A TING-A-MA-JIG, evening of February 19, 2012

Boarding our two buses (one for Tour A and the other for Tour B), we now headed for what was to be one heck of an adventure. Of into the countryside we traveled, over roads which had more potholes than pavement, so each of us felt every bump in the way. Due to the poor condition of these country roads, we were forced to drive at incredibly slow speeds, which delayed our arrival at our tent village, before sundown. It was very dark out, with only a "finger nail" moon, when we arrived at the village, Gurkha  Kheda closest to the location of the dam project. Actually, the area through which we were passing had some familiarities to the landscape, and I later learned we were passing close by the area she our team in 2009 had helped to construct the dam at Teench Wala.  Our drivers were barely able to navigate through the narrow streets and at some of the turns, we nearly scraped the sides of the buses along walls and light poles.  All the while, the villagers either walked by the bus, stood in awe of not one but two buses lumbering into town, because I am confident Gurkha Kheda is not on anyone's "bucket list" of must visit sites in the world! We finally reached our stopping point and the point of disembarkation when we squeezed into patch of dung-covered soil and turned off the motors.  Now, the fun was about to begin... The next sound we heard over the cries of joy coming from the children of the village was that of a "one-lunger" or single cycle engine coughing it's we through the streets, and making its way to our location.  Just about that moment, a make-shift carry-all rounded the corner and hacked to a stop. This, we were informed was a TING-A-MA-JIG and it was going to deliver us to the tent village. SERIOUSLY?  Another name for it could have been Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.  It was hauling behind it a platform with a couple of sides and that portion was the cart in which we would stand for the time it would take "TING" to traverse the barren night desert. What a treat we had in store for us. Not sure of the time we departed on our journey across the desert to what would be our home for the next few nights, but it was cold and it was dark. About a dozen of us climbed into the "trailer" part of the "TING" and then, truth be told, the driver climbed down off his perch and grabbed a handle grip, which he hooked over the square fitting and began to crank and crank in order to get the "one lunger" to cough and sputter and catch. I am sure he was hopeful it might purr but that was not to be, except perhaps at the least inkling of an incline, where it settled down nicely while awaiting the heavy foot which caused it to rev to a high enough rpm level as to surge our jitney forward and then cost for a bit before the next incline.  During this inaugural trip, I heard many iterations that included references of Tommy the Train or the Little Engine That Could! "C'mon" they said. "we think you can, we think you can!" Way off in the distance, we could see the glow of lights and hoped that might be our tent encampment and, indeed, it was. Some must have been expecting pup tents and a trench shovel to dig a pit for a toilet. This as far from that. The image of Lawrence of Arabia, perhaps, might have been a bit more accurate. We jumped down (only choice) from the back end of the "TING" and proceeded through a sort of entry gate in a cloth clad wall that surrounded the encampment. To our immediate right was the dining tent - sized to the task of handling a wedding reception for at least two hundred guests. In front of us was the reception tent, where we would gather in the afternoons following work, or we we returned to camp for lunch. At the perimeter surrounding the courtyard, about twenty-eight Swiss-style tents were placed. Each tent as outfitted similarly with an entry "fly" under which were set two peacock shaped rattan chairs and a table. Unzipping the main zipper and then the screen zipper, one entered the bedroom, where two cots were covered with brightly colored quilts. On the opposite side, there was a table and a side chair as well as a bench for luggage. Step now, through the next flap into the throw, which boasted a stainless steel sink bowl, mirror on a stand, a eastern style toilet and then a shower platform with faucets and a hose with shower head.  The appointments did not lack for much.   We were called to the dining tent, where a wonderful hot meal awaited us. Each round was set for eight persons, complete with table cloth, placemats, cloth napkins, etc. , with the buffet line offering savory dishes, from soup to nuts. Following dinner, the staff brought out a birthday cake with one candle inscribed with HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ELIAS, P.D.G. Somehow, I think that dear friend Kelly Wike had a good deal to do with this. In addition, the three gentlemen from PHD Rural Development Chamber of  Commerce, with whom our teams had helped to construct two dams in previous years, were there - Goverdahn and his two sons, Dinesh and Banwari.  They also had a surprise for me, having purchased a traditional Rajasthani kurta and pantaloons. Unfortunately, even though I have lost some weight in recent weeks, sizes in India were not meant to fit me.  However, the thought was most appreciated. The topper,  literally, was a turban of bright colors, that they had to rework twice, because it had fallen apart.  We were then treated to a righty celebration  which included several drummers and dancers from the local area. It was very cold when we retired to our tents, but even with the night chill, we had been warmly welcomed.  To bed and not so early to rise the next  morning and to begin our three days of labor.

LOOKING FOR A SIGN... FEBRUARY 17, 2012

"Okay, Elias, how are we supposed to know where we are going when we arrive?" "Just  look for a sign - on that reads ROTARY DREAM TEAM -INDIA 2012." After deplaning, all of us having grabbed our carry-on items, proceeded to the concourse and began the rather long walk through brightly carpeted corridors, beautifully maintained with displays of plantings throughout and on to the escalators, which brought us down to the level of the Customs and Immigration bureau and bandage claim and for some, and even more important, the duty free shops!  Once having descended to tha level, we queued up to be processed through and then proceeded on to retrieve our bags.  Even if our bags had been tagged as PRIORITY, it basically meant nothing, and we had to wait just like everyone else.  However, the process took much less time than in many American airports. This place is really efficient, and for this, we are most appreciative.  Truly, to be processed through immigration within less than five minutes seems rather astounding! From baggage claim we worked our way out through to the general reception area where we were faced with literally dozens of people waving signs in the air with names of their special friends of relatives, or merely a taxi fare, to wisk them off into the night, which is India! And just as I had predicted, outside and to the left of the teeming multitudes, was my friend and member of the staff of HiPoints, Bani. his face lit up when he saw me, and he gave me a welcoming embrace. I told him I felt I had arrived home again,  and was so pleased to be here. I told him we would more easily find the team members, because each of us was wearing the team shirt - a wonderful shade of purple, which although Gene Hernandez found fault with the color and said he would have a problem wearing that color, it helped to pick out the team members and soon we were all assembled and ready to move on to the next leg of our journey - the bus rise to our hotel. And, oh what a journey that was! Even at the late hour of the night, the choked lanes of traffic we just as I had remembered them, nearly impossible to navigate. What would normally be expected to take a half-hour, took nearly two and a half hours. The cacophonous deluge of sounds, mixed with smells, put several of us on sensory overload.  Finally, upon arrival at the Ramada Hotel in Gurgaon, we stepped down from the bus and into the lobby where the night manager and his staff were prepared to carry our bags to our rooms so we could settle down for a short sleep, but one that was so welcome after the tedium of a fourteen hour flight with a surly crew. Bank explained that not all of the team members had arrived and that some of them would be coming on shortly.  Several of us remained downstairs in the lobby lounge, to enjoy a quick beer or some wine, awaiting the arrival of prospective roommates from either France or Australia. I enjoyed the company of Sergio and Norma Iglesias, the district governor nominee and his wife from Vera Cruz, Mexico. We found that we had a great deal in common and acknowledged reality of the Magic of Rotary. About a half-hour later, first the French contingent arrived, with Diddier Fosse, my dear friend and team member for four or five years, and a young lady named Elodie, who had accompanied him for this experience. Shortly thereafter, the four team members from Australia arrived - Pete Dalwood, Rossi Beddow, Leonie and Lee Ann. Rossi was to share my room with me that first night, and since his mother Carole Beddow and his sister, Fabian, had traveled with me in previous years, we had a great deal to discuss, especially the birth of Fabia's little boy. Finally, with lights out and talk winding down, we fell to sleep. Up early in the morning, and back into two different buses to be driven on to the village of Chahalka, where we would tour the projects of previous teams.

On the corner of MOSQUE and HAYWAGON... February 19th later in the afternoon

It seemed like a perfectly good idea, when Mr. Dargh suggested that it was time for us to take leave from the booth, but as we wandered further and further along, not so much!   As is so typical of American men, and perhaps men everywhere, we absolutely KNEW where we were going, so onward and upward, or actually downward along the alley to more of a main alley, weaving our way throw the maze of shop fronts and homes and yards with goats and chickens and water buffalo and a few cows, too!  We proceeded along our unmapped route and passed by a gentleman who was sitting out in front of his house, at a sewing machine, tailoring a pair of pants, he had just made. We stopped by, admired his work and then proceeded further down that alley.  After a few minutes, it seemed a good idea to perhaps try to return to where we had left the booth, just in the off chance that someone might actually be out there looking for us!   At one point, we found ourselves at another Polito vaccination booth, and so I decided to stop, introduce ourselves, and inquire as to whether or not anyone had seen Dr. Sanjeev from the WHO. After all, it had been he who had arranged for our transportation from Punhana to Bisru so, of course, they must have known him and perhaps even seen him. NEGATIVE on that one! Linda suggested that perhaps we might try calling someone. I had Diwan's telephone number programmed into my phone, so tried three times to call him and to explain where we were... "we are somewhere near the corner of Mosque and HAYWAGON!" and for some unknown reason, he not only had no idea where we were but then I lost the connection. Soooooo, then Linda suggested we try to contact Gene Hernandez on his mobile phone, so he could pass the word to the others how to find us.  Linda gave me the number, one from the USA, and I dialed. Imagine how surprised I was when a lady answered! I asked to speak to Gene and was told that he was not available. I asked if he was in India and was told he was. At least I had the right family. Then I asked if I was speaking to his wife, Louise and the woman said, "Yes!" I told her who I was and since we had met several months ago, we had a nice chat. However, she seemed somewhat concerned that supposedly we were all together and I had no idea where he was! I reassured her that everything was alright and that we had just been in a different section of the town, and not to worry.  I also suggested that she have an enjoyable sleep - since I must valve awakened her, guessing it was about  11:30 at night in California!  We decided to walk back to our original booth area and then retrace our steps. However, in a couple of blocks, we turned and saw some of the rest of the team and walked down to meet them at a different booth. Tis one was also in someone's home and located directly across the street where some young man had brought in the pipes and assembled them into a hand-cranked ferris wheel for kids and he was turning six "baskets" of kids around and around and around, while we all listened to their shrieks of joy and laughter!  Just think, if OSHA had been there, the entire town would have been shut down! In the next several minutes, the remaining members of our teams arrived and we headed back to Punhana and the schoolyard where we met up with the other team members and boarded the buses to travel to our next destination. 

IF IT IS SUNDAY AND THE 19th, IT MUST BE AN NID...

Waking up at 5:30 in the morning and then down for breakfast, with bags packed and outside our doors, we all were rather sleepy-eyed and quiet while we ate our breakfast. Others came from their hotel, telling us how wonderful their accommodations were, and they joined us for breakfast. Meanwhile, bags were brought down, either by each of us or by one of the porters when we could find one.  Before checking out of the hotel, we were told to take one of the packed lunches from the front desk in the lobby, because we would be eating on the buses, en route to our destination following the NID events later in the morning. We had to depart from the hotel at least two and a half hours ahead of time, due to impending traffic in the villages we would drive through. You see, not only is it an NID but it Sunday is also traditionally a market day so all of the stalls in the various villages would be packed with fresh fruits and vegetables, live hens in cages, awaiting their quick demise with the wielding of a sharp cleaver, the to be plucked by deft hands of a young "butcher-in-training" most likely working alongside is father or a uncle! Also, alongside the roads were skilled and unskilled mechanics, who had dismantled the engines of trucks and autos, and then attempting to reassemble them for their impatient owner/drivers. We arrived, actually ahead of time, which in India must surely be a record!  We left the buses and walked across the main street in Punhana from where we would disburse to go to the various booths throughout that town, as well as to Bisru, a neighboring town, where some of us had worked in past years. Finally, Drs. Rauh and Sanjeev arrived, and we were let into the schoolyard where we had gathered the previous afternoon prior to the rally.  We were assigned to different cars and vans where the drivers would take us to the various distribution points in the villages. We were divided into teams of four persons, and tried to have one seasoned Rotarian with three "newbies". I was pleased to have Mike Milner, Linda Bertuzzi and Devan Ramalingam (whom we call Devo). and what crew it was! We opted to be driven to Bisru, and to work in an area where about teams had worked in the past and where the most recent case of polio had been diagnosed back in 2010. We were dropped off at the bottom of a hill and walked up to the distribution point, a porch area of a private home of a Muslim family.  The open sewer ditch ran along one side of the alley we walked up.  All the way up the alley,  Mike was using his iPad to take pictures of the neighbor children and the wonderful architecture of this old village.  The smiles just got better and better as we got closer to the place where we would work for the next few hours. We arrived and were greeted by two women and one gentleman who were in charge of this booth.  Already, prior to our arrival, these three had administered polio drops to about seventy-five children, under the age of five years.  The rationale is that if every child, under the age of five, receives doses of the polio vaccine several times over the course of the first five years of their lives, the possibility of contracting polio is nil.  About two hours into our stay at the booth, Mr. Dargh asked if we would like to have some water, but since it would not be bottled water, I suggested that perhaps some chai tea would be great. He said he would go get some and returned about fifteen minutes later, with four china cups and saucers, and a pot of freshly brewed chai tea. It was asolutely delicious and we were pleased to have him bring us a second cup. He had also offered some biscuits, but those were to seeming to be forthcoming. Mike then ventured across the street, when two of the local village men invited him to step across and show them how he was taking pictures on his iPad. They seemed to be very excited to see the instant large photos, and especially since they were the subject of several of them. A few minutes later, Linda told us to look a into the doorway of the home and see the paper cut-out decorations surrounding the beautifully tiled wall in what served as the living room and the bedroom for this family. A little later on, we would be invited to enter the home and to tour through it. Now we are not talking what we would picture as a "normal" western home, but rather something that was very typical of a relatively well off family in Bisru. After all, most of us do not walk from our bedrooms into a yarded area, where our water buffalo is kept, along with the chickens! I would guess that perhaps five or six branches of the same family were all occupying this home and it was wonderful to see the twin daughters, about age two, sitting outside, totally naked and just playing together on one of the cot type beds, under a quilt, until they saw us and then one of them got off the bed and put on her shoes! Now, she was ready to face the world for the day! What a privilege and honor for us to be able to enter a home in a Muslim village, where white westerners are not the norm as those happening to drop by for a visit! We spent several minutes in the yard and then left by the side door. Once outside, I told the rest of the team I was going to take a walk further up the alley and just have a chance to chat with some of the locals. There were two boys, about sixteen years old, standing in the doorway of one of the houses and so I began talking with them. Both had gone to school and spoke some English. I asked them their names and they asked me mine. When I told them my name is Elias, he boy said his father was also named Elias, so I asked if he was close by so I could meet him. In a few minutes, I met the other Elias and believe it or not, through stumbling through few words of English and Hindi, he asked if Sarah was with me. I questioned him on this and he repeated his question if Sarah was with us. I told him no but that her father and mother were with me in another area of Bisru. Just imagine, two years ago, Sarah Miller was a part of our team and Elias remembered her! What ate the chances? We said out goodbyes to the team of locals at the booth and began to walk back to the area she we would be taken back in small vans to Punhana to meet the rest of the team members and take our buses to our camp site near she we would be helping to build the dam for the next few days.

LOOKING FOR A SIGN... (February 17, 2012)

ARE WE THERE YET???

Surely, each of us recalls times when we were children and riding in the car with our parents, and being impatient to arrive at our destination, incessantly asked the burning question, "Are we THERE yet?" Well, anyone embarking on a trip to India might well ask the same question, since our flight from Newark's Liberty Airport takes between 15 and 16 hours! Add to that the time from when we actually board the aircraft and the time we disembark, we are looking at close to 18 hours!!!  Are we THERE yet?

With all of the last minute details that each member of our team is checking, and double-checking and then re-checking, it is likely that each member of our ROTARY DREAM TEAM will be totally exhausted by the time we board in Newark later this evening, and hopefully, each of us will get sufficient sleep, so we arrive bright-eyed and bushy-tailed!  Again, as they say here in Maine, "T'ain't LIKELY!" After all, isn't this why God made pharmaceuticals?

In a few hours, I will attend my regular Rotary Club meeting, come home and pick up my baggage and then drive to meet one of the other team members, and together we will drive to Boston for the next leg of our trip - actually getting to Newark. Here, we will meet other team members of ROTARY DREAM TEAM at a wonderful place - Gallagher's Steakhouse.  We will all dig into our last "close to home-cooked meal" before then walking to our gate to await boarding instructions.  Each of us will be wearing our snappy bright purple team shirts, so at least on the plane, we will be able to locate other team members en route. 

Fast forward (PLEASE!) to our arrival in Delhi's new airport, and we will be met by Mr. Bani and Mr. Diwan Singh of Hi Points Expeditions, and guided to our motor coach for a two-hour ride to our hotel. There most likely will be other folks there to greet us - members of the Rotary Club of Delhi-Megapolis, with whom we have joined forces in past years - this year no exception. After an exhausting introduction into the Indian culture (flights getting to Newark, flight from Newark, bus rides, etc.) we can settle down for a few hours in our hotel rooms and then have breakfast in the morning, and then travel to Mewat district in Haryana State to meet with town officials and those from the World Health Organization (WHO) that will be coordinating the pre-NID activities.  Most likely, we will be marching through the streets and alleys of the various villages, led by a team of drummers, in order to raise the awareness of the following day's National Immunization Day (NID), encouraging all the while, parents and children to bring all children under the age of five years to receive their polio vaccine.

Due to the Herculean efforts of many, including WHO and UNICEF and government officials, but most especially because of ROTARY INTERNATIONAL, India can now boast of not having even one new case of polio in the past 13 months!  Together, we will END POLIO NOW!!!

Two days and counting...

With everyone making final preparations with packing and making copies of our passports and taking photos for visas, the excitement is building.  Yesterday, I met with one of our team members and provided her with an official team shirt and she sent a text message back to me saying she could wear the shirt as a dress and required a smaller size!  Hopefully, all of the shirts will not be oversized, but then again, that is one of the joys of organizing such a trip - one has to be FLEXIBLE! 
For those seasoned members of the Rotary Dream Teams, there is a full understanding that flexibility is a key word and temperament for each of us to adopt for the coming three weeks.  Adapt and adjust are two more good words to keep in our minds.  Nothing ever works completely as we may have wished or planned, but with adopting a mindset of adaptation and adjusting, and remaining flexible, each of us will once more enjoy the trip of a lifetime!
Approach each day as a totally new adventure and go with the flow.  Some of us will actually be literally going with the flow, as we take our travel portion of the trip and go whitewater rafting down the Ganges River!  This river is regarded by Hindus and others alike to be one of the holiest rivers in all of India. After our journey down river, we will stay one night at the Parmarth Niketan in Rishikesh and participate in the evening celebration - aarti.  What a thrill to be able to observe - to see and hear and smell all of what comprises a havan and an aarti ceremony.  And what an honor and privilege, as well.

It is time to put aside the last minute jitters and just let it happen.  As I have always maintained, when Rotary is involved, everything works out for the best and together we are able to Reach Inside to Embrace Humanity, while bring about Peace through Service.