Revisiting my medical ABC's

So, this week has been dubbed a success, even though clearly it is only Tuesday. Yesterday Kate and I lounged around in our room until mid morning, working and reading, and then headed out to meet our unfortunate translator Jitu. Interestingly, he confessed to us only today, after about 6 days of this doomed employee satisfaction survey, that "If you had been doing this survey two years ago you would have interviewed me too, I used to work here, but then I had this small mental illness, and had to stop until this year". Awkward. At any rate, we spent the afternoon doing surveys, and meeting up with a few more of the doctors which is a nice way to meet people. Then around dinner time, we had the ultimate joy of an invitation to the house of the two doctors who essentially turned this hospital into what it is today. We ventured out into manali, with our only directions being "go towards the big bridge, and ask for Doctor-Ji's house". Yes, the hospital is the center of the town apparently, and they are so well known that we found ourselves literally led to their front door by a pack of small children in neon pink pants.
They were amazing. They live in a beautiful little vermont-like house, overlooking the expanse of the mountains. We spent nearly two hours just talking to them about their work, and the wonderful things they have done not just for the hospital, but for Manali as well. Heroes to be sure.
After that, we had our ration of cold veggies, and packed in for the night with our books, and were lulled to sleep by the sound of the pack of roving donkeys.
Today we were up early, and off to do a few more surveys. I am so sick of the questionnaire that it takes more and more self control not to just make up the answers. At around 12, I randomly asked some guy if Kate and I could join him in surgery, and he said yes.
Kate and I sort of sauntered into the operating theater, decked out in our scrub tops, face masks, and hats and were able to stand in the middle of the operating room while they removed some man's gal bladder. AMAZING. For whatever reason I ended up staying on my feet, without the urge to pass out, so overall it was a raging success. Notes on surgery: (1)They are the funniest group of doctors I have ever seen, and spend a solid portion of surgery singing along to seal. (2) sterile procedures, apparently not really necessary. (3) One way to bring man out of General Anesthesia is to hit him. (4) Because this is a training facility, I was able to ask questions and stand at the foot of the bed while a man had four hands literally inside him. Sorry for those of you who are squeamish, but it was like something of a movie.
Anyways, this afternoon we did a few more interviews, got invited to someone's house for tea, and here I am now. I have found that in the past few days I have also learned a lot about myself and my limits and capabilities. I have learned to not let chances pass me by because I am nervous about overstepping boundaries. I am capable of taking risks which I have finally seen the beauty of. Oh yey for unregulated countries.
Either way, things here are fantastic, and Kate and I seem to have finally settled into a niche. Aside from the unreal amounts of carbohydrates served here, morning, noon and night, I am happy as could be.
Love.