Hello from Linda

Namaste…..

We are on day 11 and just finished the District Conference. We have not had good luck with internet connections so our blog has not been updated until today.

We are having a spectacular time. The Rotary Clubs have been treating us like royalty. My team and I have been overwhelmed by the hospitality of host families and the Rotary Clubs.

We arrived at midnight and were greeted with flower leis by Rahul, who was our host the first day and again at the District Conference as he has homes in both Delhi and Agra. He has been a terrific help to us.

We were then whisked off to the home of the home of the District Governor where we were greeted by his family with flowers and tea and then off to his club where they wined, dined, and entertained us with cultural dancers until the wee hours of the morning. Allen was drawn up to entertain us with his dancing skills and he wasn’t happy until we had all joined in the festivities!!!

The DG & his wife hosted three of us in their home where they fed us a great breakfast each morning. His wife makes the best potato treats!! He also has two children. His very bright young daughter told us how she was going to also be a doctor! The DG is a doctor and has his hospital and clinic under his home. Twenty-four hour doctor….what dedication. And then a DG in a district of over 100 clubs and a district that is about 1000 miles from end to end on roads that are under construction…or very rough! Our DG’s have it easy in comparison.

We have discovered the Indian tradition of greeting all of their guests to tea and sweets upon arrival everywhere. And then they feed us and shower us with gifts of love. So after eating several times a day our pants are getting tight!!!! Food had been outstanding everywhere….and those of us who did not like spice and liking more spice then when we started!! There are always so many choices…and always potatoes of some kind and their round flat bread.

Hathras brought us to our first great cultural shock…the roads!!! Oh my…it can not be described. You are traveling down the road, with left hand drive, but everyone drives on both sides of the road. Imagine driving at about 35 MPH (50 KL) with cars, trucks, tuck tuck’s (three wheel small vehicles), scooters, wagons being drawn by cows, camels, tractors and horses, goats, pigs, cows, dogs and people…. all on the road and no one drives on their own side. They just weave in and out using their horns!!! The cows just walk down the middle of the road everywhere including the highways.

The first full day we were taken to a local boarding school for underprivileged kids where we participated in the Morning Prayer rituals. The boarding school is supported by the local Rotary clubs. We also walked through an elementary school, were taken on a great tour of the local carpet factory, and a trip to an orphanage where we helped pass out saris and sweaters to needy women and children. That evening, not to be outdone by the DG’s club the Rotary Club Hathras Gold had a big dinner and local cultural entertainment. Since we had danced on stage the previous evening they wanted us to dance and sing again!! Great food and fellowship was had by all.

We were then off on our seven hour ride to Kanpur where we would spend about 5 days.. Upon arrival we were greeted by the Vinod Rishi Charter President of the new Rotary club of New Kanpur and her husband Past District Governor Rishi, who were to be my hosts. I was really impressed with the great work that Vinod Rishi’s brand new club was doing. They just jumped right in there and started projects in their community during their first year. Way to go Vinod! Their first project last year was a medical clinic that screened for diabetes and thyroid. They had doctors volunteering their time to the clinic. Her club is going to be really successful. I had a great time and a really enjoyed getting to know their son who had just graduated from medical school and will be taking His exams this month. I have now doubt he will pass. As this was New Year’s Eve we were treated to a “Rock’n” New Years Eve party with Rotary Cub Kanpur Industrial where we spent the evening with the DG and his wife dancing through the night.

While staying here, their son took me to the local market to try to get my cell phone working. We were with his friend who was home visiting from Virginia Tech. As we cut through the streets to the shop, his friend asked me how I felt about all of the stares!!! Since this is not a high tourist area, light skinned, blonds really stand out. My reply was that I now know how my son feels when walking through the mall as he is 6 ft 10 inches tall and people always stare at him!

We had a fast five days where we toured the local tannery (leather is a big export product of India), visited a village where they have a fluoride problem with the water, toured two orphanage’s (one boy’s and one girl’s) that the Rotary Club is supporting, had a vocational day and went to many meetings with presentations. The whole team was touched by the work of the Rotary Clubs and heartbroken by the problems being caused by the fluoride in the local villages.

I had my first vocational day and went out with a local owner of a security company. He took me to a couple of places where they had fire systems installed. Much to my horror….on the first one, I asked him about the broken sprinklers I could see and his reply…..Oh it does not work!! It seems the government requires them to put in the system but they do not have to keep it working!!! He said that was a big problem in India.

Everywhere we went we were showered with hospitality, love and lots of good food. We have made many friends.

Our next stop was Jhansi where we were welcomed at the bakery that had just opened that day by one of the Rotarians and of course had some tea. We then left for our host families and then treated to the cultural dances of one of their local celebrities.

We had our second vocational day here and I found hope that some of the fire systems in India worked!! I went to a plant that builds transformers and because of its location is very high security. I found a very sophisticated access and camera security system and working fire system and an employee who had participated in GSE! They also run 24 hours a day so have guards on duty all of the time to monitor. I also went to a local bank and visited with the bank manager about his security.

In additions to spending time with our hosts we were able to visit the famous Khahuracho Temples where we met up with and treated to lunch with Warren Crane. He is from the Seattle, Emerald City Rotary and spends half of the year in this small town in India. We met his adopted family and visited their home. They were very gracious and treated us to tea. The temples were a few hours away so we were entertained by our new rotary friends coming and going. It was nice to spend so much time with them to get to know them better. The Dr. had even brought along some games to play!!

The next day Allen and I went to Orccha, another great fort. Lori was still recovering from her infection from a bug bite so she and the rest of the team stayed back and spent some extra time with host families. Again, Allen and I were escorted by two of the local Rotarians and their families and we got to spend some time getting to know them which both Allen & I enjoyed. On our last night there we went to a birthday party for two of our hosts family member so we were able to see how they celebrate. They have these beautiful lotus flower candles that open up when lit.

We left our new friends in Jhansi and headed off to Agra, the District Conference and the Taj!

Will post more when I get internet connection again….