Hmm there's something not quite right about that... Somehow I can't picture my Kenny or Harry singing songs about the Hindu festival of lights, but it's quite a celebration over here in India. According to Wikipedia, The name "Diwali" or "Divali" is a contraction of deepavali which translates into "row of lamps". Diwali involves the lighting of small clay lamps filled with oil to signify the triumph of good over evil. These lamps are kept on during the night and one's house is cleaned, both done in order to make the goddess Lakshmi feel welcome. Firecrackers are burst because it is believed that it drives away evil spirits. During Diwali, all the celebrants wear new clothes and share sweets and snacks with family members and friends. It's been a loud few days and poor Dynamo is pretty glad the cracker bursting (fireworks) have subsided. These Indians aren't joking around with Black Cat firecrackers. These guys are shooting of M-80 type stuff... loud and frequent. We tried to have conversations Saturday night inside the apartment and just had to wait until all the popping was done, which took several minutes many of the times. It was very difficult to sleep Friday and Saturday during the day, so I wasn't in a very cheerful mood for the celebrations. Luckily, my celebration included a few margaritas and Mexican food with the Toms and their wives to lift my spirits, while Savannah spent time with her "foster" family, the Achesons.
Friday was "ethnic wear" day at work, so I told the team if they would wear their traditional dress then I would wear a saree. What was I thinking? This is only the second time I have worn one, the first being that hotttttttt wedding I attended and I guess I was only focused on the heat and sweat of that day, so I was not quite prepared for all the work involved in sporting one to the office. I go in early on Fridays, and Savannah's fever was breaking. If I hadn't promised the team I'd be wearing it, I would have donned jeans. Lakshmi was running late and I needed her help to wrap it. I tried to watch a YouTube video, but was too frazzled with Savannah not feeling well, so I waited for her to arrive. She was more than happy to help, but it took her three tries, about 15 minutes each, to feel satisfied with the end result. I am quite a bit taller than her, so I had to sit on the couch while she adjusted the folds on the top and pinned it to my blouse on the third try. Apparently the height was the issue. In any event, she completed the challenge and the white girl was in the saree, all Indian'd up for the night. She looked like a proud mom as I left for work. It was pretty funny. I passed a few of my neighbors and several people smiled widely and said hello... which is not the norm. Then I got to the office and entered the lift with a few other ladies, a couple in sarees of their own, looking very pretty. They all complimented me and wanted to know if I had folded it (dressed) myself. I laughed, told them no, and we exchanged Diwali wishes as they exited to their floors. I made it to my desk with approving nods from the security guards and the team was happy to see me Indianized for the night. I had a couple conference calls and we had a photo session with the team. It was dang hard to work in that thing, so it probably wasn't my most productive night at work since I've been in India...
We are missing a few team members who took off for the holiday and Asif (my co-mng) who was out spending time with his wife and new baby girl.
Outside of the Diwali celebrations, not a whole lot of excitement going on over here... still in a holding pattern for Savannah's school. Waiting on the Florida director to e mail me back and confirm to me and her school that she can, indeed, graduate this year. Anyone in the Tampa area want to drop by and ask them to please answer an e mail or a phone call? And we've been dealing with her being sick. Again. I swear I think she is just too careless and doesn't pay attention enough, resulting in ingestion of this bad water. We went to the doctor on Wednesday because of her fever... which followed headache and vomiting. I was convinced she had Dengue Fever, which is really ugly and not infrequent over here these days. While I appreciate having the world at my fingertips, sometimes Google is more of a hindrance than a help. Especially when I use it to confirm my worst suspicions... Yep. She's got the Dengue. Fortunately, after a visit to the doctor, Dengue (and my medical degree via the Googler) was ruled out. Diagnosis was low BP, likely due to a virus. Treat it with Tylenol (from the US, since that's what we had) and lots of juice and water. Thursday and Friday she was in bed all day. Saturday she woke up feeling better and has been fine until tonight... We got home and less than an hour later, she's vomiting and has a fever. Ugh. Hopefully she will get well quickly and we will get a positive call from the school in Florida.
As we begin this month that Americans use to express our gratitude, we are reminded that the end of the year and our trip home is rapidly approaching (for which we are thankful). My niece, Kameryn, turns five years old today. Savannah was a little down that she isn't there to help celebrate, but it won't be long and we'll see her for Christmas. And then it will be 2014... the year we go back to the US. Not a lot of time left, so we need to make the most of it. Travel, time with friends and decisions about "what's next?" to be pondered. I know God led us here, although not exactly clear as to why yet... but we trust him enough to know whatever He has planned is more than enough.
Wishing our local friends a Happy Diwali and sending thoughts of love and gratitude to all our friends and family around the world. Your thoughts and prayers are appreciated, as always!
Friday was "ethnic wear" day at work, so I told the team if they would wear their traditional dress then I would wear a saree. What was I thinking? This is only the second time I have worn one, the first being that hotttttttt wedding I attended and I guess I was only focused on the heat and sweat of that day, so I was not quite prepared for all the work involved in sporting one to the office. I go in early on Fridays, and Savannah's fever was breaking. If I hadn't promised the team I'd be wearing it, I would have donned jeans. Lakshmi was running late and I needed her help to wrap it. I tried to watch a YouTube video, but was too frazzled with Savannah not feeling well, so I waited for her to arrive. She was more than happy to help, but it took her three tries, about 15 minutes each, to feel satisfied with the end result. I am quite a bit taller than her, so I had to sit on the couch while she adjusted the folds on the top and pinned it to my blouse on the third try. Apparently the height was the issue. In any event, she completed the challenge and the white girl was in the saree, all Indian'd up for the night. She looked like a proud mom as I left for work. It was pretty funny. I passed a few of my neighbors and several people smiled widely and said hello... which is not the norm. Then I got to the office and entered the lift with a few other ladies, a couple in sarees of their own, looking very pretty. They all complimented me and wanted to know if I had folded it (dressed) myself. I laughed, told them no, and we exchanged Diwali wishes as they exited to their floors. I made it to my desk with approving nods from the security guards and the team was happy to see me Indianized for the night. I had a couple conference calls and we had a photo session with the team. It was dang hard to work in that thing, so it probably wasn't my most productive night at work since I've been in India...
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| The great One Team - NAM Imports |
Outside of the Diwali celebrations, not a whole lot of excitement going on over here... still in a holding pattern for Savannah's school. Waiting on the Florida director to e mail me back and confirm to me and her school that she can, indeed, graduate this year. Anyone in the Tampa area want to drop by and ask them to please answer an e mail or a phone call? And we've been dealing with her being sick. Again. I swear I think she is just too careless and doesn't pay attention enough, resulting in ingestion of this bad water. We went to the doctor on Wednesday because of her fever... which followed headache and vomiting. I was convinced she had Dengue Fever, which is really ugly and not infrequent over here these days. While I appreciate having the world at my fingertips, sometimes Google is more of a hindrance than a help. Especially when I use it to confirm my worst suspicions... Yep. She's got the Dengue. Fortunately, after a visit to the doctor, Dengue (and my medical degree via the Googler) was ruled out. Diagnosis was low BP, likely due to a virus. Treat it with Tylenol (from the US, since that's what we had) and lots of juice and water. Thursday and Friday she was in bed all day. Saturday she woke up feeling better and has been fine until tonight... We got home and less than an hour later, she's vomiting and has a fever. Ugh. Hopefully she will get well quickly and we will get a positive call from the school in Florida.
As we begin this month that Americans use to express our gratitude, we are reminded that the end of the year and our trip home is rapidly approaching (for which we are thankful). My niece, Kameryn, turns five years old today. Savannah was a little down that she isn't there to help celebrate, but it won't be long and we'll see her for Christmas. And then it will be 2014... the year we go back to the US. Not a lot of time left, so we need to make the most of it. Travel, time with friends and decisions about "what's next?" to be pondered. I know God led us here, although not exactly clear as to why yet... but we trust him enough to know whatever He has planned is more than enough.
Wishing our local friends a Happy Diwali and sending thoughts of love and gratitude to all our friends and family around the world. Your thoughts and prayers are appreciated, as always!
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| Happy Birthday, Kameryn! |
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