Tuesday, So Far, Horrible

This morning actually started quite well. Meri called while we were getting ready for breakfast. We had a nice chat, and it was good to talk to someone who speaks English. She urged me to find the expats who must be here. I had intended to go to church on Sunday - the ELCA English language worship page listed a church not far from here. However, when I called, the number was wrong, and I didn't want to be wandering around at 8pm with no idea where I was going. I tried googling for English language churches in Hyderabad, but didn't find much. Meri suggested going to eat at some of the really big hotels downtown, which is probably a good idea. Dad got on the phone, but didn't have a chance to say much when I got an incoming call. I was hoping it would be the advocate, so I hung up on him, but it was an advertisement. Sorry, Dad!

If anyone else wants to call, my cell number is 970 566 8904. You need to google how to call India. I think it can be done free via Skype. Notice that there is a different process for calling mobile numbers than land lines.

At breakfast, Vindya was still cheerful and good humored. I got the morning paper, and there were front page headlines about a 2-day strike. This did not look good, so when we went back to the room, I stopped and asked about it at the front desk. They said that the whole city is closed for two days, maybe longer. This includes the courts, as well as stores, taxis, busses, ATMs, and everything else. I asked if this was planned, and he said it has been talked about for over a month. That means, when the advocate talked to me yesterday, she knew that this was coming.

When we got back to the room, Vindya flipped out. I don't know what set her off, but she screamed and cried for almost 2 hours. She grabbed all the clothes that she came with (none that I bought her - she knows the difference) and stuffed them into her backpack. This was fine, but while I was on the phone with the travel agent, extending my stay here by another two days, she made a break for it. She has figured out how to unlock and open the door, and I had to run out into the hallway to catch her. I did, but she screamed and fought like a maniac. Naturally, this was in front of the cleaning crew. This is a small hotel, so I'm sure the whole staff knows about all her meltdowns. Lovely.

She managed to get out a couple more times, and then I took the backpack off of her and put it on the top shelf of the closet, where she can't reach it. She went completely nuts, running around throwing everything she could get hold of. She smashed some of the dishes, so I had to call the cleaning crew to get rid of the glass, and she screamed at them about going back the whole time. They just gave me that blank look of people who don't want you to know what they are thinking. They don't speak English, so it's not like I could have explained anyway.

She finally calmed down, and is sitting on the floor coloring. It doesn't help that the TV is out. Last night there was a loud explosion, and then no TV. I mean explosion as in a transformer blowing up, not as in a bomb going off. The shopping mall has been covered with a large net to keep the strikers from breaking the windows, but the hotel staff had assured me that they aren't large enough to be a target. I think that the TV is still off because everyone who could fix it is on strike, rather than because the TV station has been blown up.

I should explain that the strikers are political. They are trying to force the creation of a Telugu speaking state called Telangana, which is not popular with anyone else in India. I don't know all the ins and outs of this, or what the issues are, but it's a highly charged subject and everyone has strong opinions.

I'm back to being depressed again. As I see it, there are three problems:

1) Vindya was not prepared for this, and she has bursts of hostility and anger while she tries to figure out what is going on. If I could get her out of here, this could be dealt with.

2) I cannot afford (in time or money) to sit here indefinitely. If I had some idea how long this is going to last, I could make arrangements, but not knowing how much of either I need means I can't figure that out.

3) Nothing is happening to move this process forward. This may not be correct, but I can't tell. There is no one here who can tell me what is going on. The advocate has been very clear that she doesn't work for me, and my trust in her has been very shaken by the fact that she didn't tell me about the strike. The ladies at the adoption office don't seem to know what they are doing, and have not been helpful. They keep saying there is nothing to do but wait, but they don't have any idea how long.

I have no idea what to do next, but I would appreciate all positive energy/prayers/happy thoughts. Also, anybody you know in Hyderabad who speaks English, particularly expats.

Vindya just came up and gave me a big hug and kiss, with a sweet smile. Then she pulled out our shoes and started pointing at the door. I think she is trying every way she knows of getting what she wants - to go back to the sisuvihar. I wish I could say that wasn't an option.