Lessons Learned So Far

I am going to try and make two posts today. I day make it here thank you Jesus becuase it has been along trip. First to comment on the way getting over here and the things I noticed while being on my own in India. If any one knows me really well then they know I put on a tough exterior but am warm on the inside. Like Shrek the ogre said "Ogres are like onions they have layers." So I guess I am an ogre now : ) Also, I love to travel and to see new things. On the other side traveling and seeing new things on my own scares the h-e-double hockey sticks out of me. Weird huh? I have always been a different child so I guess loving something I fear makes sense to me. When I went to London I clung to Dr. T and his wife until I felt safe. Well this time I was all alone in India, kind of lost. I missed my flight because another flight was added that I did not know about. Then my bags where lost. Great, after the inital tears and giving myself an enternal peptalk I oulled it together ordered another flight and flagged down  taxi to go to a hotel for the night. I didn't leave the hotel much but when I finally was on my flight to Raipur I tought everything would be fine. Well in India it is Monsoon season and my ride was late and I had money or telephone. Luickly an engineer helped me to call Dr. Henry and I was picked up safely.
But my escapade so far has affirmed some life lessons the strong women in my life have taught me since I was a child. 1)Most people do not care about your problems. Therefore you have to take charge and take care for yourself: This became apparent when I missed my flight and all of the airline women could say was what do you want me to do about it?
2)Most things in lfe aren't free: Everywhere I went to ask for help no one spoke english but everyone knew the word tip.
3)Everyone is trying to survive: I understand the people of India think all foreigners have lots of money. Compared to their standard of living we do. But being that I am an American student by American standards I am poor. Therefore, I did not want to pay the overpriced charges they were giving me. But try as I might no one would let me talk them down.
4)Lots of people are trying to be something other than what they are: I could understad this from how hard I saw people trying to make some money off of me. Who doesnt want to better their situation? This also became apparent as I got to watch tv the night I was in the hotel. There were advertised creams to keep your face bright  and lotions to keep your underarms bright. It just reminded me of how in the African American culture many want to be brighter or not get any lighter. Only it was strange to me in a country where most people of brown color want to get lighter. it may be because I am light that I believe that brown skin of all shades is beautiful. I have members of my family that are yelow like me, and some that are very dark but they are still beautiful to me. I guess somethings are the same in every country.
5)People are afraid of new things: On my end this was completly true. This was my first time being completly useless and stupid since I was a child. Stuck in a country with hardly anyone that speaks the language and not knowing anything. This was also confirmed by the Indians in Raipur. An engineer helped me to phone Dr. Henry and looked after me and men, a friend of his and even a policeman came up to ask him what does she want? Why help her? Is she going to pay you? He kindly told them she is new here I was new here once she just needs help. He told me "It is the village way of thinking. They do not know new things."
5)There is still some good out there in the world: I can't leave such a bad impression on India just because I was scared to death. There were good people everywhere I went Like the Chrisitians who helped me to get to a safe hotel. Or the woman who sat next to me on the plane and explained Indian food. The engineer who helped me to phone Dr. Henry and helped me from crying. And lastly the people here at the hospital who have been nothing but kind and patient as I learn my way around here.
But the last lesson I have learened so far is one that still stands globally. Dr. Henry told me this is India you have to fight for what you want and stand strong. People will run over you. I believe this is true everywhere. So this ogre will keep the fight going. Have a great day.