Report of 13 June 2009

Hello from the U.S. -

I am at the library, magnificently therapeutic place that it is. I flew into Chicago a few days ago and the good Colleen Taber picked me up and brought me to Indy; I crashed at her place, and have today shifted to Carolyn Scanlan's.

The couple of weeks before I left got to be a tad hectic. My nephew, Vix, studying dentistry in Chennai came to spend a few days with us between exams; he was supposed to have been studying but didn't appear to be and I sent him back to the dorm the day before his exams. Perhaps being around other studying students would set the mood, plus I needed to pack and get a few affairs in order. (I need a certain mindset to accomplish these things and clearly I was distracted, because I got to the U.S. with a bunch of Indian money (how useful is that) and not an American cent. Thankfully, the generous Colleen spotted me some cash until I got to the bank.) We also had to pay the fees at Naren's college for him to start next week. Madras Christian College is a legendarily good college, with a beautiful campus, and I think Naren will be happy there. Navin started school on 3 June, had to be ferried to a few tutoring sites; Naren's math tutor holds classes for him and his friends every weekday morning at 7 AM. The tutor is a little pleased with anyone related to Naren, because Naren made 95% in math - a slightly difficult achievement.

I flew Air India here, and was dreading it. The average Indian traveller views the Indian flight attendant as a servant, and treats him/her very poorly. This causes repercussion and nastiness, and I was wary. The first flight was only 1/3 full and I got to sleep in a 3-seater row (very, very rare on international travel) and the next flight had a medical emergency, which 2 of us responded to. A 75+ year-old lady came close to passing out in the bathroom, she was pulled out and found to be cold and clammy; a glass of orange juice revived her somewhat, and though history was very vague (she is non-verbal at baseline), there was a suggestion of chest pressure. The escorts travelling with her, first said to be related and then not, could not give any collateral info, and we could only presume that the lady was diabetic, and had heart disease. (Note to all readers: always carry a list of meds with you on the plane.) I stated that she had to be evaluated immediately after arrival, and the other doctor disagreed: she said the patient was much better, no need to panic, she (the doc) owned her own clinic (thus apparently more qualified than I), etc. I stated that I practiced in the U.S. and for the patient's good, as well as to cover Air India's a--, it was better that the patient be taken to the hospital on landing. The senior flight attendant agreed, and the other doc stated that this option was fine with her, as she did not know at all about legalities in the U.S.

I started work for St. Vincent Physician Network the day after I reached and it's nice. The best thing I like about the U.S. - everyone *wants* to help. I have paperwork to complete before I start seeing patients, and my colleagues are kind about assisting. In India, getting anything accomplished is a test of endurance, character, moral turpitude, willpower: the tendency is *not* to help. For instance, to e-check in to Air India, the website was not working and I had to make 5 different calls over 13 hours (overnight) before someone could help. It was markedly easier for them to pass the buck, and that they did - with alacrity. The concept of customer service is still alien in India, perhaps it'll change. For instance, as in Mexico I hear, at usual Indian restaurants, the server's first words are, "What do you want?," not "Hello, welcome to Sangeetha, how are you today?" I am used to that in India, but I do like being here - I must have filled out 4-5 compliment cards already.

The 3 Weiss men are well and I think all will enjoy this break from each other, for now. I saw "The taking of Pelham 1-2-3" today and liked it. I remember enjoying the original (seen as a pre-teen, I think) immensely. It's nice to stroll into a theater and not have the movie sold out for days.

Unw -

R