1. We finally have some furniture in our house.
While our things are still trutting their way across the ocean - we have managed to purchase some things that we did not 'pack' with us. We purchased a couch with two single chairs and a dining room table. The couch we purchased from Home Center - a department store in Bangalore. The furniture here is not HUGE like it is in the States - but in retrospect - that is kinda nice. Our living room isn't that big and should we move to the city after all of this, well . . . I am couch ready!
The dining room table is one that I am excited to have purchased. We went to a place called THAR. (http://www.tharhandicraft.biz/aboutus.htm) Thar is a place that was suggested by the OWC (http://www.owcbangalore.org) as a place to purchase furniture if you wanted 'something' to remind one of India in the future.
The men that run this business are very kind and they were all about making me happy - and lets face it - shouldn't that be EVERYONE's job? Making me happy. I digress . . . They not only have several pieces already made, they stain to your liking. If you haven't seen anything there that catches your eye, they do make custom pieces. Simply provide them a picture. This is a dangerous thing. . .especially in the age of Pinterest. We are actually thinking of doing this for Paz's bedroom. Poor kid always gets the hand me downs. I think she would love furniture from this place. I think it would be great to hear her say 10 years from now. . . .'I got this dresser in India'. . .
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| Our table from THAR |
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| If you are looking for more Indian - -it can happen |
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| Girls snapped a pic in the showroom (warehouse) |
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| The delivery truck. They are so cute! |
2. Expect everything not to work
No matter how many times people move in and out of Palm Meadows - the 2 (yes, only 2) realtors that work in here are CLUELESS. You would think that they would have a check list for us and for their own self of things that need to be done and explained. Nope. . .I think they like to see me suffer. . . or, as I like to better explain. . I think it is my charming personality that makes them keep coming back!
In the two weeks that I have been here:
I have had my stove replaced. I think hubby was really getting tired of it spitting out flames in the back of the stove whenever he used it. Yeah. . .I get that. This type of thing happened twice - only to him. After calling and complaining, they sent a 'dude' to come fix it. He had the stove taken ENTIRELY apart in my kitchen and proceeded to tell me what was wrong. Hmmm . . just make it stop exploding in my face! Said 'dude' proceeeded to tell me that he will be back with the part. . . .hmm. . .NO! Get me a new stove! After he left, the emails went out to our moving company, Sante Fe, and the mobility person at my husbands work place. I can not speak high enough of Swathi, mobility person at the hubby's work . .she is a mover and shaker. I am now the owner of a new and bigger stove! Praise Jesus!
There are 5 air conditioners in our house. They are the kinds that are over the door way. Here in India, we can not run all of them at the same time because we would lose power. Only 3 at time. We keep the two upstairs running at all times - since hot air rises - and have one in the main floor running. Ceiling fans are always on! Since we have moved, we thought that the girls AC was not cooling enough. The first call that we made, the AC men came out and looked at me like I was crazy that it wasn't cooling. Hmm. . .I placed another call. Swathi to save the day. Same men came out and proceeded to tear apart the AC. Imagine that. They proceeded to tell me that it was 'broken' and need to give it a freon refill and a new compressor. Imagine that. .the crazy Mexican lady was correct!
We have had numerous fuses (is that what they are called?) replaced in this house. It isn't our doing - it is as if they are waiting for us to complain before they do anything. So I do. It has gotten so bad that the supervisor knows who I am. I have had a visit to the house by him - they think I have no clue what I am speaking about. Argh. . .
3. Help
The 'help' here is incredibly affordable. I have a gardener, a part-time maid (she comes Mon-Fri for 4 hours a day), and a driver. (Sagam story to come later) These wonderful people work for a monthly payment. What they request for payment in one month is LESS than what people in the States charge me to do the same thing - for ONE DAY. Sign me up!
My gardener is Shankner -he is very jovial. Every morning that I see him, I always get a 'Good Morning Madam!' He and Paz split the guava fruit with each other. He climbs the tree - or - hangs off the patio and hands the fruit to Paz. Afterwards they smile at each other and split their booty. It is cute. I can't wait to get some pots to put on our patio and some herbs to grow. He said that if I get, he will take care of. I also am thinking of getting a lemon/lime tree - that way the next couple of expats can enjoy it as I am enjoying this guava that someone else has planted.
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| Gotta look for him. Hanging right outside Paz's room |
My maid is Vijji. She is a single mom - her husband deceased. You can tell she loves kids. She calls the girls - 'The babies'. She seems nice. I just hired her so I really have nothing to say yet.
Sagam. . .ah. . .Sagum. Where do I even start? He was the first person that my husband has ever fired. He was always late and always slow.. . .r.e.a.l.l.y s.l.o.w! On top of that, he was never sociable - this is bad karma for me. I need someone to talk to me and educate me about India. He failed in this category. A couple days prior to firing him, I do believe he showed up to work intoxicated. I mentioned it to Hubby and after seeing him drive that day - he concured that the man had 'issues.' He had to go!
Our new driver, Bhaskaran, is simply amazing! What a breath of fresh air for this social butterfly. He talks when we are in a talkative mood. He informs us of all things Bangalore and gives us his opinion when asked. I do like him. He is our temporary driver until we find a vehicle to purchase. Hubby has asked him repeatedly if he would want to be our driver. (I think he hates us) :) He has said 'no' for numerous reasons. He has job security working for a driving firm - if he were to leave - he would be out on his own. We are only here for two years - what would he do after we leave? It is too far away from his home. Have I mentioned that I think he hates us? No, he really likes us. .but all the reasons he gives not to take our offer is understandable. He is on a mission to find us someone like him. Lets hope he is successful! PRAY PEOPLE, PRAY!
4. Food
While much of the things in India are affordable, one thing that isn't as much is the food we eat. Or. . .it isn't around. I will give some examples:
Picture all the canned tomatoes at the grocery store - gone
All the canned vegies - gone
But wait! You found ONE can of peaches. . .$4.00
The aisle of pasta - what aisle? It is only a choice of 4 bags.
Salad dressing - Hah!
Canned soup - There is no such thing as a soup aisle
Regular potatoe chips - good luck trying to find! That is not always around
Vegi's - pesticide central. Talk about Vegi Wash!!
Cheeses - if you are a cheese conosor - you better just get on your knees and thank the good Lord that you live in the States and have access to all kinds of glorious cheese. I want to cry just saying that word. . .cheese. . . .(say it again). . . .cheese.
Lentils/Beans/flours of all kinds (except the ones that I want) - aisles and aisles of this stuff!
Milk - non refrigerated. Please don't ask - I don't understand myself.
Picture 3-5 employee's in every aisle asking you if you need help. Ugh. This gets old . . until I need something and NO ONE is around. (yes, I know. I am hard to satisfy)
Garbage bags - they just suck!!! (to all future expats - bring your own!) No wonder there is a trash problem in this country. You can barely have trash in your trash bag and they rip. I just need to crack open a bottle of wine to talk about this subject. . . .
But - They do have the best yogurt! It is so tasty!
If we are wanting chicken or ground beef (aka water buffalo - remember - the cow thing over here), special cheese, arugala, American pastries - we have to order from the Marriott. Yes, the Marriott as in the hotel. We text the order and driver will go pick up. This is just the tip of the iceburg. I am new to India and I am learning from other expats. Live and learn, kids. . .live and learn.
Traffic here is always comical. Enjoy some pics of our everyday traffic scenes.
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| Why tie things down when you can just have someone stand in the back to hold? |
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| Multi Tasking - reading and driving |
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| Yep. . .its a ladder |
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| Most I have seen is 5 people on a scooter.. . here only three |
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| Need to transport a door. . .why of course! |
Things that we are thankful for:
Karen - my new stove
Hubby - furniture
Olivia - neighbors letting us borrow Harry Potter movie
Paz - our house in Palm Meadows
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