Your fat, dark and have an accent. I had told John that these would be the three things that I would be told when I stepped off the plane and for once I was right. The brutal honesty was a relief though other than the fat none of those observations are unnecessary things. I’ve been working on the fatness for years; the shade of my skin has never and never will be a criterion for beauty to me (more on this interesting but ridiculous phenomenon later), and the accent is a necessity that changes with environment. And thousands of thundering typhoons did our environment change!
I stepped off the plane in Delhi two days ago wishing I could just crawl back into my seat and await the departure of flight CO 82 W non-stop to Newark, Colorado or Waco, anywhere but here. I just wanted to go someplace comfortable. Comfortable for me. But Joben, you may ask, come on you’re an Indian dude! just spread those gills, flap those tiny whatever’s and swim. You’re back in your own pond again! Trust me, that’s how simple I thought it would be or maybe I was just hoping. It was hot, my tongue was stuck to the roof of my mouth, I thought someone had dropped me amongst the Nabi (avatar) and I was tired. I just wanted to go home. Home is where I speak English, think philosophy and let someone else do most of the work. Thankfully for everyone we meet this summer, John and I, I know where home really is: with Jesus. So that’s where we went. We prayed. Prayer, Man o man it works. We had our own mini miracle once again. My tongue loosened out and I was able to switch between three languages by the time we made it to our designated terminal.
It has been a while since I’ve been to India and everything seems new to me. I almost feel like John is adapting better than I am. The dogs, the people on the sidewalks, the crowds, the sewage, the opulence and disparity have all shocked me unlike I ever thought they would. But nothing has shocked me more literally than the heat. This heat is not your average Texas heat. It permeates the skin, the mind and every human organ until your very soul is wringing with sweat. We spent our first two days, Saturday and Sunday in Chennai (where I went to high school). Have any of you tried going back to high school six years after graduating? That’s what Chennai feels like. I recognize no one, all the kids have grown up, everything has changed except that I still hate high school and continue to be glad that I am not there anymore. It was good to see the folks again. John’s a real trooper and has never complained about the heat, the food, the lack of TP or anything else. I am blessed to travel with him.
In an hour we leave to CMC in Vellore, a small town with one of the largest medical colleges and hospitals in India. It was started in a tent ages ago by an American missionary called Ida Scudder and is now at the pinnacle of medical science. We will be there for a day to check out the hospital and meet some revolutionary doctors. My parents are going there on work so we will be able to hitch a ride with them. Other than doctors, Vellore is full of sick people, dust and donkeys I think. Will check on that last one. Will take a camera so should have some pictures at the end of the day.
John & Joben
