Day 14: MIT Make in India

Day 14: MIT Make in India

After coming in late last night, we heard a knock on our bedroom door at 8:43am. Brave Kristin got up and checked. We heard a familiar voice: “Good morning.” 

We all slowly reached the fab lab by 10am, and we talked more about soap, cost analysis, and financial aspects of the soap company. 

The Shower Washers then went to the hospital (notes in Evernote) to observe and meet some people. A big issue I saw was the waste disposal and the fact that there was no privacy in the hospital. We can easily see whatever is happening in casualty room or anything. 

Hospital (will not include further pictures)

Chingy and Aishwarya acting like waiting patients

When did this happen guys

We (me, Aishwarya, Chingy, Manoj, Forest, Deepika, Duncan, and Aarooran) then ate lunch, and tried to go to the marketplace where they sold fish and vegetables. However, after we asked the locals, they told us that the market is only open morning to afternoon, so we had missed the market. Then six of us decided to go to where the lake met the ocean as the local suggested it to us. We took two autos, took some pictures, and saw it. 

Me, Forest, Ching-Ching, Deepika, and Aishwary

Ideation Period

Where the lake meets the Indian Ocean

Chingy and Deepika try to shake the coconuts off the tree

We also came across some fisherman, one disabled. We learned that they go on boats in the afternoon and come back at about 3-4am in the morning with their catch. They use GPS and stars to navigate, but sometimes that isn’t accurate and they have to ask other boats the directions. These specific people we had met said they only go out about 16 km. Their boats are about 2 lakhs and GPS cost 15,000 rupees. The fishermen seem to have two of everything (just in case): two engines, two GPSs, two gas tanks, etc. 

All six of us managed to come back in one small auto (I was the lucky one to have Ching-Ching sit on me), which got us more stares than ever. We were definitely going to be the talk of the town that night. Plus, turns out the fishermen had seen me once around town…interesting… It’s always the birthmark. 

All six of us in one auto

Once we reached Chirayinkil, Chingy and I helped a guy back up his car with two cute puppies underneath it, and we also talked to some Tamilians living on the road. 

Puppies!

We got scolded when we reached back at the house. Oops. When we discussed with Raj, we also talked about how the women carried the fish. They would carry them in baskets on their heads and how only their lower body would move—never their heads. The women also chop about 500 fish per day, and Raj told us about a product that a previous workshop group had already made to cut the fish probably twice as fast. Some of the possible problems could be bettering the machine to chop, a way to carry the fish back that doesn’t strain the women, and navigation. 

We attempted some more ideation based on the information we had gathered that day. We ate dinner, and people played carrom while I tried (and am still trying) to catch up on blog writing. Then we played bluff with a mix of both American and Indian styles which was fun. And finally, as if the day wasn’t exciting enough, we decided to teach everyone how to play spoons (or clothespins, rather). It was too much fun with tons of laughs. We all decided to gang up on Justin (because he was too slow and therefore trash yet kept winning). Finally, we made him lose through some slight cheating (the Forest method, pick and throw). Justin only hurt my finger. But it was totally worth it. All in all, it was a pretty good day.