Posted on May 15, 2017 under Monday Morning Musings with 2 comments

Library Presentation – May 17th. 12:00 – 1:30

I’m slowly emerging from the fog.

It has taken me a lot longer than I expected to get my “ sea legs” after six months in India. Jet lag is a factor to be sure but I think it has more to do with a form of reverse culture shock. It really hit me the other day when I was flipping through a magazine and saw an ad for an electric leaf blower. It’s no doubt an overreaction on my part but I was thinking, “ what in the hell is this all about? “ Is this a sign of progress in the western world that we need a device to move those annoying leaves? I digress, but you get my point.

It’s hard not to make comparisons when you’ve been immersed in a totally different culture. India is a very interesting study as it makes its way as an emerging economy. I wouldn’t put much stock in one person’s observations ( mine! ), but I think it has a long way to go. I recently read the book “ Freedom at Midnight” about the partition of India in 1947. Mahatma Ghandi is a central character in the book… a fascinating individual.

I noticed during my stay that many young, well educated Indians seemed to aspire to the ways of the western world. I silently cautioned them to “ be careful what they wished for.” Ghandi was opposed to those who argued that India’s future lay in imitating the industrial and technological society of the west. He felt that the industrialization of the West admired by so many had concentrated power in the hands of a few at the expense of the many. Regular readers know that I shy away from politics on this site but I think most people would agree that there is a serious distortion of wealth in many parts of the world.

I haven’t turned on the television yet since I got back . I think I may have kicked one of my last (?!) bad habits. Television can be a monumental time waster and like so many other things just becomes part of our daily lives. I can still read the news on line.

This Wednesday ( 17^th. ) I will be at People’s Place Library from 12-1:30 to give a presentation about my time in India. It’s mostly pictures but each picture has a story to tell. I prepared this PowerPoint presentation in India before I had my visa troubles. Just to be clear, this wasn’t a credit card problem… not THAT kind of Visa! As mentioned in an earlier post, I have written a major essay ( 6800 words ) about my ordeal with an expired visa. It took three weeks and a lot of help from my brother to get me out of India. At the end of the presentation, I will spend a bit of time giving some insights about what it’s like to be half way around the world and not be allowed to leave the country.

Yes, I am glad to be home but I would gladly trade a few degrees of temperature with India!!!

As I re-read this post,  I realize that the fog hasn’t lifted completely!

Have a great week.

Posted on May 8, 2017 under Monday Morning Musings with one comment

Back in ” The Loft”

Anyone who has been away from home for an extended period of time in a foreign country can attest that there is a period of re-adjustment upon their return. There are the obvious things like time zone changes, climate, food and culture. So far, I haven’t had any major problems other than the fact that my sleep patterns are a bit out of whack.

We take so much for granted. This is not a criticism. Travel gives you a different perspective. What have I noticed most since returning home? The first thing is how quiet it is in Antigonish. I think that the noise pollution in India is as big an issue as air quality. In addition to the incessant honking of horns in every village, town and city, there is the noise created by all religions as they compete for air time by blasting their ceremonies through loud speakers. If you are anywhere near one of their places of worship, the sound can be ear splitting. And because of the heat ( and packs of howling wandering dogs at night ) , having a ceiling fan or air conditioning unit going in your room constantly is mandatory.

The first night back home, I was stunned and very aware of the complete absence of noise as I lay my head down on my pillow. My ears were ringing from six months of relentless noise in India.

Having hot water on demand is such a treat. I may have had a dozen hot showers since last October. You do get used to washing up in cold water. Not having the power go out several times a day is noticeable and having a good internet connection is such a pleasure. And there are no garbage issues. Antigonish is such a clean town.  In this space, I have documented the problems that India has with garbage.

Please, do not take this as a criticism of India. It is simply to point out the contrast between there and here and that we take so many things for granted.

Besides family and friends, the thing I missed most about home was music, especially harmony. Most of the music that I heard in India was in unison, whether it was sacred or secular. I got my first big fix yesterday as I joined my friends in “ the loft” at St. Ninian’s for Sunday mass.

So far, I haven’t felt the urge to turn on the television. I may have watched a total of 10 hours of t.v. in six months. I am ( was? ) a sports fanatic and not seeing the World Series, the Super Bowl, The Masters golf tournament and the NHL playoffs didn’t bother me in the least. I believe that a complete absence of CNN was very good for my psyche!  So, will I stick my head in the sand and ignore what’s going on around me? Probably not, but I plan to concentrate on reading more and watching little or no television.

I just finished reading “ Freedom at Midnight,” the story of partition in India and independence from British rule in 1947. It was doubly fascinating as many of the key events in the book took place in New Delhi. Because of my unscheduled three week stay in this city (!), I was able to visit many of the places referenced in the book.

I plan to continue fundraising for the Sisters in Kannyakumari. It’s not too late to make a contribution. You can stop in at the Bergengren Credit Union and mention my name and the Investment India account. If you don’t live around here, you can donate on line. Just follow this link: http://www.week45.com/supporting-the-daughters-of-mary-in-india/

I will be doing a presentation at people’s Place Library on Wednesday, May 17^th. from 12:00- 1:30 entitled, “ Travels and Travails in India.” Stop by and say hello.

Have a great week.

Posted on May 5, 2017 under News & Updates with 8 comments

After six months… and a few extra  days (!) , I arrived safely on Canadian soil on Thursday, May 4^th. I had planned on kissing the ground at Pearson airport in Toronto after a 14.5 hour direct flight but our flight was delayed leaving Delhi leaving me forty five minutes to make it through Canadian Customs and security in Toronto. I literally ran from the plane and made it just in time.

Never was I more happy to be in my “home and native land.”

I will spare you the details now but on the very day that the picture above was taken ( April 10^th. ) at the Taj Mahal with my brother Don, I discovered to my horror that my Indian visa had expired. Don and I spent the past three and a half weeks in Delhi ( in 40 + degree temperatures ) dealing with Indian Immigration officials. It was quite an experience. Of course, I documented every bit of it and I am trying to decide how to publish it so that my faithful readers don’t fall asleep wading through 6500-7000 words. I will be talking about this at my presentation at the library on May 17^th. Stop by and say hello.

If you are going to get caught up in a big mess half way around the world, having a brother who is a lawyer, a great friend and a warrior, is an unbelievable blessing. If he wasn’t by my side every step of the way, I’m sure that I would have been humming, “ I’ll Be Home For Christmas”! We had some tough days to be sure. These days were usually mollified by dessert at a restaurant!

Of course, my soul mate back home, Betty, was also a key player in providing me with information and advice… and an unending well of support.

Thanks for all the welcome home messages.

As challenging as the situation was, I still felt thankful every day ( especially when my plane left the runway in Delhi! ). On the days when I encountered setbacks and discouragement, I thought of our Syrian friends. Comparing my situation with theirs is ludicrous. My respect and awe for these people grew by leaps and bounds as I tried to imagine what it must be like to flee for your life and then have to deal with the additional burdens of going through a bureaucratic process. I had a safe place to live. My life wasn’t threatened but merely inconvenienced for three weeks. I knew I would eventually get home while the Syrians had no idea if or when they would find a new home. I’m sure glad that they came to Antigonish.

I hope to resume my regular columns and stories in the next few days.

Have a great weekend.