Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Dear Family and Friends:
We are in Kolketta (formerly Calcutta) and just spent the night in the paid Guest Room at our SDA School (RS 600 each night -$14.63 at today’s Rs 41 per $l exchange rate). It is a relief to be where there is a real shower with warm water and towels provided. Even toilet paper included and soap. Not quite the same as home but a real luxury here. We feel cleaner than at any time since we arrived in India. The opportunity to shampoo our hair without it feeling worse than before we did it, means a lot.
Flying with all our luggage on the domestic flight from Hyderabad to Calcutta did cost us $13.64 extra for overweight beyond the 47Kg each, plus the RS 100 ($2.27-the rate we last changed money for) we gave the SDA worker there who negotiated it down from about $60 worth. There is also a RS 100 charge per person at the airport to clear security well. The airline we flew with is SpiceJet—even the planes in India are spicy! When they came through with refreshments we took a small bottle each of Mango juice thinking it was complimentary. After Glenn took a swallow we learned that we owed RS 40 for the two. But it warned us away from taking the available meal. We learned later it would have cost RS 300 each ($6.81) and rejoiced that we had in Mary Alice’s purse some of her special crackers and cashews. We probably had the best meal on the plane for the Rs 40 juice.
At the Calcutta airport we hired a pre-paid taxi, which means the price is determined by an agency rather than the individual driver. In addition we were to pay extra for the luggage and they suggested Rs 20 to 30. The driver wanted Rs 100 because it was more than the prescribed 25 Kg each. He looked very poor and the car was showing lots of wear. He had to unlock each door by reaching in from the outside to use the inside handles. So Glenn gave him Rs 110 extra and his face lit up.
It took us half as much time to get from the airport in Calcutta to the School as it took us in the air from Hyderabad to Calcutta. Time of day has a lot to do with it. At a certain time the streets become one way in the busiest parts. So our driver was wandering around from back street to back street and we wondered if he was lost. He seemed to know what he was doing and showed recognition when we first gave him the School address (36 Park St.) We held our peace and, suddenly we recognized where we were (from previous trips) and led him to the place for us to exit his “working antique”. It was worth the extra time to see all the back street shops and activities. There were many rickshaws pulled by men and some by bicycle. These we don’t see on the main streets because they are forbidden. The wild driving and loud horn honking was as we remembered it from before. It seemed that in Hyderabad the horns were signaling a desire to pass or fit into some small spot just then available, but in Calcutta the horns were more like swearing at some infraction. Here the traffic lights actually had meaning and the drivers stopped on red.
Our room had been safely reserved for us on the third floor of the school building. We were glad for the night watchman’s help in carrying the luggage up to it. We gave him Rs 50, much more than he would usually get. We noted that he is bow legged and wondered if it came about by carrying heavy luggage up those stairs.
After getting settled a little we walked a familiar street in search of a market where we could buy canned baked beans from Europe to supplement our main meal. The market we remembered is no longer there, but we enjoyed the good needed exercise after sitting in airports and on the plane. We were able to buy at another store some water and orange juice boxed in February in Sri Lanka. The boy at the shop was honest because he gave us another box of Mango juice free, pointing to the 2-for-one offer on the liter box. Once again we were glad we had back-up provisions along from home. The orange juice was without sugar and revealed the lack of that necessary preservative, but the Mango was much better. Our meals are a far cry from what could be provided at home from the freezer, but they are adequate and even superlative when compared to the alternative.
This morning we spent some time unpacking the suitcases and sorting out what could stay here in Calcutta and what needed to go with us to Mizoram and Tripura. We don’t want to face any more extra charges for luggage on local airlines.
A bright spot is when Glenn learned that the Principal has wireless Internet in his apartment one floor down in this building and will gladly let us use it to send these and check our other emails. Today is a Hindu Holiday and most stores including the places to exchange money are closed. But the school can exchange enough for us to get through the anticipated expenses ahead for food and lodging, and pay for the air tickets from here to Aizawl. Someone in Mizoram advanced the money to get them and will need reimbursement when we get there.
We will try to find out if there is a way to get out and buy some real post cards to send or give when we arrive home. There were none to be found in the places we were earlier other than those in the Hyderabad Moslem center. They are not great on pictures, it seems.
The beds here at school are fine but the covers and sheets are too short. So we get some extra exercise during the night readjusting them for adequate warmth in the AC cooled room. It is very hot outside and we certainly appreciate the AC. Don’t take these observations as complaints. We are very fortunate to have what we do here.
Glenn went to bed early and got good rest until about 3 a.m. Once more the I-Pod was a blessing bringing Uncle Arthur stories, Bible verses, sacred melodies and EGW writings through the earphones so Mary Alice could sleep on before breakfast. He especially enjoyed hearing the chapter in Christ’s Object Lessons on the “Two Worshippers” based on Luke 18 with illustration from Peter’s experience. Sermons form while listening to such good things. And there will be a steady need for more sermons in the several days ahead. We are glad for the Lord’s promise that help will be given as it is needed Day by Day. And we have a nice song in the I-Pod that says that too.
With love, in His love,
Dad, Mom, Grandpa and Grandma, Glenn and Mary Alice