Arrival

Well, the traveling gnome has made it safely to India and it was an adventure. My flight from Houston to Doha, Qatar pronounced Cutter was very rough and packed. I sat by a window and had an Indian man sit in the aisle we had 1 seat btwn us. It was an older aircraft and the seat arms did NOT raise all the up.. The flight crew were nice but very busy so I did not get my ice cream! The food was a journey I ordered the chicken but it didn't look like chicken, taste like chicken, or even smell like chicken, so I didn't eat much. Doesn't everything taste like chicken? I did get to watch a couple of movies on the plane which was good. The flight took about 16 hours and after being up since 9am with a 8pm departure and already flown 5 hours I was tired..So, I sat there and tried to figure out how I am going to get some rest. The man in the aisle seat was already snoring and had his feet on the middle seat. Darn!! I tried the kneeling on the floor with my head on my seat (yes, I did fit) but that was uncomfortable. How do kids do it at church I wonder? I also had to hide from the stewardess so I sloped on down to the floor and slept there covered under a blanket. It wasn't that bad, really and I am glad that I am a travel size gnome. Once in Qatar which had a flurry Middle Eastern people that I had only seen on TV. I actually saw a lady in a full burka and my jaw dropped. I didn't know how to react, the man she was with was treating her like a possession not a person.

Boarding for India I somehow used my gnome powers of persuasion and got upgraded to business class! very nice the seats fold all the way down!! and the food was much better. I saved my nuts, crackers, and a bagel for later and watch a Everybody's Fine with Robert DeNiro I love that man.. Great movie.. ( I am going to try my powers on the return trip with Yamini and hopefully we can have a upgrade from Doha back to Houston..

I must write about what happened once I arrived in Delhi.. The airport is massive and you have to walk to immigration and wait in line. There was one line that said for physically challenged persons but I did not wait in that line (maybe that was my pride). When it was my turn the counter was at least 18 inches over my head and I had to tiptoe to hand the man my passport. But he did not take it. He acted as if I wasn't there. I was horrified. I looked around for some guidance and was ignored. So, I waited for the next available man and tried again.. This time he took it and looked at me like I was just let out of a circus. He stamped my passport and tossed it back over the counter where it fell on the floor. Mad, I said in English, I guess I know that I am in India with people like you. Next, I had to go buy some liquor for the bed/breakfast manager where I was staying, he asked and I say ok. I did that, got my luggage and proceeded to exit out of the airport where I was to be looking out for a man with a sign with my name on it and he would bring me to my room. I found him but he was surely surprised when he saw me.. He took my cart of luggage and rushed out of the airport. I desperately tried to keep up but I couldn't. I listened as people reacted to me and it hurt a lot. I recalled the same thing happened in Nepal and tried to block it out. But when someone comes up to you and pushes you deliberately while talking in a foreign language it is hard to block out. I need to be careful and not stereotype all Indian people but the ones at the airport were rude and disrespectful. I simply smiled at the man and said boo.. He moved and I walked away crying because I was mad. I summoned the rest of my courage not to get on the next flight back to US and left the airport. Americans can be brash and insensitive but for the most part there is a level of respect and acceptance. Yes, I get stared out everywhere I go but from a distance and quietly. Most of the time I don't even see it. Not here. I am glad I am taking Yamini away from their views and disapproving ideals. But, I must remember not all people here are like that. I just haven't found any that are not.
Tomorrow I plan to go to the market and do some sightseeing. Monday I meet with my social worker, director of the orphanage and most importantly Yamini. Tuesday and Wed we have appointments at the US embassy for her visa and Thursday I hope to take her to the zoo.. We fly out Friday morning at 4:45am and return back to Houston around 5pm. Its 7pm on a sat and I am watching several India men take out an ac in the kitchen where the computer is out to clean it.. Why couldn't there be a couple of cute Indian women doing this? Most laster.. Traveling gnome signing off