YAHOO!! I made it to India, what an adventure I am having. A gruelling trip here but the coolest ever airplane TV/video/games unit in every seat- Wes would have loved it, you can play 2-person games (like bejewelled). I watched 4 movies and slept quite a bit too. Had layovers in Seattle, Amsterdam then a very interesting all-nighter in Mumbai airport. The domestic part is lovely, the international is scary!! We arrived in Chennai at 6:40 a.m. and stayed awake all day to try to switch around. Unfortunately I did myself in and now have a cold!! So anyways I have some quiet time at this internet cafe a dusty walk away from the university. Crossing the road to get here was crazy- the cars and motorbikes have the right of way so you have to be quick!!

I'm mentoring a group of public health students in the Community Medicine department of the medical school. I can't post pictures today but hopefully will next time. I'm on a really old computer. The university is GORGEOUS and well funded. Our rooms leave a little to be desired but most of the time we have electricity, air con and always have cold water for a shower so it's great. Yesterday the students went to the leprosy centre but unfortunately I was tied up with a bigwig ceremony (lots of that here). Anyways today we had an incredible lecture on leprosy then went to the TB (DOTS) program and HIV/AIDS counselling centre for pregnant women. The ladies and their husbands get tested- I will have a great inservice when I get back at work if anyone wants to listen :)

The rest of the week we are going to a community health centre, Alcohol and Drug treatment centre then finish at an HIV/TB sanitorium. Our days start at 7 and we go full tilt finishing with an optional field trip at 5 (although the buses seem to run at least an hour late...). FIeld trips include things like a trip to an orphanage, bazaar for shopping, the beach, and a 5 star hotel.

India has changed since 1979--there is much more prosperity evident everywhere because of the flourishing IT industry. That being said there are still huge socio-environmental problems like garbage everywhere, dirty water, poor people in bare feet (but very, very few beggars). The air isn't bad, though. Mumbai was awful and apparently Delhi is as well.

I miss my family and am sorry I am not with the new hockey players but I bet you guys are doing OK without me there. Deane it was so good to talk to you last night, boy a month seems like it's going to be a long time to be away...I'm going to call once a week. Wes, be ready for school, please don't spend all your money before I get home and have a great time in net next week. Good luck getting your courses sorted out, talk it over with dad before Tues. Laura, have an AMAZING time in Vienna, hope you got a great tenant and that you are leaving relaxed and happy. Becky thanks for being the mom in my absence, and sorry you've been chased out of your room but I hope things are going well getting ready for Calgary. Mom and dad, love you- both sides :) And Kand J too of course. And hi to my other "family" at the health unit.

Hey any requests from anyone for clothes?? They are SO cheap here. let me know on facebook or reply on this blog.

That's it for now, love Barb