"She looks more Indian than American!"

I think that's a tough sell but this morning during tea Dr. N proclaimed that I looked, "more Indian than American". Once again, Salin had kindly given me flowers for my hair and when I arrived to Pasam and Sangeetha saw them. I explained to her that I had to take them out to wear my motorcycle helmet and had just put them back in myself. She said she would help me fix them and next thing I know, she has taken out my braid and is completely redoing my hair. It is was this new hairstyle that prompted Dr. N's remark. 

My new 'do. (I did take this myself so apologies for the quality.)

I spent most of my day at Pasam in the dressing room with Sangeetha. I assisted with a dressing for a leg wound, flew solo on a nebulizer setup and even assisted with a cyst removal operation. I may have just been responsible for holding gauze to dab the blood coming from the incision and passing fresh Q-tips to Sangeetha, but I think this is the first time I can legitimately say I assisted in surgery!

After returning to the volunteer house, I helped Salin with one patient in the clinic. It was a woman complaining of severe back pain. According to Salin, she is maid who works for several families. The brooms maids here use are very short and they have to bend over, which is usually the cause of the pain. She received a pain killer injection and some pills so that she would be able to return to work tomorrow. I then headed up the street to pick up some groceries for breakfast. There are a handfuls of small stalls near the volunteer house which sell staples as well as a variety of snacks. I picked up eggs, bread and milk. The milk came in a small plastic bag, which I found very bizarre. I'm still not sure what the most effective way to store leftover milk after I open the package.

A rooster I saw on my way back to the volunteer house.

A better shot of the front of the volunteer house. Yes, it is pink!

After getting a few odds and ends done, I was called on by Arun to help prepare dinner. He had made dough for chapatti and I was assigned to cut up vegetables for potato masala. A little while later, while I was finishing up in the kitchen our maid, Ish, showed up and I told her we were making chapatti for dinner. She started talking to me telling me how to cook the chapatti and I'm sure what else she was saying because she pretty much only speaks Tamil (she is the one who wants me to learn Tamil). Next thing I know, she has taken over and fresh chapatti are being made! She kept telling me what to do and I kept trying to follow her instructions although I had no idea what she was actually saying. Two people trying to communicate who understand little to none of the other persons language is really an entertaining time. I couldn't help but laugh at the situation and Ish kept giving this look as if to say, "You silly girl why don't you understand me and why do you keep responding in English?" Sorry Ish! I promised her I was working on my Tamil. Not sure she understood that though. Eventually Arun returned from town and we finished up the potato masala. It turned out delicious and is definitely one of the best things I have eaten since coming to India. but almost anything will taste great with some homemade chapatti!

Dinner is served!

Hope Everyone back in the states had a great Memorial Day! I appreciate the US of A even more now that I am living abroad.

Liz