Travel to Muzaffarpur March 22

Sun afternoon, 22 March, caught plane at about 2:00. Flew to Delhi. Layover till 7:25pm. Arrive Patna 8:55pm. Manoj Paul met us with driver. 3 hour drive to Muzaffarpur, turned into 3 ½ + due to roads, traffic, narrow bridge causing 1-way, and rollover vehicle at the narrow bridge. Prior to that narrow hangup, crossed Ganges River over longest bridge in Asia—8km or 5mi long. It was late night by then, couldn’t see anything. Should be daylight when we return Sun afternoon. Hope I can stay awake that long! Arrived hotel about 1a.m. dead tired. Manoj “mercifully” opted to start our Monday session at 10 instead of 9 and allow us bfast at hotel instead of bringing to his home at 8 for bfast.


Layover in Delhi was my first time in national capitol. Still didn't see much of city. People at airport were very helpful. The lady in Jodhpur told us we would have to retrieve our luggage in Delhi and recheck them there. I didn't see why that would be necessary. But then, it is a different country. So maybe they have different rules. Waited for bags that never came. That always creates a sense of desperation. Saw an employee who seemed to be stationed in the area for the purpose of helping travelers with questions. He assured that our bags would be transferred to the next plane without our needing to get them. Next question: Where can we kill some time--like 5 hours? He pointed us to a restaurant outside the terminal and by the next terminal over. We sat there for a few hours without any complaints from the wait staff.


Travel on highway from Patna (Bihar state capitol) to Muzaffarpur (location of Bible college) was another adventure. Don't know if I would ever get completely comfortable with Indian traffic habits. It's kind of like the driving in Manila. Difference is: In Manila the traffic is so congested that all the switching between lanes and from one side of road to the other, all is done in slow motion. Here in India, it is done at breakneck speed. Fortunately, everyone seems to have very good breaks and very good horns.



This is Nishu standing at the far left in the blue and red striped shirt. He actually is a very good and professional driver. But they operate on different rules than we have here. :)


One scare came when a cargo truck started to pull out from a side road, just as we approached. Our driver Nishu sounded his horn and just kept barreling along. The truck kept creeping out into highway. Nishu hardly slowed. Truck crept a bit more. Nishu continued. Truck crept more. Nishu continued. Finally, truck stopped and we passed. Mike and I couldn't help commenting. I was somewhat prepared for Indian driving. But I have to give Mike kudos for staying calm most of the time, or at least keeping his mouth shut. But this time, we both were alarmed. Manoj relayed our thoughts to Nishu. His comment: "I warned him [the truck driver] that I was coming through." The sense I got was: If anything had happened it would have been the truck driver's fault. Well, I would rather be alive and in the wrong than to be "dead right!" :)

Monday morning Mike and I arrived at the school. Apparently the students are taught that as soon as the instructor enters, they are to stand at attention. It took me a little while to remember this from my previous visit. So they stood like this while Mike was getting ready, since we had agreed that he would present first. As they stood, I recorded the room where they had their classes. In addition, they sleep in a nearby room. In another adjoining room I saw a schedule of who is to fix their meals, who cleans dishes, who cleans the rooms, etc.




Time to go back to dentist for follow up. I'll be bach.

ttfn