HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR GRANDMA!!!

Today is my dear grandmother's (my dad's mom's) birthday. I've mentioned here before on my global health blog. She's the only internet-savvy grandma I know (and the best!). I am missing her birthday today, because I'm in India...but I wanted to post here to wish her all the best. Grandma grew up during India's freedom fighting days. Her elder brother himself was a freedom fighter. She even saw Gandhi at a train station.

I've learned so much from Grandma, especially with regard to how to be a good person, which is the most important lesson you can learn. She teaches you by setting a good example. She's also one of the most honest, straightforward people I know...not insensitively, but kindly. No small feat!

The pictures above are of our group of students: Paul, Emma, and me (only Sejal is missing), with Philip, the director of Michael's Care Home for HIV/AIDS clients and injected-drug users, and Dio, another staff member at Sahara. The second picture is of all of us with Misha, a medical student who's also pursuing a masters in social work--she was a volunteer with us at the care home, and told us all about Indian culture. Both pictures are from Emma's camera.

I love you, Grandma! All of us here wish you a very happy birthday: Paul, Emma, Sejal and I.