1/31/09
Today we spent the day in Delhi looking at a project that was completed a couple years ago. It was a technical center for girls that teaches them computer, English, henna, beautician, painting, making garments and embroidery. They have put 1000 girls through the center so far. The girls did henna on all of the women of our group then they did a public presentation in front of all the villagers as well as us. Then the students performed various dances and things for us. It was great. Then we headed to a restaurant to have lunch with the Delhi West Rotary club. Upon getting on the bus I started to feel ill. It was all I could do to keep it together until we stopped. Upon arriving I immediately jumped off the bus and headed for the facilities. After my stomach calmed down I joined the rest of the group. They provided us with a huge lunch and their wives came as well. We met an ambassadorial scholar from the US who had been in India since July. She is due to leave in 2 months. After leaving the restaurant we headed to a do some site seeing of a temple with a tour guide. After about 5 minutes we stopped to get some cameras for some of the people in our group. While waiting on the bus I again needed to use the facilities. I asked Ragu if he could find me a bathroom. He ran around going from business to business trying to find me one. He finally found one on the 5th floor of a nearby building. At this point Ragu was my night in shining armor. It was all I could do to climb the stairs. Upon arriving at the facilities it was worse than a porta-potty. Crissie came with me and upon looking at the facilities I looked at Crissie & said no way I can't use this! but she encouraged me to use it anyways "You can do it!" I had to be brave. It was the most disgusting place I had ever been. Cockroaches climbing everywhere...I held my breath and held the walls!! Then I found out the toilet did not flush I said OMG! Crissie informed me I needed to fill the bucket near the toilet with water and throw it in the toilet. Upon doing that it went everywhere. What a mess! so there I am with my little tiny Kleenex trying to clean up my mess......It was pathetic. I knew there was no way I could stay with the team so Sanjiv, who had already headed back home, turned around and came back to meet the bus in New Delhi in the UN section. Sanjiv was a true gentleman for upon picking me up we headed for the 5 star hotels to use their facilities. We passed the palace where the President lives as well as the UN. This section of New Delhi was so beautiful. Upon entering the 5 star hotel they checked the car for bombs. I went into the bathroom and was met by 2 attendants. They had mahogany toilet seats and gorgeous marble floors. The attendants opened the door for me so there I am in the bathroom with 2 attendants waiting outside the stall to service my EVERY NEED (when all I wanted them to do was wait outside) and me in the stall trying to be ever so quite. I think if I had asked them they would have accompanied me into the bathroom stall. Upon exiting the stall they got my soap for me, turned on the water and then handed me a towel to dry my hands. We went to the restaurant and had lime fizzy water with sugar and salt added to try and settle my stomach. It was actually quite good. After leaving we had to stop one more time at the Crown Plaza. Sanjiv said these places get $700-$800 per night. They were awfully beautiful. I would feel guilty staying in one of these places for less than a mile away, people are living in tents made of plastic, sleeping in the dirt and picking through the garbage for food. Apparently I was not alone in feeling ill. Sean and Chris both come home under the weather as well.
Today we spent the day in Delhi looking at a project that was completed a couple years ago. It was a technical center for girls that teaches them computer, English, henna, beautician, painting, making garments and embroidery. They have put 1000 girls through the center so far. The girls did henna on all of the women of our group then they did a public presentation in front of all the villagers as well as us. Then the students performed various dances and things for us. It was great. Then we headed to a restaurant to have lunch with the Delhi West Rotary club. Upon getting on the bus I started to feel ill. It was all I could do to keep it together until we stopped. Upon arriving I immediately jumped off the bus and headed for the facilities. After my stomach calmed down I joined the rest of the group. They provided us with a huge lunch and their wives came as well. We met an ambassadorial scholar from the US who had been in India since July. She is due to leave in 2 months. After leaving the restaurant we headed to a do some site seeing of a temple with a tour guide. After about 5 minutes we stopped to get some cameras for some of the people in our group. While waiting on the bus I again needed to use the facilities. I asked Ragu if he could find me a bathroom. He ran around going from business to business trying to find me one. He finally found one on the 5th floor of a nearby building. At this point Ragu was my night in shining armor. It was all I could do to climb the stairs. Upon arriving at the facilities it was worse than a porta-potty. Crissie came with me and upon looking at the facilities I looked at Crissie & said no way I can't use this! but she encouraged me to use it anyways "You can do it!" I had to be brave. It was the most disgusting place I had ever been. Cockroaches climbing everywhere...I held my breath and held the walls!! Then I found out the toilet did not flush I said OMG! Crissie informed me I needed to fill the bucket near the toilet with water and throw it in the toilet. Upon doing that it went everywhere. What a mess! so there I am with my little tiny Kleenex trying to clean up my mess......It was pathetic. I knew there was no way I could stay with the team so Sanjiv, who had already headed back home, turned around and came back to meet the bus in New Delhi in the UN section. Sanjiv was a true gentleman for upon picking me up we headed for the 5 star hotels to use their facilities. We passed the palace where the President lives as well as the UN. This section of New Delhi was so beautiful. Upon entering the 5 star hotel they checked the car for bombs. I went into the bathroom and was met by 2 attendants. They had mahogany toilet seats and gorgeous marble floors. The attendants opened the door for me so there I am in the bathroom with 2 attendants waiting outside the stall to service my EVERY NEED (when all I wanted them to do was wait outside) and me in the stall trying to be ever so quite. I think if I had asked them they would have accompanied me into the bathroom stall. Upon exiting the stall they got my soap for me, turned on the water and then handed me a towel to dry my hands. We went to the restaurant and had lime fizzy water with sugar and salt added to try and settle my stomach. It was actually quite good. After leaving we had to stop one more time at the Crown Plaza. Sanjiv said these places get $700-$800 per night. They were awfully beautiful. I would feel guilty staying in one of these places for less than a mile away, people are living in tents made of plastic, sleeping in the dirt and picking through the garbage for food. Apparently I was not alone in feeling ill. Sean and Chris both come home under the weather as well.
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