Final Day in India

After getting clearance yesterday it seemed like we finally changed our minds around to vacation mode so today we went sight seeing.

We took the Metro to a central place where there are a lot of important buildings.  As soon as we came up from the underground there were rickshaws trying to get us to go with them.  We knew the things we wanted to see where close so we said no but then one driver at the end of the line spoke very good English and offered us a great price to drive us around the little area and show us different things.  For the price it was great not to have to walk and to have someone who could tell us a little about what we were looking at.  He asked Ranjit his name and said something in Hindi and Ranjit didn’t respond.  I asked Ranjit to tell the gentleman his name and he said “RJ!!”  We haven’t really been calling him that yet because we figured he’s had enough change but he came out with it today.  I think it’s a good sign!

We were able to see the president’s house and many branches of the government and then we ended with the India gate.  It’s beautiful and great for taking pictures.  We were really looking forward to it until we were bombarded with people selling things and surrounding us.  One girl grabbed Emma’s arm and started putting mehndi on it.  I asked her several times how much and she didn’t answer.  I decided I wanted some too and then they put some on the boys (not Jack though ;) ).  When they were finished they wanted a crazy amount of money for it.  I told them I wasn’t paying it and gave them what I thought was fair.  This caused a huge scene and they started yelling at us and then more started surrounding us.  It was very chaotic and the kids started to get scared.  We started to walk away and they were following us and finally a nice Indian lady started to yell at them and told us just to keep walking so we did.  I feel so bad for those people because I know they are just trying to make a living and have nothing but I just couldn’t give in this time.  There were so many nice people as we were walking away though that apologized and said if they bother us again we should just call the police.  Sad :(

We got closer to the monument and took a few pictures and then the lines started forming and people wanted pictures with our kids.  We let a few and tried to keep moving but then more came and wanted my picture.  I let them do a few but then when a huge line formed we decided it was enough and decided to leave.  It was just disappointing not to be able to just go and see but that was OK.

There were a few things in particular that we wanted to shop for that we hadn’t found yet and the driver just knew the best place…. not really.  There are these emporium shops here and I don’t like them at all.  There are many items and it’s expensive and the salesmen are very pushy.  I ended up getting a painted piece of silk for my living room but honestly it wouldn’t have been my first choice, I just wanted to buy something and get out of there.  Now that I know I didn’t find something that I liked better I’m OK with it.

We came back to the house for lunch and then headed out again to try to find the toy shop that the house owner had told us about.  Two things we really wanted :  a cricket set and I wanted a few steel crockery pieces.  It took us FOREVER to find the toy shop.  Everyone here gives directions like it’s right around the corner and easy to spot but it isn’t!!  Jackson was so excited that he found his cricket set but we looked and looked and couldn’t find the crockery.  We even had a nice man offer to help us and he told the rickshaw exactly where to go and guess where it was…… the SAME emporium that the driver earlier in the day took us too.  I wasn’t about to go back in there again  so we just told him to take us back to the metro.

Have I mentioned that the Metro is INSANE right now???  There are more people by the minute because of the holiday and it’s really getting sort of dangerous.  Jackson had been going into the common car with Jack and I had been taking the other two with me into the women’s car because it’s not as crowded or pushy.  Today I took all three kids and let Jack brave it back there by himself.  He survived but didn’t make it on the same train as us because there were so many people.  It was no problem, we just waited for him.  The trains come every two minutes.

The house owner had told me she knew of a crockery shop not far from the house and if I couldn’t find what I was looking for, she would send me with her driver.  She had gone yesterday and bought me one of the items that I wanted and wouldn’t let me pay her for it.  She didn’t know that I wanted the others.  So when we got back I asked about her driver and she said he had just tried to go over that way but the traffic is so jammed up he had to turn around.  I figured I would just end up ordering it online but next thing I knew she was on the phone with a man who works for her husband and she sent him with a shopping list on a bicycle to buy what I wanted!  I couldn’t believe it.  Let me tell you, if you are ever in India, this is the place to stay!

Well, everyone is tucked in bed because our car comes in a little over three hours to pick us up.  I should probably to go bed too.  I feel at home here.  If Laila was here I think I’d like to stay awhile longer.  I think everyone else would disagree though, including Ranjit.  He hadn’t really asked at all about home or America except to ask about Laila.  But as we started talking about going home tomorrow he got excited and said “my BIG airplane!  Home!!”  He said it a few times throughout the day.  Honestly I think India is a bit overwhelming for him.  Everyone stares and I can tell he doesn’t like at all when people question us about him and he doesn’t like when they try to talk to him in Hindi or Marathi.  He taught me a few words in Marathi today which was fun but he’s in control of that.  I asked about a few other words and he told me no.  I guess it’s on his terms and that’s OK with me.  We have been extremely blessed with his behavior so far and adjustment.  There’s been nothing really more than a few normal child defiances.  Again, things can still get worse but it really has been great so far.  I had prepared myself to have a distant angry child but so far he’s far from that.  His laugh, his enormous smile and beginning stages of love are really lighting me up!  We are blessed!