Thursday, October 30, 2008

Day 1: Packing, Sleeping, Flying


Finally, after 2 am I started packing in earnest. Forgetting, of course, my raincoat. I looked at the pile and pared down a bit. (I'd come to regret the fact that I only brought 1 pair of climbing pants, one pair of sweats, and rain pants for a month of traveling).

Washed clothes, filled stuff sacks, charged batteries, jotted 'notes to self', sorted medical supplies by ailment (gastro, respiratory, blisters, rashes...), checked aamc website compulsively for mcat scores (not there). Finally after 4 am I fell into bed thinking about how it was going to be the last night sleeping with my pillow, my lavender and pine linen spray, and my bedside fan. I thought that due to the harried nature of the previous hours I'd toss and turn in a fitful slumber but instead I closed my eyes and within moments I was sleeping most soundly. Rare for this bear.

The next thing I am aware of is the phone ringing and it is 0730h.

I felt bone tired, my legs ached and stomach rolled from the lack of sleep. I know the ringing phone is my mother, the next thought is, "MCAT!!!"

Stumbled out of bed, stepped into the kitchen, flip open the lap top and logged on. No scores. Sigh. The morning proved to have other obstacles including uncooperative registrar people at my old Uni, some transcripts not yet received...picky paperwork ends that needed tying up.

Still has not sunk in yet that I'll soon be in India. Sure that as soon as I touch down it will come. Just hope the hotel people are there to pick me up so I don't have to deal with being hassled by taxi drivers. I remember how they descend on you like a pack of wolves in that place. Off to the airport. Here goes!

Thursday, October 23, 2008

21 Days and 1 Shower Later

Just a quick post to say that I am alive and clean for the first time in three weeks. Well I've been alive, just without running water, electricity, or phone access...

My internet time is up in 3 minutes and I will be heading out into the fray of Delhi streets to be assaulted by noise, odour, vendors, pollution, and dust.

Finally was able to check email to find out about my first MD school interview invite!!! Woot!

Gotta go. More soon.

ABB

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

"Take half the clothes and twice the money..."

The title was sage parting advice from a friend. Is there any luggage really worth having in sweltering heat and a suffocating crush of humans?

Almost 10 years later and here I was...back in line at the pre-pay taxi stand...well 'line' is a bit of a stretch...more like 'wedge shaped crowd of pushy people'...it was only 5 am but already the rivulets of sweat were running down my back and I felt like a 4 day old bandaid. Tired and grimey.

Got to my hotel finally.
Cockroach in room count: 1.
1 is in the 'acceptable/to be expected' range.

I'd been up for >36h with no sleep. (If I can't sleep in a bed why would I ever be able to sleep on a plane??)

Hello Delhi. You haven't changed at all since I last saw you! You are still a pulsating mass of people, bony animals, thick dust, brownish smog, vivid sari's, sleeping beggars, road side barbers, and government officials standing on road sides. You are horns and incense. You still have ineffective ceiling fans, dank internet cafe's, rickety scaffolding, and Hindi music blaring out of tinny speakers.

It's good to be back. It's great to see you. What do you have in store for me this time???