INDIA…THE ARRIVAL

Series of Blogs on the First Week

Linda Mary Liotino

I arrived in Mumbai, India from Newark, NJ a half hour earlier then scheduled.  The first thing that struck me was the almost dead activity at the airport for such a large city of Mumbai and the next observation was at every station of clearance everyone had surgical masks on due to the swine flu.  Anyone with a cold had to submit to a blood test before gaining entry into India.
I was assisted by a sky cap with the luggage as I finally entered the place where family and friends wait for arrival of love ones.  The minute I came to the common area to my left in the front corner I saw Franco who was smiling from ear to ear.  As he came over to me in his hand was a beautiful flower arrangement of purple baby lilies and baby white gladiolas.   The ease of the first face to face meeting was just a part of the formality that culminated nine months of communication.
The cab ride to the hotel was an experience.  There are driving laws in India I am told but with that being said it is a chaotic at best.  The first rule of thumb is to drive with at least one thumb on the horn and believe me that horn is used constantly.  The traffic moves slowly with a constant weaving in and out of cars, scooters, motor bikes and bicycles.  Often times there are no lane indicators, which lends to five or six make shift lanes created by the drivers.  Surprising the Indian drivers take this all in stride, there is no cursing, yelling or obscene hand jester.  I did comment to Franco that this type of driving in the USA would cause a road rage reaction that could become volatile.
We arrived at the hotel I was hungry and tired.  It was here I had my first taste of Indian food the spices are geared to the tourist and dotted with some European cuisine such as a continental breakfast.  The services was exceptional and I was assisted every where I went through out the hotel.  A girl would be happy to have one man open the car door and assisted in and out I was surrounded by at least four.  I was to learn later that the hotel owner is an old friend of Franco’s  therefore, even in India it is not what you know but who you know!
The following morning it being the birthday of the Mother of God we went to Mount Mary for the mass.   The day is celebrated with a festival honoring the Mother of God.  Unfortunately due to our time constants we were not able to participate in them but before we left the flowers Franco gave me I left them at the church where they were put at the foot of the alter my birthday gift to Mama.
We left Mumbai at 2p.m. for the train ride home to Chennai.  The train trip gave a photo snap shot of India in all here beauty and poverty.  There was a place we passed that was a hovel of poverty and yet the disturbing bleakness of this was brighten by the beautiful colors of dress of the Indian woman.  The contrast was starling.  The train passed though farms, mountainous areas,  the jungle where I could see the different villages.  Each village has its own church depending on the domination of the village.  Some villages are in remote areas where one needs to walk into the village or hire a donkey and cart for transportation.  I will elaborate in future Blogs on village life when Franco takes me to visit them.
During the train ride, which stop at every station between Mumbai and Chennai there is a flow of vendors selling everything from coffee, tea, homemade foods, reading materials, and yes even snacks including ice cream.  These vendors some are independent of one another and the train company.  The ones associated with the train company have badges.
The rocking of the train made for lulling one off to sleep although the mattress was hard and the space very confining.
We arrived in Chennai on Wednesday September 9th around 6 p.m.
May the Heart of Jesus and Mary Bless You!

Copyright 2009 Linda Mary Liotino

9/13/09