7/5 - Pune....Without Luggage.

I finally touched down in Pune International Airport at 5:00 AM on July 5th.

Unfortunately, because I bought new tickets, the transfer for check-in baggage was not made between Etihad & Lufthansa. Oops.

With only my camera, carry=on backpack, and the clothes on my body I met my caretaker, Dada Waghamode. After trying to help me find my suitcase, we decided to drive back to the guest house and wait until later in the day before trying again (which unfortunately, proved to be unsuccessful).

The guest house is owned by Dr. SM Dabak (OB-GYN), who has been working with CFHI to host the students who come here to Pune for the program. Dada lives here with his wife (Manisha) & family (grandfather, grandmother, mother, brother, and 2 daughters: Sai & Sanskruti) and has acted as caretaker for the past ~9 years in the program. Many nearby university students also frequent the guest house in order to purchase meals prepared by Manisha.

My room for the next month. It is attached to the other guest room.

I also met the two other CFHI students that would accompany me for the month:

Kim Obey, 1st-going-into-2nd year med student studying at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine.

Daschel Franz, incoming junior pre-med student studying human physiology at University of Oregon (Fellow Duck!).

The general layout for the program is as follows:

• Weekdays would involve shadowing physicians at the various clinics in Pune.
• Breakfast, lunch, & dinner would be provided by Dr. Dabak's residence. 
• After each shift & during the weekends, we could do whatever we want (so long as it was legal and within the guidelines set by CFHI).

As today was Sunday, it was simply an orientation and the rest of the day was free. In the wake of recent events, I resigned to my bedroom.

Some initial thoughts on Pune:

1. The climate is extremely similar to that of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Not searing hot (still hotter than the US), but quite humid.

2. Mopeds & rickshaws are the main mode of transportation. That being said, driving here is like playing nonstop Tetris, if Tetris had no bottom level and 50 blocks were falling at the same time.

3. A vast majority of the populace here is vegetarian due to financial as well as religious practices. 

First shift starts tomorrow!!!!