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.