For your consideration, I will attempt to post the next few entries based on theme to control for diversions. Also, there is just way too much to say....and I'm too lazy to type it all. On this particular Sunday evening, I will provide you with an explanation of the WORK aspect of my life.
Much to my surprise, the Karnataka Health Promotion Trust (KHPT) office is actually a huge skyscraper planted amidst the dirt roads, cows and street vendors. It’s getting a little bit ridiculous that I wake up in my air conditioned room, climb into an air conditioned office vehicle only to arrive at my air conditioned office. If it weren’t for the few brief power outages and Tiffin boxes in the lunch room, I would have no idea I was in India.
At work, I am known as Jane(h), which was unilaterally assigned on Day 1. As expected, I will be living under a less wacko-western, more understandable pseudonym during my stay here. I’ve even grown accustomed to introducing myself as Jane outside of work as well. Weird.
I am still desperately trying to find the right way to dress appropriately given the contents of my luggage. I must wear long-sleeves and pants every day...pretty manageable so far though. My co-worker, Mallika, took me shopping for kurtas, which are like long dresses that most often cover your shoulders, worn with baggy pants under them. Not exactly as exciting as my tye-dye mumus but I’ve found some nice ones with…wait for it…SEQUINS! I'm hoping to buy some more in the near future so people will like me more.
Anyway, back to the actual purpose of this entry - myself and my fellow intern, Chethan, are devising a qualitative study to assess the influence and role of media for maternal, neonatal and child health in Koppal (northern Karnataka) by interviewing various media persons, health service providers and community members. In addition, we’ve been collaborating with the Centre for Research on Advocacy and Health (CFAR) to provide some insider journalist knowledge as well as to complete the media tracking to monitor how tv, newspapers and radio convey these issues to the community of Koppal. The work is really exciting and seems to be the first of its kind! Not to get too much into the details, but the aim is to ultimately inform a proper intervention to increase positive perception of free government health services in the media. Our first visit to Koppal is in one week and I am SO excited to get a taste of village life and see what the ground reality is like. To give a brief background on Koppal, it's known for its weak literacy rates, backward caste system and really high proportion of child marriages (47%) - placing an incredible burden on young girls to conceive (a boy).
I’m super relieved to be so busy and doing work with such merit and relevance. Chethan and I are slowllyy learning to understand each other’s accents and he’s been really helpful so far! He even brings food for me most days (sent from his mother, to the foreigner)! We've spent the week coming up with a concept note (proposal) for the study and are now on draft 3 after meeting with the lead demographer and CFAR. Still so much work to do.
Everyone at work is really smiley and nice. The only struggle I've been having is shifting my 'nod' to a 'shake'. Here, when you agree with something, you shake your head from side to side with an added jaunty bounce. It's rather confusing in meetings.
Well that's my work life for you all!
Up next: FOOD! Stay tuned.
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| KHPT Office, Rajajinagar |
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| Jane's cubicle! |
I am still desperately trying to find the right way to dress appropriately given the contents of my luggage. I must wear long-sleeves and pants every day...pretty manageable so far though. My co-worker, Mallika, took me shopping for kurtas, which are like long dresses that most often cover your shoulders, worn with baggy pants under them. Not exactly as exciting as my tye-dye mumus but I’ve found some nice ones with…wait for it…SEQUINS! I'm hoping to buy some more in the near future so people will like me more.
Anyway, back to the actual purpose of this entry - myself and my fellow intern, Chethan, are devising a qualitative study to assess the influence and role of media for maternal, neonatal and child health in Koppal (northern Karnataka) by interviewing various media persons, health service providers and community members. In addition, we’ve been collaborating with the Centre for Research on Advocacy and Health (CFAR) to provide some insider journalist knowledge as well as to complete the media tracking to monitor how tv, newspapers and radio convey these issues to the community of Koppal. The work is really exciting and seems to be the first of its kind! Not to get too much into the details, but the aim is to ultimately inform a proper intervention to increase positive perception of free government health services in the media. Our first visit to Koppal is in one week and I am SO excited to get a taste of village life and see what the ground reality is like. To give a brief background on Koppal, it's known for its weak literacy rates, backward caste system and really high proportion of child marriages (47%) - placing an incredible burden on young girls to conceive (a boy).
I’m super relieved to be so busy and doing work with such merit and relevance. Chethan and I are slowllyy learning to understand each other’s accents and he’s been really helpful so far! He even brings food for me most days (sent from his mother, to the foreigner)! We've spent the week coming up with a concept note (proposal) for the study and are now on draft 3 after meeting with the lead demographer and CFAR. Still so much work to do.
Everyone at work is really smiley and nice. The only struggle I've been having is shifting my 'nod' to a 'shake'. Here, when you agree with something, you shake your head from side to side with an added jaunty bounce. It's rather confusing in meetings.
Well that's my work life for you all!
Up next: FOOD! Stay tuned.
Love getting these weekly posts! Despite the obvious challenges (workload, wardrobe and nomenclature) your great sense of humour really comes through.
ReplyDeleteCant wait to read the Food post.
Love Dad,
xoxox