Tuesday, March 07, 2006
March 2006 Update from Bangalore
Thursday, March 2, 2006
We were on our way to a playdate at one of Maya's schoolmates and Charlie started throwing up all over the place, so of course we turned around and went home. Later in the day he and Maya were both complaining of stomachache. Bangalore is being hit with many cases of gastroenteritis and cholera, so we'll have to keep a close lookout on all these ailments. I'm weekly sending home bottles of drinking water mixed with electrol, the oral rehydration therapy, to most of the staff (Melvin, Rita, and Mala) because on any given day someone's got the "loosies" (polite Indian terminology for Montezuma's revenge, Delhi belly, or plain old diarrhea).
Friday, March 3, 2006
Both Maya and Molly stayed home from school today, both with fever, Maya with stomachache and Molly saying her throat hurt. When we brought Charlie to the doctor's, a new Indiranagar doctor, Dr. Shenoi, he said it's all just typical stuff, building up immunities, but some expats I talk to think the kids definitely wouldn't be getting this sick back "home".
Monday, March 6, 2006
Went for dinner/drinks and fashion show at the Bangalore Palace. All Indian models, except one. Alla is a woman from Latvia who I met at Nina and Sandeep's Christmas party. Alla lives right around the corner from us, in the flats that another friend, Laura, just moved into.
Ran into, Shreen, the woman who runs the Renaissance Art Gallery. She invited us to an art show March 22 at Royal Orchid (where Laura and Narayan were married last month). Saw another few friends, including Anouk, who I'm sure lives in Krista Pawar and Neal's old apartment. People had been worried about Anouk because they hadn't seen her lately, but she's just been really busy running and doing yoga. She said her daughter is sick less here than in France. I think there really is something in my theory that the less staff you have, the less your children are sick (having an only child also helps, in that you don't have one giving everything they get to the other).
Also saw Jessica, the fun Swedish woman who I've bumped into recently at the pediatrician's and at Benedict's birthday party.
Saw Indira from the OWC, as well as met her husband for the first time. He's an architect who studied at MIT. Indra looked stunning in a very colorful sari and blouse, along with a gorgeous silver chain and pendant. Gold is so important to most Indian women, and it's really refreshing to see a woman my age and older with beautiful silver jewelry. The pendant was her grandmother's, so it's also an antique.
March 7, 2006
Worst case of Delhi belly since arriving in India. Went through three liters of bottled water mixed with electrol, the oral rehydration therapy.
March 9, 2006
Asked Charlie and Molly if they wanted yogurt. Molly said yes. Charlie said no. Started feeding Molly and Charlie decided he wanted some. I joked, "Nope, you blew it buddy." Charlie then blew with his lips towards the ceiling and said, "Magic!" Everything's "magic" for Charlie these days.
March 11, 2006
My sister Patty's 42nd birthday. She's so far away--in Naples, Florida. Unfortunately was unable to reach her by phone. That's one of the problems with having a 10 1/2 hour time difference--tough to get loved ones on the phone.
Called Janaki Auntie to ask her to dinner for Appa's 70th birthday. We discussed gifts appropriate for 70th birthdays. She told me that the man's wife is to get an even bigger/nicer gift than the man himself (now I wonder why that would be?). A silk veshti or dhoti and silk kurta (shirt) is appropriate for the man (Thatha's wearing a cream colored veshti and kurta in the photo of him and Patti with the children around his cake). A veshti is usually about four yards long, and is commonly worn by men in the two southernmost Indian states. We got a silk veshti with a zari border (zari is gold thread woven into a garment's silk material) and a silk kurta. Got a sari and gold bangle with black beads for Amma.
Had a nice dinner out at Tandoor on MG Road for Appa's birthday. Janaki Auntie, Babu Uncle, Cajoli and Richi joined us and we had a great time.
March 13, 2006
My Australian friend, Kirsty, had her baby girl, Chloe, today. She joins brothers Angus and Nicholas.
Went to the Overseas Women's Club monthly meeting where the non-governmental organizations (non-profits) they are associated with set up tables with representatives there to tell members about what they do.
At one of the tables, met a very interesting American woman married to an Indian man, whose son, Vivek, works on the same team as Badri's cousin's wife, Cajoli, at General Electric. We just went out to dinner Saturday night with Cajoli, Richi (Badri's cousin), and Richi's parents Janaki Auntie and Babu Uncle, to celebrate Appa's 70th birthday.
March 16, 2006
Had my friend, Marylouise, and her daughters, Hannah (in Maya's class) and Maura over for a playdate. Our cook Patricia made an amazing an shrimp scampi. Shrimp can be bought at the local fish/chicken/various meats store called Frosty's for 250 rupees per kilogram (which is about $2.50 per pound). The children had fish and chips with black pomfret fish.
Friday, March 17, 2006
Today is very special because it's not only St. Patrick's Day, which we celebrate because my mother's side of the family came from Ireland, but it is Maya's Gotcha Day. That means it is the first day we met Maya in Pune in 2001. It's always been a very special day for us. It's the day that we all got each other as a forever family.
Mom sent some St. Patrick's Day goodies in time for Maya to wear them to school. I don't think the teachers were aware of the holiday, so I printed out some information about the origins of the holiday.
Molly didn't go to school because she was running a fever since yesterday, and has had another bout of allergy/asthma coughing. Since the first rains a week or two ago, the trees have really been flowering and I think that's the main culprit. As beautiful as the trees around here are (especially the jacaranda with its light purple flower), people comment that Bangalore's vegetation is probably worse for asthmatics and those with allergies than Mumbai (Bombay) is with higher levels of pollution.
March 22, 2006
Went to Marion's baby shower/lunch at Dewi's, over on Cunningham Road. Her place is like an oasis in the middle of the city with a huge lawn and a big yellow labrador retriever.
Varicose vein surgery at Manipal Hospital
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Checked into Manipal Hospital 11:30 am to go through pre-op procedures for varicose vein removal. I've lived with the veins since I was a teenager. It's only in the last year that they've really started causing me discomfort, so I figured, why not have them operated on here in India, when I have more help. I still remember my mom having them stripped when I was a kid. My sister Mary has also had them removed.
Anyway, I had a team of three doctors, led by Dr. Bhagavan, head of vascular surgery at Manipal (aka Money-Pal). I thought it was strange that he wanted me to check into the hospital Thursday and stay overnight for the Friday surgery, but I really was doing pre-op stuff straight up until 9pm. Didn't sleep much, although the room was pretty nice. I was on the side of the hospital where all night construction was going on, right between the hospital and Badri's office in the RMZ Building on Airport Road (also across the street from Leela Palace).
Friday, March 24, 2006
Woke up at 6am to shower, nurses came in to prep me by 7, and I was wheeled down to OT (operating theater) by 7:30. Met the anesthesiologist who I really liked. Said she'd been doing this for 28 years. Indian women just do not age AT ALL. She didn't look like she could have possibly been doing it for this long. We discussed whether to do general anesthesia or epidural and I opted for the latter (although I think a lot of the varicose surgeries are done with general). I'd just remembered a particularly uncomfortable time I'd had coming out of general anesthesia after going through egg retrieval with IVF a number of years ago. I must say, she did the most amazing epidural--much less discomfort with the two I'd had in the states (maybe I've just become immune to needles after all the IVF ordeals).
There were times in the OT where I regretted not going with the general anesthesia. The room was very cold and I was shivering terribly (probably a combination of being cold and being nervous, too). The surgery took two hours, plus another half hour for stitching and bandaging. I was in the recovery room by 11, and back up to my hospital room by 12:30. In the recovery room I was brought to tears by a little two year old boy crying for his mama. No friends or family members are let into the recovery room, and I was recalling how just ten months before Charlie had been in this recovery room after having ear tubes (aka grommets) put in. I was wondering how long he'd been in the recovery room before they brought him out to us.
Badri was in the room by the time I was wheeled up. At that time still didn't have much feeling in my legs. We needed to hang around for a few hours until I got my legs back and the man who sells compression stockings could come to my room to measure me. I was sprung by 6:30pm and home to put the kids to bed. Of course, the kids didn't even miss me. They just came to the door screaming "Appa!!" because that was his usual coming home from work time, and hell, mom, she's always around.
I was sent home with antibiotics (Augmentin) and painkillers (which I really needed). Pretty big bruises (about 6" in diameter) on the inside of each knee and very swollen left ankle (looked like the worst sprained ankle I'd ever had, in technicolor purples and blues).
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Badri took Molly and Charlie for a walk and Maya and I hung around and read.
The whole family went to a birthday party of Soham, Molly's classmate, at a restaurant on the Airport Road in Whitefield (Molly and I were just going to go, but Soham's mom asked the whole family in). It was quite a blowout. Big bouncy castle, incredible train cake, games for the kids. Probably nearly 100 people.
On the way home, we dropped Badri off at another restaurant less than five minutes from Soham's party for his colleague's two year old's birthday.
The kids were exhausted and wired at the same time and didn't get into bed until 9pm. No more Sunday evening birthday parties. Soham's started at 5:30. Interestingly, here in India, cake is cut and served before the lunch or dinner.
Monday, March 27, 2006
I love having the walking park right across the street. Went over with Charlie and we had a good walk around.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Our driver didn't show up for walk this morning, so Badri and I walked the kids to school.
Went to playgroup at Alexandra's up in RMV extension. Good to see the small group of women and their kids. Had a great time with Charlie.
Met Dolores and Debra for lunch at a new cafe, Inch, near our house on 100 ft. Road. Great food menu, but I only had coffee. Dolores had a horrible incident a couple weekends ago where she was spat on and punched by an autorickshaw driver for refusing to pay what she knew to be an exhorbitant fare (he must have figured she didn't know the area, and drove her around in circles, but she's been here for at least a year and knows her way around). She called us from FabMall, where she had been going to get groceries when it happened. I've never shopped at that place, and I'm spreading the word that others should pass it up as well, on principle. Dolores was basically assaulted in front of the FabMall employees, and no one came to her aid or even helped her call the police to report the incident.
Picked up Maya after school and met with her teacher, Malithy, to discuss the coming year.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Brought Charlie to Genie Kids for his last Wonder Years session with facilitator Minny ("Minny Auntie" to Charlie). She's really been wonderful: pulling together fun activities for the kids, full of sage advice for parents, and all the while very patient and sweet with Charlie. Jana and Tiann were there, and Naan, Rishikesh and their moms. Went outside to the park for a little nature walk and glued the findings (leaves, flowers, sticks) on paper to make a picture. These kids are two and under, so the moms do most of the work.
Went to pick Maya up from school and she begged to go home with Kumali.
Sarah came over around 4 with three of her kids. Before they arrived I asked Charlie if he wanted to see Daniel and Katie baby (the 3 and 1 year olds), and he asked, "And Martha and Sammy?" (the 6 and 8 year olds).
I'm getting a little nervous about my legs. It's been nearly a week since the surgery, and in the three places where there's a lot of bruising (like 6" diameter), there's still some numbness. Neither the numbness nor the bruising seems to have reduced any in the last few days.
Friday, March 31, 2006
Wow! here it is the last day of March, and I only this week sent out February's update! Feel like I didn't write much this month.
Had a great playdate with Kirsty, Australian, and her three kids. She has Angus, almost 4 y.o., Nicholas, 2, and Chloe, 2 1/2 weeks old. She's a great person to be around--very upbeat. Never down on India. I have to introduce her to Marion (from UK, also with Australian citizenship)--they both backpacked through India in their early 20s. I was talking about that with someone this week--how Americans my age (in their 40s) generally headed for Europe post-college, but I hear of more and more Brits and Aussies who ventured to India.
Had a checkup with Dr. Bhagavan, the vascular surgeon. He put my mind at rest about the swelling, bruising, and numbness. Said it should mostly be cleared up in a few weeks. Said I could take a painkiller now and then (Indian equivalent of darvoset), but then switch to Motrin.
Badri comes back tomorrow night. He's been away for a "going away" party, about a six hour drive away in Kerala. His office mates had planned this months ago, when they thought he was leaving India. They didn't have the heart to call off the excursion when they found out he was staying.
Picked up Molly and Maya from their last day of school. Tomorrow there'll be a program when the K2 (kindergarten) kids graduate and hand the torch over to the K1s. Lots of people asking me how it is that Maya's staying on at Neev if she was in K2 this year. Technically, age-wise she's in K1, but she was doing a lot of the work with the K2s. Officially, she's too young to go into first grade in June. She's born in September, and there's a June cut-off by which you have to be 6 years old (according to some, it's an August cut-off date). I've talked to Malthy, the main kindergarten teacher, and she's assured me they'll have enough materials to keep Maya interested.
The art program is just phenomenal. Neelu had them doing Van Gogh style this week in honor of his birthday. They did a collaborative "Starry Night" that was amazing. Did Klee and Kandinsky also, recently. I appreciate all the teachers have done for these kids. Met with Molly's teacher, Priti, yesterday. I love her, and am happy that Charlie will have her next.
Just started reading, Shantaram, which Kirsty had recommended.
Our driver, Melvian, still missing in action. A relief actually. The current substitute, Philomen, is very polite, knows shortcuts even though he's a pretty slow driver.
And with that, I'll wrap up the month. Oh yes, joined an organic vegetable delivery service, Pro Nature. They seem to have bona fide organic certification, so we're trying it out.
Dressed up for Appa's 70th birthday dinner at Tandoor
Charlie pre-haircut
Maya and Charlie in what we call the "jungle" portion of the walking park across the street
Kelly and Maya
Maya and Molly
Badri, Amma, Appa, Janaki Auntie, Babu Uncle
Molly and dear teacher Priti
Appa and Maya on his 70th birthday
Appa (Thatha) blowing out the candles on his birthdya cake
Maya and Amma doing puja (prayer) with Ganesha
Molly and her cookie
Charlie post-haircut
Maya with "Starry Night" group project
Thursday, March 2, 2006
We were on our way to a playdate at one of Maya's schoolmates and Charlie started throwing up all over the place, so of course we turned around and went home. Later in the day he and Maya were both complaining of stomachache. Bangalore is being hit with many cases of gastroenteritis and cholera, so we'll have to keep a close lookout on all these ailments. I'm weekly sending home bottles of drinking water mixed with electrol, the oral rehydration therapy, to most of the staff (Melvin, Rita, and Mala) because on any given day someone's got the "loosies" (polite Indian terminology for Montezuma's revenge, Delhi belly, or plain old diarrhea).
Friday, March 3, 2006
Both Maya and Molly stayed home from school today, both with fever, Maya with stomachache and Molly saying her throat hurt. When we brought Charlie to the doctor's, a new Indiranagar doctor, Dr. Shenoi, he said it's all just typical stuff, building up immunities, but some expats I talk to think the kids definitely wouldn't be getting this sick back "home".
Monday, March 6, 2006
Went for dinner/drinks and fashion show at the Bangalore Palace. All Indian models, except one. Alla is a woman from Latvia who I met at Nina and Sandeep's Christmas party. Alla lives right around the corner from us, in the flats that another friend, Laura, just moved into.
Ran into, Shreen, the woman who runs the Renaissance Art Gallery. She invited us to an art show March 22 at Royal Orchid (where Laura and Narayan were married last month). Saw another few friends, including Anouk, who I'm sure lives in Krista Pawar and Neal's old apartment. People had been worried about Anouk because they hadn't seen her lately, but she's just been really busy running and doing yoga. She said her daughter is sick less here than in France. I think there really is something in my theory that the less staff you have, the less your children are sick (having an only child also helps, in that you don't have one giving everything they get to the other).
Also saw Jessica, the fun Swedish woman who I've bumped into recently at the pediatrician's and at Benedict's birthday party.
Saw Indira from the OWC, as well as met her husband for the first time. He's an architect who studied at MIT. Indra looked stunning in a very colorful sari and blouse, along with a gorgeous silver chain and pendant. Gold is so important to most Indian women, and it's really refreshing to see a woman my age and older with beautiful silver jewelry. The pendant was her grandmother's, so it's also an antique.
March 7, 2006
Worst case of Delhi belly since arriving in India. Went through three liters of bottled water mixed with electrol, the oral rehydration therapy.
March 9, 2006
Asked Charlie and Molly if they wanted yogurt. Molly said yes. Charlie said no. Started feeding Molly and Charlie decided he wanted some. I joked, "Nope, you blew it buddy." Charlie then blew with his lips towards the ceiling and said, "Magic!" Everything's "magic" for Charlie these days.
March 11, 2006
My sister Patty's 42nd birthday. She's so far away--in Naples, Florida. Unfortunately was unable to reach her by phone. That's one of the problems with having a 10 1/2 hour time difference--tough to get loved ones on the phone.
Called Janaki Auntie to ask her to dinner for Appa's 70th birthday. We discussed gifts appropriate for 70th birthdays. She told me that the man's wife is to get an even bigger/nicer gift than the man himself (now I wonder why that would be?). A silk veshti or dhoti and silk kurta (shirt) is appropriate for the man (Thatha's wearing a cream colored veshti and kurta in the photo of him and Patti with the children around his cake). A veshti is usually about four yards long, and is commonly worn by men in the two southernmost Indian states. We got a silk veshti with a zari border (zari is gold thread woven into a garment's silk material) and a silk kurta. Got a sari and gold bangle with black beads for Amma.
Had a nice dinner out at Tandoor on MG Road for Appa's birthday. Janaki Auntie, Babu Uncle, Cajoli and Richi joined us and we had a great time.
March 13, 2006
My Australian friend, Kirsty, had her baby girl, Chloe, today. She joins brothers Angus and Nicholas.
Went to the Overseas Women's Club monthly meeting where the non-governmental organizations (non-profits) they are associated with set up tables with representatives there to tell members about what they do.
At one of the tables, met a very interesting American woman married to an Indian man, whose son, Vivek, works on the same team as Badri's cousin's wife, Cajoli, at General Electric. We just went out to dinner Saturday night with Cajoli, Richi (Badri's cousin), and Richi's parents Janaki Auntie and Babu Uncle, to celebrate Appa's 70th birthday.
March 16, 2006
Had my friend, Marylouise, and her daughters, Hannah (in Maya's class) and Maura over for a playdate. Our cook Patricia made an amazing an shrimp scampi. Shrimp can be bought at the local fish/chicken/various meats store called Frosty's for 250 rupees per kilogram (which is about $2.50 per pound). The children had fish and chips with black pomfret fish.
Friday, March 17, 2006
Today is very special because it's not only St. Patrick's Day, which we celebrate because my mother's side of the family came from Ireland, but it is Maya's Gotcha Day. That means it is the first day we met Maya in Pune in 2001. It's always been a very special day for us. It's the day that we all got each other as a forever family.
Mom sent some St. Patrick's Day goodies in time for Maya to wear them to school. I don't think the teachers were aware of the holiday, so I printed out some information about the origins of the holiday.
Molly didn't go to school because she was running a fever since yesterday, and has had another bout of allergy/asthma coughing. Since the first rains a week or two ago, the trees have really been flowering and I think that's the main culprit. As beautiful as the trees around here are (especially the jacaranda with its light purple flower), people comment that Bangalore's vegetation is probably worse for asthmatics and those with allergies than Mumbai (Bombay) is with higher levels of pollution.
March 22, 2006
Went to Marion's baby shower/lunch at Dewi's, over on Cunningham Road. Her place is like an oasis in the middle of the city with a huge lawn and a big yellow labrador retriever.
Varicose vein surgery at Manipal Hospital
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Checked into Manipal Hospital 11:30 am to go through pre-op procedures for varicose vein removal. I've lived with the veins since I was a teenager. It's only in the last year that they've really started causing me discomfort, so I figured, why not have them operated on here in India, when I have more help. I still remember my mom having them stripped when I was a kid. My sister Mary has also had them removed.
Anyway, I had a team of three doctors, led by Dr. Bhagavan, head of vascular surgery at Manipal (aka Money-Pal). I thought it was strange that he wanted me to check into the hospital Thursday and stay overnight for the Friday surgery, but I really was doing pre-op stuff straight up until 9pm. Didn't sleep much, although the room was pretty nice. I was on the side of the hospital where all night construction was going on, right between the hospital and Badri's office in the RMZ Building on Airport Road (also across the street from Leela Palace).
Friday, March 24, 2006
Woke up at 6am to shower, nurses came in to prep me by 7, and I was wheeled down to OT (operating theater) by 7:30. Met the anesthesiologist who I really liked. Said she'd been doing this for 28 years. Indian women just do not age AT ALL. She didn't look like she could have possibly been doing it for this long. We discussed whether to do general anesthesia or epidural and I opted for the latter (although I think a lot of the varicose surgeries are done with general). I'd just remembered a particularly uncomfortable time I'd had coming out of general anesthesia after going through egg retrieval with IVF a number of years ago. I must say, she did the most amazing epidural--much less discomfort with the two I'd had in the states (maybe I've just become immune to needles after all the IVF ordeals).
There were times in the OT where I regretted not going with the general anesthesia. The room was very cold and I was shivering terribly (probably a combination of being cold and being nervous, too). The surgery took two hours, plus another half hour for stitching and bandaging. I was in the recovery room by 11, and back up to my hospital room by 12:30. In the recovery room I was brought to tears by a little two year old boy crying for his mama. No friends or family members are let into the recovery room, and I was recalling how just ten months before Charlie had been in this recovery room after having ear tubes (aka grommets) put in. I was wondering how long he'd been in the recovery room before they brought him out to us.
Badri was in the room by the time I was wheeled up. At that time still didn't have much feeling in my legs. We needed to hang around for a few hours until I got my legs back and the man who sells compression stockings could come to my room to measure me. I was sprung by 6:30pm and home to put the kids to bed. Of course, the kids didn't even miss me. They just came to the door screaming "Appa!!" because that was his usual coming home from work time, and hell, mom, she's always around.
I was sent home with antibiotics (Augmentin) and painkillers (which I really needed). Pretty big bruises (about 6" in diameter) on the inside of each knee and very swollen left ankle (looked like the worst sprained ankle I'd ever had, in technicolor purples and blues).
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Badri took Molly and Charlie for a walk and Maya and I hung around and read.
The whole family went to a birthday party of Soham, Molly's classmate, at a restaurant on the Airport Road in Whitefield (Molly and I were just going to go, but Soham's mom asked the whole family in). It was quite a blowout. Big bouncy castle, incredible train cake, games for the kids. Probably nearly 100 people.
On the way home, we dropped Badri off at another restaurant less than five minutes from Soham's party for his colleague's two year old's birthday.
The kids were exhausted and wired at the same time and didn't get into bed until 9pm. No more Sunday evening birthday parties. Soham's started at 5:30. Interestingly, here in India, cake is cut and served before the lunch or dinner.
Monday, March 27, 2006
I love having the walking park right across the street. Went over with Charlie and we had a good walk around.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Our driver didn't show up for walk this morning, so Badri and I walked the kids to school.
Went to playgroup at Alexandra's up in RMV extension. Good to see the small group of women and their kids. Had a great time with Charlie.
Met Dolores and Debra for lunch at a new cafe, Inch, near our house on 100 ft. Road. Great food menu, but I only had coffee. Dolores had a horrible incident a couple weekends ago where she was spat on and punched by an autorickshaw driver for refusing to pay what she knew to be an exhorbitant fare (he must have figured she didn't know the area, and drove her around in circles, but she's been here for at least a year and knows her way around). She called us from FabMall, where she had been going to get groceries when it happened. I've never shopped at that place, and I'm spreading the word that others should pass it up as well, on principle. Dolores was basically assaulted in front of the FabMall employees, and no one came to her aid or even helped her call the police to report the incident.
Picked up Maya after school and met with her teacher, Malithy, to discuss the coming year.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Brought Charlie to Genie Kids for his last Wonder Years session with facilitator Minny ("Minny Auntie" to Charlie). She's really been wonderful: pulling together fun activities for the kids, full of sage advice for parents, and all the while very patient and sweet with Charlie. Jana and Tiann were there, and Naan, Rishikesh and their moms. Went outside to the park for a little nature walk and glued the findings (leaves, flowers, sticks) on paper to make a picture. These kids are two and under, so the moms do most of the work.
Went to pick Maya up from school and she begged to go home with Kumali.
Sarah came over around 4 with three of her kids. Before they arrived I asked Charlie if he wanted to see Daniel and Katie baby (the 3 and 1 year olds), and he asked, "And Martha and Sammy?" (the 6 and 8 year olds).
I'm getting a little nervous about my legs. It's been nearly a week since the surgery, and in the three places where there's a lot of bruising (like 6" diameter), there's still some numbness. Neither the numbness nor the bruising seems to have reduced any in the last few days.
Friday, March 31, 2006
Wow! here it is the last day of March, and I only this week sent out February's update! Feel like I didn't write much this month.
Had a great playdate with Kirsty, Australian, and her three kids. She has Angus, almost 4 y.o., Nicholas, 2, and Chloe, 2 1/2 weeks old. She's a great person to be around--very upbeat. Never down on India. I have to introduce her to Marion (from UK, also with Australian citizenship)--they both backpacked through India in their early 20s. I was talking about that with someone this week--how Americans my age (in their 40s) generally headed for Europe post-college, but I hear of more and more Brits and Aussies who ventured to India.
Had a checkup with Dr. Bhagavan, the vascular surgeon. He put my mind at rest about the swelling, bruising, and numbness. Said it should mostly be cleared up in a few weeks. Said I could take a painkiller now and then (Indian equivalent of darvoset), but then switch to Motrin.
Badri comes back tomorrow night. He's been away for a "going away" party, about a six hour drive away in Kerala. His office mates had planned this months ago, when they thought he was leaving India. They didn't have the heart to call off the excursion when they found out he was staying.
Picked up Molly and Maya from their last day of school. Tomorrow there'll be a program when the K2 (kindergarten) kids graduate and hand the torch over to the K1s. Lots of people asking me how it is that Maya's staying on at Neev if she was in K2 this year. Technically, age-wise she's in K1, but she was doing a lot of the work with the K2s. Officially, she's too young to go into first grade in June. She's born in September, and there's a June cut-off by which you have to be 6 years old (according to some, it's an August cut-off date). I've talked to Malthy, the main kindergarten teacher, and she's assured me they'll have enough materials to keep Maya interested.
The art program is just phenomenal. Neelu had them doing Van Gogh style this week in honor of his birthday. They did a collaborative "Starry Night" that was amazing. Did Klee and Kandinsky also, recently. I appreciate all the teachers have done for these kids. Met with Molly's teacher, Priti, yesterday. I love her, and am happy that Charlie will have her next.
Just started reading, Shantaram, which Kirsty had recommended.
Our driver, Melvian, still missing in action. A relief actually. The current substitute, Philomen, is very polite, knows shortcuts even though he's a pretty slow driver.
And with that, I'll wrap up the month. Oh yes, joined an organic vegetable delivery service, Pro Nature. They seem to have bona fide organic certification, so we're trying it out.
Dressed up for Appa's 70th birthday dinner at Tandoor
Charlie pre-haircut
Maya and Charlie in what we call the "jungle" portion of the walking park across the street
Kelly and Maya
Maya and Molly
Badri, Amma, Appa, Janaki Auntie, Babu Uncle
Molly and dear teacher Priti
Appa and Maya on his 70th birthday
Appa (Thatha) blowing out the candles on his birthdya cake
Maya and Amma doing puja (prayer) with Ganesha
Molly and her cookie
Charlie post-haircut
Maya with "Starry Night" group project
