Sick updates...
Sierra used the restroom and no purges happened...big deal. Has also kept down 5 crackers....can smell recovery in the exhaust filled air
Nick C went for a walk, got pooped on by a bird (for the first time ever), now has a headache again...bad move.
Nick M still in bed.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Friday, July 2, 2010
Sick Update
This morning we were supposed to go feed people on the outskirts of town. This is a program that is done 6 days a week at 6 in the morning. The org brings 3-4 huge containers of food (it looks like rice and beans) to each site. At the site volunteers from the community serve the food. The women come and get enough food for their family.
Everyone was supposed to go, but not everyone was up to it.
Nick C. woke up around 5 to get some water. He stumbled down two flights of stairs. With each step his head throbbed more and more. His balance was uneven as he climbed up and down the stairs. He crawled back into bed, covered his head, and continued to sleep. He is now up and moving around and even wanting to go out to dinner tonight. Maybe, just maybe, his sickness has passed.
Nick M. woke up after a long night of purging. He took some meds, and feeling better joined the group at the feeding. There he was quickly put to work. Moms were telling their children to go to his line and they were scrambling to get a place in line with the white-server. After, he went back to bed. He is still there.
Sierra was possibly the last oft he three to start feeling sick. Her sickness started around dinner, but quickly turned into a force. She spent the majority of the night giving praise to the porcelain god and has spend all morning recovering with sleep. She is still sleeping. Nick C. went to go bug her...so we shall see.
I am still feeling great! Fingers crossed that it stays that way. Nick C. says he doesn't get sick because he tells himself he is not getting sick. He also says he just doesn't get sick. So, I am telling myself I am not getting sick! It'll work!
Everyone was supposed to go, but not everyone was up to it.
Nick C. woke up around 5 to get some water. He stumbled down two flights of stairs. With each step his head throbbed more and more. His balance was uneven as he climbed up and down the stairs. He crawled back into bed, covered his head, and continued to sleep. He is now up and moving around and even wanting to go out to dinner tonight. Maybe, just maybe, his sickness has passed.
Nick M. woke up after a long night of purging. He took some meds, and feeling better joined the group at the feeding. There he was quickly put to work. Moms were telling their children to go to his line and they were scrambling to get a place in line with the white-server. After, he went back to bed. He is still there.
Sierra was possibly the last oft he three to start feeling sick. Her sickness started around dinner, but quickly turned into a force. She spent the majority of the night giving praise to the porcelain god and has spend all morning recovering with sleep. She is still sleeping. Nick C. went to go bug her...so we shall see.
I am still feeling great! Fingers crossed that it stays that way. Nick C. says he doesn't get sick because he tells himself he is not getting sick. He also says he just doesn't get sick. So, I am telling myself I am not getting sick! It'll work!
comment
Brody- don't be an ass! Both nick's are vitally important to this mission! President...
Robin- we are loving it. We moved hotels in dehli a lot, always have ac, cleanliness and ammenities have dramatically varied.
Chad- the boys love the shaves and are due for a new one
Mom- I am hoping to post photos
Sere- how do I comment back? It won't let me
Love to all! We love your support and get joy from hearing from you! We seriously do!
Robin- we are loving it. We moved hotels in dehli a lot, always have ac, cleanliness and ammenities have dramatically varied.
Chad- the boys love the shaves and are due for a new one
Mom- I am hoping to post photos
Sere- how do I comment back? It won't let me
Love to all! We love your support and get joy from hearing from you! We seriously do!
sick!!!
Affected- nick, nick, and sierra
Outting- coffee shop (jessi was sleeping)
Culprit- fruit cake (well, we think)
Day- yesterday
Effects- headache, fever, nausea, upset stomach, fatigue, weakness
Incubation- 12 hours
Lasting- 18 hours and counting
Medications-tylenol, ib, sprite, and sleep
Hopes- to get better
Outting- coffee shop (jessi was sleeping)
Culprit- fruit cake (well, we think)
Day- yesterday
Effects- headache, fever, nausea, upset stomach, fatigue, weakness
Incubation- 12 hours
Lasting- 18 hours and counting
Medications-tylenol, ib, sprite, and sleep
Hopes- to get better
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Agra, Varanasi, and Beyond
Hello all! Sorry it has been so long. The past few days have been a whirlwind and we have had limited internet connection.
Our train finally arrive in Dehli, 6 hours later, and took us to Agra. Sierra pronounces it a-gra (short 'a' sound, followed by gra), and I say ag-ra (ag followed by the ra). We both think we are right. Anywho, we made it to the city of the Taj Mahal. This place is for sure a tourist area. All over people are trying to screw you out of money. Even our hotel tried. It can be very taxing! We just wanted to go to sleep in a nice air conditioned room when we arrived at 11, but no we had to go through 3 rooms on several different floors, wait for the manager, haggle, wait some more, and finally, several hours later were aloud to sleep in a semi-air-conditioned room. Oh we moved out of that room into a room with sweet crushed red velvet curtains. Baller!
We spent Friday wandering through the area. We saw tons of monkeys and took photos of the local kids. Agra is hotter and dryer then Dehli and we sweated our asses off. I must say I hate when beads of sweat trickle down my legs. It makes me feel like bugs are crawling all over me.
So, I really want to upload photos right now, but I can not seem to find them on Nick M. computer. I will ask him and do it later.
Anywho, we went to the Taj Mahal at 5:30 on Saturday. We figured we would wake up very early, see it, have breakfast, and make our train to Gwalior. The Taj is beautiful. A tuk tuk took us to the entrance and we walk 1-2 km into where you pay. It is in a very secluded area. The grounds surrounding are all green, which is remarkable considering everywhere else is brown and dead. You might be interested to know that the area surrounding our hotel, the community of living area, is infested with trash. The sewer literally runs along the side of the road. At times you will see stray dogs sitting in it to cool off. There are areas, in the middle of where people live, completely filled with trash. I tell you this because the area surrounding the Taj is pristine.
The Taj was magnificent. Though I must say the pictures you see on TV and in book of it are for sure enhances. The sky is no where near that blue.
We made it to the station to find out our train was delayed an hour. Dehli time. Made it to Gwalior where we went to an ACed hotel and hung out for 6 hours before our next train to Varanasi.
Varanasi is one of the Holy cities visited on Hindu pilgrimage. They have 165 Ghats, or places where people bathe in the Ganga River. They also have something similar to a crematorium called the Burning Ghat. When people die they are taken here. A ceremony is preformed and the people in burned for 3 hours. The remaining parts of the body are then placed in the Ganga. The guide book said over 45,000 people, or parts of, are placed in the Ganga each year.
The burning Ghats are a site. I thought they would smell awful, but really there was no unpleasant odor. We met a kid, who later scammed us a little, who told us all about the ritual. The dead person is first washed with 5 different types of oils, spices, and butter, they are wrapped in silk or cotton, dipped in the Ganga for one last bath. The family then has one last drink from the Ganga to remember the body. They are then brought up to the place they will be burned. They walk around the body five times and get the fire of Shiva. The fire of Shiva has been burning consistently for 3,000 years. They get the fire with grass and light the Mango wood. Oh there is a little sandal wood. The body burns for 3 hours. After, the youngest son or oldest son or husband shaves their head leaving a small tuft in the back and dress in all white to symbolize mourning. The rest of these details are a bit fuzzy on when they happen, but you'll get the idea. At some point the family bathes in the Ganga. They then return home, wait 10-days, more heads are shaves, and something like a funeral with lots of food happens. We were told many times that weddings and funerals were the two most important events and the most expensive ones too.
The whole process is beautiful. Did I mention that women are not aloud to participate in this. They can be burned, but don't participate in the ceremony. There are 6-types of people who are not burned; people bitten by cobras, pregnant women, people with disease, children under 10, Holy Men Sadu and animals. These people are wrapped in banana leaves, tied to a rock, and dropped into the Ganga. Ya, we saw some dead bodies.
The whole this is wonderful. The culture and rituals are sooooooo deep.
In the early morning we took a boat ride up the Ganga to see all the Ghats and watch the people bathe. It was refreshing and so peaceful. I think it is interesting to be watching such an intimate part of someones day. The Hindu's believe the Ganga to be holy and consider its waters purifying and almost lucky. People pilgrim from all over the world to bathe here. At night we went on another ride to see the evening ceremony that is preformed every night.
Old city is the part of the city right on the river. You can not take a car here. Instead they drop you off on the outside and you follow a series of small roads through. We met a kid here who showed us all around these alley ways.
Varanasi was awesome and by far our favorite place so far. We are not in Kolkata enjoying the Paraguay/Japan futbol game that Paraguay just won. Tomorrow we will be learning what we will be doing for the next month. So exciting.
Oh...it's monsooning!
YAY
P.S. Sorry for any spelling or grammar mistakes!
Our train finally arrive in Dehli, 6 hours later, and took us to Agra. Sierra pronounces it a-gra (short 'a' sound, followed by gra), and I say ag-ra (ag followed by the ra). We both think we are right. Anywho, we made it to the city of the Taj Mahal. This place is for sure a tourist area. All over people are trying to screw you out of money. Even our hotel tried. It can be very taxing! We just wanted to go to sleep in a nice air conditioned room when we arrived at 11, but no we had to go through 3 rooms on several different floors, wait for the manager, haggle, wait some more, and finally, several hours later were aloud to sleep in a semi-air-conditioned room. Oh we moved out of that room into a room with sweet crushed red velvet curtains. Baller!
We spent Friday wandering through the area. We saw tons of monkeys and took photos of the local kids. Agra is hotter and dryer then Dehli and we sweated our asses off. I must say I hate when beads of sweat trickle down my legs. It makes me feel like bugs are crawling all over me.
So, I really want to upload photos right now, but I can not seem to find them on Nick M. computer. I will ask him and do it later.
Anywho, we went to the Taj Mahal at 5:30 on Saturday. We figured we would wake up very early, see it, have breakfast, and make our train to Gwalior. The Taj is beautiful. A tuk tuk took us to the entrance and we walk 1-2 km into where you pay. It is in a very secluded area. The grounds surrounding are all green, which is remarkable considering everywhere else is brown and dead. You might be interested to know that the area surrounding our hotel, the community of living area, is infested with trash. The sewer literally runs along the side of the road. At times you will see stray dogs sitting in it to cool off. There are areas, in the middle of where people live, completely filled with trash. I tell you this because the area surrounding the Taj is pristine.
The Taj was magnificent. Though I must say the pictures you see on TV and in book of it are for sure enhances. The sky is no where near that blue.
We made it to the station to find out our train was delayed an hour. Dehli time. Made it to Gwalior where we went to an ACed hotel and hung out for 6 hours before our next train to Varanasi.
Varanasi is one of the Holy cities visited on Hindu pilgrimage. They have 165 Ghats, or places where people bathe in the Ganga River. They also have something similar to a crematorium called the Burning Ghat. When people die they are taken here. A ceremony is preformed and the people in burned for 3 hours. The remaining parts of the body are then placed in the Ganga. The guide book said over 45,000 people, or parts of, are placed in the Ganga each year.
The burning Ghats are a site. I thought they would smell awful, but really there was no unpleasant odor. We met a kid, who later scammed us a little, who told us all about the ritual. The dead person is first washed with 5 different types of oils, spices, and butter, they are wrapped in silk or cotton, dipped in the Ganga for one last bath. The family then has one last drink from the Ganga to remember the body. They are then brought up to the place they will be burned. They walk around the body five times and get the fire of Shiva. The fire of Shiva has been burning consistently for 3,000 years. They get the fire with grass and light the Mango wood. Oh there is a little sandal wood. The body burns for 3 hours. After, the youngest son or oldest son or husband shaves their head leaving a small tuft in the back and dress in all white to symbolize mourning. The rest of these details are a bit fuzzy on when they happen, but you'll get the idea. At some point the family bathes in the Ganga. They then return home, wait 10-days, more heads are shaves, and something like a funeral with lots of food happens. We were told many times that weddings and funerals were the two most important events and the most expensive ones too.
The whole process is beautiful. Did I mention that women are not aloud to participate in this. They can be burned, but don't participate in the ceremony. There are 6-types of people who are not burned; people bitten by cobras, pregnant women, people with disease, children under 10, Holy Men Sadu and animals. These people are wrapped in banana leaves, tied to a rock, and dropped into the Ganga. Ya, we saw some dead bodies.
The whole this is wonderful. The culture and rituals are sooooooo deep.
In the early morning we took a boat ride up the Ganga to see all the Ghats and watch the people bathe. It was refreshing and so peaceful. I think it is interesting to be watching such an intimate part of someones day. The Hindu's believe the Ganga to be holy and consider its waters purifying and almost lucky. People pilgrim from all over the world to bathe here. At night we went on another ride to see the evening ceremony that is preformed every night.
Old city is the part of the city right on the river. You can not take a car here. Instead they drop you off on the outside and you follow a series of small roads through. We met a kid here who showed us all around these alley ways.
Varanasi was awesome and by far our favorite place so far. We are not in Kolkata enjoying the Paraguay/Japan futbol game that Paraguay just won. Tomorrow we will be learning what we will be doing for the next month. So exciting.
Oh...it's monsooning!
YAY
P.S. Sorry for any spelling or grammar mistakes!
Thursday, June 24, 2010
train station
We are sitting in the dehli train station. Literally sitting on the floor. People walk past and stare like it is their job. Stare, not trying to pretend like they are not looking, but genuinely stare! We are sitting on the ground because our train is delayed 5 hours. People keep walking past and starring. We don't mind it. We definately look different. Someone said brother was his hero because he is so tall. Yesterday people were taking mine and sierra's photo. They were amazed. We just got told the taj mahal is closed on friday. Guess what day we are going! Friday! Joy! We might not be seeing the taj! Hmmm. Huge bummer. Well we are still sitting. Waiting for 3 more hours. Its hot. But, it rained a little. Happy trails.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Shaving and Driving...Not at the Same Time
Face Shaving
Straight edge face shaving is a common practice for men in India. So, the boys decided to do it. Brother went first. The guy shaved his face in record time then asked if he wanted a face massage. Brother said yes and the man proceeded to rub the crap out of his face with several different fragrant lotions. Then he put a pink mask on and made him sit for 10 minutes while he cut Nick's hair. Brother was not stoked about the pink mask. This was only made better by the 14-year-old boy, who is a servant to the barber, who fanned him persistently. Brother also exchanged music with the kid. I am surprised at how many people have cell phones here and how little etiquette they have. For example we were in a tourist agency booking hotels with a man. His phone rang and he answered in mid-sentence. Weird!
Nick decided at breakfast that it would be a good idea to cut his luscious locks off. Siting that they were too hot and making him stand out even more then his REI getup. Granted Nick is stoked on his REI getup because he is cooled then in jeans and a t-shirt. Anywho, he cut his hair and keeps complaining that he looks like a child. Wait, wait, wait...did I mention he got a shave too? Complete with pink face mask? Oh yes, it was amazing! I think he looks like this picture that was on a fan at the Citadel. A couple of you will know what I am talking about. I think he looks very handsome. Nick also got the full run down which consisted of some slapping and jerking. He said it felt really good.
All day we have been getting comments about how honest and kind they look. I must look like a cradle robber or something.
Here are some videos from where we are. This first one is walking out of our hotel to the busy road in Pahar Ganj in Old Dehli. This area is not a slum, but it is a poorer area.
Nick is a sweaty man. He came to the conclusion today that he needs to eat more salt cuz his sweat tastes like water. It is 111 degrees in the shade. Seriously! P.S. I miss my hair because I look like a child! (Nick)
Last but not least is our taxi ride out of the ghetto, to a cleaner, nicer part of town in a tuk tuk vehicle. P.S. the guy not driving in the front seat is Kamil, our new friend! You'll hear more about him later... (we have to edit this video for size so it will be up later)
Straight edge face shaving is a common practice for men in India. So, the boys decided to do it. Brother went first. The guy shaved his face in record time then asked if he wanted a face massage. Brother said yes and the man proceeded to rub the crap out of his face with several different fragrant lotions. Then he put a pink mask on and made him sit for 10 minutes while he cut Nick's hair. Brother was not stoked about the pink mask. This was only made better by the 14-year-old boy, who is a servant to the barber, who fanned him persistently. Brother also exchanged music with the kid. I am surprised at how many people have cell phones here and how little etiquette they have. For example we were in a tourist agency booking hotels with a man. His phone rang and he answered in mid-sentence. Weird!
Nick decided at breakfast that it would be a good idea to cut his luscious locks off. Siting that they were too hot and making him stand out even more then his REI getup. Granted Nick is stoked on his REI getup because he is cooled then in jeans and a t-shirt. Anywho, he cut his hair and keeps complaining that he looks like a child. Wait, wait, wait...did I mention he got a shave too? Complete with pink face mask? Oh yes, it was amazing! I think he looks like this picture that was on a fan at the Citadel. A couple of you will know what I am talking about. I think he looks very handsome. Nick also got the full run down which consisted of some slapping and jerking. He said it felt really good.
All day we have been getting comments about how honest and kind they look. I must look like a cradle robber or something.
Here are some videos from where we are. This first one is walking out of our hotel to the busy road in Pahar Ganj in Old Dehli. This area is not a slum, but it is a poorer area.
Nick is a sweaty man. He came to the conclusion today that he needs to eat more salt cuz his sweat tastes like water. It is 111 degrees in the shade. Seriously! P.S. I miss my hair because I look like a child! (Nick)
Last but not least is our taxi ride out of the ghetto, to a cleaner, nicer part of town in a tuk tuk vehicle. P.S. the guy not driving in the front seat is Kamil, our new friend! You'll hear more about him later... (we have to edit this video for size so it will be up later)
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