Culture Shock!!!!!!!!!!!!

After a wonderful time in Nairobi, we started our journey to Varanasi, India. Not having luggage for 5 days was bad, but what came next was worse. We got to the airport and Qatar wanted to charge CL $585.00 for our luggage being over weight. Kirsten had checked the website and called customer service to make sure she knew how many lbs. she could pack in each suitcase. After much talk, CL got them down to $325.00. Our flights were pretty uneventful.

We arrived in Varanasi around noon on Sunday and then headed straight to what will be “home” for a while. This is where the culture shock starts. Check out the pictures on FB (hopefully I will get them up today). We walked up to the third floor, opened the door, and oh my. Our beds feel like rocks, the refrigerator shocked me (literally), the toilet was a squatty potty, and the noise was unbearable. I was trying to be strong; however with no sleep and a case of Delhi belly, I lost it.

Since arriving, my sweet daughter-in-law found what we now call the Queen of Sheba’s throne. She searched all over to find me a chair to place over the toilet. That is just one of many nice things she and CL have done for me to make it a little easier.

I have never enjoyed a cold shower. It is now my favorite thing to do in Varanasi. You just think you are hot in Mississippi!!!!!

CL and Kirsten started school on Monday. We all went in a cycle rickshaw. Try to imagine the worst smells you have ever smelled all combined. That is what we smell everyday. There are cows, water buffalo, goats, and dogs wandering the streets. It is so noisy that I quickly decided the thing I miss most about home is peace and quiet.

It is not everyday you see men carrying a dead person on a makeshift stretcher covered in a colorful cloth. They were chanting something and carrying the person to the burning ghat. TII! This is India!

I have been shopping with Kirsten. I will never complain again about Walmart. Oh to have a place you can buy everything you need in one store, roll it out in a buggy and hop in your air conditioned car.

Cooking in India is absurd. We are not allowed to cook chicken in our place. We can bring it in; but not cook it. It takes forever to prepare a meal. Fresh veggies must be washed in bleach and then rinsed in purified water. Kirsten made veggie Ragu one night and it was so good. At lunch we see rice, beans, and dal. Today I felt so bad I couldn’t even take a bite of lunch. My food today consisted of a cookie, some cashews, and some Ritz crackers. The India diet plan was not the way I wanted to take off the pounds.

In the class that CL and Kirsten are attending there is a sweet lady from Tennessee. We have become fast friends and she has invited me to spend the night in a hotel, have dinner out and try to get away from my new life for a while. I guess by now you all think I am complaining. If I complain about anything when I arrive back in the States, I give all of you permission to slap me. We are so blessed.

Internet here is sketchy! We have tried several times and with power outages we have not been successful. I will update as I can.

We did not feel the earthquake! The kids are doing pretty good. CL and Kirsten were prepared for all of this since they have done it before. I on the other hand was not! I am not a quitter so I will keep pushing forward. Prayers needed.