Arrival to Vellore

What a journey!!! Where to even begin. We (Colin, Jen, and I) left San Antonio on Saturday Feb. 2nd. We flew to Houston and there our flight was delayed for 3 hours. The flight was boarded as usually except for the fact that Jen and I both had small roll-on luggage (with extra clothing just in case our suitcases were lost) and these were basically confiscated on the loading ramp. They gave us some excuses that all roll-ons were too heavy and too big for the flight so everyone would have to check the luggage to their final destinations. So we explained that we needed the stuff inside the bags in the Dubai airport. They ended up giving us some plastic bags to place our important stuff in. When we got onto the flight, every overhead bin was filled with suitcases! Great. Needless to say we were mad, but we made the best of it. I watched three movies on my personal touch-tv screen. At some really great plane food, and before I knew it we were landing in Dubai.

At the Dubai airport we had a 4 hour layover and had a shower for $13. It felt great after a 14ish hour flight to be fresh again. We hoped for the best as the luggage came off the plane at the Chennai airport. And I would say we did pretty well. Jen's carry on never made it (we are still crossing our fingers), but we got everything else. We then took a 2 hour car ride to Vellore. Stopping twice: once to drink some fresh coconut water, and once to pour water over the radiator of the car. I haven't been back to India since 9th grade, and I have never been to the South. I am surprised at how different the countryside looks from the north., with palm trees lining the road side. But, of course, much of it looks as I have always remembered it. Skinny cows digging through trash, roadside stalls with piles of fresh fruit, and just people everywhere.

When we got to Vellore we tried to check into the Darling hotel (apparently the best hotel in Vellore). But the stated that they didn't have a reservation for us! So we moved to the Baby resdience and checked in. Thankfully my mom had made us two reservations, and one of them pulled through. But honestly the rooms made me a bit uncomfortable and there were no drawers to place our stuff in. Plus it was not really all that close to the hospital or the college campus.

Then we went to visit the college campus to check in. The college campus is beautiful. With manicured gardens and wild forest everywhere. The canteen and the entire campus apparently have "clean" water. You can actually brush your teeth without having to use bottled water! This is a first for me in India. We then went to visit the international hostel on campus, and found it to be without A/C, but very clean and furnished just right. So the choice was obvious and we moved all of our furniture out of the hotel and into our hostel rooms. I can't believe we are paying only $3/day to stay here.

There is also a canteen on campus, the food is great. Not a whole lot of variety, but all my meals cost less than a dollar. Best of all you don't get sick, which I would pay any amount for that luxury. And they have great fresh fruit and smoothies.

I am extremely excited for what the week holds. We are starting on CHAD. Which is a community outreach health program. I can't wait...so there will be more to come.