Monday, January 7, 2008

India Adventures

Scotty returned from India yesterday. He was travelling with a team of 10 dentists from NYU to do some work with children in a rural part of India, Bhuj (the epicenter of a destructive 8.9 earthquake a few years ago). Scott spent the first night in Mumbai and then travelled to Bhuj on a tiny airplane. The team set up in a school and worked with about 2000 kids. We were only able to communicate twice with a 2 minute phone call over the 2 weeks. No e-mail. It was tough but thanks to Chad and Griff for keeping me company. Here are some of my favorite pics from his adventure.

At a market in Mumbai, Scott gave in to the temptation to try this freshly squeezed sugar cane juice. Big mistake. Two words: Mumbai Squirts!

Difficult to see, but this was the *hotel* he stayed at on the first night in Mumbai.



The lobby of the hotel. Scott woke up too late and missed the continental breakfast.


The welcome ceremony at the school in Bhuj. Everyone was carrying the supplies in and all the school children lined up on both sides to welcome the team.



See the video to hear the Hindu song played over loud speaker every morning at 7:15 across the town. Bhuj is located in Kutch, an extremely conservative, vegetarian, dry, religous state. Scotty said there were speakers everywhere.



One of Scott's favorite patients that touched his heart and makes him smile. It is not customary to give any type of anesthetic as there is a huge fear of needles among the people here and many pass out just on the site of a needle. Scott said he had to drill and fill 6 deep cavaties on this little one and she didn't flinch once and always had a huge smile on her face. Unbelievable.



Visiting a farm in a nearby village, Scott asked if he could join in the family portrait but was rudely denied the privilige.
Every day on the walk to the school where the dental clinic was set up, Scott passed a huge yard where boats were in different stages of being built. The area is close to the Indian ocean..but still, how in the world do they get this to the water???




Scotty loved taking "bucket showers" all week.


But not as much as he loved giving his thighs a good work out every morning and night to take care of business.










3 comments:

G said...

Amazing! I can't wait to hear more. Diana - your funny!

pixelville said...

i would have been screaming bloody murder and passing out at the sight of that drill with NO needle. i say bring on the needles baby (gas, pills, whatever it takes).

how cool that scott did this. sounds like an amazing experience!

G said...

Opps! Diana - you're funny!