Dear Monsoons,
So glad you are here, truly! The rain is much needed and I know the farmers are rejoicing. If you could just please stop dumping bugs everywhere, I would be much obliged.
Love,
Alec
(After I just murdered 15 flying ants that are invading my room at the moment)
All joking aside, the monsoons have come to Rajasthan!! You all must think I am crazy to celebrate, but this actually is a good thing. The weather is finally starting to cool down and Udaipur will rapidly become lush and green. It's beautiful as it is, but I can only imagine how beautiful it will look in two more weeks! Not to mention, it is truly something to behold when the rain comes down SO hard for such long stretches of time. It sounds amazing bouncing off the tin roof. Mother nature at her finest!
In other news, the summer school program has finally come to its end. I have said goodbye to so many people over the last 3 days ... its been bittersweet to say the least. There are only four of us left and by tomorrow there will be only three. Luckily for me, the other two are staying until mid-August so I will have friends in Udaipur up until almost a week before I leave!
Tomorrow I will be officially starting my research project with the NGO. I have already been in talks with them to try and set up the few things I need from them. They seem to be very excited about my project, which is great because it makes me feel excited too! This is going to be a big learning experience for me, and I would be lying if I didn't admit I was a little nervous. I will be holding a series of focus group discussions with people from many different villages to assess demand for three water and sanitation technologies: (1) a ceramic filter (which you all heard about in earlier posts), (2) community level chlorination tanks, and (3) a composting latrine. All of these actually build off of the project I have been working on for the last few weeks, and I am feeling happy to know that I get to go back to the same block I have been working in, even though I will be in different villages.
As far as our project goes everything ended up very nicely in the end. My team and I had some issues with how the work was split, and one of my team members completely checked out near the end and didn't do much of anything. Come to think of it, this person didn't do much of anything for the entirety of the program, but I was willing to overlook it thinking things would improve with time. NOPE! Oh well, all is done with now.
During the last field visit we took two samples back to Udaipur (on ice) to analyze for fecal contamination. Turns out, there was a low level of fecal coliform in both samples, one was from an open well (no surprise) and the other was from a household vessel that contained water from a hand pump. This, coupled with the results of our household survey (granted, we only surveyed about 8% of the population due to time constraints) which showed that 62% of monthly health expenses were going towards the treatment of diarrhea and stomach issues like vomitting, abdominal pain, gastritis, etc. I told you guys about Potters for Peace a while back (whose office is actually out of Greensboro, NC - go figure) and we were really interested in bringing the technology here. Anyways, once again, due to time constraints, we ended up going with a similar option that is available here in India. The product is called Terafil and it is also a clay filtration device of sorts that can be locally produced and sold. The training to manufacture the device and the liscensing agreements have already been sorted out by the government, so we figured this option was more viable in the long run.
From what I could tell, the NGO was pretty happy with our results. I even got an off-hand "well, I might just have to hire you and let you figure out how to bring the technology here," although I'm not entirely sure that was serious ... That said, I have been talking a lot with my friend Siri about some of the issues I have been seeing (she worked extensively in the same block that I have been in) and I am starting to seriously consider coming back to do water and sanitation work in India. There is so much to be done and so many great organizations working on amazing projects. I'm not saying anything for certain, just keeping an open mind about the future. Working here has reaffirmed my passion for what I have set out to do, at Duke and otherwise. I really do believe the world would be a better place if everyone had access to clean water and toilets, and the need for those two things is very great here.
So yes, I have felt equal parts frustrated, excited, tired, happy, hopeless, and hopeful during my time here. It is difficult to see the potential these people hold and not want to do everything in your power to help them! These first six weeks have been an incredible introduction to development work and I am so glad I was able to participate in the program. I hope the next five weeks are just as rewarding.
On that note, I need to go and get ready for bed. Wish me luck on my first "official" day at work!
Planning to post pictures tomorrow. xoxo
So glad you are here, truly! The rain is much needed and I know the farmers are rejoicing. If you could just please stop dumping bugs everywhere, I would be much obliged.
Love,
Alec
(After I just murdered 15 flying ants that are invading my room at the moment)
All joking aside, the monsoons have come to Rajasthan!! You all must think I am crazy to celebrate, but this actually is a good thing. The weather is finally starting to cool down and Udaipur will rapidly become lush and green. It's beautiful as it is, but I can only imagine how beautiful it will look in two more weeks! Not to mention, it is truly something to behold when the rain comes down SO hard for such long stretches of time. It sounds amazing bouncing off the tin roof. Mother nature at her finest!
In other news, the summer school program has finally come to its end. I have said goodbye to so many people over the last 3 days ... its been bittersweet to say the least. There are only four of us left and by tomorrow there will be only three. Luckily for me, the other two are staying until mid-August so I will have friends in Udaipur up until almost a week before I leave!
Tomorrow I will be officially starting my research project with the NGO. I have already been in talks with them to try and set up the few things I need from them. They seem to be very excited about my project, which is great because it makes me feel excited too! This is going to be a big learning experience for me, and I would be lying if I didn't admit I was a little nervous. I will be holding a series of focus group discussions with people from many different villages to assess demand for three water and sanitation technologies: (1) a ceramic filter (which you all heard about in earlier posts), (2) community level chlorination tanks, and (3) a composting latrine. All of these actually build off of the project I have been working on for the last few weeks, and I am feeling happy to know that I get to go back to the same block I have been working in, even though I will be in different villages.
As far as our project goes everything ended up very nicely in the end. My team and I had some issues with how the work was split, and one of my team members completely checked out near the end and didn't do much of anything. Come to think of it, this person didn't do much of anything for the entirety of the program, but I was willing to overlook it thinking things would improve with time. NOPE! Oh well, all is done with now.
During the last field visit we took two samples back to Udaipur (on ice) to analyze for fecal contamination. Turns out, there was a low level of fecal coliform in both samples, one was from an open well (no surprise) and the other was from a household vessel that contained water from a hand pump. This, coupled with the results of our household survey (granted, we only surveyed about 8% of the population due to time constraints) which showed that 62% of monthly health expenses were going towards the treatment of diarrhea and stomach issues like vomitting, abdominal pain, gastritis, etc. I told you guys about Potters for Peace a while back (whose office is actually out of Greensboro, NC - go figure) and we were really interested in bringing the technology here. Anyways, once again, due to time constraints, we ended up going with a similar option that is available here in India. The product is called Terafil and it is also a clay filtration device of sorts that can be locally produced and sold. The training to manufacture the device and the liscensing agreements have already been sorted out by the government, so we figured this option was more viable in the long run.
From what I could tell, the NGO was pretty happy with our results. I even got an off-hand "well, I might just have to hire you and let you figure out how to bring the technology here," although I'm not entirely sure that was serious ... That said, I have been talking a lot with my friend Siri about some of the issues I have been seeing (she worked extensively in the same block that I have been in) and I am starting to seriously consider coming back to do water and sanitation work in India. There is so much to be done and so many great organizations working on amazing projects. I'm not saying anything for certain, just keeping an open mind about the future. Working here has reaffirmed my passion for what I have set out to do, at Duke and otherwise. I really do believe the world would be a better place if everyone had access to clean water and toilets, and the need for those two things is very great here.
So yes, I have felt equal parts frustrated, excited, tired, happy, hopeless, and hopeful during my time here. It is difficult to see the potential these people hold and not want to do everything in your power to help them! These first six weeks have been an incredible introduction to development work and I am so glad I was able to participate in the program. I hope the next five weeks are just as rewarding.
On that note, I need to go and get ready for bed. Wish me luck on my first "official" day at work!
Planning to post pictures tomorrow. xoxo
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