Wednesday, July 22, 2009
July 2009 Update from Bangalore
Fri., July 10, 2009
Amma and Appa left on the Shetabdi express for Chennai
Alice for playdate
Molly to performance art workshop at Neev 5-7pm
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Made final decision to stay in India for one year.
I went with Molly to her classmate Rishika's birthday party today on Race Course Road near the Chalukya hotel. Badri brought Charlie and Maya to the HAL Airplane Museum.
In the evening, Badri went to an IIT event and I went to Kitty's for a dinner party. Met interesting
Sunday, July 12, 2009
I lost my voice this week. May have been from training three days in a row and flying in an overly air conditioned Kingfisher plane.
Badri brought the kids to KREDL (Karnataka Renewable Energy Development, Ltd.), the alternative energy park which also features a musical fountain. The park shows visitors how energy can be generated from sunlight, wind, and biomass.
Went to the Indiranagar Club with Sangeetha and Tutu for lunch. Their daughters Koyal and Ghazel also came. Very relaxed atmosphere. Good food. People say that the KGA (Karnataka Golf Assoc.) Club has better food, but this is fine for me. Only five minutes walk from our place, too. Badri is hiring a salesperson, Murali, who is going to sponsor us for a one year temporary club membership. I think it'll cost about $250 for the year. There's a pool where kids can take lessons, as well as tennis and badminton lessons.
Tutu and Sangeetha are very happy we're staying. They've been asking why we don't buy a place instead of throwing money away by renting. Prices are down, but our cash is tied up in our Lincoln house.
In the evening went to the movie Ice Age 3. Lots of fun. Kids loved it.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Met with a former Aditi parent for coffee at her house on 13th Main this morning. Lakshmi's son, Gokul, graduated about six years ago and is now teaching at the school. Her husband has a long history of startups in Bangalore and had lots to stay about doing business in India. As Amma said, in not so many words, there's lots of great relationship building and fuzzy feel-good meetings, but it takes a looooong time for this to happen. And often a lot of baksheesh (bribe paid to expedite service) to pay along the way as well.
Later I picked up Molly and her friend Mehma (Mohandish Jolly's daughter) at the ADA Rangamandira on JC Road, where they'd going to see a play. It's the venue for a lot of Bangalore's cultural programs. Of course, Molly would tell me nothing about what she'd seen, and Mehma rattled on about it.
July 14, 2009
Met Jackie for lunch at Mocha on Lavelle Road. That and Claytopia's Bistro are two of my recent favorite places for lunch. You can get a lamb burger at Bistro for 40rs (less than a dollar!) and a chicken salad in pita at Mocha for just a little more. Both ambiences, especially Mocha, are great. Gave Jackie the news that we're staying. She's actually one of the first we told that we were moving back to Boston, and she was the first who had tried her best to talk Badri out of it, saying it'd be good for him to go back and forth for a while to see which--Boston or Bangalore--would be the best.
July 15, 2009
Went for teeth whitening Dr. Ravendra at Manipal. The plastic retainer fitting cost 2000rs, two visits to him 300rs total, and 1500rs for the Opalescence gel to go in the retainers, for a grand total of $76. Badri paid 6000rs, or $120, for one sitting at Dr. Parambi's, with a peroxide whitening gel.
Yesterday I received a text message from Veronique saying that Nina's (Tutu Chengappa's Mom) husband has died. Today I went over to see her and Tutu, to find that it was the house was filled with people coming to extend their condolences. Uncle is Kodagu (from Coorg) so there were dozens of women in all white saris worn Coorgi style, with white long scarves pinned in front. While pausing before Uncle's body, everyone took a small branch of flowers dipped in Cauvery water and wiped it across his lips, giving him his last drink. It's also the custom, Nina auntie told me, to leave money on the tray alongside as well.
The Cauvery River is considered to be a very sacred river of southern India. It originates from the Brahmagiri hill in the Western Ghats in Coorg district of the state of Karnataka. The Cauvery is called the Ganga (Ganges) of the south. Between October and November, depending on the calculation of local astrologers, the Cauvery bubbles up in rebirth. Thousands of pilgrims climb up past Kodagus' coffee estates to the forest covered Western Ghats to cleanse themselves of their sins in the tank built around her holy waters.
I picked up the children at school and we all went to Alla's. She's moved to Vital Mallya Road, across from UB City (up the road from Sunny's restaurant). The kids haven't seen Bruno since he stayed with us over Christmas and they were all excited to see him (as I was!). Amazing apartment consisting of the two top floors in the DeSouza Layout.
July 16, 2009
Met Bev at Fresco's, a cafe inside Hatworks Blvd. on Cunningham Rd. They're moving to North Carolina soon, and she's not very excited about it. Her husband, a Maharastrian, wanted to move to a less polluted place and they'll end up there.
July 17, 2009
Went to Viji's so she could show me and Priti, a new person to town, around to the "must know" places. Went to Mysore Silk where she buys all her material for stitching, Sri Krishna for jewelry (that's where Amma, Badri, and I had picked up some things a few years ago), Clipper Furnishings before Commercial Street for curtain and upholstery material, and last but not least, a shop near the temple intersection on Halasuru Road for sari clips(!).
Went to Aditi to talk with Molly's teachers about how she's adjusting to the new environment.
Molly started a performing arts class at Neev from 5-6:30pm with a woman named Keerthana who's known to be very good with kids and drama. I'd heard about the class from Vini, the mom of Molly's classmate, Mehma.
July 18, 2009
Badri, Charlie, Molly, and I went to visit Janaki Auntie and Babu Uncle while Maya went to Rishika's birthday party. It'd been quite a few months since the kids visited. We have to be super careful about anyone having sniffles or a cough because of Janaki Auntie's decreased immunity.
Big night of jazz at b flat with Kitty, Divya, Irfana, Deepti, and Pamela Leri, who's in town. Badri met up with us a little later.
July 19, 2009
We went to the National Gallery of Modern Art.
Took a walk with Brenda Peden.
July 20, 2009
Nilu came over for a visit.
Went to Veronique's for a playdate with her, Sangeetha, Arti, and Marion and kids.
In the evening, went to Olive Beach with Kitty for a reading by Manreet Sodhi Someshwar of her first book, The Long Walk Home.
July 21, 2009
lunch at Claytopia with Gauri, Keya's mom.
brought Maya to Dr. Sudha because of her coughing.
July 23, 2009
Went to Aditi to attend the first standard curriculum presentation by Nishita and Bhagya, Molly's teachers. Funny moment when the math program, Everyday Math, was introduced, saying it's from the University of Chicago. Lots of parents looked at each other and asked, "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"
Molly was staying back for bharatanatyam dance, so I went with Maya and Charlie to the Esteem Mall for the first time, where we had a bite at Pizza Corner.
July 24, 2009
Last time I met with Molly's teachers, they asked if I could come along on the field trip to the Bannerghatta Zoo. So I went today. Molly and I picked up Prekshi (2nd standard was going as well) and we met everyone at the Bangalore Club to catch the bus. It was a long and exhausting day, but a good chance to see the kids Molly's been talking about, and get the know the teachers a little better.
At the end of the day, brought Prekshi home with us and she stayed here to play, have snack and dinner. Usually it's her big sister Pragya who we have over, since she's Maya's classmate. In the car on the way back from the club, Prekshi pointed to my cheek and asked, "What are these?" "Wrinkles," I told her. "Your mom doesn't have them because she has nice Indian skin and is much younger than I am," I said, smiling.
July 24, 2009
Molly went to her performing arts class at Neev today. I asked her if she prefers dance on Thursday at school, or this drama class, and she prefers the latter. I think she must really enjoy going back to the place she spent a good part of her day over the last four years. Such a warm and cozy atmosphere, where teachers have had time to get to know everything about you. I think the transition to Aditi has been tougher for her than for Charlie. Charlie joined in his prep, or kindergarten, year, while Molly's coming in to Aditi to first grade with 33 other kids who have already been together for a whole year. And based on what Maya said about her first year at Aditi, in second grade, kids were none too kind to her at first.
July 25, 2009
Maya went to Pragya's for a playdate, and had lunch there with her and Lakshya. Today I found out that lots of kids in 4th, and even in 2nd, are already on Facebook. I think it's too young.
Went to a party in Sadashivanagar with Charlie for his classmate Shiel. Quite a blow out for this five year old! Bouncy castle, tattoo artist, fully catered lunch, at least 100 people. His mom, Shruti, is very nice, and his dad, Sanjith, has a renewable energy company called Soham. They've just launched a big hydroelectric project near Jog Falls, one of Southeast Asia's largest waterfalls. Met Claire, the mom of Charlie's classmate Manu. Claire is French and Manu's dad is Kannadiga. They've settled down here in India, living in Malleswarm, one of the oldest and most traditional neighborhoods of Bangalore. Caught a ride home with Gauri, since I'd sent the car back so Appa and Molly could go on a date.
Tonight we went to Kitty's for a Michael Jackson party. Also there were Sarayu, Divya and Vinod, Deepti and her husband, Yamini and Vinoo, and Irfana and Roshan. The big news is that Divya and Vinod may be moving to Colombia!! Roshan and Vinoo, two fellow Kodava's, met each other for the first time. There's a distinct resemblance from one Coorgi to the next.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Went to the children's park in the morning followed by the customary dosa meal. Then went to Ulsoor lake to take a boat ride, have popcorn, and run around the park. Lovely time. But you can really see the algae bloom in the color of the lake. Things will be even worse once Ganasha Chaturthi comes and all the Ganesh's are submerged in the lake.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Maya stayed home sick from school with a high fever.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Maya home again. I went to Bannerghatta for a training at vmware for 16 people, Developing a Global Mindset.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Maya home yet another day, now with sore muscles and what seems like a heavy asthmatic cough. I brought her to see Dr. Chinnappa.
July 31, 2009
Maya's 4th day home. Doctor requested blood tests. Maya hates getting poked.
Went to Elbit for a DEXA, bone density test where they check hip, wrist, and spine.
Molly went to performing art at Neev, and Badri and I went out to celebrate our 12th anniversary. It's the silk anniversary, and Badri gave me a beautiful sari. Went to the tapas restaurant in Ulsoor, then upstairs in the same building to a Thai place for dinner. Had a really nice evening out.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
June 2009 Update from Boston and Bangalore
June 12, 2009
Maya home sick with cough and fever. When to see Dr. Chinnappa at Manipal Hospital.
June 13, 2009
Day of playdates: Molly with Khushi, Maya with Aastha, and Charlie with Ishan.
Went to Laura Lee and Dave's going away party at Palm Meadows.
June 14, 2009
lunch at MLs
June 15
Maya and Charlie home sick with cough and fever.
Met Laura Lee at Cafe Coffee Day before she leaves India. She'll take a vacation in the U.S., then relocate to Hong Kong where Dave is moving with Goldman Sachs.
June 16, 2009
Brought Charlie to his last Jelly Beans session. Molly and he have had a lot of fun times here.
Badri went to Aditi for Charlie's prep class orientation.
June 17, 2009
Had lunch at Debra's. Celine made hot and sour soup and pierogis--mmmm good!
Book club at Kitty's. Reading Lolita in Tehran. Marylouise, Kitty, and me. Alice, too?
June 18, 2009
Charlie's sick today and missed his first day at Aditi. His Neev friends in his class are Zaira, Shebongi, and Tarini (Vandana's daughter).
June 19, 2009
Met Kirsty and Arati at Claytopia Bistro for lunch.
Afternoon playdate with Kirsty at Mercure, a new service apartment in Koramangala. They're staying there during their last few days in India.
June 20, 2009
MAIS 25th anniversary party
Bridget and Hugh hosted Kirsty and Gabriela's going away party. Pre-party we all had dinner at Oye Amritsar, where we'd celebrated Andrew's 40th birthday party. Quite the blow out.
Bridget asked me to say a few words about Kirsty and Andrew and I fear I wasn't as eloquent as they deserved!
June 21, 2009
Badri took Molly to Rahul's birthday party in Koramangala.
Charlie went to Ishan's birthday.
June 22, 2009
Went for an annual cleaning at Dental Lavelle. Looks like I have receding gums from brushing too hard, so will have composites at the gum line of a couple teeth.
Maya to Prayga's for playdate.
Debra and Scott came over for dinner.
June 23, 2009
Namrata came over to talk about school's for her daughter Maya, who was Charlie's classmate at Neev. She also gave me Vini's number. She's one of the moms of Molly's new classmates at Aditi.
Badri went to Dr. Parambi's for a teeth cleaning and whitening (700rs + 6000rs).
Met Irfana, Divya, Deepti, and Brinda at the Karnataka Golf Assoc (KGA) club. Soooo nice hanging out there with the girls. Divya has a nodule on her vocal chord so can't talk for a couple weeks. Had to basically nod her head and Irfana made her write notes on a pad so she wouldn't talk.
June 24, 2009
Visited Celine at VIMS with Debra.
June 25, 2009
Celine dies 7:30am. Nobody knows why: congestive heart failure? virus? multiple organ failure?
She last babysat for us June 12, and I saw her on June 17 when I had lunch at Debra's.
Debra, Scott, and I went to the hospital to see if Celine's daughters, Rebecca, Regina, and ? needed any help.
It was very difficult to bring Molly to Alyna's birthday party at Irfana's. Only a couple weeks ago I'd given Celine's number to Irfana in case she ever needed a babysitter.
June 26, 2009
Went to Celine's memorial service at the church, and from there we went to the cemetery for the burial. "Mummy always wanted her own place."
Vani, one of our old cooks, came today to help out because Rita will be going to her new employer's house in Whitefield for a sort of orientation/training. She'll be a nanny/house manager for a family with an eight year old daughter.
Robert went to the train station to pick up Amma and Appa, who will visit for a few weeks.
June 27, 2009
Charlie playdate with Ishan.
Badri had yet another farewell (every time it looks like we're moving, the Fair Isaac gang has a party for him). He, Yuganthar, Akash, Nikil, Suvamoy, Prashant, Pico, and Nitin went to Flameback Inn in Chikamagalur for a couple days.
The kids and I had dinner at Kitty's
June 28, 2009
Iccha came here for a playdate with Molly. Ended up having an impromptu Neev reunion of sorts at the Defence Colony park, with Brinda, Eric, Shyam, Emanuel, Matthias, Marie, and Vinay showing up.
Brought the children with Amma to go see the movie Bolt. Of course, they loved it.
June 29, 2009
Maya stayed home from school with stomach upset, vomiting, and cough.
Rita went and stayed with the new family she'll be working for in Palm Meadows, just a sort of orientation week. Brinda Peden made the introduction to a Cisco family for her.
Vani was here, as was Padma, one of Marylouise's maids, to help out.
Amma and Appa went to visit Janaki Auntie.
I brought Maya to go see Dr. Chinnappa. I pressed him with questions about her having prolonged fever so many times since coming from the U.S., and he ordered some blood tests.
Then we went to see the ENT doc, Dr. Raman, who cleaned her ears out. Her ears fill with wax and sometimes I wonder if she's losing her hearing or if it's just selective hearing.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Met Trushita at Cafe Max for late breakfast. Her husband, Sunil, is working with Badri on setting up the website for Prediction Machines. She's dreading a move to the U.S. She and her son Ved would live in the Chicago area, and Sunil would commute back and forth to a nearby state where his company is based. She'd much rather stay here, especially because Ved is doing so wonderfully with his hindustani classical voice lessons.
Went for a haircut with Lucie at Passion.
Flew to Pune for three days of training.
Friday, July 10, 2009
May 2009 Update from Boston and Bangalore
May 7, 2009
Went to visit Bud and Margaret Fisher and Pat Graves, three of our oldest family friends. Dad was on the Albacore submarine back in the 60s with Bud, who's now 83. Mr. Fisher went with me and the children to tour the Albacore museum. He showed me exactly where Dad had fallen when he was carrying a 185 pound engine fan for himself. He said Dad was so stubborn--he'd ask for help, but if someone couldn't do it right away, he'd go and do it by himself. Dad attributes his long history of back injuries, surgeries, and pain to that fall on the sub.
Back at the Fisher's house, the adults sat in the kitchen chatting and having coffee, while the kids went down the hallway to the den to play video games. It was exactly as it had been 35 years before, except we kids (Ski, Mary, Patty, and I) watched TV in the den. Every once in awhile Mr. Fisher would offer us kids pogey bait (what Dad called candy).
In the evening I went to Logan to pick up Patty from the airport. She came up to Mom's for six days.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Patty made me and Mary happy doing our hair again. She does an amazing job with highlights (foiling). I always tell her we can fly her out to India for a couple weeks, and she'll easily pay for her flight by doing one hair job every couple days. If only she would. I'd love both Mary and Patty to come and see where we are in Bangalore. It's so hard to imagine when you've never been here before. There are so many amenities of the west, side by side with the wonderful as well as sometimes stomach turning aromas on the street. You see clothes of every color here, whereas in the U.S., people choose less vibrant hues. One night I was going out and was going to wear a dress Mary gave me. Badri said it was just one of those things I could wear in the U.S., but here it would loook too blah, color-wise. I could see his point.
After dropping Patty at the bus station, went to the Arnold Arboretum to see lilacs with Mom and the kids. It'd probably been about 20 years since I'd been there. The lilacs were in full bloom, dozens of varieties, and bus after bus of senior citizens toured through to see them. As we were getting out of the car, Maya noticed a tiny tick on Charlie's ear. I took it off, and Maya noticed there was some left, so I got the rest. She has an eagle eye, that one. Ticks gross her out more than anything else.
After the Arboretum, we went to a little pizza joint in Jamaica Plain on the main street.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Today Max and Alex made their First Communion in Andover, and we had a double Alex birthday/first communion party at Mary and Andrews.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Headed up to Ski and Elena's for our annual lobster bake. Every year the kids get more comfortable picking up the live lobster before it's cooked. Had a great time eating, kids hanging out swinging in the hammock.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Went to Portsmouth with Mom, Mary, and Patty. Again, did our annual lunch at the Ferry Landing--melt-in-your-mouth clams and scallops. I have to say, they do those even better than the Weathervane! Did my requisite shoe shopping at the Market St. shoe stores (the one on the corner of Market Square, Footnotes I think, is my favorite).
Badri and Andrew take care of the kids on those days. I think those two are building a brother-in-law bond thanks to these outings.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
So quickly, Patty headed back to Florida.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Went to Cambridge to visit cousin Maureen with Mom and the kids. We went to a terrific park on Oxford St., very close to Lesley College, between Harvard Sq and Porter Sq in Cambridge. There's a giant climbing apparatus that looks like it was designed by some MIT chemist. The kids love it and says now it's their favorite park anywhere in the world.
Went to see a bit of Daniel's baseball game before heading back to Mom's, about half an hour drive north.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Visited the Lincoln house and met with Elizabeth, our realtor, there so she could have a look at it before listing it for rent. Lisa and Scott, who are renting it, were also there. There are dream tenants--Lisa is super-organized and communicative so we always know what's going on there.
Headed over to Mary's afterwards to play.
Badri flew to Albuquerque, New Mexico to meet with Alex, his Prediction Machines business partner.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Went to the Methuen park with the kids and Mom, then went to see Erin's daughter, Sarah, horseback riding. In the evening we went out to dinner at "Not Your Average Joe" restaurant. Had a great time catching up with Erin, and our kids have a great time together. As we headed back to Mom's on 495 north, the traffic was backed up solid at about 9pm. We'd sat in traffic for about 45 minutes for only one or two exits, so we got off at Erin's exit and slept over at her house. Maya shared Sarah's room, and Charlie, Molly, and I slept in the guest bedrooom.
The kids love it there with the bunny and two dogs. In the morning they took the dogs for a walk down by the lake.
Went to Max's soccer game in the afternoon. I went to pick up Badri at the Manchester airport and the kids hung out with Mom. They had their annual lemonade sale.
May 18, 2009
Went to the kids' new favorite park: on Oxford Street in Cambridge near Lesley College. Ate lunch at The Border Cafe in Harvard Square, the kids' first experience with Auntie Mary, margarita, and nacho chips and dip. Went to her house for dinner.
My cousin Maureen had surgery to remove one of her ribs that was cancerous.
May 20, 2009
Badri and I brought Charlie for an appointment at Children's Hospital in the Longwood Medical area of Boston. We met with Dr. Lee, a urologist, because Charlie had been very uncomfortable. The doctor prescribed a topical cream and ibuprofen, and that's about it. For the princely sum of $900 and change(!). That's for approximately a 20 minute appointment, no tests. Thank goodness Badri arranged travel insurance for us before we came to the U.S. for vacation.
After his appointment, we brought Charlie to the Christian Science Center. He loved walking around the huge rectangular pool. We went on a guided tour of the Mapparium, the three-story, walk-through globe created in 1935. I think Badri and I were more impressed walking across the 30 foot glass bridge than Charlie was.
May 21, 2009
Went to the Wingaersheek Beach in Gloucester with Mom and the kids. We all loved exploring around the shallow tide pools. We walked out for what seemed like a mile and were still only up to our knees! Lots of great rock climbing. Molly was quite pleased when she discovered how to climb up one of the giant rocks that was set apart from the others. She reached the top and then others followed. I haven't seen this many sand dollars since I was a kid at Fort Foster beach in Maine!
Badri went to his TIE (The Indus Entrepreneurs) conference in Waltham. It was here that he met a man who advised him he'd be better off in the U.S. than in India at this point of his start-up. When he shared this news with me, I felt like the bottom had dropped out. Really shocked. Not ready. Thought we'd be here longer.
May 22, 2009
Get together at Mary's with Ski, Elena, Mom. We went for a hike at Ware Reservation and I saw dozens of pink ladyslippers. We used to see them in the woods behind our house as kids.
May 23, 2009
Met Brinda and Shyam in Cambridge. Went to the kids' favorite park on Oxford Street, then had lunch across the way at a sandwich shop.
May 24, 2009
Met Jorge and Sandy, prospective tenants, at the Lincoln house. Then had pizza for dinner at Mary and Andrew's. with crust from Bertucci's.
May 25, 2000 Memorial Day in South Berwick
All of us drove up to Mark and Sandy Gagnon's house in South Berwick, Maine. It was a gathering of about a dozen Marshwood people, mostly our class, plus Sandy ('80) and Kenny Holmes ('78). Heavenly fish chowder, beers, lots of catching up. Especially with Eddie Worcester, Lisa Blanchard, Karen Smith, David Merrill.
Kids had a blast running around the hilly lawn, playing on the swingset, the tire swing, and in the jacuzzi.
May 26, 2009
Mary watched the kids while I packed and Badri went to a meeting. It was actually today that he called me after his meeting to drop the big news on me--that we should move back to the U.S.
May 28, 2009
Mary watched the kids--again. Badri and I went to look at apartments in Andover and checked out the Sanborn school. We had a nice lunch at a funky little eatery in town, then dinner at Mary's.
May 29, 2009
Went to Mary's, played croquet in the backyard, walked around the pond, had pizza, and the kids slept over.
May 30, 2009
Went to Max and Alex's soccer games, then to the Ferry Landing in Portsmouth with Mary.
May 31, 2009
Went to Salisbury State Beach for a windy/cool day. Kids built sand castles. Went to Browns for clams then Hodge's for ice cream.
