The Indian Immigration Office: A Symbol of the World?

So last week I had to figure out our Visa problem. Our company did not understand how to help us when we first got here to avoid having to get this “exit permit” to get back home. It came out to a total of 2 days, 8 hours in all, and $250. WHEW! That was awful. The US Embassy told me it should be something like $25 and a quick little errand. The Indian government works a little….different. I have no doubt someone made some money off that deal. I’ve been in India too long to have any sort of trust when it comes to money and Americans. I gave my receipt to our friend that works in the Vice Console’s office and he said he would check into it. Whatever….we can go home and I really don’t care.

As I was sitting in that office the second day without the kids, I had time to ponder for hours on end with a hundred other people from all over the world. After hours with each other, you start to get a glimpse of everyone’s story. One couple from France was very frustrated and near to tears because they’d spent more than 3 days trying to give the visa office what they wanted to get their papers in order. A group of Asian men had green laminated papers with the word refugee written in the title. I have no idea if they were with the man from Tibet that I met later on that day or not. One Asian old woman wore a sort of gray polyester thing that covered her head. She kept going up to the front of the line trying to figure out what to do. The visa guy just pointed to the number on her paper.

There were times during those 2 days when all of us immigrants waited behind empty counters because the men supposed to be sitting there hadn’t come to work yet or left for their hour lunch break. Heaven forbid they have rotating lunches. That would be much too complicated to figure out.

I thought of how the people immigrating to America on boats must have felt as they waited in long lines not understanding anything. Children crying, tired, and hungry. One time I left just to go get a drink and I never did understand what the guy was trying to tell me about his glass bottle of Limca (kinda like sprite). I just gave him way too much money and took the bottle back to the waiting room.

As we filled out papers together, shared pens, and tried to fight for our place in line against each other, we had a common bond…..we were stuck in this place resembling the DMV in Hell. One old woman from Pakistan looked so tired near the afternoon. A British couple (Indians who are now English citizens) had their newly adopted baby with them and just kept kissing her. A guy that looked like the protester monks in Myanmar with a big red dress thing was easy to spot all throughout the day. A group of 3 American women studying abroad talked to me once in awhile to see if we could help each other figure out the “next step.”

I did have a moment as I looked around that I thought….what must heaven be like when we are all there together just like this room of immigrants? We have all lived in different times and have been from all different cultures and languages. I think their clothing is crazy and I’m sure they think I am just as crazy. How funny.

I walked to the Hyatt behind these broken and shabby offices they call the Bureau of Immigration during the “lunch hour.” I knew I could eat something that would not make me die there. As I was walking out, a guy with a turban from the “group” started following me. He seemed to think I knew just what I was doing. I do tend to ask lots of questions and have become quite aggressive living here. I knew that the lady at counter number 3 would be back at 210pm and I really needed to go eat. I was a little worried about walking with this stranger in a turban for lunch but what can you do when he is just walking down the road striking up conversation?

This guy ended up going to the Hyatt with me and by the time I had finished eating my muffin, I knew he was a legit man who just wanted a muffin too. I had a nice conversation with him. It was fun to learn all about his wife and children and how they had lived in Michigan and then Germany as he worked with manufactures of automobiles. His son called on the phone and he spoke in German. His wife called him and he spoke in Hindi. Then he spoke to me in English. He was a fascinating man just trying to get through his visa issues same as me. He gave me a big thumbs up as I left the office that day. I felt bad for him that he was still waiting for his number to be called at counter number four. Maybe I’ll catch him on the other side too.

Wow, I’ve gone on way too long. It’s just that the more I think about that experience, the more I can’t believe what cool things I’ve experienced here EVEN in the Visa office.

OUR LIFE IN INDIAN COLOR!

Here are the pictures that I wanted to share with you.

The Last Lap

I've been trying for 2 days to upload some pix! I can't do it! ..... hopefully soon I'll figure it out and then you can see the latest along with the update....

So we are just a few days away from October. October is what?........THE MONTH WE TOUCH DOWN IN THE MOST AWESOME COUNTRY ON THE PLANET…AMERICA!!!!!!! Even Bryce understands completely that we are going back to our ‘new’ house and he will see his cat Polly again and his Thomas The Tank Engine Room. We are excited. Especially because we already have our Halloween costumes being sent to our home in Draper. We will be the most jet-lagged Trick-or-Treaters in the neighborhood but WE DON’T CARE!

I would like to think that I will post again before we leave….it’s a nice thought…we’ll see if it happens.

We just made a count down chain to put on our wall so the boys can comprehend that we aren’t leaving tomorrow. Exactly 30 days left. Are we homesick? Yes. We did add happy smiling faces on our chain and sad crying faces. We talked about all the things we love about India and all the things we are so excited to get back to in America.

Bryce mostly cares about Polly, our playroom and fruit snacks. Chase is ready to sleep on the bunk beds, see his friend Macy from school and eat orange cheese (cheddar cheese). I’m ready for my very own bed, Super Target, mountains and fresh air. Funny, the simple things we miss.

We had originally thought we’d be home more around Thanksgiving or Christmas but as we weighed all the stuff with our vacant house, pre-school, Michael’s time off etc we decided it best for the boys and I to get home in time for Halloween and November pre-school. Michael will stay back in India. He’ll be home a good chunk of time for Thanksgiving and then Christmas. He anticipates another short trip to India in January. We’re hoping after that it’ll just be 3 or 4 times a year. Crazy few months but it’s the last lap. What a ride it’s been.

We’ve been doing some very American things lately. Chase has been in T-Ball, Bryce has a little music class he goes to and we’re still swimming often. Both boys can completely swim with no assistance. No more diapers for Byrce. They’ve grown so much while we’ve been here.

The funny thing is, as we’re driving to these activities, we’re still in India seeing crazy Indian stuff. Today I saw two guys on a motorcycle holding a huge piece of glass. A few days ago Michael and I went to go pick up his custom made suits (totally cheap) and just outside the door was one guy stitching up another guy’s head.

One of my favorite things is when I see a mirror set up on a cement wall and a guy sitting in a chair getting a haircut and shave. Just outside…this hair cutter guy probably has regular customers and all. Within a block of where I live is a little guy has set up shop on the corner where he irons clothing items for 5 Rupees (12 cents). Again, just right outside with no cover. Probably been there for generations. Every morning there are guys with wooden carts selling fruit, gas for cooking, brooms, etc. All the stray dogs are barking while I write this.

I heard yesterday the Embassy is having a problem with monkeys. So they had to bring in some big boy monkey and have him pee everywhere on the compound. All the little kids who live there were so excited to see the big monkey all day long.

It’s stuff like this that is so regular for us. I forget how truly crazy it is!

I’ve tried to post a bunch of pictures to catch you up on the latest. Don’t forget to see the pictures of Chase acting out his Lord Krishna character as the entire school dances around while he stands on a table playing flute. Next month he’ll be Ram. What????!!! What an experience we’ve had!

BABY BOY JORDAN MARCH 11, 2008

We are excited to announce that we will be welcoming our next baby BOY the beginning of March. I'm now 13 weeks and everything is looking really good. I've had 2 ultrasounds and been to the doctor a few times. Let's just say I'll be glad to deliver in AMERICA. It's been interesting to get through the first trimester in hot, smelly India but I'll be happy to arrive home in the states well into the pregnancy.

It's also been tough to keep this little secret!!! We wanted so badly to share the news when we knew the gender and knew the baby was healthy and strong...... And since we do live in India, we didn't want to alarm anyone with worries of Dengue Fever, Malaria, TB or Giardia. So far everyone is healthy and happy!

We're excited!!!

SOME HOPE FOR INDIA

Copy of a recent email.....


Ok so as you could suspect from the last emails…I have felt a little worn down from the awfulness of so many things we see everyday. BUT this week we have seen some great things!

We got Chase all ready with his Kurta Pajama and hat for his school Independence Day Celebration. He looked like pictures of Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister. He wore a long white cotton shirt with Chinese collar and white cotton pants with a little white hat. This is considered a very traditional AND patriotic thing to wear.

When we arrived at the school it was overwhelming CUTE. EVERY child was dressed in patriotic attire. Some little boys had on military uniforms with the 1945 big round glasses. Some other little boys had on rags and carried a stick and were representing Gandhi. Almost EVERY girl had on a saree. Some girls we’re dressed as Indira Gandhi, Nehru’s daughter and also an assassinated Prime Minister of India. Some were dressed as freedom fighters with big mustaches drawn on their faces. This display beat ANY Halloween pre-school celebration I’ve ever seen.

All the classes were getting their pictures taken. We took a million of our own. They were SO CUTE. Then we headed out to the grounds to do the flag raising. Chase of course was standing right next to the Principal so they would be sure to get the school’s diversity in their photo op.

Then it hit me! As the flag was being raised and everyone was singing the melody of the national anthem in Hindi so reverently, I couldn’t hold back the tears. I think I was feeling partly proud of India for showing dignity and respect for their homeland and also SO blessed that my son could be a part of such a cultural experience that he will remember forever.

We went inside and each class did their little skit/song. There were many dances with patriotic Hindi music. The older the classes got, the more the children were saying things in the microphone representing their patriotic character. Just imagine cute little Indian faces under 5 years old dressed to the nines coming up to the microphone, talking much too loud of course saying things like “ I am Cha Cha Nehru and I love my India! I am Mahatma Gandhi and I love my India!” Then they would end their little part by throwing their right fist in the air and yelling “Jayhe” (Jaw He) This means something like salute my country, India rocks, we rule….you get the basic idea.

It was very moving and I felt SO fortunate to see with my own eyes something so AWESOME! A bright light through the muck. They’ve been a country for 60 years. I wonder what they will be in another 60. I will definitely be watching!

HAPPY BLOGGING

Michelle!
We love you and miss you and want to know everything about your adventures in India. Please post away and we will visit often. Happy blogging to you!