Monday, August 07, 2006
August 2006 Update from Bangalore
Tuesday, August 1, 2006
Have been having regular weekly playdates with Priya and Kavi. They moved here from Chicago in April. Priya's working at the Indian Institute of Management (she has a Master's in Public Health) and her husband, Kush, works for Accenture. Their son Kavi is in Charlie's class at Neev--they're only one week apart in age.
Molly blowing the horn Badri bought on the streets of Bombay (Mumbai)
Wednesday, August 2, 2006
Badri and my 9th wedding anniversary.
Saturday, August 5, 2006
Went with Molly and Charlie on the loop, stopping to see if our favorite new little yellow lab, Benz, was at home. We didn't see anyone, so went up the street and Prince's guard let us in the gate to pet the old black lab. That really makes their day (the kids, and maybe the dogs, too). After running around the butterfly park (Charlie getting as adept as Molly at the monkey bars) we went to the children's park near our house. Maria and Mats were there with Astrid and Mimmi. I'm quite sad that they'll be leaving in September. I've really gotten to like Maria a lot, and it's nice for Maya and Astrid to hang out together once in a while, too.
They came over to our house after the park and we all had dosas. They were telling us about their trip to Rajasthan--the highs and lows of traveling with two little active children. We could certainly commiserate.
Sunday, August 6, 2006
I took Molly and Charlie on our regular weekend loop, ending up at the butterfly park. Later, after I put Charlie down for a nap (he was not feeling very well), Maya, Molly, and I met Kirsty, Angus, Nicolas, and Chloe at the Grand Ashok hotel for the Sunday brunch. For 700 rupees ($15), use of pool included, you get brunch and a shoulder and/or foot massage. They only charge for adults, too. The pool is beautiful and the grassy grounds are quite unique for Bangalore. There was also an artist doing caricature drawings, as well as a potter making pots. Very enjoyable couple hours. The kids had a great time--Maya and Angus swam, and Nico followed Molly while she did laps around the outside of the pool.
Monday, August 7, 2006
Charlie home from school today with a fever and cough.
Tuesday, August 8, 2006
Both Maya and Charlie home today. Maya had a fever in the morning, but then had a three hour nap and woke up fit as a fiddle.
Wednesday, August 9, 2006
Today Maya asked when Nanny was coming to visit again. When I told her that it was a little too far, she said, "Well, maybe we can meet in London, and if she feels like it after a couple days, Nanny can continue on to India."
Went to an art and artisans' exhibit/sale at the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, this wonderful venue for art bazaars, and temporary and permanent art exhibits. After two+ years here, I'm still astounded by the beauty of the handwork and skilled artisanry available for such a pittance. From hand beaded purses made in Bhopal to mirror work wall hangings from Gujarat, to tribal brass work from Chattisgarh in Madhya Pradesh. I went in the morning and was so overwhelmed that I told Badri we'd have to go back in the evening. Our tastes are converging more and more since we've been here, and we find ourselves homing in on the same pieces. I must say, though, when it comes to paintings, we still differ in that he prefers abstract art much more than I do.
In the exhibit hall next to the artisans' hall there were three Chennai students showing their work. There was such a stunning painting of two girls--one really resembled Maya--that I asked the artist if he could do a picture of our kids. He said sure, and asked me to bring them in and he could take pictures and go from there. Well, the kids and I picked up Badri at work about 5 pm. Not good timing for the kids. They were pretty much bouncing off the walls and of course were not keen on having their pictures taken. The artist goes back to Chennai tomorrow, and we'll email him a picture of the three if we can get them in a pose we want replicated in a painting.
Today was Raksha Bandhan day, where sisters tie a decorated string around their brother's wrist, and in exchange the brothers will look out for them in the future. We got the rakhi (string) for Maya and Molly to tie on Charlie, but he wanted nothing to do with it (I suppose the same sort of way Molly wants nothing to do with a clip being put in her hair). Badri's cousins Neelam and Kadham sent rakhis for him, and Kadham's daughter sent one for Charlie.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Our former housecleaner stopped by today to visit and was hoping we could re-hire her or recommend her to friends of ours. Unfortunately, I told her, we couldn't because she was too unreliable while in our employ. My heart breaks for her situation.
Read about a seven year old boy who was hit by a truck on 100ft. Road (within five minutes of our house). Bystanders put him in an autorickshaw and drove around to hospitals in the area for 4+ hours before they found a hospital who would treat him. The newspaper article gave a phone number to contact to donate to his treatment. Already he's losing one leg--he was dragged a bit of a distance. Badri says there are countless stories out there, numerous causes to support, but I feel I really want to find counseling for our former housecleaner, and contribute to this little boy's hospital bills.
Dropped the kids off at schoool and went to the first of a new series of Hindi classes. It's at the School of Lanuages and Soft Skills by Gate #8 of Diamond District, off Airport Road (2500 rupees for 20 hours, apx. $2.70 per hour). My teacher's name is Alka, and she's starting us off by learning the Hindi alphabet. No easy task. A completely different script. My classmates: an 8 and 11 year old pair of brothers from Orange County, California. Their elastic minds put me to shame. I'm writing the phonetic sound of each character on the poster we've each been given, and they're reciting them all back to the teacher by memory, not a thing written on their posters. But then again, they've been at this for four days, and this is only my first day.
Stopped in at Overseas Women's Club meeting at the Leela for the first time in a while. Knew only a handful of people there. I suppose that comes from not going much lately. Lots of newcomers.
Picked up Molly from school and when Charlie woke up we played for a bit. Went back to Neev for Maya at 3pm to go on our special treat--to the planetarium. Aruni told me Kumali and Maya were dying for a playdate, so we invited Kumali along. We sat in a theatre with a dome shaped ceiling and watched the stars come alive. It was a 30 minute movie about the stars and planets, and the girls loved it--exactly what they're learning in school these last couple of weeks.
Friday, August 11, 2006
Back to a regular schedule with yoga on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Kala, Namita, Nandita, and Rani really the core group of regulars in the 8:30 am class.
Met Maria for lunch at Roomali with a View on 100 Foot Road. Very nice ambience on the third floor, with tree canopies all around. The place was hopping and we just beat the waiting line. Decent buffet lunch. The waiter cautioned us against the buffet, saying it would be too spicy for us, but we managed okay. 245 rupees (apx. $5) for each.
Maria will be leaving around November, once Mimmi's paperwork goes through for the adoption. She has very mixed feelings about it, as I think a lot of people do as they approach their departure date. People realize they'll miss all that is unique about India, the riot of colors, sights, and smells, but many long for things back in their homelands, too.
Had our regular Friday playdate with Kirsty, Angus, Nicolas, and Chloe. Fish and chip Fridays are becoming a bit of a ritual, too. Kirsty and I have instituted a new practice, too--a glass of wine to mellow out the afternoon. She's had a tough couple weeks because her husband Andrew has been in Australia. Even with help in the house, missing daddy is tough, especially on the kids. That will probably be one of two trips of that length he'll be taking, though. Lots of people spend even more time travelling. Kirsty's a very self-sufficient, adventurous type. They travel the most in India of any family I know, and that with three children, one of whom is less than six months old.
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Went to Marylouise's for a couple hours. They returned from a six week trip to the U.S. a few weeks ago.
Badri and I went out to dinner at Dakshin, an Indian restaurant at the Windsor Manor Hotel, for our 9th anniversary. I was given jasmine to clip in my hair. What a heavenly smell! That--along with freesia and lilacs--is one of my favorites. Had lovely prawns and coriander/cashew rice. After dinner tried paan for the very first time. Paan is a type of South Asian snack, which consists of fillings wrapped in a triangular package using leaves of the Betel pepper and held together with a toothpick or a clove. Paan is chewed as a palate cleanser and a breath freshener. It is also commonly offered to guests and visitors as a sign of hospitality. Paan filling is generally a mixture of various spices, fruits, and sugar. It was okay, but probably not something I'll try again.
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Took a little Sunday drive, with me at the wheel. Uneventful. Fun for the kids, seeing neighborhoods we haven't yet explored.
Monday, August 14, 2006
Met Kirsty and Maria's families at Lalbagh Gardens for the annual flower show. We drew lots of stares--three mixed families (Maria is from Sweden and has adopted two Indian girls, and Kirsty and Andrew are Australian with very fair children, and you all know us). Lots of cheek pinching going on, and many people asking if we'd line up so they could take our picture (five adults and eight children!).
Astrid, Maya, Charlie, and Angus at Lalbagh flower show (just made me think of the Mod Squad for some reason)
Maya and Angus
Peace on Earth at flower show
Maya, Astrid, and Angus
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Indian Independence Day today. Very quiet around here. There was the sound of firecrackers in the distance when we walked home from the park about 11:30am, and we saw a big truck unloading warming trays (chafing dishes) and many cases of Kingfisher beer at a nearby house. But Badri says Republic Day is a much bigger celebration than Independence Day.
At the park Maya, Molly, and Charlie had the company of a couple families of friends, and one child's grandmother brought balloons to distribute to all of the children.
Molly and Charlie
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Kids back in school today after four days off. They were all well rested and happy to be back. Hosted playgroup for Maya's class this afternoon, with Marylouise, Aparna, and Aruni here with their children. Nice low-key gathering.
Molly looking pensive
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Went to Hindi class for the second day. Traffic was thick on Airport Road so I had Shiva Kumar (our new driver) drop me off at the "walkover", a footpath that goes over the busy road. The 8 and 11 year old brothers who are studying with me are going five days a week, whereas I'm only going twice a week, so they're a little ahead of me. I'd been thinking I'd only learn conversational Hindi, but Alka, the teacher, is first teaching the Hindi alphabet http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.esm.psu.edu/~axl4/Lakhtakia/Hindi/Alphabet.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.esm.psu.edu/~axl4/Lakhtakia/Hindi/HindiLessons.html&h=680&w=600&sz=8&tbnid=226qFag20CYKaM:&tbnh=137&tbnw=120&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dhindi%2Balphabet&start=1&sa=X&oi=images&ct=image&cd=1
No easy task.
After class went over to the Leela Palace to stop in at the Overseas Women's Club morning coffee. A friend, Teresa, introduced me to Kendra Carpenter. Later I told Badri about our meeting, and only then did I realize how much we had in common: both got our master's degrees in Intercultural Relations at Lesley College, both same height, same hair; both partnered with Tamilian men with roots in south India but born and raised in Delhi; and both of us, at least partly, of Polish extraction. Her emphasis at Lesley was on cross-cultural training (mine was in international development) and she's doing some seminars here in Bangalore. She's been here for nine months.
Ran into someone at the Cha Bar at the Leela who, when I told them I was coming from Hindi class, told me I should be learning Tamil or Kannada. I hear that ALL the time. It's really a toss up as to what one should learn here. Sure, Hindi is the national language, but Tamil is more spoken in South India, plus it's Badri's mother tongue. And Kannada is the primary language of Karnataka, the state in which we currently live. If I'd been really smart, I would have learned Hindi the first year here, Tamil the second, and Kannada this year (or in any other order).
Stopped in at Mahua Gallery to see the latest multi-artist exhibit and spoke with Shanelle, who manages the gallery.
Friday, August 18, 2006
Griha Pravesh (Housewarming)
Went to yoga this morning, then picked all the kids up from school at 11 am to get ready for a housewarming. A couple years ago we met one of the park walkers, Mr. Venkatesh. Charlie's always been one of his favorites and he even came to Charlie's first birthday party. He was having a housewarming and invited us. All we girls put on salwar kameez and went to the event. Mr. Venkatesh's daughter showed me around the place. A very light- and breeze-filled abode built on three levels, with a terrace on top outfitted with a solar power panel. On the first floor was the sacrificial fire, beside which were placed offerings for the gods. As with marriages and thread ceremonies, priests attend these celebrations and chant in Sanskrit to bless the house. The daughter pointed out one room which was not yet finished. She told me it's customary to not finish absolutely everything in the house until after the Griha Pravesh. Here are some pictures of a similar housewarming ceremony http://www.cbmphoto.co.uk/Hhousew.html.
We were given lunch, where we sat at a long bench and ate many delicious foods off a banana leaf: gobi Manchurian (Chinese style cauliflower), palak paneer (spinach with cottage cheese), chola (garbanzo bean stew with potatoes), rasam, rice, and keer and rasgula for dessert. Just before we left we were given a bag with a coconut, two leaves, and samph (spelling uncertain, a breath freshener made of fennel and sugar).
In the evening Badri and I went to an exhibition of paintings by Dewashish Das at Rightlines Art Gallery. Das is a Calcutta artist trained in Bihar whose main theme is India's rich tribal culture and heritage. Rightlines Gallery is run by Indira and Raj. Indira is a neighbor (lives next to the park across the street) of ours who owns Pixie, our favorite neighborhood dog. It's great having a nice little art gallery with rotating exhibits one street over from ours. Having a walkable neighborhood--where you can walk to pick up groceries, have lunch, see some art, bring kids to the park--is definitely a bonus. (A side note: Indira was wearing the most gorgeous sari from Orissa. Here's a link to a page about saris in various regions of India-- http://www.devi.net/shakti/expo/expo3b.html)
Went to dinner afterwards at Paparazzi, a restaurant on the 10th floor of the Royal Orchid Hotel on MG Road. We had the most amazing view of any restaurant I've been to in Bangalore. On one side was Cubbon Road which looked like a mini Champs Elysee from above, and on another side were a group of buildings that looked like a few in La Jolla, California.
Before dinner we had a drink in the ground level bar where a jazz duo was playing. Badri spoke to the saxophonist about jazz in Bangalore. The man basically told him this is the only place to hear jazz in town. All other places where jazz was played became too loud (with people talking)until nobody would play live music anymore.
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Kirsty hosted a party for Lolis and Charlies, who are moving back to Mexico soon. I gave Lolis a Ganesha as a going away gift.
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Had a big scare today. Molly's breathing became very labored, along with a fever and lots of coughing. In the morning, I took a taxi with her to Manipal Hospital, about ten minutes away. Went to the emergency room, where our pediatrician Jagdish Chinnappa and pediatric pulmonologist Mahesh Babu both evaluated her within an hour of her arrival (9:30am on Sunday morning). She was hooked up to oxygen and a nebulizer to get her back to normal. They checked her saturation periodically, also, which checks that the red blood cells are carrying enough oxygen to the arteries. That should ideally be between 90 and 100%. She was given steroids (hydrocortisone) at 10:15 am and another dose six hours later.
After a few hours in the pediatric ER, we were moved up to the pediatric intensive care unit so they could constantly monitor her. The drawback there was that parents couldn't go in, except for five to ten minutes between 3 and 3:30. They let me in every once in a while though, when she was asking for me. It was heartbreaking to see the other children in there. One boy who was two beds over from Molly looked to be smaller than Molly, or about three years old. From where I was standing it looks like he had severe burns from the neck down. In the waiting room spoke with some of the parents of the other children in ICU, and communicated with others through translators. When some of us went in and were washing our hands before seeing our children, I asked one couple which was their child and they indicated the bed two over from Molly. "Accident" the mother said. I asked what his name was. "James", she said. Then it dawned on me that it was the boy I wrote about on August 10--the one who was hit and dragged by a truck on 100ft. Road.
Friends have been very helpful. Kirsty took Maya with their family on Sunday when they went on a double decker city tour bus. She offered to take her all day, but after they went to lunch at The Beach restaurant on 100 ft. Road, Maya said she wanted to go home because she missed Charlie. Aruni offered to help out, too, and sent over freshly baked flan.
Dr. Chinnappa wanted to observe Molly and continue with the nebulizer, so she was admitted and I stayed with her at the hospital for Sunday and Monday night. She really hated the nebulizer, but as she got better and her breathing stabilized, she had to use it less. I described it as a fun two night sleepover, and we watched some TV and read lots of books. She really was a great patient.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Molly and I home from the hospital.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Both Molly and Charlie out of school today. Molly still weak, not having eaten for the last five days, and Charlie coughing like crazy. When we described his symptoms to Dr. Chinnappa when we were in the hospital with Molly, he said odds are Charlie has the same allergies/asthma that Molly has. We have to remove all rugs, carpets, and other allergens (like stuffed animals) from the house.
Took them on a stroller ride to see how tailor Harish was doing with my sari blouses and saris. In the afternoon went to Aruni's for a playdate and they had a grand old time.
Went to a shop called Eka where there was a huge Ganesha exhibit, timed to coincide with the big Ganesha festival this weekend.
Rita's leg is very swollen after she just had a procedure to relieve the swelling. She'll take a few days off to rest.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Brother's Ski's 46th birthday, only days away from brother-in-law Ravi's (Srini) birthday. Called him to wish him the best, but he's probably off in La Paz, Mexico, he and Elena's first vacation in a while.
Went out to dinner with a bunch of girlfriends for the first time in a very long time. Priya met me here and we walked over to the Beach restaurant. Great group of women, but outrageously loud music which increased in volume as the evening wore on. At one point the power went out and there was no music, only candlelight. Cheers came from the crowd. Alas, the power returned, and we all went home later feeling as though we had laryngitis from yelling at each other to be heard above the din.
Friday, August 25, 2006
Kids dressed up for Ganesha festival celebration in school today. I think it's the first day all three have gone to school in the last four or six weeks. Molly was back in school for the first time since last week. It's so good to see her back to normal.
Tonight I wore a sari that Badri had given me several months ago. Just got around to having a new tailor (Harish) make a couple blouses. As I was saying goodbye to the kids, Charlie said to me, "Mommy, why do you look so pretty?"
Badri and I went to a dance/lecture sponsored by Sanskriti (an NGO) and Mahua Gallery at Taj West End. The dancer, Malavika Sarukkai, is a very famous classical Bharatanatyam dancer. Ran into some people we knew there from the neighborhood and Neev, and also saw the playwright, Girish Karnad, who we'd seen at a recent reading.
Malavika Sarukkai combines the grace of a ballet dancer, the passion of a flamenco dancer, and the flexibility of yoga in her movement. She's been dancing for nearly 30 years and clearly has a lot of followers. She talked about how art takes us to that otherness, to another place away from everyday life. She also talked about the magic of rasa, and sadhana, which I just googled to find out some interesting things like how to control emotions http://www.rasas.info/. Something I'll be looking into further.
Badri and I had dinner at Olive Beach, which had come highly recommended. It started out great, with wonderful music and overall great ambience. Then the rain came pouring down and, seated outside at the edge of the tent, we were getting pretty wet. We moved inside and I think that's where they lost us. We arrived at the restaurant at 9:15, ordered by 10, and by 11 still hadn't got our dinner. Talked to the manager and he had dinner brought out to us within 20 minutes. Yummy when it came. Sirloin, salad, and potatoes for me, and pizza for Badri. Our final waiter, Amar, was very gracious. Basically, when we were seated outside, there was a huge party of about 20 people so we were overlooked.
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Went to a Abinav's birthday party. Mom and dad, Arti and Mohit, threw a great party, with a Simba cake done by the Oberoi bakery. Good crowd. We arrived too late to hear Kavita, the storyteller, but this birthday celebration showed us that all you need are fun people, balloons, and a birthday cake to be a success (plus a terrific return gift--all the attendees received an umbrella with cartoon characters). Mohit's parents were visiting all the way from Merida, Mexico, where they've been living for the last ten years. Badri had really been looking forward to meeting Mohit's dad, who is also a physicist, and went to the same school as Badri, St. Stephens College in Delhi. But more than anything, Badri was excited to talk to someone who had retired in Mexico, something he's talked about doing for a while.
Badri went to Jungle Book 2 with Molly and Maya at St. John's auditorium in Koramangala. They had a great time.
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi is the day that Ganesh (or Ganapati) makes a visit to earth for his devotees. Ganesh is the most popular in the pantheon of Hindu gods. Legends say that Lord Ganapati (meaning "Lord"[pati] of the "semi-divine creatures that serve Lord Shiva"[ganas]) was created by goddess [Parvati]; wife of Lord [Shiva]. Parvati created Ganesha out of sandalwood paste that she used for her bath and breathed life into the figure. Letting him stand guard at the door she went to have her bath. However, while Parvati was taking her bath, Lord Shiva returned and as Ganesha didn't know him, he didn't allow him to enter. Lord Shiva became enraged and severed the head of the child and entered his house. After realizing that he had beheaded his own son, Lord Shiva fixed the head of an elephant in place of Ganesha's head. In this way, Lord Ganesha acquired the image of the elephant-headed God. Lord Ganesha represents Om, which is the chief mantra among the Hindus.
Clay Ganesha (elephant god)
Charlie getting ready for puja (prayer) in front of Ganesha
Maya and rangoli drawn by Ratnama for Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesha in the garden
We drove by Ulsoor Lake where everybody was dunking their Ganesh statues, but it was so crowded and the line to get into the temple was so long that we didn't get out. The custom is to submerge each family's clay Ganesh into water: “Lord Ganesh is immersed in a lake, river or the sea symbolising a ritual farewell of the Lord in his journey towards his abode in Kailash (one of the Heavenly worlds where his mother Parvati and father Shiva reside) while taking away with him the misfortunes of all the human beings. Before that Lord Ganesh's idol is taken through the streets in a procession accompanied with dancing and singing. People join in this final procession shouting "Ganapathi Bappa Morya, Purchya Varshi Laukariya" (O father Ganesha, come again early next year). After the final offering of coconuts, flowers and camphor is made, people carry the idol to the water to immerse it.”
Here's a link to Ganesha showing the immersion in Mumbai, where the celebration is huge. http://www.amitkulkarni.info/pics/ganesh_mumbai/
Monday, August 28, 2006
Molly still not wanting to go to school, so stayed home and relaxed. Brought Maya and Kumali to Hindi class today. Their teacher, Miss Geetha, is teaching them the Hindi alphabet, but Kumali's not too interested, so I'll ask her just to focus on conversation.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
After dropping the kids off to school (Molly didn't want to go at first, but then went happily), went to the Citrus restaurant at Leela Palace for a going away breakfast for Lolis. She, her husband Charles, and their two kids are moving back to Mexico next week. Lolis is going home to live in Mexico after ten years living in the U.S. (nine years) and India (one year). They'll live in Mexico City, or nearby. Their daughter, Carla, who is five years old, is completely trilingual (English, German [Charles is German], and Spanish).
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Went swimming at Leela Palace with Priya. Had an invigorating swim under partially gray skies. It costs 550 rs (apx. $12 US) to swim there when going as a guest of a member. Priya has a one month membership which is 5000 rs. I probably wouldn't get there 10 times in a month, so it wouldn't be worth it to get a one month membership. Had a drink at Citrus, the restaurant there, after swimming. Great to gab with a girlfriend.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
I got a call from school to pick up Charlie. He has blisters on his hands and "ulcers" [they call them here] in his mouth. I strongly suspected hand, foot, and mouth disease, because Maya's friend and friend's sister had it in the last week or two. Sure enough, brought him to Dr. Chinnappa and that's exactly what it is. Nothing serious. A virus that's "moderately" contagious. Most kids here in India under five get it. Has to stay out of school for a week. I was pretty upset when I heard that they'd known about it at the school for the last month and the parents hadn't been notified.
Tuesday, August 1, 2006
Have been having regular weekly playdates with Priya and Kavi. They moved here from Chicago in April. Priya's working at the Indian Institute of Management (she has a Master's in Public Health) and her husband, Kush, works for Accenture. Their son Kavi is in Charlie's class at Neev--they're only one week apart in age.
Molly blowing the horn Badri bought on the streets of Bombay (Mumbai)
Wednesday, August 2, 2006
Badri and my 9th wedding anniversary.
Saturday, August 5, 2006
Went with Molly and Charlie on the loop, stopping to see if our favorite new little yellow lab, Benz, was at home. We didn't see anyone, so went up the street and Prince's guard let us in the gate to pet the old black lab. That really makes their day (the kids, and maybe the dogs, too). After running around the butterfly park (Charlie getting as adept as Molly at the monkey bars) we went to the children's park near our house. Maria and Mats were there with Astrid and Mimmi. I'm quite sad that they'll be leaving in September. I've really gotten to like Maria a lot, and it's nice for Maya and Astrid to hang out together once in a while, too.
They came over to our house after the park and we all had dosas. They were telling us about their trip to Rajasthan--the highs and lows of traveling with two little active children. We could certainly commiserate.
Sunday, August 6, 2006
I took Molly and Charlie on our regular weekend loop, ending up at the butterfly park. Later, after I put Charlie down for a nap (he was not feeling very well), Maya, Molly, and I met Kirsty, Angus, Nicolas, and Chloe at the Grand Ashok hotel for the Sunday brunch. For 700 rupees ($15), use of pool included, you get brunch and a shoulder and/or foot massage. They only charge for adults, too. The pool is beautiful and the grassy grounds are quite unique for Bangalore. There was also an artist doing caricature drawings, as well as a potter making pots. Very enjoyable couple hours. The kids had a great time--Maya and Angus swam, and Nico followed Molly while she did laps around the outside of the pool.
Monday, August 7, 2006
Charlie home from school today with a fever and cough.
Tuesday, August 8, 2006
Both Maya and Charlie home today. Maya had a fever in the morning, but then had a three hour nap and woke up fit as a fiddle.
Wednesday, August 9, 2006
Today Maya asked when Nanny was coming to visit again. When I told her that it was a little too far, she said, "Well, maybe we can meet in London, and if she feels like it after a couple days, Nanny can continue on to India."
Went to an art and artisans' exhibit/sale at the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, this wonderful venue for art bazaars, and temporary and permanent art exhibits. After two+ years here, I'm still astounded by the beauty of the handwork and skilled artisanry available for such a pittance. From hand beaded purses made in Bhopal to mirror work wall hangings from Gujarat, to tribal brass work from Chattisgarh in Madhya Pradesh. I went in the morning and was so overwhelmed that I told Badri we'd have to go back in the evening. Our tastes are converging more and more since we've been here, and we find ourselves homing in on the same pieces. I must say, though, when it comes to paintings, we still differ in that he prefers abstract art much more than I do.
In the exhibit hall next to the artisans' hall there were three Chennai students showing their work. There was such a stunning painting of two girls--one really resembled Maya--that I asked the artist if he could do a picture of our kids. He said sure, and asked me to bring them in and he could take pictures and go from there. Well, the kids and I picked up Badri at work about 5 pm. Not good timing for the kids. They were pretty much bouncing off the walls and of course were not keen on having their pictures taken. The artist goes back to Chennai tomorrow, and we'll email him a picture of the three if we can get them in a pose we want replicated in a painting.
Today was Raksha Bandhan day, where sisters tie a decorated string around their brother's wrist, and in exchange the brothers will look out for them in the future. We got the rakhi (string) for Maya and Molly to tie on Charlie, but he wanted nothing to do with it (I suppose the same sort of way Molly wants nothing to do with a clip being put in her hair). Badri's cousins Neelam and Kadham sent rakhis for him, and Kadham's daughter sent one for Charlie.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Our former housecleaner stopped by today to visit and was hoping we could re-hire her or recommend her to friends of ours. Unfortunately, I told her, we couldn't because she was too unreliable while in our employ. My heart breaks for her situation.
Read about a seven year old boy who was hit by a truck on 100ft. Road (within five minutes of our house). Bystanders put him in an autorickshaw and drove around to hospitals in the area for 4+ hours before they found a hospital who would treat him. The newspaper article gave a phone number to contact to donate to his treatment. Already he's losing one leg--he was dragged a bit of a distance. Badri says there are countless stories out there, numerous causes to support, but I feel I really want to find counseling for our former housecleaner, and contribute to this little boy's hospital bills.
Dropped the kids off at schoool and went to the first of a new series of Hindi classes. It's at the School of Lanuages and Soft Skills by Gate #8 of Diamond District, off Airport Road (2500 rupees for 20 hours, apx. $2.70 per hour). My teacher's name is Alka, and she's starting us off by learning the Hindi alphabet. No easy task. A completely different script. My classmates: an 8 and 11 year old pair of brothers from Orange County, California. Their elastic minds put me to shame. I'm writing the phonetic sound of each character on the poster we've each been given, and they're reciting them all back to the teacher by memory, not a thing written on their posters. But then again, they've been at this for four days, and this is only my first day.
Stopped in at Overseas Women's Club meeting at the Leela for the first time in a while. Knew only a handful of people there. I suppose that comes from not going much lately. Lots of newcomers.
Picked up Molly from school and when Charlie woke up we played for a bit. Went back to Neev for Maya at 3pm to go on our special treat--to the planetarium. Aruni told me Kumali and Maya were dying for a playdate, so we invited Kumali along. We sat in a theatre with a dome shaped ceiling and watched the stars come alive. It was a 30 minute movie about the stars and planets, and the girls loved it--exactly what they're learning in school these last couple of weeks.
Friday, August 11, 2006
Back to a regular schedule with yoga on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Kala, Namita, Nandita, and Rani really the core group of regulars in the 8:30 am class.
Met Maria for lunch at Roomali with a View on 100 Foot Road. Very nice ambience on the third floor, with tree canopies all around. The place was hopping and we just beat the waiting line. Decent buffet lunch. The waiter cautioned us against the buffet, saying it would be too spicy for us, but we managed okay. 245 rupees (apx. $5) for each.
Maria will be leaving around November, once Mimmi's paperwork goes through for the adoption. She has very mixed feelings about it, as I think a lot of people do as they approach their departure date. People realize they'll miss all that is unique about India, the riot of colors, sights, and smells, but many long for things back in their homelands, too.
Had our regular Friday playdate with Kirsty, Angus, Nicolas, and Chloe. Fish and chip Fridays are becoming a bit of a ritual, too. Kirsty and I have instituted a new practice, too--a glass of wine to mellow out the afternoon. She's had a tough couple weeks because her husband Andrew has been in Australia. Even with help in the house, missing daddy is tough, especially on the kids. That will probably be one of two trips of that length he'll be taking, though. Lots of people spend even more time travelling. Kirsty's a very self-sufficient, adventurous type. They travel the most in India of any family I know, and that with three children, one of whom is less than six months old.
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Went to Marylouise's for a couple hours. They returned from a six week trip to the U.S. a few weeks ago.
Badri and I went out to dinner at Dakshin, an Indian restaurant at the Windsor Manor Hotel, for our 9th anniversary. I was given jasmine to clip in my hair. What a heavenly smell! That--along with freesia and lilacs--is one of my favorites. Had lovely prawns and coriander/cashew rice. After dinner tried paan for the very first time. Paan is a type of South Asian snack, which consists of fillings wrapped in a triangular package using leaves of the Betel pepper and held together with a toothpick or a clove. Paan is chewed as a palate cleanser and a breath freshener. It is also commonly offered to guests and visitors as a sign of hospitality. Paan filling is generally a mixture of various spices, fruits, and sugar. It was okay, but probably not something I'll try again.
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Took a little Sunday drive, with me at the wheel. Uneventful. Fun for the kids, seeing neighborhoods we haven't yet explored.
Monday, August 14, 2006
Met Kirsty and Maria's families at Lalbagh Gardens for the annual flower show. We drew lots of stares--three mixed families (Maria is from Sweden and has adopted two Indian girls, and Kirsty and Andrew are Australian with very fair children, and you all know us). Lots of cheek pinching going on, and many people asking if we'd line up so they could take our picture (five adults and eight children!).
Astrid, Maya, Charlie, and Angus at Lalbagh flower show (just made me think of the Mod Squad for some reason)
Maya and Angus
Peace on Earth at flower show
Maya, Astrid, and Angus
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Indian Independence Day today. Very quiet around here. There was the sound of firecrackers in the distance when we walked home from the park about 11:30am, and we saw a big truck unloading warming trays (chafing dishes) and many cases of Kingfisher beer at a nearby house. But Badri says Republic Day is a much bigger celebration than Independence Day.
At the park Maya, Molly, and Charlie had the company of a couple families of friends, and one child's grandmother brought balloons to distribute to all of the children.
Molly and Charlie
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Kids back in school today after four days off. They were all well rested and happy to be back. Hosted playgroup for Maya's class this afternoon, with Marylouise, Aparna, and Aruni here with their children. Nice low-key gathering.
Molly looking pensive
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Went to Hindi class for the second day. Traffic was thick on Airport Road so I had Shiva Kumar (our new driver) drop me off at the "walkover", a footpath that goes over the busy road. The 8 and 11 year old brothers who are studying with me are going five days a week, whereas I'm only going twice a week, so they're a little ahead of me. I'd been thinking I'd only learn conversational Hindi, but Alka, the teacher, is first teaching the Hindi alphabet http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.esm.psu.edu/~axl4/Lakhtakia/Hindi/Alphabet.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.esm.psu.edu/~axl4/Lakhtakia/Hindi/HindiLessons.html&h=680&w=600&sz=8&tbnid=226qFag20CYKaM:&tbnh=137&tbnw=120&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dhindi%2Balphabet&start=1&sa=X&oi=images&ct=image&cd=1
No easy task.
After class went over to the Leela Palace to stop in at the Overseas Women's Club morning coffee. A friend, Teresa, introduced me to Kendra Carpenter. Later I told Badri about our meeting, and only then did I realize how much we had in common: both got our master's degrees in Intercultural Relations at Lesley College, both same height, same hair; both partnered with Tamilian men with roots in south India but born and raised in Delhi; and both of us, at least partly, of Polish extraction. Her emphasis at Lesley was on cross-cultural training (mine was in international development) and she's doing some seminars here in Bangalore. She's been here for nine months.
Ran into someone at the Cha Bar at the Leela who, when I told them I was coming from Hindi class, told me I should be learning Tamil or Kannada. I hear that ALL the time. It's really a toss up as to what one should learn here. Sure, Hindi is the national language, but Tamil is more spoken in South India, plus it's Badri's mother tongue. And Kannada is the primary language of Karnataka, the state in which we currently live. If I'd been really smart, I would have learned Hindi the first year here, Tamil the second, and Kannada this year (or in any other order).
Stopped in at Mahua Gallery to see the latest multi-artist exhibit and spoke with Shanelle, who manages the gallery.
Friday, August 18, 2006
Griha Pravesh (Housewarming)
Went to yoga this morning, then picked all the kids up from school at 11 am to get ready for a housewarming. A couple years ago we met one of the park walkers, Mr. Venkatesh. Charlie's always been one of his favorites and he even came to Charlie's first birthday party. He was having a housewarming and invited us. All we girls put on salwar kameez and went to the event. Mr. Venkatesh's daughter showed me around the place. A very light- and breeze-filled abode built on three levels, with a terrace on top outfitted with a solar power panel. On the first floor was the sacrificial fire, beside which were placed offerings for the gods. As with marriages and thread ceremonies, priests attend these celebrations and chant in Sanskrit to bless the house. The daughter pointed out one room which was not yet finished. She told me it's customary to not finish absolutely everything in the house until after the Griha Pravesh. Here are some pictures of a similar housewarming ceremony http://www.cbmphoto.co.uk/Hhousew.html.
We were given lunch, where we sat at a long bench and ate many delicious foods off a banana leaf: gobi Manchurian (Chinese style cauliflower), palak paneer (spinach with cottage cheese), chola (garbanzo bean stew with potatoes), rasam, rice, and keer and rasgula for dessert. Just before we left we were given a bag with a coconut, two leaves, and samph (spelling uncertain, a breath freshener made of fennel and sugar).
In the evening Badri and I went to an exhibition of paintings by Dewashish Das at Rightlines Art Gallery. Das is a Calcutta artist trained in Bihar whose main theme is India's rich tribal culture and heritage. Rightlines Gallery is run by Indira and Raj. Indira is a neighbor (lives next to the park across the street) of ours who owns Pixie, our favorite neighborhood dog. It's great having a nice little art gallery with rotating exhibits one street over from ours. Having a walkable neighborhood--where you can walk to pick up groceries, have lunch, see some art, bring kids to the park--is definitely a bonus. (A side note: Indira was wearing the most gorgeous sari from Orissa. Here's a link to a page about saris in various regions of India-- http://www.devi.net/shakti/expo/expo3b.html)
Went to dinner afterwards at Paparazzi, a restaurant on the 10th floor of the Royal Orchid Hotel on MG Road. We had the most amazing view of any restaurant I've been to in Bangalore. On one side was Cubbon Road which looked like a mini Champs Elysee from above, and on another side were a group of buildings that looked like a few in La Jolla, California.
Before dinner we had a drink in the ground level bar where a jazz duo was playing. Badri spoke to the saxophonist about jazz in Bangalore. The man basically told him this is the only place to hear jazz in town. All other places where jazz was played became too loud (with people talking)until nobody would play live music anymore.
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Kirsty hosted a party for Lolis and Charlies, who are moving back to Mexico soon. I gave Lolis a Ganesha as a going away gift.
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Had a big scare today. Molly's breathing became very labored, along with a fever and lots of coughing. In the morning, I took a taxi with her to Manipal Hospital, about ten minutes away. Went to the emergency room, where our pediatrician Jagdish Chinnappa and pediatric pulmonologist Mahesh Babu both evaluated her within an hour of her arrival (9:30am on Sunday morning). She was hooked up to oxygen and a nebulizer to get her back to normal. They checked her saturation periodically, also, which checks that the red blood cells are carrying enough oxygen to the arteries. That should ideally be between 90 and 100%. She was given steroids (hydrocortisone) at 10:15 am and another dose six hours later.
After a few hours in the pediatric ER, we were moved up to the pediatric intensive care unit so they could constantly monitor her. The drawback there was that parents couldn't go in, except for five to ten minutes between 3 and 3:30. They let me in every once in a while though, when she was asking for me. It was heartbreaking to see the other children in there. One boy who was two beds over from Molly looked to be smaller than Molly, or about three years old. From where I was standing it looks like he had severe burns from the neck down. In the waiting room spoke with some of the parents of the other children in ICU, and communicated with others through translators. When some of us went in and were washing our hands before seeing our children, I asked one couple which was their child and they indicated the bed two over from Molly. "Accident" the mother said. I asked what his name was. "James", she said. Then it dawned on me that it was the boy I wrote about on August 10--the one who was hit and dragged by a truck on 100ft. Road.
Friends have been very helpful. Kirsty took Maya with their family on Sunday when they went on a double decker city tour bus. She offered to take her all day, but after they went to lunch at The Beach restaurant on 100 ft. Road, Maya said she wanted to go home because she missed Charlie. Aruni offered to help out, too, and sent over freshly baked flan.
Dr. Chinnappa wanted to observe Molly and continue with the nebulizer, so she was admitted and I stayed with her at the hospital for Sunday and Monday night. She really hated the nebulizer, but as she got better and her breathing stabilized, she had to use it less. I described it as a fun two night sleepover, and we watched some TV and read lots of books. She really was a great patient.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Molly and I home from the hospital.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Both Molly and Charlie out of school today. Molly still weak, not having eaten for the last five days, and Charlie coughing like crazy. When we described his symptoms to Dr. Chinnappa when we were in the hospital with Molly, he said odds are Charlie has the same allergies/asthma that Molly has. We have to remove all rugs, carpets, and other allergens (like stuffed animals) from the house.
Took them on a stroller ride to see how tailor Harish was doing with my sari blouses and saris. In the afternoon went to Aruni's for a playdate and they had a grand old time.
Went to a shop called Eka where there was a huge Ganesha exhibit, timed to coincide with the big Ganesha festival this weekend.
Rita's leg is very swollen after she just had a procedure to relieve the swelling. She'll take a few days off to rest.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Brother's Ski's 46th birthday, only days away from brother-in-law Ravi's (Srini) birthday. Called him to wish him the best, but he's probably off in La Paz, Mexico, he and Elena's first vacation in a while.
Went out to dinner with a bunch of girlfriends for the first time in a very long time. Priya met me here and we walked over to the Beach restaurant. Great group of women, but outrageously loud music which increased in volume as the evening wore on. At one point the power went out and there was no music, only candlelight. Cheers came from the crowd. Alas, the power returned, and we all went home later feeling as though we had laryngitis from yelling at each other to be heard above the din.
Friday, August 25, 2006
Kids dressed up for Ganesha festival celebration in school today. I think it's the first day all three have gone to school in the last four or six weeks. Molly was back in school for the first time since last week. It's so good to see her back to normal.
Tonight I wore a sari that Badri had given me several months ago. Just got around to having a new tailor (Harish) make a couple blouses. As I was saying goodbye to the kids, Charlie said to me, "Mommy, why do you look so pretty?"
Badri and I went to a dance/lecture sponsored by Sanskriti (an NGO) and Mahua Gallery at Taj West End. The dancer, Malavika Sarukkai, is a very famous classical Bharatanatyam dancer. Ran into some people we knew there from the neighborhood and Neev, and also saw the playwright, Girish Karnad, who we'd seen at a recent reading.
Malavika Sarukkai combines the grace of a ballet dancer, the passion of a flamenco dancer, and the flexibility of yoga in her movement. She's been dancing for nearly 30 years and clearly has a lot of followers. She talked about how art takes us to that otherness, to another place away from everyday life. She also talked about the magic of rasa, and sadhana, which I just googled to find out some interesting things like how to control emotions http://www.rasas.info/. Something I'll be looking into further.
Badri and I had dinner at Olive Beach, which had come highly recommended. It started out great, with wonderful music and overall great ambience. Then the rain came pouring down and, seated outside at the edge of the tent, we were getting pretty wet. We moved inside and I think that's where they lost us. We arrived at the restaurant at 9:15, ordered by 10, and by 11 still hadn't got our dinner. Talked to the manager and he had dinner brought out to us within 20 minutes. Yummy when it came. Sirloin, salad, and potatoes for me, and pizza for Badri. Our final waiter, Amar, was very gracious. Basically, when we were seated outside, there was a huge party of about 20 people so we were overlooked.
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Went to a Abinav's birthday party. Mom and dad, Arti and Mohit, threw a great party, with a Simba cake done by the Oberoi bakery. Good crowd. We arrived too late to hear Kavita, the storyteller, but this birthday celebration showed us that all you need are fun people, balloons, and a birthday cake to be a success (plus a terrific return gift--all the attendees received an umbrella with cartoon characters). Mohit's parents were visiting all the way from Merida, Mexico, where they've been living for the last ten years. Badri had really been looking forward to meeting Mohit's dad, who is also a physicist, and went to the same school as Badri, St. Stephens College in Delhi. But more than anything, Badri was excited to talk to someone who had retired in Mexico, something he's talked about doing for a while.
Badri went to Jungle Book 2 with Molly and Maya at St. John's auditorium in Koramangala. They had a great time.
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi is the day that Ganesh (or Ganapati) makes a visit to earth for his devotees. Ganesh is the most popular in the pantheon of Hindu gods. Legends say that Lord Ganapati (meaning "Lord"[pati] of the "semi-divine creatures that serve Lord Shiva"[ganas]) was created by goddess [Parvati]; wife of Lord [Shiva]. Parvati created Ganesha out of sandalwood paste that she used for her bath and breathed life into the figure. Letting him stand guard at the door she went to have her bath. However, while Parvati was taking her bath, Lord Shiva returned and as Ganesha didn't know him, he didn't allow him to enter. Lord Shiva became enraged and severed the head of the child and entered his house. After realizing that he had beheaded his own son, Lord Shiva fixed the head of an elephant in place of Ganesha's head. In this way, Lord Ganesha acquired the image of the elephant-headed God. Lord Ganesha represents Om, which is the chief mantra among the Hindus.
Clay Ganesha (elephant god)
Charlie getting ready for puja (prayer) in front of Ganesha
Maya and rangoli drawn by Ratnama for Ganesh Chaturthi
In the morning I took Charlie for a stroller ride to Krishna Temple Road where we brought jasmine flowers to adorn our Ganesh at home, along with some offerings to do a puja (prayer): coconut, more flowers, red sandal paste, durva grass (very resilient and a symbol of long life). Ganesh is said to be the god who removes all obstacles, and it is customary to be given a Ganesh statue, not to buy one for oneself (receiving it as a gift is more auspicious and brings better luck). Patricia had made a sweet dessert on Saturday, and first we offered it to Ganesh, and then we gave a bowl to everybody to eat (although our kids didn't eat it, because they just haven't taken a liking to Indian sweets).
Went to brunch at Grand Ashok and quick breeze through Dastakar at Chitrakala Parishath. Gorgeous crafts. There's no end to these opportunities, even in Bangalore. It was Badri's first time at the brunch at Grand Ashok and he thought it was the best he'd seen yet. The property is so open, with a great lawn all around the pool.
In the evening we took a drive around town to see people celebrating the special day. At one point we got out of the car and walked down a street where a grandstand had been set up. It turned out to be nothing special, but on the way Molly stepped in a big cow patty. I was trying to remove it with rocks, sticks, and leaves I could find, when an elderly woman came up to us with a big bottle of water and washed it off Molly's foot and sandal with a big smile. I was really touched by her kindness.Ganesha in the garden
We drove by Ulsoor Lake where everybody was dunking their Ganesh statues, but it was so crowded and the line to get into the temple was so long that we didn't get out. The custom is to submerge each family's clay Ganesh into water: “Lord Ganesh is immersed in a lake, river or the sea symbolising a ritual farewell of the Lord in his journey towards his abode in Kailash (one of the Heavenly worlds where his mother Parvati and father Shiva reside) while taking away with him the misfortunes of all the human beings. Before that Lord Ganesh's idol is taken through the streets in a procession accompanied with dancing and singing. People join in this final procession shouting "Ganapathi Bappa Morya, Purchya Varshi Laukariya" (O father Ganesha, come again early next year). After the final offering of coconuts, flowers and camphor is made, people carry the idol to the water to immerse it.”
Here's a link to Ganesha showing the immersion in Mumbai, where the celebration is huge. http://www.amitkulkarni.info/pics/ganesh_mumbai/
Monday, August 28, 2006
Molly still not wanting to go to school, so stayed home and relaxed. Brought Maya and Kumali to Hindi class today. Their teacher, Miss Geetha, is teaching them the Hindi alphabet, but Kumali's not too interested, so I'll ask her just to focus on conversation.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
After dropping the kids off to school (Molly didn't want to go at first, but then went happily), went to the Citrus restaurant at Leela Palace for a going away breakfast for Lolis. She, her husband Charles, and their two kids are moving back to Mexico next week. Lolis is going home to live in Mexico after ten years living in the U.S. (nine years) and India (one year). They'll live in Mexico City, or nearby. Their daughter, Carla, who is five years old, is completely trilingual (English, German [Charles is German], and Spanish).
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Went swimming at Leela Palace with Priya. Had an invigorating swim under partially gray skies. It costs 550 rs (apx. $12 US) to swim there when going as a guest of a member. Priya has a one month membership which is 5000 rs. I probably wouldn't get there 10 times in a month, so it wouldn't be worth it to get a one month membership. Had a drink at Citrus, the restaurant there, after swimming. Great to gab with a girlfriend.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
I got a call from school to pick up Charlie. He has blisters on his hands and "ulcers" [they call them here] in his mouth. I strongly suspected hand, foot, and mouth disease, because Maya's friend and friend's sister had it in the last week or two. Sure enough, brought him to Dr. Chinnappa and that's exactly what it is. Nothing serious. A virus that's "moderately" contagious. Most kids here in India under five get it. Has to stay out of school for a week. I was pretty upset when I heard that they'd known about it at the school for the last month and the parents hadn't been notified.
# posted by Kelly @ 10:46 AM 
