Last day in Kolkata

Today is our last day in Kolkata. Max is doing wonderfully and even slept all night. He is very good natured and happy and eating well. He has bonded with Kristy so naturally and interacts so very well with Dan and I.

This morning we went out to have Max's visa pictures done, then took a trip to Mother Theresa's tomb and house of charity. This woman was remarkable. I have so much to tell you all and so many pictures to show you when I get back to class next Monday. I have been reading all your blog comments and want you to know how much I appreciate this. It brings a touch of home when I'm away. Shelby, I did receive your blog under the right heading.

Maddie, Myles, and Aurie, nana can't wait to see you at the airport and give you all hugs and kisses!!! You guys are all going to love Max. He loves to play with other kids and is going to have a blast with you all. I love and miss you very much.

This may be the last blog until I return because tomorrow will be consumed in travel.

Response to student's blogging - Nov. 27th

Thanks for all of your responses. Here are a couple of answers to your questions.

First- Yes Zach you still have to journal this week. Nice try though!!!
In answer to if the woman with Max was his birth mom - No, that is the woman who works in the orphanage and has primary care of him. We are very thankful that she has taken such good care of him until we could get through all the legal paperwork in order to come pick him up.
I do miss you guys for some crazy reason. Can't wait to be back next week to explain all the cultural aspects of India to you. (With pictures)

At 1:00 p.m. today we went to the orphanage to get Max. The orphanage was clean and the children seem to be well taken care of. There were 10 little ones in the room with Max, sharing sometimes three to a crib. Not much room, very few toys, but all and all it was clean.

Max met with us and immediately when handed over to Kristy (my daughter his mom) he grabbed onto her and held and snuggled. He is absolutely perfect and gorgeous!!!

Enough of the small talk, here is Max's debut:

Tuesday in Kolkata

Today is Tuesday!! The day we get Max permanently. It is now about 10 A.M. and we just got off the phone with the orphanage. They told us we could pick up Max (Rup) at 1:00p.m. After picking up Max we will be going to the Kolkata consulate to pick up his Visa. We can hardly wait. No more to say until later.

Last day in Delhi

It is Monday and our last day in Delhi. Today we finished our adoption paperwork at the U.S. Embassy. (See link) The process was relatively quick and easy, although we had to go through 3 security checks before being escorted to the department we needed. Our flight out of the Delhi domestic airport is not until this evening so we decided to sightsee to two more places, the Red Fort and where Ghandi was cremated.

This picture (below) is of my daughter and I with a group of girls from a military school in India that took about twenty pictures of us with them. Because we are from the the U.S. we were instant stars for a few minutes. Remember, we are the minority in this area.

This was outside of Ghandi's eternal flame. This is Kristy and Dan (my daughter and son-in-law) with a snake charmer and (Yes it's real) his cobra.
Below are photos of the human side of New Delhi.

Tonight our flight to Kolkata was again a smooth flight. Culture shock hit us pretty bad when we road to our hotel. The ride was about half an hour, the stench from the filth of the city was awful, and at no point did we see an afluent neighborhood. There are so many people living on the side of the roads and the rest in terrible apartments. Pictures and more on that tomorrow.

Earthquake in Delhi Nov. 26th

This morning we were startled awake by an earthquake shaking our hotel. It only lasted for a brief couple of seconds, but it jumped us. We found out it was a 4.3 on the richter scale with the epicenter here in New Delhi. I guess we are going to experience it all while we're here.
This morning we go to the American Embassy and then we leave for Kolkota this evening. Tomorrow we get to pick up Max!!!! I'll post back tomorrow with pictures.

Last day of sightseeing in New Delhi

Just to let everyone know, the Indian cuisine is very good here at the hotel. Remember, India is known for its spices so everything is spicy. We are able to eat all the food that the hotel serves safely, but are not able to tolerate the food sold by vendors. We drink only bottled water!! The local food and water may have bacteria we are not use to and we could get Delhi belly (an upset stomach with diarrhea).

This afternoon we hired a hotel driver and tour guide to see some final sights before we leave for Kolkata tomorrow. We started out by going to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, (see link) which is the official residence of the President of India. This is where we saw fireworks coming from last night. This was the Sikhs celebrating the festival of the sick. (It was not a celebration for an India idol like someone told us last night!!) It is a beautiful structure with 340 rooms, constructed on a hill. On both sides are impressive office buildings that are mirror images of each other.

We then traveled to the India Gate which is a war memorial arch built in honor of 90,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives in WWI. It burns the Amar Jawan Jyoti, the eternal flame in tribute to all martyred soldiers of India.

Next stop - Humayun's Tomb which is an elegant example of early Mughal architecture, the tomb of the second Mughal emperor and the graves of his wives. This was an amazing structure that has all its buildings lined up symmetrically. Our last stop was at a Hindu temple that was absolutely amazing. There were many Hindus worshiping in their traditional garb. In the temples and mosques we had to remove our shoes out of respect. Tomorrow hopefully I'll post more pictures. If anyone has any comments please post them. Jenny and Carrie, I did read your posts!! Also remember that the links have additional info in them.
Tomorrow is a busy day, so I'm not sure what time I will be able to post.