Gosh, it's hard to be an Indian Princess!! I must say that all you people demanding another blog are wearing me out! It's been a hectic last few days and we did not have internet until... well, I don't know how long ago, but not very long at all. I think we got it and I went to work shortly after. But this night shift business realllly messes with my already bad sense of time, so I could be wrong. In any event, let me update you on the latest and greatest from the fabulous Flat 603 in the Akshaya Adora complex in Padur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. (I didn't tell you which building... a princess can't give away her EXACT location for fear of the paparazzi LOL)
We got into the flat Saturday and, thankfully, Savannah has been feeling well and healthy since she woke up on moving day. I am glad we did not have to make a trip to the doctor, although I have information on a nearby clinic that all the expats use and is covered under our insurance, so I'll keep that information handy for when we do need it. We made two trips from the hotel since we had so much luggage (you should have seen Gideon's face when he saw the first load, haha) so Savannah went ahead and I worked on checking us out, which turned into quite the ordeal since we had been there for nearly a month and there's lots of manual goings on here in India and they needed to add the last few days worth of food, laundry, who knows what else, to the bill and total it out. I made it to our new home around 3 PM, and was greeted by our kind landlord, our wonderful admin coordinator from ML, Gideon (who Savannah rode with), our fellow US expat, Tom, our overnight helper, Lakshmi, and our new driver, Muran. Sounds like quite a party, eh? Let me tell ya, we really know how to shake it up over here. First, Tom, Savannah and I went to eat at Marrybrown because we were starving and hadn't been grocery shopping yet. Then the three of us went new home shopping, as Tom moved into his new place the same weekend. We needed exciting things like linens, plates, utensils, etc. - just enough to get us by until our ocean freight containers arrive with all our goodies from home - but wound up spending over 2 hours in there between our dawdling ways and the long check out lines. Then we went to the well known expat grocery store, Amma Naana, to stock up our kitchens. Tom left from there, Savannah and I hit KFC (her choice), picked up some idly to go for Lakshmi, and headed back to the flat. I was not completely surprised when we arrived and our beds were here but the mattresses were not. Did I already explain about the mattress cutting fiasco? I don't remember, but I don't want to relive it if not, so just know that we just got our mattresses last night. Which means I didn't get a good night of sleep since we left the hotel, which means it was probably a good thing the internet was down because I was a little grumpy and cranky with the world. And I would go do something in the kitchen and realize I didn't have the full tools required for, well, anything. Coffee - negative. Grilled cheese - negative. Toast - negative. I mean, we managed and made do, but not without some griping, complaining and whining from yours truly. Savannah REALLY wanted me to find some coffee and wine, stat. LOL Poor kid. She's a trooper, though. Continuing to surprise me with her positive attitude about, well, just about everything... and keeping me inspired when I am feeling significantly less than. Sunday was pretty cranky. We did not make it to church, waiting on TV hook up, internet hook up, delivery of the water purifier, and some curtains. If I have learned anything about this Indian culture so far, it is that nobody is really in a hurry. Except maybe me. And possibly Savannah. So when they were supposed to be here at 11 to do the TV and water purifier, and they were still not here by noon, I was even crankier than when I woke up after my few restless hours of sleep on the new couch and did not have any coffee. So as the day progressed, so did the level of crankiness. Michele, Rhonda and Pam had gone to the Kenny Chesney concert without me back in Houston. Michael had been down his street hanging out with some friends and Haley. And I was in India. Without mattresses, coffee, internet or wine. I was feeling pretty sorry for myself when the TV guy showed up. I don't even watch TV, but I was pretty excited to have some sense of normalcy. The water guy came and that was pretty exciting, too, since I had just drank the last bottle of water we had. And the curtain guys came shortly after that. The curtains look really nice, too, so that helped alleviate the crankiness level a tad. Not a lot, but a little. Around 9 I decided the mattresses were never coming and Savannah decided she would take the couch and I'd sleep on the one single bed that did have a mattress. Mind you, mattresses in India are hard. Like rocks. And it's normal. So I slept on the rock hard single mattress, but at least I got some sleep Sunday night, because Saturday night I really did not.
Monday, Savannah woke up and went to school. I tried to sleep because it was my first full night in the office and I knew I needed the rest. I was up and down most of the early part of the day, but did pretty good trying to just relax and lay around. I read a book on the Nook and waited on mattresses. Mattresses that never came until after I left for work at 7:30. But at least they were there! So the only thing really missing at that point was internet, and I was going to hound the internet company until they came out, because the guy kept telling me it was a main line that was down... until I asked our landlord if he had internet and he did! So the persistent American texted and called until they sent technicians and got us fixed up.
I am pretty sure this blog is just a rambling mess because I am really tired, just going on and on, trying to remember everything that has happened since I was last online. And I haven't given any good details about India; it's all been about Cranky Nikki. Hmm. Surely there's more than that LOL
Wine. De-alcoholized wine. Why? Craziness. And government monitored/sold liquor, beer and wine. So I have to enlist the help of a buyer to obtain some adult beverages for me. I have already scoped this out and have the hook up through a work colleague. Yippee!
Savannah is doing great at school. Spending some time with her friend, Ila, and playing the guitar. And doing homework. This girl has a lot of homework these days. But she doesn't complain. It is SO WEIRD. I'll take it, though.
Dynamo. The new star of Akshaya Adora. All the guards (more like guys who stand around in guard uniforms but are sweet so it's OK) like to watch as Savannah and I walk him. Most of them want to come pet him, but are scared. Of Dynamo. Seriously! Soooo funny. But we have seen other tenants walking their dogs, so that is pretty exciting. Hopefully we can find him a couple doggy friends to play with out in the pretty garden area of our complex. I promise to post pictures soon. But this is just going on and on with no good information so I may as well cut it off now.
OK, the end. I am going to try and sleep and Savannah is heading to school. Wish us luck for a successful Wednesday. Sending our love back home to each of you.
We got into the flat Saturday and, thankfully, Savannah has been feeling well and healthy since she woke up on moving day. I am glad we did not have to make a trip to the doctor, although I have information on a nearby clinic that all the expats use and is covered under our insurance, so I'll keep that information handy for when we do need it. We made two trips from the hotel since we had so much luggage (you should have seen Gideon's face when he saw the first load, haha) so Savannah went ahead and I worked on checking us out, which turned into quite the ordeal since we had been there for nearly a month and there's lots of manual goings on here in India and they needed to add the last few days worth of food, laundry, who knows what else, to the bill and total it out. I made it to our new home around 3 PM, and was greeted by our kind landlord, our wonderful admin coordinator from ML, Gideon (who Savannah rode with), our fellow US expat, Tom, our overnight helper, Lakshmi, and our new driver, Muran. Sounds like quite a party, eh? Let me tell ya, we really know how to shake it up over here. First, Tom, Savannah and I went to eat at Marrybrown because we were starving and hadn't been grocery shopping yet. Then the three of us went new home shopping, as Tom moved into his new place the same weekend. We needed exciting things like linens, plates, utensils, etc. - just enough to get us by until our ocean freight containers arrive with all our goodies from home - but wound up spending over 2 hours in there between our dawdling ways and the long check out lines. Then we went to the well known expat grocery store, Amma Naana, to stock up our kitchens. Tom left from there, Savannah and I hit KFC (her choice), picked up some idly to go for Lakshmi, and headed back to the flat. I was not completely surprised when we arrived and our beds were here but the mattresses were not. Did I already explain about the mattress cutting fiasco? I don't remember, but I don't want to relive it if not, so just know that we just got our mattresses last night. Which means I didn't get a good night of sleep since we left the hotel, which means it was probably a good thing the internet was down because I was a little grumpy and cranky with the world. And I would go do something in the kitchen and realize I didn't have the full tools required for, well, anything. Coffee - negative. Grilled cheese - negative. Toast - negative. I mean, we managed and made do, but not without some griping, complaining and whining from yours truly. Savannah REALLY wanted me to find some coffee and wine, stat. LOL Poor kid. She's a trooper, though. Continuing to surprise me with her positive attitude about, well, just about everything... and keeping me inspired when I am feeling significantly less than. Sunday was pretty cranky. We did not make it to church, waiting on TV hook up, internet hook up, delivery of the water purifier, and some curtains. If I have learned anything about this Indian culture so far, it is that nobody is really in a hurry. Except maybe me. And possibly Savannah. So when they were supposed to be here at 11 to do the TV and water purifier, and they were still not here by noon, I was even crankier than when I woke up after my few restless hours of sleep on the new couch and did not have any coffee. So as the day progressed, so did the level of crankiness. Michele, Rhonda and Pam had gone to the Kenny Chesney concert without me back in Houston. Michael had been down his street hanging out with some friends and Haley. And I was in India. Without mattresses, coffee, internet or wine. I was feeling pretty sorry for myself when the TV guy showed up. I don't even watch TV, but I was pretty excited to have some sense of normalcy. The water guy came and that was pretty exciting, too, since I had just drank the last bottle of water we had. And the curtain guys came shortly after that. The curtains look really nice, too, so that helped alleviate the crankiness level a tad. Not a lot, but a little. Around 9 I decided the mattresses were never coming and Savannah decided she would take the couch and I'd sleep on the one single bed that did have a mattress. Mind you, mattresses in India are hard. Like rocks. And it's normal. So I slept on the rock hard single mattress, but at least I got some sleep Sunday night, because Saturday night I really did not.
Monday, Savannah woke up and went to school. I tried to sleep because it was my first full night in the office and I knew I needed the rest. I was up and down most of the early part of the day, but did pretty good trying to just relax and lay around. I read a book on the Nook and waited on mattresses. Mattresses that never came until after I left for work at 7:30. But at least they were there! So the only thing really missing at that point was internet, and I was going to hound the internet company until they came out, because the guy kept telling me it was a main line that was down... until I asked our landlord if he had internet and he did! So the persistent American texted and called until they sent technicians and got us fixed up.
I am pretty sure this blog is just a rambling mess because I am really tired, just going on and on, trying to remember everything that has happened since I was last online. And I haven't given any good details about India; it's all been about Cranky Nikki. Hmm. Surely there's more than that LOL
Wine. De-alcoholized wine. Why? Craziness. And government monitored/sold liquor, beer and wine. So I have to enlist the help of a buyer to obtain some adult beverages for me. I have already scoped this out and have the hook up through a work colleague. Yippee!
Savannah is doing great at school. Spending some time with her friend, Ila, and playing the guitar. And doing homework. This girl has a lot of homework these days. But she doesn't complain. It is SO WEIRD. I'll take it, though.
Dynamo. The new star of Akshaya Adora. All the guards (more like guys who stand around in guard uniforms but are sweet so it's OK) like to watch as Savannah and I walk him. Most of them want to come pet him, but are scared. Of Dynamo. Seriously! Soooo funny. But we have seen other tenants walking their dogs, so that is pretty exciting. Hopefully we can find him a couple doggy friends to play with out in the pretty garden area of our complex. I promise to post pictures soon. But this is just going on and on with no good information so I may as well cut it off now.
OK, the end. I am going to try and sleep and Savannah is heading to school. Wish us luck for a successful Wednesday. Sending our love back home to each of you.
I'm glad you have your mattresses and am able to get some good sleep. Will night shift ever turn into day shift? Tell me more about this driver. I want a driver.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Joe. :) Night shift is the reason I am here, to support the US and Canada, so will most likely always work your hours. Nighttime here. The driver is great. Especially since they drive on the wrong side of the road here and traffic laws are suggestions, not rules and we share the roads with cows and goats most of the time. I could never drive in this!
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