Have I adapted to India?

Walking back from the store I was thinking that I have adjusted to life here. Knowing where I can purchase what I need and how to get around, either by car, auto rickshaw or hire a taxi allows me to feel comfortable in my surroundings. The first month or two after I arrived, I wanted to explore Delhi and see the tourist attractions. Now, not so much. Most of my time is spent at work; doing puzzles either Soduko, solitaire, playing games on the iPad. Or checking social websites. I do spend enough time with others preventing me from living in isolation. My daily routine of feeding my four street puppies allows me to fulfil my nurturing needs.

The blog allows me to keep friends up to date on some of my more adventurous activities. Almost every day I visit FB to see what others are up to. I never used FB at home to follow my friends but while in India it is a nice way to keep up with a few. This is completely unlike the Sue from the states who spends most of her time "doing things". I don't have any hobbies here. What can I do? What interests me here? I have been doing exercises in the morning and going for walks. Every day I do get out.

I have to remember I am here to work for Project Hope.

I haven't written much about work as I have been unfulfilled. Work ethics in the US are MUCH different than what I have experienced from most people here. Of course there are exceptions.

Friday, over three months into my fellowship, I was called into a meeting to discuss my Scope Of Work., SOW, 3 1/2 months since the start of my fellowship!!!! I was requested to prepare a presentation which spotlight your Fellowship work in India describing Aim, objectives, Activities, key accomplishments, learning’s, suggestions for future. I created a presentation in an upbeat manner highlighting what I have done. I included some challenges with the fellowship: a fellow should not be invited for a project that had not started, they need specific goals and to be included in group discussions, When I arrived the director mentioned they had weekly meetings, in my three months here there was NEVER a weekly meeting! There are four employees of PHI, Vishwa, HR/finance, Cheena and Ciju, project leaders and the director Dr. P. Juan and I are Pfizer GHFs. An example of the inefficiencies: the director sends and email requesting that Cheena, Ciju and I create a questionnaire that would be used for evaluating the people in the NCD project study groups. I do not feel that this is a productive way of distributing work. I thought that we would have a meeting to discuss thoughts, but the next thing was sample questionnaires from each. Last week I got so frustrated that I requested that we have weekly meetings on Monday. The office staff thought it was a good idea as there is also frustration among the others.   

During the SOW meeting, Cheena and Dr. P got together before our meeting to discuss the presentation. They then proceeded to TELL me what I have done and my accomplishments. I was stunned as we didn't discuss. You might not be surprised but I lost my cool. I laughed and proceeded to rant about the disorganization, how unproductive I have been and that they are not making use of the GHFs.

They responded.  Overall: I felt the meeting was productive as Dr. P explained that both Juan and I were "senior" and most of the people he has supervised were very junior and he was unsure what to do with us. For his benefit, maybe he thought it was best to leave us alone and allow us to do what we do best. Good thing he knows as I didn't know. Maybe this is part of my developing and "growing experience". Dr. P can be very professional and sound very knowledgeable but he also can be disruptive.

Oh well, again I hope things improve and I will try to assume role of project manager for the NCD project.

Happy Puppies:  Spritey, Whiskey and Alpha (standing).  Nimba was camera shy.