How It Started
In March of 2007, my son Dean invited me to join him on a business trip. For a mom to have an
opportunity to have quality time with an adult son - it doesn't get much better than that!
Our first stop was Singapore. What a delightful place. 
Everything is clean. You get a fine if you throw trash in the streets. If you hit a tree with your
car, you plant another one. And there is no crime. When we got off the plane in Singapore, we were
handed the notice below.  I think they’re on to something!
Our final destination was Bangalore, India. The first WHITE KNUCKLE ride from the airport to the
hotel about did me in. I didn't see any traffic lights. The traffic just goes where ever they can
squeeze in.
After a few days, I began to realize there IS a rhythm that controls traffic. For those who are
fortunate enough to have a vehicle, THEY USE THEIR HORNS TO MAKE TRAFFIC WORK . . . AND THEIR HORNS
ARE BLARING ALL THE TIME!
And guess who has the right of way . . . THE ANIMALS. Surprisingly I only saw one accident the entire time we were
in India.
After Dean finished his first week of work, we traveled to the state of Bihar. It is the poorest
state in India and has a population of 90 million people.
Dean and I weren't prepared for what we were about to see. There was trash everywhere in the city of
Patna. Dogs, cows and pigs were on the streets picking through the trash for food. The odors and
pollution were thick. Poverty was everywhere.
From Patna, we traveled by jeep to the town of Siwan. It was a four hour trip one way. I think it
was that road that originated the term “POT HOLES”. The entire 4 hours, we were bouncing and holding
on for dear life.
I also think the driver of our jeep had a death wish
as he drove as fast as he could weaving in and out of anything that got in his way.
 The jeep you see in the picture on the right also traveled this same
route. In India, any form of transportation packs as many people in as possible - up on top -
hanging from the sides and jammed into the inside. Nearly 19 people were in this jeep. The drivers
don’t leave until they have filled every space.
How they made that 4 hour trip without losing anyone is beyond me.
While in Siwan we visited an orphanage and met a boy named Manish.
 Continue with How It Started - The School Bus
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