Wow, I can't believe my sixth week here is half-way over already! I'm enjoying Rishikesh a lot, but by the end of the week, I will be ready to go back to a place where I get to see more clinical cases. Here, we don't actually watch the doctors interact with the patients much, because by naturopathic theory, the modes of healing are natural. They prescribe massages, baths, diet restrictions, and other less-used treatments, so I can understand why we don't watch these things (it would be alittle weird to sit and observe someone taking a bath!) Starting last Thursday and going unti we leave this weekend, Alyssa have been learning the naturopathic Swedish massage techniques. We were taught them last week, and now we are practicing them on each other every day, guided by the femal doctor. I'm excited, because I will have a skill when I return home that I never would have expected I would gain on this trip.

I'm sure many of you have heard about the bombings in Jaipur on the 13th, and I want to first of all say I am okay. Jaipur is quite a ways away from here, but still terrorism is something we must be alert about. Most of the violence in India is directed internally, often by one religious group against another. THe bombings in Jaipur occurred on a busy Hanuman holy day, so it has been assumed that religious conflict is the root of them. Eight or nine bombs were set off, each near one of the city's temples I believe. Between 60- and 70 people were killed, but these are the extent of the details I know rightn now. Alyssa actualy heard about it from our program directors, not from any news here in Rishikesh; there has been less of a stir here than I would have expected. We were planning a weekend trip this weekend to Hardwar, on of the holiest cities on the Ganga (the holiest river) in the Hindu religion, but we have changed our plans. We are going to head abck to Dehra Dun for the weekend and lay low, staying away from highly populated tourist sites and religious buildings and festivals. I'm sur we will be informed of any other violence that occurs, but I will try to stay in touch with all of you about my well-being as well. I love you all, and I will updte this again the next chance I get. :-)