Thursday, January 26, 2012

All This and Forensics, Too - Friday, January 27, 2012

I've been woefully remiss in posting for far too long.  So much is going on,
it seems the day is over - and it's well into the night when I finally put my head
on the pillow.  I certainly can't complain, however.  I am almost at my half
way mark of my four month India stay and I am already starting to feel so 
sad at the thought of leaving.  

Yesterday was Republic Day here,  Though India gained its independence 
August 15, 1947, Republic Day marks the date the Constitution came into force,
26 January 1950. I spent most of it at Oberoi Mall. Started my morning at their 
spa, indulging myself...hair color, manicure, pedicure, etc...what a fabulous place. 
Every treatment had a massage with it and, oh, how glorious that was. As I was 
walking out, Salim, a slim young male employee approached me and really made 
my day. He said he'd wanted to tell me when I was there three weeks ago and 
he couldn't let me leave without speaking to me now. I was  blown away when 
he said that he was so impressed with me, that I was such a kind, lovely and 
gracious woman, talking to everyone, smiling. He ended his kind words by 
telling me, "You must have REALLY been something when you were young, 
you are so pretty now." You could have pushed me over and I was walking on 
clouds for hours.

Another unbelievable thing happened to me this week.  Sunday morning, 
early, I leave for Jaipur, to attend the wedding reception of a blogger 
friend, Bharat Kshatriya, of Unseen Rajasthan.  I had planned to leave 
from there to go to Delhi on February 1.  An email arrived from Virginia
Lynch, our founding president of the International Association of Forensic
Nurses.  I have known Virginia since that day in August 1992, when
 a group of us met in Minnesota to form IAFN.  I often refer to her as
the Pied Piper of our speciality since she did, indeed, draw hundreds of 
us into the field.

At any rate, Virginia wanted to know if I was still in India as she would
be in Jaipur from the 1st until the 5th, attending a huge international 
forensic conference, at which she would  be presenting!  When I told her
that I was actually going to be in Jaipur and planned to leave on the
1st, she invited me to stay, share her room at the conference hotel and see
some of our forensic colleagues who are helping to bring forensic
nursing to India.  It is such an incredible honor to do so and, in the 3
years since my forensic nursing position with San Francisco ended, I have
been very absent from this world, which was the passion of my life.  At
the end of the conference, I will accompany her to Patiala in the Punjab
where I will, again, be sharing in the world of forensics.

It has to be karma that all this is taking place.  It is unbelievable that I 
will be able to combine my love of  India with my love of forensics.  
Someone, indeed, is looking out for me.

In the meantime, I've been enjoying life with my friends in my village, 
getting out and about in Mumbai and traveling the auto rickshaws like a 
pro, rarely even screaming at near misses.  When Oprah was here 
recently, her comments about the traffic rivaled mine when I first got 
here.  She, too, wondered how seven lanes can converge into one!

Here are a few pictures taken here and there.



Thia is the Sahar Village home of my friends, Ode and
Lorna Santos and their sons, Nick and Jake.  I stayed here
fourteen years ago, for ten days, when I last visited India.


A night time scene across the compound from the Santos home


The streets of Mumbai


Almost every home I have visited, be it Hindu, Christian,
etc, has an altar - these garlands drape statues, pictures, etc...but
are not worn, lei-like, by people


Traffic is unusually light in this photo.  Often, crossing the street is
fraught with danger!


Many people live in these lean tos, raising their children,
cooking meals, making do as best they can.  People are so
resilient here.


Out shopping for vegetables with Lorna


Entrepreneurs are everywhere


Don't these vegetables look fabulous?


You can see the condition of many of the roads...but, everywhere,
women are wearing the most beautiful saris!







My two "sisters", Lorna and Alma, off to another party!


My first jhumka ( earring ) purchase


This is not a real mang tikka on my forehead but I have, since, 
purchased one.  Why don't I look like Aishwarya Rai?





19 comments:

  1. Hello, RNSANE.

      Your splendid works enhance charm spectator still more.
      The warmth such as the fireplace will be offered to the audience in harsh this winter.

      Thank you for kindly visiting my blog.

      The prayer for all peace.
      
    Have a good weekend. From Japan, ruma ❃

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ruma, it always makes me most happy to see you have visited my blog....an honor to have you here. While you are having winter, in this part of India, it is pleasant and sunny. I head north to Jaipur and the Punjab on Sunday where temperatures are definitely cooler.

      Delete
  2. It's far, far better that you should be enjoying your stay rather than writing blog posts. Make the most of it - you can tell us more when it's over. It must have been extra special to have been able to meet up with an old friend.

    That said, I LOVE seeing the pictures here of daily life. Markets are a fascination for me with all the vegetables and other goods on show.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Sheila. I am so thrilled about seeing Virginia Lynch in Jaipur and it will mean so much to reconnect in the forensic world.

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  3. How wonderful you are able to combine your two loves! Maybe you are destined to stay there and work forensics again...who knows what the future will bring. Keep enjoying your time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I tell you, Glynis, I would so love to be able to do something with forensic nursing here in India. Just to meet some of the forensic greats from this country is going to mean so much to me.

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  4. Glad you are all well, enjoying life, and doing what you love.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I cannot believe my luck to be in Jaipur, of all places, right at the time of this big forensic conference. I will enjoy my time with Virginia and the others, in spite of my three year absence from the field.

      Delete
  5. How awesome! What if you were offered a job, even for a few months in India. Let's see... how long would you need to think about that. Maybe 2 seconds?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joan, you are absolutely right. I wouldn't hesitate a second to accept a job here, especially in the forensic arena. Of course, my visa ( a tourist one ) expires April 9 so I would have to return home for a couple of months, at least.

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  6. You are enjoying every moment of your life. Thanks to advancement in information technology.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This high tech world does certainly have its rewards. I'm off to Jaipur tomorrow,looking forward to a bit of a change...cooler temperatures, too.

      Delete
  7. those vegetables definitely look fabulous Carmen, and so are you, wow, you were there already for 4 months? can understand so well why it is sad to leave.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Carmen! Sorry for the delay; Happy New Year!

    Ao, still in India!! Enjoy!

    Blogtrotter Two is leaving Corsica, finally... ;). Have a great year ahead!!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous3:12 PM

    Had various difficulties to comment, so please excuse.


    Am very grateful for the impressions and inside info, opinion you provide from India. Please have a good Sunday.

    ReplyDelete
  10. You look so happy in your photo. I think this trip is doing you a world of good. Enjoy every minute!

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  11. Wow! How lovely to be able to meet up with your friend. That young man was quite right - and you are quite something now!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Yeah Carmen! Your karma is seriously good. So glad you get to meet up with your friend at the conference. It was meant to be. ENJOY and safe travels,
    xo jj

    ReplyDelete
  13. Beautiful earrings! This looks like the trip of a lifetime.

    ReplyDelete