pramila (from Salem) singing classincal Indian while Dr Jayanthia and one of the nurses demonstrated their Indian dancing skills! They had us all joining in and our laughter had Vijaya's husband coming in and asking "is this usually part of your doula training??" No one was in any hurry to leave, they all stayed to help us pack up and with hugs and tears we ended our day.
One more quick story ....... Pramila, the psychologist and her best friend Deepa came by bus and plane from Salem. Deepa's husband insisted that she attend with Pramila and even accompanied them. Deepa told us that when they went back to the hotel, her husband would want all the details of the day. She demonstrated how she would immitate me and she had my gestures and expressions down to a T and had us in gales of laughter. It was so hilarious to see this beautiful Indian woman in her traditional dress mimic me! They gave me this Indian figure that has a baby on her shoulder and the baby is holding a dove. They said it was me, with Brea on my shoulder and we are bringing the message of not just good birth practices but peaceful and spiritual birth practices to India! Saturday was the festival of friendship and they gave all of us friendship bracelets. They were definitely two kindred spirits!!!
On Sunday we were given the tour of Hyderabad and what a city of contrasts! The influence of the IT boom and all the money that this has brought to certain areas - new buildings, high rises are springing up everywhere and along side them the tents and squallor of hundreds of migrant workers. Cattle wander on the streets and Brea cannot get the image of a goat being slaughtered on the sidewalk as just part of the street markets along with fruits, vegetables and fish! The lake that is across the street from our hotel where high fences are erected and suicide patrols try and deter the many who attempt suicide on a daily basis ....... family of five on a motorbike, women bent over sweeping the streets with short brooms, monkeys, lizards and the incredible colours ........ a city of contrasts indeed!
We leave for Mumbai tomorrow and can hardly wait to see what is in store for us!
Pictures to follow!
The women who attended the Teaching Skills Workshop taught us so much. The presentations they were required to do as part of the workshop, gave evidence of the amazing educators they are going to be. I was glad that we only really had to say goodbye to one of them, the OB from Bangalore. All the others were able to stay for the Doula Skills workshop we had on Monday.
We ended the workshop on Saturday with a tour of the hospital and the Birthing Centre. When you see the pictures, you will realize how much of an achievement this has been for Dr Vijaya and her husband Krishnan. It is one small step but knowing them and seeing what they have accomplished, know it is only the beginning of giant steps for the future of birthing families in India! Dr Jayanthia is the OB who runs the hospital and who gave them the opportunity to transform the space that is now Healthy Mother's Birthing Centre. She came for all three days of the workshop as well as the Doula Skills Workshop and made sure I knew that the workshops have already changed some of her practices!
Some of the routine practices here are shaving, enemas, episiotomies, oxytocin administered while moms are pushing and fundal pressure to get the babies out as soon as possible and vigorous preparation of breasts for breastfeeding. Babies are immediately taken to be cleaned, weighed, vit K and eye treatment and then given to the mother.
Dr Vijaya has been modeling the Lamaze best birth practices by her prenatal education and care of the women during labour and birth and in turn have seen many of these "not best birth practices" gradually change.
When we arrived at the hospital, some of the doctors, nursing staff and housekeepers were there to greet us and present Brea and I will huge fresh flower leis that came down to our knees! They treated us like we were royalty and followed us throughout the tour with big smiles and bowing.
Dr Vijaya and Jayanthia arranged for the doctors, nurses and housekeepers who work in the birthing centre to take the Doula Skills Workshop. No small feat to arrange for them to have the day off and you could tell by their faces when they came, that they had no idea what to expect. I took direction from Vijaya as to what would be the best information for them and for the time we had. I cannot tell you how much fun we had - I was so thrilled that they got me and my sense of humour! They warmed up right away and the hands on part of the afternoon included Pramila (from Salem) singing classincal Indian while Dr Jayanthia and one of the nurses demonstrated their Indian dancing skills! They had us all joining in and our laughter had Vijaya's husband coming in and asking "is this usually part of your doula training??" No one was in any hurry to leave, they all stayed to help us pack up and with hugs and tears we ended our day.
One more quick story ....... Pramila, the psychologist and her best friend Deepa came by bus and plane from Salem. Deepa's husband insisted that she attend with Pramila and even accompanied them. Deepa told us that when they went back to the hotel, her husband would want all the details of the day. She demonstrated how she would immitate me and she had my gestures and expressions down to a T and had us in gales of laughter. It was so hilarious to see this beautiful Indian woman in her traditional dress mimic me! They gave me this Indian figure that has a baby on her shoulder and the baby is holding a dove. They said it was me, with Brea on my shoulder and we are bringing the message of not just good birth practices but peaceful and spiritual birth practices to India! Saturday was the festival of friendship and they gave all of us friendship bracelets. They were definitely two kindred spirits!!!
On Sunday we were given the tour of Hyderabad and what a city of contrasts! The influence of the IT boom and all the money that this has brought to certain areas - new buildings, high rises are springing up everywhere and along side them the tents and squallor of hundreds of migrant workers. Cattle wander on the streets and Brea cannot get the image of a goat being slaughtered on the sidewalk as just part of the street markets along with fruits, vegetables and fish! The lake that is across the street from our hotel where high fences are erected and suicide patrols try and deter the many who attempt suicide on a daily basis ....... family of five on a motorbike, women bent over sweeping the streets with short brooms, monkeys, lizards and the incredible colours ........ a city of contrasts indeed!
We leave for Mumbai tomorrow and can hardly wait to see what is in store for us!
Pictures to follow!
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