We Lucked Out

These are the Eichelbergers. They've been out of country before and we were so grateful to have them with us. We honestly wonder if we would have found our way without them. Sky Harbor is a piece of cake. They are in the mission office in Bangalore in this pic. Dad said, "I'm about ready to pack up and go home (won't go into the reasons why) and she said, "Could I get in your suitcase?" Brother Eichelberger is in his late 40s and was a vet who sold his practice to serve this mission. We just learned that their 14-year-old son was killed in an automobile accident shortly before they did the paperwork.

If you have to fly, the Boeing Super 7 (at least I think that's what it was) is the only way to go. It's so big we felt we were in a house. Our seats from Chicago to London were upgraded coach with elbow and foot room (even a bar to put our feet on) and a delicious meal of salmon (Elder--Dad's new name--had chicken) penne pasta and green beans that were all delicious--not a TV dinner. We thought O'Hare Airport was bad with "go down there, turn left, take the elevator down, walk 100 yards and get on the train to Terminal 5"; but compared to London it was a snap. We took three bus rides and went through that many securities (seemed like a dozen before we finally got to Hyderabad). When we boarded the first bus, they announced it would be an 18 minute ride. We couldn't figure where they could possibly go for 18 minutes and it turned out just less than 15 because the driver was surely a former race car driver. We went through three l--o--n--g tunnels, wound back and forth like a snake, barely missed hitting oncoming trucks in our one-way, narrow lane. After all was said and done, we felt we had returned to our landing spot to take off for India. Couldn't see much. The ground was flat and grassy with an occasional tree, but the sky was a beautiful blue with the white fluffy clouds (some with rain stored) that we like so much in Arizona. The air was clear. At some point we (the other couple flying with us--see pic above) were taken to a room to get our boarding pass--no idea why we were singled out unless it was our badges). The Eichelbergers were given an upgrade to first class because of something or other. We asked for the same and let them know we were traveling together. They seemed interested in finding the upgrade but couldn't. She said to check at the gate. We still had to go through customs and there was the upgrade--in just minutes. I asked about Dad and his was there too so we had seats that reclined to beds when we moved them down to connect to the footstools. I probably slept that trip more than I did before or since--three or four hours. There were so many attendants to take care of us with food and drink--two several-course meals served on China all included and our upgrade didn't cost as it was listed as involuntary. Elder felt it wasn't right--wasn't comfortable with the pampering. Thought he should have been in coach. NOT ME! I was grateful for a wonderful blessing. It was nine and one-half hours (5 1/2 hour gain in time. We gained 1 to Chicago and 6 to London.). Those big planes are so much smoother. Hardly knew we were flying the entire time. Takeoff and landing were very smooth. We'll still be happy to never travel again though. What a hassel!

All our luggage arrived with us about 5 a.m. Sunday. Pres. Nichols said that happens only 30 to 40 percent of the time. He and Elder Linton (office, took the Eichelbergers) were there to meet us waving from the outside glass doors as non-passengers are not allowed inside any part of the terminal. We stayed with the Nichols at the mission home where they both did their best to orient us to this very different place and culture. The mission home is in a secured area and in one of many quite luxurious condos--for here anyway. We talked, did only Sacrament meeting, talked a little, took a short nap, ate with Lintons and Eichelbergers (Sister Nichols is a wonderful cook), talked a little more and went to bed. We woke up at 12:30 a.m. and talked to each other a while--about what we had gotten ourselves into and the noise and all that had transpired. Elder dozed off again, of course, while I remained awake the rest of the night.

Surely every person in Sacrament Meeting shook hands with us (100 probably) and the talks were better than some we get at home--so impressive. These people are believers!

We had learned previously that families (parents, children, and extended family) are very important but that marriages aren't. They are usually loveless as they are arranged, part of the reason being that the groom's parents want the dowry. The whole system keeps all the family members living together. The son takes his wife to his parents' home so that multiple families continue to live together with the oldest still making the rules and choices and determining the life styles. Women will usually be widows for possibly 20 years and want a son who can care for her. Her daughters are useless as they are living with their husbands' families. It's not a happy situation and yet family members will do anything in the world almost to help anyone who is related, including all the cousins. The Church, of course, believes that when you marry, you cleave unto your spouse so dating, love marriages and family relations are one of the big things to teach here. Brother Pinto, one of the first to buck tradition and enter into a love marriage, had his wedding pix at church and showed us the whole album. His wife, who was wearing a beautiful purple sari, stood shyly, though smiling, by his side. A Sister Kumula sat next to me and lamented her dismay over having two daughters and no sons. Couldn't help thinking she was in an arranged marriage but I found her husband very friendly and nice.

One of India's noticeable qualities is its extreme noise and it's noisy 24/7. Much of the noise is from the drivers who honk incessantly to say, "Watch out, I'm coming through." Streets are actually paved with broken and solid lines designating lanes but they have no meaning to the drivers. A two lane road will have six vehicles across--not orderly of course. They're all jammed together with an auto (three wheeled motor scooter with head cover but no sides) scooters, bikes, taxis (small vehicles like those in US) a few mini mini SUVs, trucks and buses all vying for the slightest piece of road. And I forgot the oxen pulling little hay wagons, cows--even elephants and camels (haven't seen camels yet but I did see the hind end of an elephant way ahead--and lots of dogs that all look alike--brown/white and lean. In and out they go, rarely braking, slipping into whatever opening they can see with an inch between vehicles and no more than that to dart back and forth. Dad was sitting in the front seat most of the time and flinching and making frightening "sssll-ing" sounds. That gives you an idea of what it's like to be on the road. President Nichols kept telling him not to look out the front window and assured us that his regular driver, Sampath (pot) who has worked for the Church since 1993 has never had an accident. (He did get a speeding ticket on our way to the airport for Hyderabad however; there are no police cars; policeman just stand by the side of the road and wave you down; some aren't honest enough to stop; Sampath was.) But there are lots of other noises too which we just can't identify. People are awake and out all night long and all day long. Kaspers told us there are 12 million in Hyderabad. In the chain of things, buses are at the top (so packed that you can lift your feet and be carried by the crowd) and pedestrians are at the bottom. There are no sidewalks so we take our chances and cross at the slightest opening figuring that the oncoming vehicles will swerve to miss us. I'm laughing as I write this. I have to laugh so I won't cry. (That's an exaggeration; we're not close to crying but THIS is REALLY different.)

(I've been getting into stuff I thought I'd write in the next blog because this latter stuff doesn't fit under the title "We Lucked Out." Actually, we really think this is going to be quite an adventure filled with so many opportunities to grow.)