On my daughters request to tell the whole story.... here goes..... First, I want to say Im really, really sorry that I didnt realize I needed this vaccine, and I want to apologize to the devotees in Johannesburg that Ill have only four days there instead of fourteen. I hope Krishna has used my foolish negligence for a good purpose and I hope I will be more vigilant and careful in the future, so as to show proper respect to all those in South Africa who spent so much time and effort in planning my trip there. Now for the story.....I left the Sao Paulo temple in the middle of the night. Before leaving, I did my usual clean up and put in my bag the contact list for South Africa and my boarding pass, and I threw away (lesson learned and I wont do that again!) my handwritten (yup, not in the computer) list of people, phone numbers, emails, and addresses in Brazil. Why not? I was leaving Brazil.... There was some problem getting the vehicle out of the very narrow driveway and gate, so we left 20 minutes later than planned. Then, at the airport, I decided to change my currency before security. I waiting in one line for a long time, then realized there was another place. The teller at the second place took a looooonnnnggg time to finish all the paperwork. I had intended to stop by and see Vaikuntha Murti who I knew worked at the American VIP lounge. He had picked me up at the airport when I arrived in Brazil, and I had stayed with his family one night when I first arrived. But I forgot his legal name, and it was getting late. Also, I figured he worked at the lounge *after* security--I did not know he worked at the lounge before security. Indeed, I did not know that a pre-security lounge even existed. After going through security and passport control, I arrive at the gate. At exactly the same moment, Vaikuntha Murti arrives as well. We give the documents to the person at the desk, and at that moment another employee of South African Airlines calls my name to see if I have the proper documents, which of course I do not, not knowing that I needed a yellow fever certificate. Vaikuntha Murti talks long with the employees there, but they say I will not be able to enter South Africa, and that there are 3-4 passengers per flight that have this problem. They tell me I need to get a vaccine, and then wait for a 10-day incubation period. Had I not met Vaikuntha Murti I would not have had any contact information for anyone I knew in Sao Paulo, nor would I have known how to proceed. And it was 1am. Vaikuntha Murti, who has worked at the airport for 10 years, took me through a back way through passport control, where they registered in their computer that I would have to stay 10 more days, without putting another stamp in my passport (which is already very full so I try to avoid stamps when I can). He then took me to the back office of South African Airlines, which I would have had much trouble to find on my own. He had the time because it was a Sunday night, and, as he usually deals with business passengers, Sunday is very free for him. At the office, they told me they have this situation over and over. I asked, Why dont you tell the higher ups to make it clear when someone buys a ticket that a vaccine is needed? They rolled their eyes and laughed and said, We have told them thousands of times. They then re-booked me for ten days later without charge. I then went to the American lounge where Vaikuntha Murti got me on-line so I could call the devotees in South Africa. My delay will not affect any (!) internal flights already booked in South Africa, which is nothing less than a miracle. Vaikuntha Murti called his lovely wife, Subhadra, who immediately said, Was someones flight cancelled? Do you want someone to stay here tonight? We went there, where I did my puja, and got some sleep. The back story is that after planning my trip to Central America, South America, and South Africa, I had agreed to teach Bhakti Vaibhava classes at the VIHE in March. And, Im teaching two new undergraduate courses at Radhadesh in April/May. All these classes require (if one wants to do them right) a lot of preparation. And to do that preparation I need a certain kind of facility, which I had had only a very little of for many weeks. The result was that only one class out of many was planned. I had been feeling some anxiety as my schedule in South Africa would be particularly hectic. How will I possibly do this planning? I had thought, and I really didnt see any way it was possible at all. I figured that somehow or other it would work out, as it always does, and so I left things in Krishnas hands. So, now Im spending ten days in a lovely apartment, with excellent Internet, a table and chair, and no scheduled classes or programs. A very rare occurrence, indeed. The apartment owner is also one of the restaurant owners, so Im well fed. And there is even a warm shower, and there is even a washing machine! I feel very pampered. My hope is to finish all the VIHE planning, and a good part of the Radhadesh planning, in this very unexpected window. As I tell people all the time, when you work for a good company, they pay you a salary, give you the tools you need for your work, and even give you vacations and maybe throw you a birthday party. Therefore, best to work for Krishnas company of selling love of God where the Boss takes the best care of us.
Posted on: Mon, 20 Jan 2014 20:10:36 +0000
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