Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Transformation
One of the many great things about India is the abundance of skilled labor, esp. in tailoring/upholstery, etc. and wonderful array of fantastically priced fabric.
We brought our favorite chair in our sea shipment; if you've been to our house you've probably sat on it. It was a parting gift from the Baldwins years ago--they had also received it as a hand-me-down, thus the early '90s fabric. It's the most comfortable chair ever and we've had their neutral slipcover over it for a long time. Happily, it has taken on a new look for $30 labor plus fabric (I splurged on higher end fabric: $70). I tried to do this in the US and was quoted $250-300.
Before
After
We brought our favorite chair in our sea shipment; if you've been to our house you've probably sat on it. It was a parting gift from the Baldwins years ago--they had also received it as a hand-me-down, thus the early '90s fabric. It's the most comfortable chair ever and we've had their neutral slipcover over it for a long time. Happily, it has taken on a new look for $30 labor plus fabric (I splurged on higher end fabric: $70). I tried to do this in the US and was quoted $250-300.
Before
After
Early Independence Day Celebration
Hannah & Matthew's preschool celebrated Indian Independence Day (Aug 15) a little early because of a Hindu holiday to be celebrated tomorrow and then school closure on Friday for said holiday. They declared a "fancy dress day" and asked all the kids to come dressed as an Indian leader.
When telling Hannah about this, she said, "So the other kids are my line?" (Meaning "I'm the leader, and they're in line behind me?") Love it!
She's Indira Ghandi (best w/her new haircut) and we couldn't think of any leader as cute as Matthew, so we just dressed him in his Indian outfit.
When telling Hannah about this, she said, "So the other kids are my line?" (Meaning "I'm the leader, and they're in line behind me?") Love it!
She's Indira Ghandi (best w/her new haircut) and we couldn't think of any leader as cute as Matthew, so we just dressed him in his Indian outfit.
English?
I share the following not in mockery, but as a glimpse into our lives here: English is a second (or third, or fourth) language for most. It makes for some interesting (mis-)communication.
_______________
This is a true essay written by a candidate in the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) Examinations. The candidate has written an essay on the Indian Cow.
"He is the cow" The cow is a successful animal. Also he is 4 footed,and
because he is female, he give milks,(but will do when he is got child)
He is same like God, sacred to Hindus and useful to man. But he has got
four legs together. Two are forward and two are afterwards. His whole
body can be utilised for use. More so the milk. Milk comes from 4 taps
attached to his basement. (horses don't have any such attachment) what
can it do? Various ghee, butter,cream, curd, why and the condensed milk
and so forth. Also he is useful to cobbler, watermans and mankind
generally. His motion is slow only because he is of lazy species, also
his other motion....Gober is much useful to trees, plants as well as
for making flat cakes(like pizza) in hand and drying in the sun.
Cow is the only animal that extricates his feeding after eating. Then
afterwards he chew with his teeth whom are situated in the inside of
the mouth. He is incessantly in the meadows in the grass. His only
attacking and20defending organ is the horns, specially so when he is got
child. This is done by knowing his head where \by he causes the
weapons to be paralleled to the ground of the earth and instantly
proceed with great velocity forwards. He has got tails also, situated
in the backyard, but not like similar animals. It has hairs on the
other end of the other side. This is done to frighten away the flies
which alight on his cohesive body herepon he gives hit with it..The
palms of his feet are soft unto the touch. So the grasses head is not
crushed. At night time have poses by looking down on the ground and he
shouts. His eyes and nose are like his other
relatives. This is the cow.....
We are informed that the candidate somehow passed the exam.
_______________
This is a true essay written by a candidate in the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) Examinations. The candidate has written an essay on the Indian Cow.
"He is the cow" The cow is a successful animal. Also he is 4 footed,and
because he is female, he give milks,(but will do when he is got child)
He is same like God, sacred to Hindus and useful to man. But he has got
four legs together. Two are forward and two are afterwards. His whole
body can be utilised for use. More so the milk. Milk comes from 4 taps
attached to his basement. (horses don't have any such attachment) what
can it do? Various ghee, butter,cream, curd, why and the condensed milk
and so forth. Also he is useful to cobbler, watermans and mankind
generally. His motion is slow only because he is of lazy species, also
his other motion....Gober is much useful to trees, plants as well as
for making flat cakes(like pizza) in hand and drying in the sun.
Cow is the only animal that extricates his feeding after eating. Then
afterwards he chew with his teeth whom are situated in the inside of
the mouth. He is incessantly in the meadows in the grass. His only
attacking and20defending organ is the horns, specially so when he is got
child. This is done by knowing his head where \by he causes the
weapons to be paralleled to the ground of the earth and instantly
proceed with great velocity forwards. He has got tails also, situated
in the backyard, but not like similar animals. It has hairs on the
other end of the other side. This is done to frighten away the flies
which alight on his cohesive body herepon he gives hit with it..The
palms of his feet are soft unto the touch. So the grasses head is not
crushed. At night time have poses by looking down on the ground and he
shouts. His eyes and nose are like his other
relatives. This is the cow.....
We are informed that the candidate somehow passed the exam.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Thanu's Birthday
Raju (our driver) celebrated his daughter's first birthday with a big party at his home. First birthdays are a big deal in India. The party was preceded by a pilgrimage to a local temple where the men and Thanu (birthday girl) shaved their heads and gave their hair as an offering. The wait at the temple was 6 hours.
Below, I'm including some pictures from the party. I even captioned them. Sorry some are a bit dark; the power was out for most of the evening. We ate by candle light.
It was wonderful to share in the celebration, though we felt a bit awkward as the *obvious* guests of honor... served special food, at the table (while all the other guests ate in the other room on the floor).
Raju was delighted when we celebrated his birthday in June with a cake and candles. He'd never had an "American" celebration, he said. He went crazy with decorations, hats and a FLAMING, musical birthday candle for Thanu's bday. Fun.
And man, looking at these pictures, I am reminded just how white we are... how much we stick out. Oh well.
Below, I'm including some pictures from the party. I even captioned them. Sorry some are a bit dark; the power was out for most of the evening. We ate by candle light.
It was wonderful to share in the celebration, though we felt a bit awkward as the *obvious* guests of honor... served special food, at the table (while all the other guests ate in the other room on the floor).
Raju was delighted when we celebrated his birthday in June with a cake and candles. He'd never had an "American" celebration, he said. He went crazy with decorations, hats and a FLAMING, musical birthday candle for Thanu's bday. Fun.
And man, looking at these pictures, I am reminded just how white we are... how much we stick out. Oh well.
Shae at work
A few of you have asked how things are going for Shae at work recently. He continues to enjoy his work very much. It is challenging and engaging, though working with such a large (and growing team!) can be very demanding. Among the 19 leadership positions he's managing, he has 2 open spots, 1 on maternity leave, and 10 new in position. It's keeping him busy... which is why I'm writing this post for him. :)
p.s. Happy to say that I've been working busily, too. Tutoring Spanish 10 hours a week. It has been fantastic to be teaching again and I enjoy the students (high schoolers) I am working with.
Out of the mouths of babes
In our pre-India life, this was the title of my blog... a place where I recorded the funny things Hannah and Matthew said. I haven't touched it since we left. Since the blog you're reading encompasses "our life in India", I'm going to post it all here.
+ Recently our neighbors (from SPAIN!) arrived in India and were walking outside our house. They have twin 2-year-old girls, one of whom wears an eye patch sometimes to correct a lazy eye. When Matthew saw her, he shouted, "Look, Daddy, she's a pirate!" Shae quietly assured him that she just had an owie on her eye. "I know, Daddy. But she's a pirate!"
+ As we passed a dog on the street yesterday, Matthew exclaimed, "Look, he's eating his butt!" (Sorry, Mom, he learned 'butt' from a movie (and my friend Leah). We really try to use 'bottom' at our house."
+ And speaking of butts, Hannah suggested today that we could call our bottoms "cushions" because "they are kind of comfy."
+ Hannah to Daddy, "You really like TV." Pater familias took note.
+ Hannah is response to "What do you like about India?": "Everything but the bad smells and the bad food."
More to come... there's lots I've missed.
+ Recently our neighbors (from SPAIN!) arrived in India and were walking outside our house. They have twin 2-year-old girls, one of whom wears an eye patch sometimes to correct a lazy eye. When Matthew saw her, he shouted, "Look, Daddy, she's a pirate!" Shae quietly assured him that she just had an owie on her eye. "I know, Daddy. But she's a pirate!"
+ As we passed a dog on the street yesterday, Matthew exclaimed, "Look, he's eating his butt!" (Sorry, Mom, he learned 'butt' from a movie (and my friend Leah). We really try to use 'bottom' at our house."
+ And speaking of butts, Hannah suggested today that we could call our bottoms "cushions" because "they are kind of comfy."
+ Hannah to Daddy, "You really like TV." Pater familias took note.
+ Hannah is response to "What do you like about India?": "Everything but the bad smells and the bad food."
More to come... there's lots I've missed.
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