I Have Arrived!

It was a crisp, cool early morning when I lugged my travel bags to the front of the Public Health Research Institute of India. The clock read 4 AM. It was pitch dark. I had just travelled for 24 hours straight. A flight from Miami to New York, another flight from New York to Paris, and the final flight from Paris to Bengaluru. After a three hour car ride to Mysuru, I was finally here: I have arrived!

I had been waiting for this moment for months, since my very first email to Dr. Stephens in early fall 2022. And there it was, India in the present moment. I shuffled to what would be my new home for the next few months and dropped my stuff, unaware I couldn't wear shoes in the house, then plopped in my bed to rest a bit before the day ahead of me. In the later morning, I awoke to a nice dosa breakfast and friendly, warm faces surrounding me.

"How was your travel?" Dr. Poornima asked with a solid grin.

"Long! But I am so excited to be here." I responded jovially.

After I was done with my delicious meal, I started meeting everyone at the organization. One of the first people I met was Priyanka, another intern at PHRII. She was working on a photo voice project with bidi workers to understand their work environment and how it affected their health. I got to sit in on her session with them and see how the research was conducted. I also met Dr. Kiran, a worker of the organization who was running a gender-based violence workshop intervention for local Indian men and women to lower violence rates in this community. I was extremely excited to talk with her about this project as sexual and domestic violence is the basis for my work in Miami.

After talking a bit, Dr. Kiran showed me around the organization. I saw the meeting room where they hosted workshops and meetings. I went to the main office area where everyone worked in their desks and the financial office. They showed me the kitchen area where Lakshmi cooked her mouth-watering homemade meals. Finally, they took me upstairs to check out their laboratory. I had to put on sandals before I entered which I thought was interesting because back in the States close toed shoes wee required in every lab you entered. The lab was very similar to the ones I worked in back home, but it had a more cosy feeling; it was less intimidating.

After the day was over, Priyanka offered to take me shopping so I could get some work clothes for the stay. I immediately agreed. We went to Nexus City Centre around 5 PM in a rickshaw, the local mode of transportation in India. Priyanka took me to Max, a store with cheap kurtas and leggings, perfect for work. I bought a few then we ate at the food court, full of American chains like Domino's, McDonald's, and Subway. I skipped the chains and opted for local Indian food that Priyanka recommended: dosa, South Indian, and bhatura, North Indian. It was absolutely delicious.

The next day, another intern, one I would share a room with, arrived. Her name was Harnoor. She was from Georgetown. We talked a bit about our backgrounds then heard a bell coming from another room. Priyanka gestured us to come and so we followed. Many PHRII women were circled around a shrine with Ganesha, the elephant God. They grabbed our hand and lead us inside the prayer room, right next to the shrine. Harnoor and I looked around for cues as to what to do. First, they lit a candle which they carried around the shrine and took around the room. The women held their hands out to the flame, then carried the energy from the fire to their face to receive good blessings. They then received a bit of coconut water in the same manner you would receive a communion, with your right hand on top of the left, receiving with the palm, and drank the water. The last step involved receiving a red dot on your forehead, which was placed right where the third eye chakra is. It's believed that this ritual helps us see the world in a more truthful manner and foresake ego. Harnoor and I repeated everything. At the end they give us food, the offerings that was given to Ganesha, which included bananas and a puffed rice treat. Somehow, I felt the prayer room with my soul lighter and my mind cleansed. I was ready.