quik catch up!!

so much has happened since my last post, i don't know where to start!
i've submited my proposal got ethical clearance and got repeatedly annoyed at the pace at which things work here.

I've carried out my own case study one to one interviews with ex-sex workers. and have realized my hindi is actually quite good that the translator was redundant! (TAKE THAT PODCAST NIRAV!) it was so interesting. the way their lives turned to this work, mostly without choice... anyway i shall leave the details to my write up.

today was actually quite infuriating!!! i'm trying to figure out if i have any authority here to tell people off..! i think not! there was one professor that literally wasted my days work by contaminating all the interviews that were taking place by being a useless busy body!!! annoying! but anyway, learning curve and all that.

so i'm now commuting from home to surat everyday- 20min motorbike ride- 1hr bus ride n then 5min rickshaw ride and whooo im there! its not that bad.. the bike bit is my fav bit! im going to miss that when i leave her- oh well still got 8 weeks of it! =)

oh i met this dr from UCL who did her phD with the medical college that im based with at the moment, she came to disseminate her results and meeting her was so great- she took me round with her for a few days and we visited hosp depts and an urban health clinic- their version of a sex health clinic. now that was interesting!!!

the way in which they work, the UK has a pretty good system that young people can access help and info whenever they like, here, the only unmarried adolescents that visit the clinic would be for terminations.. quite sad that they don't have the education and knowledge to protect themselves. and people only really get picked up for sex health checks when pregnant so through antenatal care, there's a big lack in knowledge of general health care.

anyway! what else have i done since last posting!! erm.! driven loads! that maruti van isnt the safest thing around but still it was an experience! oh i've had rickshaw lessons! okay lesson. but still it's a start! never had to control hand gears b4 was interesting..! i went to a field of dirt and just went round n round in a circle for about 20mins doing laps, n then drove home, where obv i stalled where all the gham people were jamming playnig cricket. well kool dil(!)

i had a domino's! it wasnt bad!
i went to a revolving restaurant in surat, the top floor revolves and you can see the whole city more a less- its quite a sight..!

erm n thats it for now! its hot. im tanned. and im missing sandwiches n toast.. oooh toast!!! =(

Goat Alley

Today was interesting to say the least... It wasn't an easy day.

It was soo hot! i went and visited the field as they call it.

Basically in Surat there was a red light district before they shut down all the brothels, however still in this area are the slum homes of the female sex workers. They literally live in one room homes, with loads of roaming goats. yep thats right, goats! one even tried to eat my bag, i felt a little tug on my strap turn around to see a goat!!

The houses are probably what we would call slums, the two people i was touring this area with were known to the community they were very welcoming to me and all wanted to invite me in for 'chai pani'
I met a hobbling one today, yday when she was out for  'activity kam' she was chased by a policeman, where she tripped and fell so he beat her on her legs with whatever it is that policemen here carry! she has a really big swollen ankle and you couldn't help but feel bad for her.

As i was walking through i see loads of little children, and we were checking to see that they had been immunised and if they all were enrolled in a school, as the organisation im to be working with helps in both these things, so these children are given education, health and opportunities.

It would be an interesting environment to work to for sure... and one that i probably will be seeing alot more of soon!

Day 1 in a Hostel!

Being in India less than 7 days i've already experienced so much!
The day after landing I came and visited Surat, where i'm going to be carrying out my research, met with the Dr i'm going to be working with, he introduced me to soo many people. Only when meeting other students in different contexts do you realise how different things are. For example if you're in a class and another teacher walks in do you notice? Every single room i walked into with the Dr every single person stopped what they were doing and stood up, thats the kind of respect they have for their teachers. After meeting everyone including the head of state someone important or other, whom told me off for my NRI gujarati and then spoke to me in English!! i went off with someone to visit "the field" that i'd be working in, which basically meant a 3rd floor drop in clinic for everyone, but mainly used by Sex workers. Here i sat and spoke to some project managers and they took my picture and made me sign a guest book!
From there I was sent off with two different people to visit the boarding schools that the sex worker's children attend. Sitting in a rickshaw with two strangers that don't speak great english and speak broken guj was a lil daunting.. but i thought ahh gota suk it up and just do what i gota do!
All in all not a bad experience! A bit baffled as to what work i'm actually going to be doing now but we'll see!

In the mean time i've managed to shop shop shop, tan a great deal- its quite nastyyy, inproved my gujaratii and drove on many occasions through dad's insistance! its a friggin maruti van with no power steering and a stubborn brake. oh and the gears are stiff too! the roads of india are crazzyy there is no care and no one gives a crap if you're pulling out or just driving along. You have to have uber amounts of confidence and need to know what you're doing. have full control and expect the unexpected to jump out infront of you!

So it's now Tuesday, and i'm in the hostel that i'm going to be staying in. I have a room that i am sharing with three other girls. You know that feeling you get when everyone is staring at you and talking about you... i get that. alot! it's okay they all want to know my story and what i'm doing, its fun.
Altho no mosquito net and sleeping by an open window, we'll see how much fun that is!! I'm meeting the dr again at the hospital at 10am and then we shall see how it goes! shall try and blog again soon! 

The Day before!

So for experience i've got the opportunity to go to india for 10 weeks to do some voluntary work and carry out some research. My topic is looking at educational status and reproductive and sexual health knowledge in adolescents in Surat. The youths i'd work with would be children of hiv+ sex workers... so thats the low down!!!

So i go tomorrow and i think it's finally hit me...! (i always was a bit late!) how in the world am i gna survive in india for 10 weeks alone...!!!!!!!!!!!

i've kinda packed but true indian last min style i shall repack tmo!!!

my flight is at 830pm, and as its my last night im trying to figure out what im going to miss the most... as i watch a documentary on india.. getting into mode!

So im getting sleepy already.. it's all go tomorrow... i shall try and keep up to date with this blog i know some random crap is bound to happen to me!