The Raghavan Family in Bangalore

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Jayama's last day. Worked with us since mid-2007

Spoke at Maya's school re adoption

Meet Divya at CCD for neev shirts

Molly to Irfana's

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Charlie's farewell at Neev

Anupama here

went to see Peter Dixon, Australian jazz latin and fusion guitarist, at Alliance Francaise. Then beers at Kosmos

April 3

Friday, April 3, 2009 The End of an Era

Molly and Charlie's last day of school at Neev. Molly and her K2 class performed another Bollywood dance and the teachers had to take turns leaving the playground because they couldn't hold back their tears (especially Nilu the art teacher and Kalpita the K2 teacher). Moms Irfana and Chaitali were the most emotionally struck--didn't want to leave. By 3:30, the teachers had to kick us out. But not before the K2s performed their dance once again, because school founder Kavita hadn't seen the first round.

Neev gave every K2 student a commemorative mug with a picture of the child in their cap and gown. Diya's dad Satnam mentioned setting up a website/blog for all the parents to keep in touch.

to Manipal with Maya for shot. Call jagdish re which strain and if Maya can swim

swim with Maya, Kirsty, and Angus at Park. Kids love jumping off the ledge at the end of the pool, like jumping off the pier

playdate here with Kirst

April 4, 2009

Maya to Angus's birthday party

Ved sings at TERI in Domlur. Sunit and Trushita parents. Jyothi there with in-laws. Love her mom-in-law. Very outspoken, from Chennai

Dinner out with Kirsty, Jessica and hubbies at Caperberry

Aprli 5, 2009

Went to Nilu's to see her latest art, then pizza at our place with Nilu, Marylouise, Kirsty, Priya and families

Swim with Kirsty, Kush et al at Park

April 6, 2009

Summer school at Neev 9-1 through the 24th. Maya declared boredom when she came home the first day, then absolutely loved it the day after and from then on.

Swim with Kirsty and kids at Park

April 7, 2009

to MAIS with Molly for assessment. Of course, I couldn't get a word out of her

Lakshmi, Beth Krupa's former maid, started work today. She'll cook for us for 300rs/day until the 25th, when we go to the U.S.

Badri meeting with Honeywell

Go swimming

Badri and I went to see The Reader with Bruno Ganz at Fun Cinema, Cunningham Road Mall.

April 8, 2009

Coffee and chat with Priya at new coffee house next to Reliance Footwear. People argue over whether its origins are American or Australian. I'll google it someday.

Maya horseback riding. Drop Charlie at Shyam's. Molly at Aanya's.

April 9, 2009

paid 5400 for Molly's uniforms

Shyam to our place for playdate. Maya and Molly to Aditi for measuring Molly, and then horseback riding at Equestrian Center for Excellence

Gorgeous sunset from our rooftop terrace. I'll miss this place we've only been in 1 1/2 years. Have to have a party in June before we go [here, I'm talking about leaving Indiranagar and going to Jakkur, but it seems as if I'm presciently mourning leaving India altogether]

April 10, 2009

Picked up Easter goodies from Chocolate Junction in Ulsoor near Foto Flash. Visited Ambara next door to that for the first time in ages. Great line of clothing, OMO (On My Own) and new jewelry, especially gorgeous bracelets, by ?

Brought Maya and Molly horseback riding. It was Maya's 7th class of ten, and I pay 400rs ($8) for Molly to ride for 45 minutes.

April 11, 2009

Badri brought the girls to the Eloor Library near Safina Plaza, a lending library I only just recently found out about. They have decent books!

Jessica, David, Priya, and Kush came over for dinner, last time for this group of six in Bangalore. Priya and Kush to be heading off to Chicago, and David and Jessica to Sweden. The end of an era. Jessica's been here five years, as we have

Hid Easter candy after our guests left.

April 12, 2009

Swim at the Park Hotel

April 13, 2009

Visited Janaki Auntie at Richi and Cajoli's apartment at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM). Janaki Auntie and Babu Uncle moved in with them shortly after she came out of remission back in December. As always, had a very nice visit, exchanging books.

April 14, 2009

Badri and I went to Jakkur to look at apartments there so that we can be closer to Mallya Aditi International School.

Maya went for her horseback riding lesson today.

April 15, 2009

Officially in India for five years today. Celebrated by going to Chickpet with Jessica, Priya, and Kirsty. Jessica was looking for wood blocks and dye for printing on cloth. Chickpet is one of the most famous shopping areas in the old city of Bangalore. I went there a few years ago looking for a music shop to buy a drum for Badri, and it was so fascinating that I swore I'd go back once a month as long as I was in Bangalore. Alas, it wasn't to be...

The roads are narrow, some more than others, where you have to jump into a shop to avoid two people on foot hefting a pile of wares. There are whole streets dedicated to saris, another for silver, yet another for plumbing supplies. The area dates back to the 16th century as the main shopping complex in the city.

In the afternoon went swimming with Kirsty, and in the evening met Kush and Priya at the Park, poolside, for drinks.

April 16, 2009

lunch at Caperberry with Kitty

Maya horseback riding 9 of 10

Irfana's birthday party at KGR. Divya, Vinay, ROshan, Deepti and Arun, Soshoni and Brinda and Charles, Mildred. Ran into Yuganthar and architect friend beforehand

Apr 17, 2009

playdate/swim with Kirst

Apr 18, 2009

went for manicure/pedicure at Dashing Nails with Maya and Molly

picked up Jyothi, Smriti and Bhavana to go to Park pool

April 19, 2009

On flight to Pune for a training, I sat next to a two year old girl and her mother from Pune. Archita speaks marathi, and I was thinking that would've been what little Maya would've sounded like had she grown up in Maharastra with her birth mother. Sweet little girl. Kept calling me aca (sister), and mother kept correcting her, telling her to call me auntie.

April 20, 2009

Did a Thriving in the U.S. training for John Deere with Vinay.

April 21, 2009

Met Arati at Cafe Coffee Day

Swim

April 22, 2009

Nico gets grommets

Janaki Auntie's chemo

Debra here for lunch

Pick up Kavi and Aanya for playdate

Book club at Alice's: Palace of Illusions. Excellent book. Priya's final book club with us.

April 23, 2009

Lunch at Marylouises's with Kirsty and kids

To Jessica and David's for dinner. Gave them a brass lotus that opens as candle holder. Priya, Kush, Kirsty, Andrew, Alice, Sara and Ben, colleague of David

April 24, 2009

Kirsty to Varanasi

Maya horseback riding with Badri. Lesson 10 of 10

April 25, 2009

Went to the Taj West End in the afternoon to spend one last day in Bangalore with Priya, Kush, Kavi, and Sveva. Pool, dinner, sleepover. Gave Priya bracelet

April 26, 2009

Had a lovely brunch at the Taj

April 27, 2009

Left Indiranagar at 3:30am to make the 6:50am flight to London on British Airlines. Fantastic food (especially kids' meals) and service. Layover in London for four hours. Arrive in Boston 6:30pm.

April 29, 2009

Newburyport. Plum Island, Parker's Island National Wildlife Refuge. Book store.

April 30, 2009

One hour drive to Mount Agamenticus. Thirty minute hike on Vulture's View trail to Ring trail to Horse trail.