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  • Carly Munn

India

Going to India to volunteer and thought I’d share a few moments on here! Read more
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  • Trip start
    February 2, 2019
  • Carly MunnIndiaTraveler

    Arriving in Delhi

    February 3, 2019 in India ⋅ 🌫 17 °C

    I arrived at the airport and after struggling to find my taxi driver, I managed to eventually make it to the volunteer house! Me and a new South African friend arrived together and got a tour of the family home, it was colourful and I was put in a 10 bed dorm! We spent the day chatting and getting to know each other and the other volunteers. We then had a slightly dodgy sweet corn curry followed by a trip to the supermarket to stock up on essentials (oranges and biscuits in my case). We came back and sat on the terrace with this sunset whilst chatting and having a yum dinner! 🇮🇳Read more

  • Carly MunnIndiaTraveler
    The slums right outside our volunteer house
    The children in the slums right outside our volunteer houseThe children in the slums right outside our volunteer houseThe children in the slums right outside our volunteer houseThe children in the slums right outside our volunteer houseThe children in the slums right outside our volunteer houseThe men sorting glass in the slums right outside our volunteer houseA man at the craft festivalThe baby i witnessed being born!A stall at the craft festival

    First day of project

    February 4, 2019 in India ⋅ 🌫 17 °C

    Today we woke up and had orientation followed by a trip to the local craft and art festival market in Faridabad! We then went for a walk outside the house and as our house is literally right in the middle of the slums, we walked through and met the children and people. Staying in a house in the slums gives us such a unique experience to see the daily life of the local people here, it was amazing. I had asked Vishy (the man in charge of the volunteer house) if there was any surgeries today and he said that there would be 2 at 6pm however he wasn’t sure what these would be. Never the less I decided to go as I wanted to get as much exposure as possible! I went to this tiny slum hospital and the conditions were just a million miles away from england and the western world. The surgeon walked in in bare foot and in home clothes, before sitting down and starting surgery on his first patient. I first watched a prostate be removed and then a bladder tumour be removed. A sample of the tumour cells were removed to be used for biopsy. We then watched another surgery of a similar tumour removal and were about to leave when the surgeon said there was a C - section coming in! We stayed and it was the most INCREDIBLE thing I have ever seen. I was literally stood over the patient with the surgeon holding instruments as they cut open this lady and pulled out a tiny 32week old baby. We waited for it to cry as it was blue and so tiny! The amount they stretch the skin once they have made the incision was fascinating! I was literally stood over the lady when the baby was pulled out next to the surgeon, it was amazing. We then watched them stitch the uterus and stomach and everything back up and they showed us how to stitch the uterus etc together properly. The patients friend then said we could go and meet the baby whose leg was slightly deformed and so we did and he was gorgeous. It was one of the most surreal and incredible experiences I have ever had. It was amazing how one minute the baby was still in the uterus and the next it was crying in front of us!!Read more

  • Carly MunnIndiaTraveler
    At the slums
    Doing homework with the orphanage girlsThe orphanage girls danced for usPlaying with the school childrenThe free health slum clinicAt the slum schoolAt the orphanagePlaying kebaddi with the local school childrenDoing homework with the orphanage girlsMe and the doctor

    An amazing day

    February 5, 2019 in India ⋅ 🌫 21 °C

    Today I had an incredible day. It was my first time going to the slums to the proper area that PMGY have set up. We arrived and the free slum clinic and local school were right next door. First we went into the school and watched the children’s assembly where they sung and danced for us, it was so sweet. I then Went to the slum clinic and sat with an amazing doctor who volunteers here 5 times a week. We met about 40 local patients all in about 2.5 hours and then I would take their blood pressure and details and the doctor would write prescriptions. All the medicine that was given out is funded by PMGY so it is an incredible free health clinic for the local people. It was right next to a slum school and basically Vishy the guy who runs PMGY funds the slum school and slum clinic and all the medication they give out, it’s amazing! We then went outside and played kebaddi with the children for playtime, played skipping and then they sung to us was so funny! In the afternoon we went to an orphanage and the children were so cute. We sat with them and gave them questions as homework and then we danced and played with them! Was so fun :)Read more

  • Carly MunnIndiaTraveler
    The slum school children
    Our bollywood dance classThe classroom i taught decimals in'Ma'am please can we take a selfie'In the pharmacyIn the pharmacyOur workout ish

    Day 3 on project

    February 6, 2019 in India ⋅ 🌧 20 °C

    Today we decided to go back to the slums as we had such an amazing day yesterday. We woke up about 9am and managed to find some Nutella in the back of the cupboards so had a break from curry for breakfast, it was divine!!! We then rode on the back of tuktuks to the slums and I started off with the women doctor at the free slum clinic today. It was amazing to see, about 20 women from the slums came in, each with different reasons, from struggling to conceive to contraception to pain during pregnancy. I took each of their blood pressure and the doctor explained to me the course of action. I then helped the lady hand out pregnancy tests and contraception it was amazing. I was even there to witness the moment a lady found out she was pregnant after struggling to conceive for 5 years. I then went next door and started giving out the free medication that was prescribed by the doctor and donated by PMGY. I sat with the doctor in there and cleaned and dressed 3 wounds for patients. I was then asked by a teacher to come help in her classroom and I had to teach an hour lesson on decimals. It was amazing to see how much they needed help, I even had to explain to the teacher that some of the work was incorrect so felt like I was actually making a difference! I marked a comprehension and was asked to do a decimals part two lesson tomorrow. We then played kebaddi with the kids again and then came back in a tuktuk. We spent the afternoon at a Bollywood dancing class it was hilarious! Then we came back and me and Hannah had eaten like 200 rusks so we did a workout lolRead more

  • Carly MunnIndiaTraveler
    With the gorgeous children at the slum school
    Playing uno with the orphanage boys next doorWith the gorgeous children at the slum schoolThe shrine the priest prayed to in our houseMy decimals lessonWith the most beaut baby

    Day 4

    February 7, 2019 in India ⋅ 🌫 17 °C

    Today was such a busy day!! this morning I woke up early so I could have the best breakfast but we got taken down to pray downstairs and it took 35 minutes, I had to rush my breakfast in the end lol! The priest threw water on us and gave us a bindi! I first went to the slums and went to the children’s assembly where they sung and danced for us! The female doctor then took me with her to the medical slum clinic and today there were more women than yesterday. I gave out 4 vitamin D shots and cleaned wounds again, it was so interesting! We even saw an infected C-section wound from 3 years ago that the doctor assessed and explained what the course of action would be. I was then asked by the same teacher as yesterday to teach a second part to my decimal lesson in the tiny classroom. It was actually amazing, at the start they couldn’t understand how to order decimals in ascending and descending order and by the end they could do it, I even had to set them homework and promise the teacher I would come back tomorrow after the slum clinic to help again! We then came back for some needed lunch and half way through eating Vishy ran in saying there is a surgery if anyone wants to go. Me and one other girl were like we’ll go so we got in Vishy’s car and drove to a different slum hospital. We watched a lady hAve a hysterectomy where her uterus got removed. The surgeon said there would be another C-section later on so we waited not knowing how long it would be. The lady was induced and unfortunately she needed a C-section so we were lucky we waited! We then watched the C-section and it was just as aamazing as last time. The lady did lose quite a lot of blood which was stressful but she was okay and the baby was a gorgeous healthy baby girl! It was amazing. We then came back and had samosas they were so yum! We had been told that there was a boys orphanage next door that we could go to any time so Hannah, Bri and Summer went next door and played UNO and did magic tricks with the boys, it was so fun! We are definitely gonna go back in the evenings!Read more

  • Carly MunnIndiaTraveler
    Cutest child in the dispensary clinic
    The rubbish at the slums this morningSome children playing near the slums1Our yummy dinner in AgraDinner in AgraThe hail in Delhi last nightThe hail in Delhi last night

    Last day on project before the weekend!

    February 8, 2019 in India ⋅ 🌙 12 °C

    Today I decided to go to the dispensary instead of the slum clinic and as I was the only one going I was in the tuk tuk on my own! Yesterday there was a hailstorm in the evening and so there was so much water on the roads! We drove about 10 minutes to a different slum than usual and ended up picking up the doctor on the way. She was so nice and her English was actually quite good! The place we drove into was absolutely covered in rubbish with water everywhere I couldn’t believe it and there were houses lining the edges. We walked about 5 minutes into the slums and came to a small room which was the dispensary. A huge array of patients came in from the local community and as the doctor had been doing this for 2 years she gave me full patient history’s so it was so interesting. She made me do so much, take names (which was hard guessing how to spell the Indian names haha), ages, blood pressure, blood glucose, administer vitamin shots, give out nebulisers to children and even clean out and dress 5 super infected wound - the one on the mans foot being the worst! After a super busy day of patients I headed back to the house and had some lunch. I then sorted out all my things and pack a weekend bag as we were heading on our golden triangle trip this afternoon! We then headed out to the slums next door to our house to play with the children for an hour before we left for our trip. We got in our taxi about 3 and had the 4.5 hour journey to Agra. After arriving at our hostel called the Moustache hostel haha, we planned our day trip for tomorrow. We then went for a super yummy dinner of pasta and chips - a welcomed break from curry for breakfast lunch and dinner!Read more

  • Carly MunnIndiaTraveler
    At Agra FortSunrise at the Taj MahalMonkeys at Agra FortView of the Taj from Agra FortUs chilling/chatting at the TajSunrise at the Taj Mahal

    Incredible day

    February 9, 2019 in India ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    Today was the most incredible day ever! We woke up at 5.15am and got ready to set off for the Taj Mahal, I was so excited to see it again! We drove in our tuktuk absolutely freezing to the gates and bought tickets, we were so near the front! As we were queueing the sky was amazing colours as the sun was rising, we were so excited. The Taj was just as beautiful seeing it for the second time, especially this time as there was virtually no one around when we first arrived, it was so lucky! We watched the sun rise behind the Taj and sat and chatted and took in the atmosphere and the buildings beauty. It was the most amazing thing I have ever seen, apparently it’s the first clear sun rise in a few weeks so we were so lucky! After, we walked around the Taj and took some piccies! We then got back in our tuktuk and set off for Agra Fort. We looked around and sat in the sun looking at the view of the taj from Agra fort, it was beautiful. After finishing up here, we got a tuktuk back to the hostel and went out for some much needed lunch around 1 after missing breakfast! At about 3 we set off for Jaipur in our taxi.Read more

  • Carly MunnIndiaTraveler
    Palace of the Winds
    Roadside haircutsKara and a snake charmerAt Amber FortMonkeys on the bamboo scaffoldingIn the Sheesh Mahal hall of mirrorsIn the Sheesh Mahal hall of mirrors

    A day in Jaipur

    February 10, 2019 in India ⋅ 🌫 19 °C

    Today was another great day! We woke up and set off for our day touring Jaipur around 10am. We met up with our tuktuk driver for the day who was so nice and set off, I was in the front seat and he was making me drive the tuk tuk when the roads weren’t too busy (which wasn’t often in India lol). We started at the Palace of the winds which was beautiful and then went to the water palace, at each place the tuktuk driver gave us a bit of history and a few jokes about the place lol. He then took us to Amber Fort which was just as huge and amazing as last time, we bought tickets which were so cheap as we had student cards, the tickets are usually 500 rupees but we got them for 100 Rupees as we had student cards! We walked around looked at the beautiful mirrors In the Sheesh Mahal hall of mirrors and sat in the sun at the fort where we were asked for 1000 pictures, ‘Ma’am selfie please’. We then walked don, breaking into a sweat due to the hot (finally) weather! After we got down we went to Panna Meena ka Kund step Wells which were amazing! You couldn’t go on them without paying a corrupt policeman so we took some pics on the top and they were very impressive! After this we asked the tuktuk driver to take us to a clean cheap place for Indian lunch and oh my it was divine I had ocra bhindi masala and after demolishing it all it was the first time I had felt full since I arrived in India lol! After this we wandered the local bizarres and chilled, knackered from a such a busy day :)Read more

  • Carly MunnIndiaTraveler

    Back to Faridabad

    February 11, 2019 in India ⋅ 🌫 20 °C

    Today we spent the morning in the car, driving back to Faridabad from Jaipur. The journey was rather long and we all had numb bums by the time we arrived back at the house! I was so excited to see everyone again and we all sat and had lunch together catching each other up on our weekend escapades! After this I decided I wanted to go to the orphanage so Scarlett summer and I set off in the tuktuk for the orphanage! It was so so much fun today as there was less children and so we got so much work done with them. We wrote them some practise maths questions as practised English and then danced and played so many games together! It was sooo much fun :) then we came back and chilled and had a yummy dinner! At about 7.30 two of us decided to go next door to the boys orphanage and played uno with them, they were so excited to see us as it was so fun! We then came back and all sat and chatted and painted our nails! Was such a nice day getting back into the volunteering!Read more

  • Carly MunnIndiaTraveler
    Painting the schoolPlaying with the kids at school

    Back in the slums

    February 12, 2019 in India ⋅ 🌫 13 °C

    Today was so much fun! We started off going to the slums this morning and dancing with the children in the assembly. I then headed to join the female doctor in the slum clinic and sat with her as loads and loads of patients came in. She gave me a job to give out injections to over 10 women one by one and she only showed me how to do it once! It was so scary but so cool to be so hands on. I then got to do a mini ultrasound on a lady who was 6 months pregnant and could hear the heart beat of the baby it was amazing. I got to feel the baby and she was explaining the position of the baby in the tummy. Was so cool! After this, I helped paint some of the walls in the school building that has just been built and then played with the kids in the playground! We then came back to the house and had a yummy lunch before heading off to the mixed orphanage. It was so chilled as we bought a book of geometric patterns for the children to colour so we all sat there chatting doing that, it was so fun! After this they danced and sung for us before we left about 5:30. We came back, had dinner and Nutella topped chappatis (which we realised taste vaguely like Nutella crepes) and headed next door to play UNO with the boys in the orphanage next door. Was such a fun day!Read more

  • Carly MunnIndiaTraveler
    At the medical camp
    Flower garlands!Getting dressed, makeup and hair done by the local ladiesAt the home visitUs in our saris!

    Such a good day :)

    February 13, 2019 in India ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Today was SUCH a good day I loved every second. We decided to go to a different medical project this morning and do the medical camp instead of the slum clinic and it was so good! We had to do so much hands on work and loved it. We took names ages what the problem was, took blood pressure blood sugar and then gave out prescriptions, it was so much fun and we met so many people from the community. It was so busy and the people just kept coming we even had to say no to a few as we needed to finish up! We also had to clean wounds and replace dressings so it was so interesting! We then came back for lunch and I had another freezing bucket shower it was terrible hahaha. At 3.30 the tuk tuk picked us up and we had the most amazing evening ever. We had said we wanted to do the home visit this evening and it was actually a visit to our tuk tuk drivers house. We drove about 10 minutes in Faridabad and arrived in his town, like 20 children were there to greet us and then we got given flower garlands and got dressed up in Saris by the women and makeup and hair done, it was so cute! We played with the children, taught them English dances and they taught us Indian ones and had one million cuddles with them all, they were adorable! The family gave us dinner and all the children from the town came to sit with us it was adorable. Honestly one of the best evenings ever! Basically all the children from the town waved us off, didn’t wanna leave!Read more

  • Carly MunnIndiaTraveler
    The most beautiful girl at the orphanage
    They were rather pleased with the new skipping ropes!Me and my classThey were rather pleased with the new skipping ropes!They were rather pleased with the new skipping ropes!My teacher NeehaThe people of the slums next door with their gifts1Our valentines dinner1The girls and their new skipping ropesBlowing bubbles with the slums next door

    Best last day

    February 14, 2019 in India ⋅ 🌧 18 °C

    Today was the best last day. This morning we woke up to torrential rain, thunder and lightning and weren’t sure if projects would be on but luckily they were! We went to the slums and danced and sung with the kids in assembly, I then went over to the slum clinic for the last time with Dr Bashbu I couldn’t believe it was my last day! I sat with her as we saw loads of patients come in, even one who had struggled to conceive for 4 years but after recently receiving treatment we got to do a pregnancy test tell her she was expecting a baby! It was amazing. I then went up to my class to teach them for the final time, it was so sad! We did our normal maths class and I had bought in new felt tips and paper so they all went crazy drawing and colouring in. I also gave the girls a new skipping rope each as there’s were so old and mouldy and they were SO excited it was the most amazing feeling! They had all written me a valentines leaving card and signed it!! The teacher in my class gave me one of her bangles to remember her by and the teacher of the class next door have me the cutest butterfly bracelet, it was so sweet. We took loads of pics and hugged goodbye :( We then headed back to the house and went to the orphanage where we played, danced, sung and had a million cuddles goodbye. I was so sad! When we got back I still had some skipping ropes and pens and loads of bubbles so I took them to the slums right outside our house who literally have nothing and they were over the moon. There was a lot of squabbling over who got what but in the end they all had bubbles and pens and were so so happy, it was amazing! In the evening as a treat for my final dinner Hannah Bri and I went out for a valentines meal, it was candlelit and our table was covered in rose petals it was so funny! It really was The best last day 😭💜Read more

    Trip end
    February 15, 2019
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