First, I have to tell you that India is great just because of the simple fact that it's never been a letdown for me. I've found that it's everything you think it is, and then some. All the images you have in your head about it are here in the town I was placed in (well, not the Taj!). I step out the door and there's a dozen carts with oxen pulling bushels, distinctively (and tragically) low caste people comprising the majority, bikes whizzing by, amazing Indian clothing shops, stalls selling exotic fruit, Hindu temples, mosques, other food stalls, music - a great complex mix. I always read that India was overwhelming, challenging, culturally shocking, etc. It is. But it's more of an unparalleled opportunity to see what, for us Westerners, is an atypical, and amazing, way of life.

People in my town are very hospitable, and we're treated like the town celebrities. The doctors that run the hospital are three brothers. They are really great in terms of answering any type of related question and letting us watch in on any procedure. Any surgery we want to observe, any kind of work around the hospital, from accompanying on rounds (happens twice a day) to just general patient care with the nurses. We can be there as much or as little as we want. It constantly occurs to me just how much some of my pre-med friends at home would love to see even an hour of what I witness all day long. Some of the cases I've seen at the hospital have been rather tragic. Often the equipment isn't available, or the patients can't afford to use what is. Together with the other volunteers, I manage to have a great time though, despite some hard realties that we see. In fact, it's undeniable that many of the procedures used are indeed effective, even if it's not the most painless or up to date method.

There is a huge monkey that hangs out around our apartment, in the distance on other roofs, and in the hospital. The patients on the top floor always talk about how the monkey visits (the hospital has an open roof) and they feed it fruit or whatever. So during rounds yesterday, we finally saw it casually walking through the hallways for ourselves. The doctors, patients, and nurses were only slightly amused though, since for them it was pretty normal. A few days before I arrived here, it had let itself into the apartment and rummaged through our fridge!

I go running in the mornings to beat the heat, and it's always like I'm running a marathon since everybody on the street is watching, only they don't cheer. I used to swear that even the dogs had slightly bewildered looks on their faces!

For Deepavali, a really big Hindu festival of lights, there was a Christmas-like atmosphere because everybody was so cheerful. From Deepavali Eve until late into the night on Deepavali itself, people ate festive food and set off firecrackers and fireworks. It sounded like we lived in a war zone for 36 hours - unreal. That evening, I sat on the hospital rooftop terrace (one of the highest viewpoints) watching fireworks, which went off constantly, 360 degrees around; it was indescribable.

I also got invited to a Hindu wedding, which started at 7:30 in the morning, which was fairly lavish by Indian standards. We had to get up at 4:30 to get all dressed up in our saris and have time to travel there. Good thing we made it on time since it turned out that we were practically the guests of honour, which was pretty bad since it wasn't our wedding. It was surreal, when I forced myself to think about how the couple didn't know each other before that moment.

I visited a leprosy mission hospital for a two-night visit. It was very worthwhile to accompany the doctor there on ward rounds and see firsthand the formidable work that's going into third world eradication of the disease. Incidence is way down and the new cases that the doctors find in remote villages can be effectively treated using drugs that are provided free of charge. So the horrible deformations always associated with leprosy usually don't happen nowadays and many of the most tragic and gruesome cases we saw were with older, previously-untreated cases. In addition, we got to see laboratory screening work, pharmacy procedures, and we helped out entering patient computer records.

During random times during my final week at the medical placement, I would get fleeting moments of getting really emotional about leaving, but would be able to push it away effectively. The second last day, in a small break of chatting with one of the doctors during inpatients, the realisation that I wouldn't be accompanying them during inpatients ever again came over me. I couldn't make the feeling go away and I broke down a bit. This was nothing compared to my final day though, when I tended to burst into tears every few minutes! At one point I was crying and almost stumbling through the hospital corridors while the nurses were like, 'no cry, no cry!' but it only made it worse. It really shows how wonderful the placement was though, since I'm not usually one for getting emotional about goodbyes.

I will really miss everybody at the hospital. They all look out for us unconditionally, and are always there even just to talk. This unfailing guardianship and attention, it's unlike anything I've ever experienced. (Our nickname for one of the doctors was Dad.) It was so humbling to spend time with people who enjoy our company so much. Their care was unforgettable and I will always be indebted for it. Only thing to do is pass it on I guess :)

I used to hear or read about people who've had those incredible, life-changing experiences through various programs abroad. I don't know how else to put it other than 'it happened to me'.

Every weekend I travelled together with others at the placement. Bi-weekly they were Teaching Abroad organised excursions, and otherwise we'd choose. It was always nice to get a bit of respite from the routine of the hospital and to gain some practice for the independent travel I planned on doing after the hospital placement.

After my placement I travelled for about three months independently, all over India. I always considered myself so fortunate to have been able to become part of a local community beforehand, unlike most other backpackers. Most other travellers I met seemed out-of-touch with common customs that had become second nature to me; I consider this invaluable. I often found myself constantly explaining everything from what a specific food was and how to eat it with your hand to how to go about buying a sari and getting it tailored. Nobody could ever overcharge me while travelling either because as soon as they'd try, since I'd know the real price, I'd say 'I know, I live Indian family!'

Reesa Simmonds

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Typical street scene

Me at x-ray

The monkey

Celebrating Deepavali

Making dosai with Lakshmi

At wedding

In the operating room

At the flower shop

Giving sutures