Monsoons and Motorcycles

As you could have probably guessed, the rain has continued. Today it was raining when we left Pasam  for lunch and to come back to the volunteer house. Arun and I were pretty wet by the time we made it home on his motorcycle. The power was out when we got back too. As I mentioned, I spent the morning at Pasam. The majority of my morning was spent in the dressing room helping to change the dressing of the man whose eczema became infected. Sadly, his condition has gotten much worse. According to the doctors he is both an alcoholic and heavy smoker. Both of these habits diminish the effects of antibiotics and impede healing. Today, his leg had a large swollen bump on his shin that was completely filled with pus. Cleaning out this and the infected pockets in his leg was one of the grossest things I have ever witnessed so I'll spare you the details. Unfortunately for this man, the consequences of his limited healing are very real. Much of the tissue on his leg was in a state of necrosis, there was apparent muscular atrophy and his best hope of avoiding further infection and the possibility of septicemia is amputating his leg above the knee. Obviously this news was very upsetting and by the time his dressing was done and the doctors had talked to him he was in tears.

The outside of Pasam's main building.

For lunch, Arun and I hit up my favorite lunch spot which is just up the street from Pasam. We beat the rush today and didn't even have to wait for a table. I think today's lunch may have been the best meal or at least lunch I've had so far in India. The typical South Indian lunch is alll-you-can eat rice with various curries and two veg sides. I posted some pictures before of these kinds of lunches when I was talking about eating rice with your hands. Today, this restaurant had switched up their sides to a beet dish and a bean dish. Beets and beans are two foods I wouldn't normally want to eat but they were both SO GOOD. Best part is they keep serving you more and its healthy too! With my rice I had sambar, which is a lentil and vegetable kind of soup, and egg curry. I usually get those two when we eat there and they are both delicious although pretty spicy. This restaurant also offers a lot of non veg sides and Arun got a fish to go with his rice.

The aftermath of Arun's lunch, teeth and all.

This morning I took some pictures en route to Pasam, which I think you might enjoy:

Women carrying wood on their heads. Not an easy job.

One upping the women and going hands free.

A shot of a hillside in town with a beautiful church at the top of the hill. (Notice the change in weather from the first picture!)

I'm waiting for the rain to let up to see any patients come to the clinic this afternoon. Otherwise, the only work I have left for the week is to finish up my project proposal.

Here's to hoping its sunny where you are...

Liz