Hi Everyone --

Only 1/2 week until we leave for Egypt!

We have plenty to do to get ready, so we need the time!

It has been an interesting week! It started out normally enough, but then on Wednesday I went to Laxmi road with friends to do some shopping, and when I got home, I wasn't feeling very well. I just seemed to go downhill from there. Doug left Thursday for an Indian camping experience, i.e. team building exercise, with his group from work. (More on that later.) By Friday morning, I had had enough of the pain and I was worried I had a kidney stone and we were leaving in less than a week for vacation. I talked with Ryan and Michelle and decided it was probably best that I went to the hospital and find out what the problem was. I called the John Deere HR representative and he got in touch with the hospital and they knew I was coming. I went in to see a urologist and he sent me for an ultrasound. Everything in an Indian hospital must be paid for up front, so it was a good thing I stopped at the ATM on our way to the hospital (Hannah came with me). The Dr. was 250 rupees ($5 US), and the ultrasound 1,000 rupees ($20 US). The Dr. running the ultrasound couldn't find a kidney stone at all, only staples from my gallbladder surgery, a cyst on my kidney, and fibroids. She looked twice and came up with no kidney stones -- that's good news! I went back to the urologist, and he gave me a prescription for some antibiotic for a kidney infection and sent me for a urine test (780 rupees - $15.50). We were at the hospital for 2 hours only -- that's a blessing! We stopped at the pharmacy on the way home, but they didn't have the tablets on the prescription, but they did have a substitute. They said they would get the proper tablets and deliver them to the house that evening. I waited and waited, and they finally called and said they couldn't find them anywhere in town. I asked that they send the substitute. It came at 10 p.m. I've been on antibiotic for 2 1/2 days and I'm feeling better. I go back to the urologist tomorrow morning. We leave for Mumbai Wednesday afternoon.

Doug's camping trip -- well it was really a team building exercise with the group I have been working with over the last three years. The group included marketing, manufacturing, quality, supply management, and engineering people. We slept in concrete 'tents' on tile floors with a very thin pad underneath. We ate Indian food for breakfast, lunch and dinner - no toast or pizza. Actually, the location was very pretty -- overlooking a lake and surrounded by hills. Since the monsoon is over, everything is green. We went trekking in the hills, built things, and ran obstacle courses. Very similar to the way things are done in the U.S., except that everyone here wants to be the leader or a least monopolize the conversation during the activities. I've included one or two pictures.

When we were on Laxmi Road, we were heading to my favorite kurta (top) store, but when we got to where it should be, it wasn't there! I stood there on the road looking and looking trying to get my bearings and just couldn't see it. There are lots of shops in India that just come and go and that's it. Anyway, while I was standing out there looking, some folks came out of fancy store and waved us in. These were the store owners of my favorite store, except the store was all new and updated and air conditioned and there was a try-on room and it was totally different. They recognized me out there looking confused! We went inside and Shiney took some pictures because I know you that know the store wouldn't believe it! I also bought a new top!

There were 4 of us for church today. There will be no church in Pune the next 2 weeks since we will be out of the country.

It's time to get laundry done, lists made, and bags packed! We'll be on our way soon. Hopefully, we will have access to a computer and let you know how our trip is going!

Take care,
Love, Lucinda