Happiness is…
January 5th, 2008
Here’s the thing about life – and traveling. You’re toast if you don’t have a sense of humor about things. I wish I was laughing more in the moment. But when it’s 2 am and you’re at the airport of a country you’ve never visited, your bag is missing, you don’t know the language, you can’t find your ride and then, just to spice things up, the cell phone number you have for him isn’t working? Yeah, the laughter comes only after the fact, when you’re sitting in your guest room, typing away under the cover of mosquito netting.
So, we’ll start on the plane in Chennai. I’m sitting next to an older fellow, who is returning to his home in Chennai for an extended work-related project. I tell him what brings me to Chennai, and we chat a bit about it before he gets to this question.
“So, does your boyrfriend or husband approve of this trip?”
“Yes. Yes, he does,” I say, offering up the little white lie because I have a sneaking suspicion that no good can come from answering this question truthfully. (Turns out I was right. He has a son in his mid-20s who he’d like to marry off sooner than later. “I’d like to be a grandfather,” he says. He wanted to know if I knew of any single women back in the states. So all you ladies, let me know if you’re interested in this nice chap who works in IT in Chennai).
Fast forward to the baggage claim, about an hour or more of waiting for my two pieces of luggage. I finally find the smaller one, mostly packed with gifts for the children. But no sign of the one with all my clothes. Then, it’s just me and a handful of people, and no new luggage being spit out onto the conveyer belt. A swarm of angry passengers collects around the baggage assistance. It’s so crowded I can’t get anyone to help me. And then I see my little airplane friend among the throng. He gets me the appropriate papers, helps me fill them out and get my claim in. And then he hooks me up with an agent, even staying to check that it’s all squared away. “Joann, I think you should be okay from here. Good luck!” he says. (I can’t say exactly if it is going to be okay, though. When I asked the kind Jet Airways agent if I’d get my luggage back, he said, “Sure.” I asked if I’d get it within a few days, he said, “Sure.”)
After a final round through customs, I head outside, to a crowd of people waiting for their arrivals. Up and down I walk, but no sign of my ride. I try to go back into the airport to fetch my kindly Jet Airways guy. But the guards at the front – the ones holding rifles — won’t let me back. I talked my way in, though (I seriously can’t remember how), and found the agent who had helped me. He whips out his cell phone and dials up the number I have for the program director who is picking me up. No answer. No answer again. Third try: “Wrong number.” It’s fair to say I was freaking out about now. Did I get this wrong somehow? What exactly am I supposed to do at this point? Am I sleeping on my carry-on tonight? I headed out to a payphone to call the organization’s office in the states. I hung up with the very reassuring woman who was going to track my ride down, stepped out of the booth and saw a man holding a Global Volunteers sign at me. He wore thick glasses, and a huge grin. It’s Stephen, the director here! And I am so relieved I could hug him. (The luggage delay took longer than I realized, and he was trying to track me down, too). We drove through the dark and crooked streets. And when we got to the guesthouse, where a faucet and bucket is a shower, and mosquito netting hangs over my bed, I was so happy to be home. (I won’t lie, though. I’d be happier if I got my luggage. Happiness is a clean pair of underwear).
Hi Joann, great blog!… but we want a video of you leading the kids in Simon Says! … and a video of that head nod ! … hope your luggage turns up soon ! ..We miss you in the pod ! take care & hope the delhi belly avoids you ! kathy
posted by Kathy Megan (01/08/08 11:25 am)Hi Kathy! I’m so glad you and the pod are reading. I’m getting a hang of this blogging thing from this tiny internet cafe, and think I can managed video soon enough. (And yes, I was thinking that head nod was something that can only be seen, not described.)
See you all soon! And thanks for writing!
posted by Joann (01/09/08 5:55 am)sweetie i could read your stories forever! you know how to make the most out of life..that is for sure. You are a remarkable woman. Stay safe and keep the wonderful stories coming. You are missed. ME
posted by maryellen (01/11/08 12:24 pm)