What day is it???

Ok but seriously….. what day is it???  We found ourselves asking each other that for the past 48 hrs!  Flying to the other side of the world, losing 10.5 hrs and barely sleeping during that time will really confuse you!

Our flights were AMAZING!  I would recommend Etihad Airways to anyone!  We had never heard of it and were honestly a little hesitant about flying through Abu Dhabi (not sure why) but they were amazing.  I had packed a whole bag of activities and a whole backpack of snacks and we barely used any of it.  Three full meals with the option of sandwiches in between on first flight complete with things like Klondike bars as snacks.  A full meal and snacks on our second flight too which was only 3 hours.  Each person had a 10″ screen to watch tons of movies (including new releases) and games with their own remote and plush head set.  Oh and did I mention free wine with dinner??

We had a bit of turbulence but nothing major.  Jackson did great but Emma had a little more trouble but we made it through.  She must be like her Aunt April and it freaked her out a bit to be trapped in that “small” space with no way to get out.  I think this whole experience warrants some anxiety and that was just the straw that broke the camels back for her.  She’s doing much better now though and LOVES India and says she wants to move here :)  I tried to explain to her that turbulence is just like hitting bumps in a car and she looked at me all serious and said “Uh, yeah but we’re IN THE AIR!!”  I laughed :)

I made a bunch of little notes and planned  to have lots of time to blog but now Ranjit is coming TOMORROW so I really need some quality time tonight and some much needed sleep so here are some bullet points that maybe someday I can come back and elaborate my feelings on.

• India people are beautiful, their eyes hold something special
• This was the first time I’ve felt the minority.
• Don’t push sleep.  Emma and I found out that makes it worse.  Sleep when you’re tired and worry about the time change later
• There was a beautiful little girl in the row next to us just screaming and screaming on take off and landing.  I wondered if that would be us with RJ.  I didn’t mind her screaming, just wanted to hold her.  People behind us were shushing her.
• At the Abu Dhabi airport there are men’s and women’s prayer rooms by the bathrooms.  Don’t get them confused ;)
• In Abu Dhabi our flight was no where listed on any of the screens for gate numbers.  We had to ask and even then at the gate they didn’t announce boarding.  Jack finally saw on the board by the door that it was last call for boarding!  Glad he was paying attention!
• On the flight to Mumbai the flight attendants came through with something like a bug spray bomb spraying the inside of the plane.
• Listening to someone get sick on an airplane is not pleasant
• The smell and sights of India did not shock us as everyone said they would.  Maybe all our mission work, maybe all the prayers.  The kids were even fine with everything.  That’s been my biggest prayer for arrival so praise God for listening
• Customs and immigration are always nerve wrecking for us and we always fly right through and wonder why we worry
• It was fun to have a driver waiting for us with a sign that said “Mr. William Hamstra.” we felt fancy :)
• As we were on our drive from Mumbai to Pune we drove through tunnels in the mountains and it was such a beautiful representation of the way we have literally seen God move mountains for our family in the past year.

Our hotel was not one from the recommended list nor did any friends recommend it so I was a little nervous.  We were supposed to have a studio apartment and the price is Rs. 4725 plus tax/night (under $100).  We got here fine, it’s beautiful and for the same price they have put us in a two bedroom two bathroom apartment!  Thanks God!

We explored the hotel then crashed for a awhile…..turned into a 5hr nap!  Once in that time the phone rang and Jack stumbled to it and the front desk said we had a message to call someone back.  We thought it must have been a mistake so we went back to sleep.  A while later the phone rang again and it was Maina from the orphanage!  How cool to hear her voice!  She asked how we were and if we would like to come tomorrow.  I stood there shocked so she repeated herself.  She and a few others close to Ranjit were supposed to be at a nutrition workshop all week which is why we couldn’t meet RJ this week as we had originally hoped.  I guess it ended early or got cancelled.  My heart pounded and I thought, I’m not sure I ready and we’re exhausted, I don’t know if this is the best scenerio….. and then I said “of course we’ll come tomorrow!!”  I know we probably need more rest and weren’t planning for him this soon but as my friend Stacey put it, my water broke while I was sleeping and this baby is coming!!  That cracked me up Stacey!  Anyway, there’s no way I could say no.  So tomorrow morning a car (not a crazy rickshaw who doesn’ know where he’s going!) will take us to our son.  We bought him a beautiful outfit today in case he needs it for his ceremony.  Wasn’t sure how that worked so we thought we’d be prepared.

After the phone call I went into panic mode and tried organizing all our luggage (nesting) and making sure we’re ready and then said “We have to go shopping NOW!”  I think Jack is feeling the jet lag a little more than me but he’s taking it like a trooper and let me drag him around the mall.  The first driver took us to the Pune Central train station instead of the Pune Central mall.  That was an interesting experience.  Then the second one took us to a Pune Central mall but I don’t think it was the one I was hoping for.  It was basically like an American mall with a few spots with ethnic clothing.  We found a few things but hope to find what we were looking for another day.  The ride back to the hotel….. well lets just say it was long and crazy and the driver actually stopped several times for directions.  Seriously, the autorickshaws are so fun and crazy!  Who needs to go to an amusement park!!

We had dinner in one of the hotel restaurants.  It was pretty pricey so we won’t be going back to that one but it was good.

Well off to bed, big day tomorrow!  Here are a few pictures.  Also, I forgot all my makeup!  Don’t mind how crazy I’m going to look in all our pictures.  Maybe I’ll buy some somewhere or maybe not.  I don’t really care, I just want to soak up every minute of this trip, looking cute or not ;)