quick update

After I last posted, I took a taxi from the hotel and asked him to take me to the Gateway of India, instead he took me to a shop that pays him off to drag tourists there. The man there took me upstairs to his shop, unlocked the door and there I was ALONE in his shop with him, the shop was filled with very beautiful Kashmiri scarves. He tried several on me tying them on in the traditional way - I couldn't really find one I loved, but I liked them all - he said the price was 2500 rupees and me being bad at math on the spot wasn't sure how much that was, I tried to talk him down, but he wouldn't budge - he kept pressuring me to buy more scarves - I got mad at him for pressuring me, but bought the scarf anyway. I had him pay my cab fare when I went out and the taxi driver tried to get me into another shop, but I refused and walked to the Gateway myself. Later I figured that the price was $50 - yikes - but I've had it appraised since then by many Indians, including tailors, etc and they all said that it is a good price.

There's more to say after that point, but I need to go here soon...

I started the program this morning - went to the 120 year old Leprosy hospital for 2 very informative, interesting lectures - no longer a leprosy hospital, it's more of a home now for people who were ostracized for having leprosy a long time ago - it's beautiful - the only place in Mumbai that isn't overcrowded with gardens all around - and the stray dogs didn't look as sick there.

I'm going to night clinic tonight - it's at 7pm in a very very small clinic - it's a community clinic that is either free or virtually free. Should be interesting...

Planning a trip to Goa this weekend with the group.

I taught our hostel hosts how to play the card game "speed" last night and they loved it - we had a great time playing. They don't speak english and I don't speak hindi, but we managed to communicate well. I gave them a deck of Seattle playing cards and some dried apples - they were amazed and thrilled for the gifts.

I have to go, my clinic partner is patiently waiting for me now - I'll write more and post more pics later. A lot has happened since my last post...