While I was in India my NJ driver's license expired. Nowadays you just can't send away to renew, oh no, every four years you have to drag yourself down to the DMV with 6 points of proof that you are who you say you are.
Unfortunately, in May when my wallet was lost I lost my old driver's license and my SS card. All the rest of my ID proofs had not-matching names on them. Like my passport is different from my bank statements from my birth certificate- in the end I had to dig my high school diploma out.
I knew it'd be good for something someday.
The main problem was my Indian marriage license and the fact that it is laminated- rendering it VOID.
Men have it easy, you get married, your name stays the same. I get married and Ii have to make 12 trips* to the far away DMV to get my stinkin' license renewed because all my "points" of ID have varying forms of my maiden and married names.
Ultimately, they changed my name to that on my passport and hopefully, in the future, all will go smoothly - ha!
Nothing and I mean Nothing- ever- goes easy for me.
Builds character, at least that's what I tell myself.
You know the really rotten thing is this- the very people that are not who they say they are probably get false IDs in a snap and nice, non-criminal people like me have to jump through hoops for a simple thing like a license renewal.
* only 2, felt like more
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Those Stinking Tears
I did make it through the first Sunday at church in the USA. It's always emotional and overwhelming. I think I did pretty good.
I can barely sing tho. Every single song in English chokes me up. After so many days and weeks and years of singing worship songs in other languages, there is just nothing like singing to the Lord (corporately) in your mother tongue.
I can barely sing tho. Every single song in English chokes me up. After so many days and weeks and years of singing worship songs in other languages, there is just nothing like singing to the Lord (corporately) in your mother tongue.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Visas Denied
As for the 4 guys who went for visas on the 24th, they were denied but encouraged to reapply.
The main question was - "Why do all of you have to go and not just one?" (we all think this was a stupid question)
Which makes me think their hesitation was financial. The four guys were registered as a group and their affidavits of support were all from the same organizations.
We're going to have them reapply as soon as possible as individuals and beef up their support documents.
Most of the Indians we know who have recently gotten visas were rejected several times before they actually were granted the visa.
As for us - we were really sad and disappointed. ALL of us. It wasn't shocking but sad. We've been in line for this appointment since August 4th and within an hour and a half - it was all over.
The waiting time for visas is much shorter now, so they're going to restart the process and see how soon they can get another visa appointment. We'll wait and see.
Thanks for praying. We have peace knowing it was all God's will. And hey, we're used to nothing ever being easy for us.
The main question was - "Why do all of you have to go and not just one?" (we all think this was a stupid question)
Which makes me think their hesitation was financial. The four guys were registered as a group and their affidavits of support were all from the same organizations.
We're going to have them reapply as soon as possible as individuals and beef up their support documents.
Most of the Indians we know who have recently gotten visas were rejected several times before they actually were granted the visa.
As for us - we were really sad and disappointed. ALL of us. It wasn't shocking but sad. We've been in line for this appointment since August 4th and within an hour and a half - it was all over.
The waiting time for visas is much shorter now, so they're going to restart the process and see how soon they can get another visa appointment. We'll wait and see.
Thanks for praying. We have peace knowing it was all God's will. And hey, we're used to nothing ever being easy for us.
In The USA
Here I am writing from New Jersey and it is COLD. Whew. But I'm not complaining. Except I need to buy shoes other than these flipflops and I couldn't find anything today. Plus with my still broken toe, wearing shoes - Hurts!
The direct flight was great, about 16 hours and Delta is no frills to say the least, but I can't complain about no stopovers. My legs swelled horribly and I felt a bit like a pig roasting on a spit - during the long hours of the night I had visions of my legs swelling so much that my skin would split open ( like the above mentioned pig). It didn't - thank goodness.
The direct flight was great, about 16 hours and Delta is no frills to say the least, but I can't complain about no stopovers. My legs swelled horribly and I felt a bit like a pig roasting on a spit - during the long hours of the night I had visions of my legs swelling so much that my skin would split open ( like the above mentioned pig). It didn't - thank goodness.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Last Post Probably
We leave our city at 9:45Am tomorrow and will be in Bombay for 2 days before catching a flight to NY late Wednesday night.
Church yesterday was hard, but I only cried 3 times and we said goodbye to our children's home kids last night but they didn't realize that it was the last time they would see us, and I chickened out and wasn't inclined to inform them, so I was able to get through that fairly well.
I'm sure lot's of people will be hanging around tomorrow as we leave and it will be a not fun time. But once we get out of the city it will be just my family and our nearest and dearest who are going for visas as well as dropping us off.
We're all pretty much focused on the visas right now. That's on wednesday morning (India time) so I can't really think about the - parting - yet. Sigh.
When are they going to invent a cheap Beam Machine so we can beam ourselves here and there for the price of a phone call. Huh HUH?
I have no idea the spelling of beam , altho I prefer it with 2 "ee"s.
Church yesterday was hard, but I only cried 3 times and we said goodbye to our children's home kids last night but they didn't realize that it was the last time they would see us, and I chickened out and wasn't inclined to inform them, so I was able to get through that fairly well.
I'm sure lot's of people will be hanging around tomorrow as we leave and it will be a not fun time. But once we get out of the city it will be just my family and our nearest and dearest who are going for visas as well as dropping us off.
We're all pretty much focused on the visas right now. That's on wednesday morning (India time) so I can't really think about the - parting - yet. Sigh.
When are they going to invent a cheap Beam Machine so we can beam ourselves here and there for the price of a phone call. Huh HUH?
I have no idea the spelling of beam , altho I prefer it with 2 "ee"s.
Visa Interview
Please pray for our 4 guys going for their visa interviews on Wednesday morning.
Their names are: Aiyub, Anoop, Praveen and Suresh.
We'll find out on Wednesday if they get the visa to the USA or not. We're hoping and praying. Please pray with us.
We fly out on Wednesday night at midnight for a 17 hour flight to NY. This is our 1st non-stop India to USA flight ever. We'll see how it is. Pray for us, me especially. Please.
Thanks.
I probably won't be able to post again until the end of the week.
Their names are: Aiyub, Anoop, Praveen and Suresh.
We'll find out on Wednesday if they get the visa to the USA or not. We're hoping and praying. Please pray with us.
We fly out on Wednesday night at midnight for a 17 hour flight to NY. This is our 1st non-stop India to USA flight ever. We'll see how it is. Pray for us, me especially. Please.
Thanks.
I probably won't be able to post again until the end of the week.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Peace - Shanti - Shalom
In whatever language you want to say it, I have it.
The last 2 days have been unexpectedly and pleasantly - peaceful.
I know it's prayers. You only get this kind of peace when people are praying for you.
As much as can be, things are set to go and I rarely stress too much about the packing, etc. (at least when coming from this side). I registered out from the Police station today which was, amazingly, a 1 stop, 10 minute procedure. The necessary stuff is getting done.
It's the Goodbyes that really get me. Since my breakdown on Tuesday, I haven't shed a tear. Now, tomorrow is church, lot-O'- goodbyes, but there is a time for tears. Sometimes you just gotta go through it. I'll just bring a hankie in my purse (not surgecially attached) and do what's got to be done.
The last 2 days have been unexpectedly and pleasantly - peaceful.
I know it's prayers. You only get this kind of peace when people are praying for you.
As much as can be, things are set to go and I rarely stress too much about the packing, etc. (at least when coming from this side). I registered out from the Police station today which was, amazingly, a 1 stop, 10 minute procedure. The necessary stuff is getting done.
It's the Goodbyes that really get me. Since my breakdown on Tuesday, I haven't shed a tear. Now, tomorrow is church, lot-O'- goodbyes, but there is a time for tears. Sometimes you just gotta go through it. I'll just bring a hankie in my purse (not surgecially attached) and do what's got to be done.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Professional Wedding Pix 1
We recently got the professional wedding pictures from Ramesh and Aruna's wedding. Here are a few more fun shots.
Bride, groom and O. dancing along the way.
Cute family picture.
Kicking up the dust from far away.
Exchaging rings.
Bride, groom and O. dancing along the way.
Cute family picture.
Kicking up the dust from far away.
Exchaging rings.
Professional Wedding Pix 2
Final prayer.
Feeding each other the cake.
Full family photo, with only 2 brothers-in-laws missing
E. really liked that cake - me too!
Time to eat.
Feeding each other the cake.
Full family photo, with only 2 brothers-in-laws missing
E. really liked that cake - me too!
Time to eat.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
The First Of The Lasts
The crying started yesterday.
We leave our city for 4 months in the USA on Tuesday the 23rd (next week) and the crying has already started.
Yesterday was my last Church mtg. I love my Tuesday church meetings and I cried through the entire last prayer. Alright, it started even before then.
I wanted to take a group picture but watery eyes and the red nose are not really my best features so I skipped it.
I have 6 more days of lasts ahead of me... I've considered surgically applying a hankie to my face - still looking into it.
We leave our city for 4 months in the USA on Tuesday the 23rd (next week) and the crying has already started.
Yesterday was my last Church mtg. I love my Tuesday church meetings and I cried through the entire last prayer. Alright, it started even before then.
I wanted to take a group picture but watery eyes and the red nose are not really my best features so I skipped it.
I have 6 more days of lasts ahead of me... I've considered surgically applying a hankie to my face - still looking into it.
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