One Hundred and Thirty-Three Points

The packet given out by the Humanities Department is nice, but, as I am sure many of you are now aware, a bit discombobulated. For those planning on some travels of their own it is also in many ways insufficient. Kristen sent out an email with some tips, and now we can have a central place for them all. So here's some hopefully helpful advice to supplement.

First, before trip issues -

1) Photos: As Kristen stated make sure you have a couple passport sized photos of yourself. I don't know if 4 is necessary, but, sure, why not. If it's too many trade the extras to friends.

2) Packing: January was chilly at times, but February and April will be hot, hot, hot. I seriously actually pity the April group. As such pack for heat. Bring a jacket for the plane flight over if need be, but unless you are incredibly cold blooded you should not need one otherwise. Sandals are really all you need footwear wise even at work. Work wise guys can wear cackies, a button down long/short sleeve shirt, and sandals. Girls can wear much anything, though the more modest the better. Hints of cleavage are cleavage too much. Clothing is extremely cheap in India, however, and as it seems to be very popular for Western woman to assume Indian dress many choose to do that too.

Oh and it sometimes takes a few days to get laundry back on campus so bring at least a week worths of clothing.

3) Toiletries: You can buy most in India if you want. Probably all of them even -- I didn't really check. While there will be toilet paper at on-campus housing, I am not sure of the hotels and there are certainly many places at the hospital and elsewhere that do not. Make sure you have some. Sunblock isn't terribly necessary I don't feel unless you plan to go to the beach or pool (even for CHAD while on doxy I didn't need it). Bug spray, however, is. There were mosquitos aplenty when we were there and I imagine there'll only be more as it heats up.

4) Housing: On campus housing is great. Of course I never saw anyone's hotels, but nevertheless I stand by my statement. Peaceful, easy Internet access, easy food access, easy hospital access. The youth hostel on base is full if you haven't already booked, but as Kristen mentioned there are alternatives like the Johnson House and Big Bungalow Annex. The New Housing Complex is fairly spartan, and alright if you want super cheap, but beware some have roaches. Unfortunately I am not sure who you contact for all this.

5) Airports: If a couple of you are planning on meeting at the Chennai airport and taxiing to Vellore together (which can be arranged somehow via CMC; ask Kristen) then coordination is key. There is an international terminal and a domestic terminal not connected but immediately adjacent. You can walk directly from one to the other. Once you leave baggage claim you cannot go back into the airport but have to remain outside (unless you can persuade a guard otherwise which is sometimes possible.) At the far end of the international terminal are a few small eateries if everyone ends up outside. Make sure to coordinate meeting spots before flying if that wasn't already obvious.

Now CMC issues -

6) Getting Around the Hospital: It's huge. I could not hope to begin explaining where things are. Just ask, but ask knowing there's a good chance any instructions given will be wrong. In other words, be patient.

7) Electives: Obviously chose what interests you, but for those who have lots of interests or are otherwise indifferent here's some suggestions.

Internal medicine was largerly terribly boring. It had its great moments, but they were few. There are multiple services, but they all run similarly. Most will have two clinic days a week. These are busy and fairly interesting. During the rest of the week your only real obligations are attend a few meetings (which may or may not be accurately recorded on your schedule) and morning rounds. There are also late evening rounds, but their timing is very haphazard and I would not recommend waiting around for them unless you just happen to be that highly motivated.

OBGYN is busy and a bit crazy. I did not do it myself as 6 weeks of OBGYN in the states was enough for me, but from what I have heard from others who do it you get to see a lot.

Infectious Disease is essentially just another internal medicine service. The only exception being that there is an HIV clinic on Wednesday afternoon which I personally found very interesting. You won't see any more infectious disease on the service itself though or at least I didn't.

CHAD (Community Health and Development) was great. I think it really is a must. You don't necessarily have to do it a whole week, but try to get at least one doctors' rounds and one nurses' rounds in. Be prepared to be hot and sweaty, though, as you go out to the surrounding villages.

Leprosy Hospital is, I hear, a novel experience. It seems you can schedule a visit just about any day and one visit is really all that is necessary. I did not do this either, but others who went all thoroughly enjoyed it. Getting there can be a bit difficult, though.

8) Food - There are a few places to eat at the hospital, but only the YWCA Cantina is Western stomach approved. It's in the far right corner of the hospital complex and just beyond the "no tender coconuts" sign. Food isn't great, but it's cheap and edible. There is the alternative of going across the street to China Town which is considerably more expensive than the cantina but also considerably better. To get there just walk past the cantina and take a right when it dead ends. Continue through the gate and you should see it immediately.

On campus there is only the school cantina which is very cheap and pretty good, but has a limited menu. If you want something fancier either make it yourself from component parts bought at the campus quicky mart or go to either Hotel Darling or Hotel Surabi. You'll need to take a rickshaw or bus to get to these, but the food is very good. Keep in mind you will likely pay about 200 rupees a person for a meal at these places.

9) Phones - There is an STD ISD phone booth immediately across from the 1st gate on campus. You can make calls to the US for about 20 - 30 rupees a minute here. Alternatively, for computers that have it, you can set up a Skype account online and use internet calling for 2 cents a minute. I am not sure if the campus computer lab has Skype access or not, but if you do any traveling outside of Vellore later you'll certainly find some.

10) Cash - Current exchange rate is about 38 rupees to a dollar. There is an ATM immediately across the street from the 1st campus gate next to the phone booth. Try to ration your small bills appropriately as 1000 rupee notes are all but useless for bills less than 600 or 700 rupees.

11) Hiking - There's apparently quite a bit of hiking that can be done for those motivated to seek it out. We just did the hike immediately across from the CMC campus, though. It is short, easy, and gives a nice view of the city. The trail starts across the street from the 2nd campus gate.

12) Weekend Trips - Three popular destinations seem to be Pondicherry, Mamallapuram, and Karala. Fairly good descriptions of all three are in the Lonely Planet guide.

Pondicherry ~ Didn't actually go here. It is a small coastal town that used to be a French colony and which still possesses quite a European feel. Nice beaches are outside of town. The drive is at least a few hours and then a few more.

Mamallapuram ~ Did go here, and it was nice. It is a small coastal town as well, but there is certainly no European feel aside from the feel of the many European visitors themselves. It has an interesting local stone carving industry, though, and is a few hours closer.

Karala ~ Didn't go here, and honestly do not know much about it. Many people rent houseboats and tour around the state's marshes, rivers, and lakes. You should take a night train as it is a very long commute, however.

13) Internet: The campus has fairly good Internet connections for only about 300 rupees for the month if I remember correctly. If you keep the receipt you can then also get computer access at the hospital's library as well. While you probably won't and shouldn't be able to share accounts on the campus (c'mon man it's only a few bucks!), I would advise it at the hospital once someone manages to get a hospital account as the people in charge of setting up those usernames and passwords are very rarely in their offices.

And Vellore issues -

54) Busing: The free school bus from campus leaves at the cantina near the first gate. Although schedules and half schedules are posted here and there, I am not too sure how accurate any of them are. Here's a mediocre summary:

Campus Pickup ~ At 0735 there is pickup at the cantina. At 0740 the same bus picks up at the 2nd gate near Big Bungalow. After around 0800ish there are not too many school buses heading to the hospital till about lunch time or later.

Hospital Pickup ~ At 1400 and 1630, and maybe 1300 or 1330 as well, a bus picksup at the only hospital bus stop which is immediately to the left from entering the main hospital gate. There's no official sign; the bus just stops briefly by a small coffee/drink stand. There are a few more buses that leave after 1630, but I cannot recall the times.

City Buses ~ Pickup immediately outside the 1st campus gate, and generally come about every 5 minutes. Take lines 1 or 2. Each trip costs 3 rupees. If you want to go the opposite direction (from the hospital to the campus) then the pickup is outside a seperate hospital gate back and to the left from the main gate which the school bus enters daily. As with the school bus there's no official bus stop sign in most places, but there're so many buses you can just look around a bit and they become evident.

55) Rickshaws: A good fare to the hospital from the campus is ~ 50 rupees (the campus is called "Bag-eye-yem" and if you tell them to take you to "CMC campus" they likely won't understand you despite what Shirely David may say.) A good fair to most the hotels for dinner from campus is ~ 30 rupees. Sometimes you won't get these prices, but most everyone you talk to will tell you this is what you should get. Thankfully it's just a matter of quarters. The auto-rickshaws with one headlight generally can seat 3 people comfortably while the auto-rickshaws with two headlights can generally seat 4.

56) Sites: The fort is nice to explore, but only takes a few hours at most. Inside is a fairly impressive temple, but remember to take of your shoes and leave them with the shoeminder. You'll have to pay him a few rupees to get them back, but it's the way things are done. The whole complex is very easily accessed by the same 1 and 2 bus lines you take everywhere else.What is an even better and crazier place to visit is the Golden Temple just outside of Vellore. You'll have to take a rather long and bumpy auto-rickshaw ride to it, but it's worth it. No cameras or shoes allowed, but you can store them there.

Lastly, India Issues -

130) Planes: If you plan on flying domestically Kingfisher and Air Deccan are particularly economic ways to go. It takes about the same amount of time to check in as in the States, but the order of things is done a bit differently. You'll likely first have to show a guard your ticket to get into the airport, then get your luggage screened at your carrier's luggage screening area, then check in when it's time for your flight to check in, and then wait to go through security when it's your time to go through security.

131) Trains: For a good primer go here. For online scheduling information go here. To buy tickets online go here. If it says online that they are full, well, they are not. You should almost always be able to still get tickets at the station. Trains are fun and cheap; I'd recommend 'em.

132) Hotels: You can find fairly decent budget hotels here. For fancier ones I'd recommend Lonely Planet. Just keep in mind that reservations only kind of exist even at the nicer modern businesses. It's good to make 'em, but be prepared for them to have no idea what you are talking about.

133) Safety: In all likelihood you are probably safe going about most areas of India at most times of the day whether you are male or female. That said, it would be foolish to call many parts of the country "safe" especially if you are a woman. As such it's best to stay in groups and to try and have a male around as silly and antiquated as it may sound. Be prepared for extremely aggressive people trying to pressure you into sales, rides, and hotels, however, and use good common sense. Major tourist areas like the Golden Triangle (Delhi, Jaipur, Agra) are particularly bad, and sometimes it pays to be excesseviely cautious simply to avoid the hassels. I would particularly reconsider plane and train travel at night as they quite literally swarm the stations.

Ok. The end. Helpful hopefully. If I feel inclined to add anything else I'll just edit this entry. I'll shortly put up a photo walking tour of the CMC campus to help provide a little more orientation. Or create more confusion; we'll see how it goes.