Another day in the land of bureaucrats...
Again, poor bandwidth and will add photos and more detail when I get the power, but it was basically a day of waiting, visiting offices, traveling to Ministry of Silly Walks and Additional Commissioners, and enjoying the gridlock that is New Delhi. We thought the boxes would simply be cleared for us, but were stonewalled all the way to the top. Finally a man at the Ministry of Finance gave us a punch list of things to get and do before we would be approved for release of the boxes from customs.
We did manage to get 13 of the 14 cartons out. The remaining one has some drugs, so we have to make an application for these to come in, which will mean another couple of trips tomorrow. We had 5 items to fax and copy, get signatures, and submit to the Ministry, and then they need to assemble 5 people for a meeting and approval. We were warned that it is budget season, and it may take some time to get everyone together; hopefully not two weeks. We followed this list to a T, dropped off the required paperwork, and were told they would get to it.
This sign was posted in one of the offices for us to read as we waited. Guess we might be expecting too much.
Made a new friend at the airport - a sweet dog with a wrap on that looked dirty and old. Looked like she was lost and I fear she will never be found if I take it off. She was so well behaved and adorable I would have taken her home if not 1/2 way around the world. It was painful to see her, looking hungry and thirsty. I tried to get a group of men playing cards in a shed (they were some kind of work crew, not working of course) to give me a bowl of water, but they asked why and then immediately laughed and sent me packing. Living in a city of homelessness and poverty can make you heartless. Here she is looking demure.
Back to the same hotel, this time with Kush as well. We sat in our room until 1 a.m. making lists and planning for our day tomorrow. Armed with goals and determination for our final push and campaign, we went to our respective rooms and fell into a deep sleep.
Again, poor bandwidth and will add photos and more detail when I get the power, but it was basically a day of waiting, visiting offices, traveling to Ministry of Silly Walks and Additional Commissioners, and enjoying the gridlock that is New Delhi. We thought the boxes would simply be cleared for us, but were stonewalled all the way to the top. Finally a man at the Ministry of Finance gave us a punch list of things to get and do before we would be approved for release of the boxes from customs.
We did manage to get 13 of the 14 cartons out. The remaining one has some drugs, so we have to make an application for these to come in, which will mean another couple of trips tomorrow. We had 5 items to fax and copy, get signatures, and submit to the Ministry, and then they need to assemble 5 people for a meeting and approval. We were warned that it is budget season, and it may take some time to get everyone together; hopefully not two weeks. We followed this list to a T, dropped off the required paperwork, and were told they would get to it.This sign was posted in one of the offices for us to read as we waited. Guess we might be expecting too much.
And waiting in yet another office - a very sweet woman kept us comfortable with tea and biscuitsk, and we stayed in her office a couple of hours waiting to see the minister.
She had a sign about productivity behind a man who was scrolling through youtube videos of religious music. Kind of an office DJ. Sorry this one photo is so large.
Made a new friend at the airport - a sweet dog with a wrap on that looked dirty and old. Looked like she was lost and I fear she will never be found if I take it off. She was so well behaved and adorable I would have taken her home if not 1/2 way around the world. It was painful to see her, looking hungry and thirsty. I tried to get a group of men playing cards in a shed (they were some kind of work crew, not working of course) to give me a bowl of water, but they asked why and then immediately laughed and sent me packing. Living in a city of homelessness and poverty can make you heartless. Here she is looking demure.
Back to the same hotel, this time with Kush as well. We sat in our room until 1 a.m. making lists and planning for our day tomorrow. Armed with goals and determination for our final push and campaign, we went to our respective rooms and fell into a deep sleep.
1 comment:
bonnie ... too bad the inventory wasn't adequately cleared before arrival -- change in the bureaucracy or regulations, or oversight in advance planning? meanwhile, please don't push your luck accosting unemployed day laborer males on the street in india.
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