Blogging is hard...

So, you may have noticed that it's been a week since my last blog entry. I promise to do better. Maybe it's because life is settling down a bit here and not everything seems so strange. Funny how that can happen in just three weeks. Here are some highlights of last week:

• Made my first trip to McDonalds. It's actually quite close to the office, so I stopped on my way home one evening. No hamburgers served of course, but the chicken nuggets and french fries should be enough to satisfy the kids when they get here. Just for your amusement, here is the menu.
• Had a Thanksgiving meal at the Park Hotel. The turkey and the pecan pie were pretty close. The rest of it... not so much. I will likely try to book us in there for Christmas Day as well. Met a guy there with his family. He was from the Detroit area, and recently moved to Chennai. He used to be in automotive, but moved to Chennai to work in textiles.
• Had a lasagne dinner with an eclectic bunch... Five Brits, two Germans, a Scot, a Chinese and two Americans (including me). I know, it sounds like the beginning of a "...walks into a bar..." joke, but it was really fun and I hope to do it again soon.
• I bought some appliances. An "American sized" refrigerator, a cooktop (4-burner - gas range with no oven), washing machine (with built in dryer), a "bubbler" -- basically a water cooler, a satellite TV box, a "geyser" -- basically a miniature electric water heater... I'm having it installed so that we have hot water in our kitchen sink. The combination microwave, toaster oven, convection oven should be in next week. I ordered the biggest I could find, and since it's new the place didn't have any yet. In true Indian fashion, they were delivered at midnight on Saturday... approximately 28 hours after their original delivery time promise. The installations are supposed to finish tomorrow.
• I made the mistake of watching the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving (in India or the US, some habits die hard...)
• "Interviewed" some domestic help... well they showed up here and I sent them to the store for supplies and boy did they oblige, just like you might expect when you are spending someone elses money. To be honest they probably really did need all that stuff just to make a dent in this "bachelor pad." They are supposed to start cooking and cleaning tomorrow. My goal is to have it cleaned up nicely for when my family arrives.

That's all folks.

A walk and a swim.

Yesterday, another expat from the office came down to the house and we went and had some lunch at Fisherman's Cove, about 10 minutes south of our house here in India. We had also intended to see a movie. There is a movie theater less than a mile from me also called the Mayajaal. They show English as well as Tamil and Hindi language movies. "2012" is playing and we thought that we would pop in to see it. Well, that didn't happen, as the shows were all sold out. Apparently, this is a pretty popular movie... Also interesting about the movies here is that you have assigned seating... when you get your ticket, the seating is also assigned. You can buy them online also (and get a ticket and a seat). Oh well, maybe I'll try for a movie again next weekend.

So not much to blog about today (Sunday). My driver hasn't had a day off since I arrived, so I told him not to bother coming today. I went for a swim in the pool, the weather has been so nice. Today about 86 degrees, but being near the ocean, I am not getting quite the humidity I expected. Or maybe it's just the season. It is winter after all, so maybe the humidity is a summertime thing.

Also, I decided to take a walk down to the Ocean. It was interesting, and not very far (maybe a 10 minute walk) -- the road we are on dead ends into the beach. Here are a couple of pics of the beach and the Bay of Bengal that you might like.

PSA for Workplace Safety

OK kids, this is a picture out of my 7th floor office window. First of all, I was a little surprised to see scaffolding up this afternoon when I returned to my office. No big deal I guess, nor am I really sure what they are doing, but whatever... Then I notice something uniquely Indian about this situation...

Notice how there is no safety equipment (like a harness) to be seen? Not only can you not see any, there isn't any. Also, do you notice anything about the guy up top? That's right, he's not even wearing any shoes.

And there were at least 6 guys like this (no shoes/equipment) climbing all over this scaffolding. They were setting it up, as they were passing the poles back and forth, up and down.

So I'm guessing that there is no I-OSHA, and if there is they really have their work cut out for them.

Don't. Judge. Me.

Ok, so I am brimming with bloggy goodness tonight. Probably because I actually ate some food today. I had to go back to the immigration office and get my final approval (for one year). So while I was in town, I went to Sparky's. I'll let you read the web-site for yourself, but Sparky's is like a run-down family restaurant in the USA, transplanted to Chennai and it's the closest thing (really close actually) to American food you can get. So I actually had a meal...

On the way back we went right past Amma Naana, and Wahid asked me if I wanted to stop. At first I said no, then at the last minute yes... Let me just say that I was really weak... I NEEEDED some food that I could eat. So, $60 later... here is a photo of what I got.

11 items... what, you may ask really broke the bank? Two things... see that maple syrup there? Imported straight from our friends in Canadia, $16. Likewise the package of 6 rolls of paper towels... $16. Now I know this is exhorbitant, but I really needed these things... Don't judge me.

Anyway, by the time I got home tonight I was still high from lunch, so I decided to go for a swim. Now, I haven't done this so far, because it's either been raining or I haven't had the energy. But for all the flaws here, it is really beautiful at our house. The house is really neatly landscaped and at night it lights up and looks just amazing. Wahid has asked Morigesh to turn on the lights in the evening so it is all lit up when I get home.

If you can see it, the fountain in front of the house is on.

I asked to have the pool lights turned on and here is a picture... I went for a swim, it was a clear night and I would say about 82 degrees or so, but not too humid. At night there is actually a breeze from the ocean, and in the pool, I could hear the ocean surf (Bay of Bengal) just to the east. It was pretty cool.

Monday Quick Hits

Kenny G is playing in the elevators, in the office building here... I am on the 7th floor, so I get to hear it quite alot. Now it's not like the whole Kenny G catalog, quite the opposite, actually, it's about 20 seconds of a refrain from "Breathless" over and over and over.

I went to the ATM today. It was quite a thrill, on the ATM receipt, my US account balance was shown in Rupees.

Lastly (although it doesn't have anything to do with India), what did I tell you a couple days ago. John Gruden is the man!

That's it. Time to get back to watching pre-recorded games from this weekend on nfl.com.

Sunday, Rainy Sunday...

The rain over the last 36 hours could best be described as "biblical", how appropriate, since today is Sunday! Last night was not so good. Hard bed, thunderstorms, no bedding, no food... nothing a little money can't fix, so today I went shopping (again). Today's choice was the "City Centre" mall. This is the largest, most modern, cleanest shopping center in Chennai. got some new pillows, blankets, dishes, snacks...

Now shopping here is rather interesting. Even in a big store, such as the ones I was in today, you always get some "help". This consists of store personnel following you around with a basket or bag, and if you pace back and forth when you shop, like I do, then they are continuously trying to get out of your way.

Unlike in the US, where you can't get anyone to help, you practically trip over these folks, only problem is that they don't speak English -- so you can't hardly ask them anything... I don't think I'll ever get used to it... I wonder what they are thinking about me?

Oops, power just went out... literally, as I am typing this. The only light in the house now is the glow from the laptop screen and blinky light on the USB Wireless ethernet card (gotta love technology). So now I am typing to you in the dark. Oh, there is the faint sound of the generator. And there it is blink... blink... lights are back on.

Ding dong... it's the caretaker. Boy, he REALLY doesn't speak any English. Near as I can tell, his name is "Morigesh", and he wants me to buy him a flashlight, which I would be happy to do, if only I knew where to get one. He has to switch the generator on manually everytime the power goes out (which has been pretty often in the last couple of days), and quite often after dark. The generator is way up in the front of the property, near the wall, which is nice, so you don't really hear it when it's running, but I'm sure having a flashlight would really help him.

Huh, power out again. I don't hear the generator any more... I know it isn't fuel, since I just filled it. Maybe he is switching it back? It has only been a few minutes. Blink come the lights again, and I still don't hear the generator, so that's good we'll save the diesel.

Ding Dong... Morigesh again. He seems to want to give me a report each time he does something, except that I don't understand him and he doesn't understand me... so I am not really sure what he is reporting. Oh well...

Well, I made it through one weekend. Hopefully Mel will at least be able to send the dog next week. I could use a little company here in this house.

Moving into the Mango Palace (Part I)

So, I have missed blogging for a few days, time flies when you are having fun. I should learn to make smaller posts. Here is the current deal, I am in our new house tonight. Here is a photo to prove it... I am typing on that computer right there on that little glass table, you can't see me because, well, I am the only one here, and someone had to take the photo. I am coming to you courtesy of a broadband cellular card and India's ever developing infrastructure.

I made it to the house today and made it to a local grocery to pick up a few provisions. Tomorrow, I will head out and look for some more provisions and a few household goods that I didn't really plan for, such as a kitchen trash can and some bath towels.

It rained today. And for real, it rained, and there was thunder and lightening. At one point, it sounded like one struck right outside the house, and I got to learn two fantastic facts about this house 1)The generator works! Seriously, that is not the electrical company's fault. If lightening had struck that close to our house in Michigan, I would expect the power to go out even there. After a couple hours it was back, but no worries, there is plenty of diesel in the generator. Wahid and the caretaker even went out to get some more. 2) the house seems to be watertight. I got a text message from a colleague of mine here in India who said simply, "If your house leaks, you'll know it now". Good news... no leaks.

So there is no concept of drainage in India. When it rains, even just a little bit, everything floods. I thought we would need a powerboat to get out of the road in front of the grocery. But that little Ford Fiesta did us proud.

I thought Wahid would not like driving all the way out here, but I don't think he minds it so much. At one point I actually thought he was enjoying sitting and the peaceful view from our front yard. The fountain in front of the house even works! I'll try to post some more photos of that tomorrow.

For the still curious, here is a shot of the kitchen... You can still see some of the things that I procured today on the counter... some "special" bread -- it says that on the packaging. Not real sure what makes it special, but maybe I don't want to know.

Power to the um.. people

So I am sure there will be many little India moments in the coming months/years... Here's a little one for today, before I forget it. I noticed that the lights in my office will just turn off once in a while. The only reason that my brain can rationalize that is that there must be a motion sensor somewhere that is not being kept engaged. I had operated on that assumption until today when it happened with someone else in my office. I must have had a funny look, because that person said to me "oh don't worry, that is just the power going out... they are either switching to the generator or back from the generator". Today's lesson: don't assume. :-)

Oh, just another little observation for today, from my desk I can hear a rooster crowing somewhere... often. No kidding, and I am on the 7th floor (top of the building), maybe it's on the roof, or someones cell phone (reference above regarding assumptions). That's a mystery that I'll have to solve another time.

Good Morning... Are you ready for some football?

A Monday night, er um... Tuesday morning party.

It's about 8am, I've already had my breakfast, and I have a little time (about an hour -- Indian time of course, more on that later) until my driver comes. So what else, a little Monday night football (streaming live from NFL.com). The quality is surprisingly good. Not only are my Steelers are playing, but I need Big Ben to score some points so that I can beat Noah in Fantasy Football. BTW, I leave the country for a few days and all of a sudden, Ty Law is back in football? For the Bronco's no less?

One last thing, I would like to give my public endorsement for John Gruden in the MNF booth. He seems to like Denver a little much tonight, but for my money, he is probably the best new analyst to come in a long time, and certainly the best among the converted coaches... those mush brained idiots that gave Matt Millen a job being an analyst should take note.

The Time Travellers Wife

So Mel bought a book on Friday called The Time Travellers Wife... I have no idea what the book is about, but right now, as I stare at the ceiling, I am thinking it should be called the Time Zone Travellers Wife. The trouble with time zones, is that mother nature is quite clear on the point of time zones, what with the earth spinning and all, causing the sun go up and down in different places all the time, and she is not too happy when you try to break the rules.

So here's how this goes on the trip to India. You start off with this big virtual 40 hour travel day (about 30 hours actual time), first chasing the sun east to Germany, and then running away from it on the rest of the way to Chennai. You have a strategy, you try to sleep at certain times, be awake others, etc... in the end, its a bit like being unpopular in Salem, MA in about 1692 as you will be punished no matter what you do.

So in order to get back on track, you reason, I'll stay up as late as I can on the first night, so I will sleep, and you do until you can't stand it any more, I mean you feel physically ill from exhaustion. This happens by about 8pm, then you force yourself to stay up until 9pm.

So now its 1am and my body is thanking me for the 2.5 hour nap I just gave it, and it would very much like to have some lunch now.

That nature is a real mother.

Welcome to India (again)

Well, I successfully travelled from Detroit to Chennai once again. Have I mentioned to you all how far away India really is? So you are going like 500-600 MPH and it still takes 18 hours... ugh. I am in my temporary living hotel room - a place called the Lemontree. Not quite as nice as the one we stayed in on the pre-assignment trip, but it will do just fine as it has a good shower, good bed and good A/C. I brought a camera so I could post pictures, but I don't have the right cable/card reader with me, so I'll have to try to pick one up, maybe today if I can. The hotel people failed to pick me up at the airport last night, so I had to negotiate my own taxi... it was interesting as there are guys who just hang aroung outside the airport, trying to "help" you, and they are super aggressive etc... Well, I ended up letting this guy help, but he was expecting a "US sized" tip (like maybe $5), and he got more of an "Indian sized" tip (more like 50 cents), so he was not especially happy. I think as an American, you should get some kind of tatoo or something that says "I live here -- please don't try to rip me off". :-)

Ready or Not...

So this is my last blog posting on this side of the Atlantic. In about 20 minutes, I'll be headed to the airport to go east! Our house has been rented on a 2-year lease to a (hopefully) nice woman and her children. The house will get packed up on 11/18 and the family will be coming in December. The play was a great success and the football team ended 9-0. More updates in a couple days.