Baroda

I just got back from a relaxing 6 day "vacatoion" in Baroda (a much larger city closer to where I am from). I spent the first two days with my mom and dad's friends from medical school. Uma Auntie is an academic pediatrician and Siddharth Uncle is a pediatric surgeon. I went on rounds with Uma Auntie for the first two days, and again, I was just really impressed. India has really well established medical academics. I hope that progressively, the government will even better utilize their resources. The medical system here is like the education system in America. There are government hospitals (which are the academic hospitals) and there are private hospitals (Western Style hospitals for the rich). Uma Auntie strongly believes that the quality of care is almost on par with the quality elsewhere. The problem is twofold. First, because Gujarat is a wealthier state, it attracts patients from all over the country. Thus, the hospitals are majorly over crowded which obviously reduces the quality of healthcare they can provide. Secondly, the people who come to the hospitals are poor, and often unhygenic which invaribly creates an unhygenic atmosphere. So essentially, the knowledge and machienery is there to provide excellent care, the problem is in the neonatal ICU there are 3 infants to 1 bed.

Now, I'll be totally honest and say that I know very little about the American health care system (I know, that's VERY bad). So that as my disclaimer, I can't help but feel as though India doesn't deserve its bad rep. I mean, true, the care in the government hospitals could be better, but at least we are striving to provide affordable/free care to the poorest and most needy. I can already think of arguments back and forth, but I'm not going to delete what I've typed. I think it could make a very enriching conversation topic :)

After my two days exploring the Indian Academic health care system, I spent two days with my dad's cousin--which was great. Her daughers are my age and I had a great time with them. I was a little frustrated because they hospitality is so overwhelming that they wouldnt let me lift even a finger. They seemed to believe that I wasn't capable of anything (girl from America, what would she know?) It's incredibly frustrating, and I had to yell at them a few times..I think the message barely got through.

The one thing I was thinking on the train ride back is how incredibly lucky I (and my first cousins) am/are. Comparing our lives to my cousins here..it's just so different. We have SO SO SO much freedom education and exposure that I take for granted. Every time I come here I remember how lucky I am. Everytime I come here I try to remind myself not to take it for granted--but I always do. It's incredible to think how far we have come in just 3 generations. I can't wait to see my grandpa next week and give him a huge hug and thank him for all his sacrifices. It's because of him that I am able to travel this much, and its because of him that I have the education that I do.I'm adding this quick tid-bit for my family to read because I know they will understand that I mean. Sorry friends, you might not get what I am talking about I can go into detail later if there is interest.

Humm..thats about it now I'm back ready to hit the villages!!

lots of love!