Our lives are lived in India, vacationed in Thailand and visa-ed in America. My family lives in England and my in-laws live in the States. My parents are in the cosmopolitan world of London, my in-laws live in the restful shadows of maples with enough land to house an entire Indian village.
We, who normally live in an overgrown village called a city in the most populated state of India, are on the road and the world with all its diversity seems awful small when one week I am in India, the next in London and the next in Minnesota. A country, a city, a state. All three on different continents. Whew!
So back to the travel.....
Our first flight was a quickie from our small city to the capital of India, Delhi. My husband and I could not sit in the same row because we each had a kid on our lap and that means there would not be enough airbags in case of their need to drop from the ceiling as the air pressure decreases in the cabin. I guess there is only one extra airbag per row. Chad sat in front of me with Abe and I had Zana so I could nurse for take off. I sat next to a couple who were flying for the first time.
They attentively listened to the stewardess. They read, discussed and called relatives to talk about the informative card. They turned off their phone after telling their relative at least a dozen time that they were required to turn the phone off. They took pictures while we taxied. When I buckled my seat belt they buckled theirs. When I took out the informative sheet and fanned myself they took out their safety card and fanned themselves. When I put down the tray to sit Zana on it for a second, they both put their trays down. When I looked at the airline magazine they looked at their magazines.
However when I put down my seat for greater traveling comfort they were unable to copy me. They missed the slight of hand as I pressed and pushed my seat back. I found no pleasure in watching them try to force their seats back but did not intercede as my Hindi was just too difficult for them. They could not and would not believe I was speaking in Hindi and though I spoke simple clear phrases the wife repeatedly told me that they spoke no English.
As far as trips go it was pretty eventful and it was only the first leg of a trip around half the world that includes six major legs of journey.
We, who normally live in an overgrown village called a city in the most populated state of India, are on the road and the world with all its diversity seems awful small when one week I am in India, the next in London and the next in Minnesota. A country, a city, a state. All three on different continents. Whew!
So back to the travel.....
Our first flight was a quickie from our small city to the capital of India, Delhi. My husband and I could not sit in the same row because we each had a kid on our lap and that means there would not be enough airbags in case of their need to drop from the ceiling as the air pressure decreases in the cabin. I guess there is only one extra airbag per row. Chad sat in front of me with Abe and I had Zana so I could nurse for take off. I sat next to a couple who were flying for the first time.
They attentively listened to the stewardess. They read, discussed and called relatives to talk about the informative card. They turned off their phone after telling their relative at least a dozen time that they were required to turn the phone off. They took pictures while we taxied. When I buckled my seat belt they buckled theirs. When I took out the informative sheet and fanned myself they took out their safety card and fanned themselves. When I put down the tray to sit Zana on it for a second, they both put their trays down. When I looked at the airline magazine they looked at their magazines.
However when I put down my seat for greater traveling comfort they were unable to copy me. They missed the slight of hand as I pressed and pushed my seat back. I found no pleasure in watching them try to force their seats back but did not intercede as my Hindi was just too difficult for them. They could not and would not believe I was speaking in Hindi and though I spoke simple clear phrases the wife repeatedly told me that they spoke no English.
As far as trips go it was pretty eventful and it was only the first leg of a trip around half the world that includes six major legs of journey.
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