Monday, October 19, 2009
October 2009 Update from Bangalore
October 1, 2009 Whitewater rafting on the Ganges/Camping in Rishikesh
Drove 30 mins north to raft "the wall", an awesome rapid where the river's width narrows to one third its usually width because of boulders on either side. A rush. Body surfed nearly the rest of the way to the camp.
Sad to leave the camp site. Thoroughly enjoyed the time here. Aquaterra outfitters transferred us to the Haridwar train station, where we boarded a way-over-air-conditioned train to Delhi. Seated behind us were a couple monks in saffron colored robes. I had to chuckle: one with earphones, and the other shouting "anti-virus program!" into his mobile phone.
Arrived in Delhi close to 11pm. The cab we'd booked ahead must have picked up another group, so we waited around, said our goodbyes to Ravi, Malani, and Apu, and they told us to take the next one that came along. They offered to take an autorickshaw since they had less luggage.
I checked my purse/small cloth shoulder bag and realized someone on the Haridwar train platform had taken my prescription glasses. They must have thought it was a wallet. Bummer for them! but for me, too. The glasses weren't so cheap. That's the first thing I've had stolen in India. Hopefully the last, too.
October 2, 2009
Returned to Bangalore in the early afternoon flight. Couldn't believe how gorgeous the new Delhi airport is. Definitely didn't feel like an airport in a developing country. They're getting all geared up for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. Amazing kids play area, Good Earth (extremely overpriced luxury retail chain), book store. Picked up the next book club read, Dan Brown's latest.
October 3, 2009
Molly back at piano. Her teacher, Irfan, really cool guy. Says Molly's smart, but doesn't want to listen. As far as I can see, she only wants to try and play by ear, not read notes.
Maya's classmate, Samara, and her sister Natanya, Charlie's classmate, came over for a playdate.
Molly has piano Sat and Sun a.m. Don't know how long it'll last. Says she's bored already. After lesson, she went to her best buddy Khushi's house to play, and Charlie to Ishan's. Both of them live at Shine On, a Total Environment property out on Old Madras Road. Maya went to Pragya's for a playdate, and I seriously don't remember what I did with that free time.
October 5, 2009
Another day of playdates: Mia here to play with Molly, and Arushi and Pragya here to play with Maya. I tutored Naba from 1:30-3 at the Spastic Society.
October 7, 2009
Flew to Chennai last night and stayed at The Pride Hotel. I'd stayed there a few years ago. It's remarkable how quickly things age here in India. I'd remembered it as quite nice, and the years have really shown.
Worked with Gita Rao and her husband Navaneetha, who had relocated from the U.S. to India to work on a joint venture between John Deere and Ashok Leyland. Very nice family.
October 8, 2009
Went to see the movie "Inglorious Basterds" with Divya and Irfana. Divya's already seen it, but liked it so much she wanted to see it again. Got an sms from Vini in the other theater, where she was watching "Wake Up Sid".
October 9, 2009
Very fortunate at times to have kids at Aditi. Someone there is connected, and got two tickets per child to the Champion League T20. Went to the stadium on MG Road at Anil Kumble Circle, and it was a mad house. People pushing like crazy to get in. There was a gate dedicated to people with school tickets, so the line wasn't as bad as others.
Spectacular pre-game show with Shakha Khan singing, South African dancers, laser light shows, and fireworks. When the cricket teams came on the field to start the game and the fans cheered, Molly asked me if the match was over. She and Charlie were fading fast, so we left. Badri and Maya came home a bit later.
October 9, 2009
Went for a visit with Janaki Auntie and Babu Uncle.
Picked up Charlie from school and he had quite a high fever.
October 10, 2009
Molly went to Adidev's birthday party, and Maya to Kimaya S's.
In the evening, Badri, Kitty, and I went to b flat to see a comedy show. Not too entertaining.
October 11, 2009
Went to Kids Kouch where the kids painted diyas and made Diwali cards. Meanwhile, Badri and I walked over to Barista and had a coffee.
October 12, 2009
Charlie stayed home sick from school. Not in bad spirits, but feverish and coughing.
October 13, 2009
I picked up Maya from school and she went horseback riding. She had a pair of boots made by a shoemaker Babu (although Maya's riding teacher called him "Bablu"). Gorgeous boots, but we'll have to get "inserts" because they're a bit big. Knee high, great leather, 2000rs. Today was class 3 of 10 classes. Mr. Sunder said she'd progress much better if she came more regularly. But something always comes up and she misses a week or three.
October 14, 2009
Went to meet Priti at Zen Garden to talk about her work with students needing extra help. Sounds like she could teach Molly great strategies to make writing easier.
Rita picked up Maya and brought her riding.
Pamela Leri is in town and came over for dinner. She'd picked up several suits she'd had made at Maria Rosa's. A few months ago she bought gorgeous silk sari material and had given them to be stitched.
October 15, 2009
Did a Developing a Global Mindset training at Decho Corp. in Sadashivnagar today. It went very well. Most people working with counterparts in Ireland, U.S., and China.
Friday, October 16, 2009 What Diwali and Christmas Have in Common
Met up with Kitty at my new favorite lunch/coffee place in the neighborhood, the Claytopia Bistro. It's about 5 minutes walk from the house and very reasonably priced. Best--and only!--lamb burgers I've ever tasted.
Went to Sri Krishna sweets to buy boxes of sweets for friends and staff. When I went at 11am, there was "no stock" (meaning 'none left'). All the boxes on the counters being furiously filled by staff was for orders already placed. The manager said to come back around 3pm.
Today I realized that, in so many ways, Diwali and Christmas holidays are very similar. Badri had already said that, when he was a kid, everyone got new clothes, same as us at Christmas. And today as I searched high and low for a new outfit for everyone, sweets for all, and miscellaneous other things that I'd left to the last minute, I saw the crush of people around me everywhere I went and realized it's the same in the U.S. the day before Christmas--everyone's a procrastinator.
At 4pm, I picked up Molly and Charlie from the school bus at 6th Main. Charlie, as always, came sleepily down the steps. After negotiating with the driver, we took an autorickshaw off on a couple errands (Badri had taken the car to Nandidurg Road to pick up Maya after basketball). While at Krishna Sweets, Queen Sarayu (QS) came in. QS is a good friend of ours who has "convinced" the kids that she is a queen. They challenge her, asking where her crown and sceptre are, but they still go along with the charade. They don't call her Sarayu Auntie, like they call any other of my friends, but only Queen Sarayu. And she refers to Charlie as her "future ex-husband".
In the evening we went to Priti's house to light fireworks. Viji and her family also there. Her son Pranav is one of Charlie's good buddies. Viji's definitely up there with pyromaniacs I have known--like my Dad, who always loved setting off fireworks.
October 20, 2009
Tonight was book club at Sheena's house. Probably one of the meetings where we talked least about the chosen book. In this case, Dan Brown's Lost Symbol seemed to come short for most. We celebrated Alice Ray's birthday with kir royale--champagne with creme de cassis--and a lovely cake brought by Marylouise. Two of Marylouise's sisters also had flown to Bangalore from Korea and the U.S. So it was a very festive evening.
October 21, 2009
Lunch with Badri at More than Paranthas
October 22, 2009
lunch at Divya's
Amma and Appa in town
October 22, 2009
Molly on field trip to Visvesvaraya Technological museum
lunch with Alice at Claytopia
Molly to drama class. Final performance.
October 23, 2009
Went to Herbs and Spice with Badri to listen to jazz pianist. Mitch their with her husband, as well as Nilu, Shilo, and brother.
October 24, 2009
Molly to piano
Molly birthday party at Monkey Maze. Cost: 6000rs for 20 kids and 12 adults. Ayana, Cavin, Iccha, Mehma, Tricia, Riddhi, Khushi, Aanyaa, Alyna, Nosha, Maya, Mia, Diya
Took Charlie to his friend Devrata's birthday party at Opus.
October 25, 2009
Brought Molly to Priti's so they could meet.
October 26, 2009
Took Maya to homeopath Dr. Sudha on Richmond Cirlce for all her allergic symptoms.
October 27, 2009
Maya chosen for basketball team
Meeting with Badri and Priti
Tutor Naba
October 28, 2009
Tutor Naba
October 29, 2009
Badri to US until first week of December
Visit Janaki Auntie
Talked to Hema about Soumya, bharatanatyam dance teacher. Hema had a talk with her. She'd yelled at Molly, sent her out of the room, and threatened to send her to the principal's office. Maya's 4th grade classmates told me they were in the class and were going to drop out because she was so mean to Molly.
Maya practice at Mt. Carmel
October 30, 2009
Met Pamela and Archana at Taj Residency and we drove to Whitefield to meet with Novo-Nordisk (Nartis?) from 10-12. Then Pamela and I had lunch at Via Milano.
In the evening, went out to High Note with Kitty and her Brazilian colleague, Fernanda.
October 31, 2009
Molly to piano.
Maya to Mt. Carmel for basketball practice. She went to Mira's birthday party at Embassy Woods after that.
Charlie to Ramu's birthday at Doodle Den.
Party at Jodi's. Moroccan theme. great fun. First time I've been in a private home that has an elevator. And it's only a three story house. RMV/Sadashivanagar neighborhood. Pretty big bucks up there. Jodi's husband works for South African Breweries. They were in Prague before this posting. Another new arrival to Bangalore, Kim, just left a posting in Honduras following the coup--also with the same beer company. Maybe I should go to work for that company--they really get sent to interesting places!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Yesterday Badri and I had talked about how Maya should focus on horseback riding, because Sunder her trainer had said she could make progress if only her attendance wasn't so sporadic. Today I got a call from Indira, Maya's friend Arushi's mom. She said Jayvanthi, Mount Carmel College's coach, is willing to coach the girls twice a week after school. I told her that we decided she'd be concentrating on horses for the time being.
