Chennai

We made it to Chennai yesterday, Sunday. We had to leave the hotel at 6am to make our flight.  I was planning to try to update the blog Saturday night, but between trying to pack and Vindya trying new ways of having fun (she discovered that she could go into the bathroom, use the phone there, and have ice cream sent to the room, for example), it wasn't doable.  As it is, the only thing that I'm sure I left at the hotel was the notebook with the travel notes (replaceable) and the notarized vaccination affidavit.  I called and they said they could keep the notebook until someone picked it up.  I hope they hang onto it until the passport is issued.

Vindya was really excited about flying, and loved every minute.  She was nearly bouncing out of her skin when we got to the airport.  I had no trouble getting her in.  I showed my passport, and the letter from DWDCW and they waved us through.  We got on the plane, and Vindya sat with her face glued to the window the entire time.

Chennai is a little warmer and a lot more humid, but I don't think it's unbearable.  We are staying at the YWCA.  Sarah Chandra, a friend of Deb's and longtime adoption worker, is on the board here.  Our room is very spartan, but clean and cheap.  The building is old fashioned, with high ceilings, ceiling fans, verandahs and windows that catch the breezes.  There is a TV lounge on our floor, and another in the main lobby.  People tend to congregate in the lobby to chat, and Vindya loves that.

There are a lot of foreigners staying here, mostly European, but some Americans.  That gives me enough confidence to eat the cut fruit in the dining room, although not enough to drink the water.  breakfast is included, and lunch and dinner cost about $3.50 each, as long as I let them know in advance that we want to eat.  It's good, basic food.  Like all Indian food, it's divided between veg and non-veg, with the non-veg being about $1 more.

After we arrived yesterday, we walked a little around the grounds.  These are quite large, and include a school with a playground that Vindya can use.  As we were looking, I heard singing, so we poked our heads in and found a small worship service in progress.  The congregation was about 15-20 young adults, all singing English praise choruses to the accompaniment of a guitar.  We slipped into the back row and joined in.  It was towards the end, so there was a lot of prayer and enthusiasm, but it was a worship service, more or less in English.  At the end, they gave us bread and honey sandwiches and chatted a bit.

Vindya immediately went into the recalcitrant mood that precedes a tantrum. This confirmed my suspicion that at least part of them is motivated by getting attention and treats from Indians.  I picked her up and carried her, screaming, back to our room.  Sure enough, in lees than five minutes, she was calm enough to ask for ice cream.  She stopped crying and washed her face, and we set out.

I asked at the front desk, and was told that ice cream was just outside the gate.  "Turn left, first building bank, second building petrol bank, petrol bank inside, ice cream."  Simple enough, and it turned out that there was a full-service ice cream parlor inside the gas station.  I would never have guessed, but it was quite nice, and had a large flat screen TV playing Bollywood videos, which Vindya loves.

As we came back, we met some of the people from the church service at the gate.  They invited us to come back next week,and commented that Vindya was much better.  She immediately started to tantrum again, so I swept her off back to the room.  This time she cried longer, mostly because when she said she wanted ice cream, I said no.  She finally cried herself to sleep and had a nice nap.

When we came down for dinner, one of the other Americans was sitting with a laptop.  I asked, and they have wi-fi!  It's in the lobby, and it gives new depth of meaning to the word "wonky," (half the time that my iPad shows a connection, there isn't really one) but I should be able to write up blog posts and get them uploaded at least sometimes!

Mrs. Chandra is going to come get us in about half and hour, and take us around a bit.  She also had some suggestions for day trips.  In addition, my friend Nirmala, from seminary, has a sister who lives here.  

It's been interesting watching Vindya interact with Indians who don't understand her.  She is visibly thrown off balance by the idea, and keeps coming back to me.  (Yes!)