DILO

A DILO... jargon for Day in the Life Of.  Studies at work, time studies, etc.  We've been having some DILO's done lately at work and it made me think of my daily life.  Thought I'd share some details of my oh! so exciting life over here in Chennai.  I am not sure why, but you guys seem somewhat interested, and I do have to admit it is often amusing, if not entertaining, so here are some highlights of some almost every day occurrences, starting with questions:

• "Had your dinner?"  or "Had your lunch?"  I have decided this is the equivalent of our "Hot out there, huh?" small talk in Texas.  Could be an awkward silence in the lift, beginning of a meeting, anything.  For a while I answered honestly, which seemed to confuse the person asking me.  I now say, "Yes, thanks. And you?"
• "You're from?"  I am entirely too honest and always say, "US. Texas."  But one day I would like to be more clever and say something entirely confusing like, "Kenya." or "Mumbai."  But this would be more amusing for me than the person asking, and the conversation would end quickly and in confusion, so I probably wouldn't get everything out of it that I am expecting.
• "How do you find Chennai?" Well, right now, the standard answer is, "It's too hot."  But really, it's getting better.  It's not that it was bad before, it's just that I wasn't acclimated.   And not comfortable.  We are getting there.  I still don't enjoy power cuts and incessant honking and being stared at, but these things don't drive me absolutely crazy anymore.
• "You're here with?" I've mentioned before how it's just easier to say my "husband" is back working in the US and I am here with my daughter.  The culture doesn't understand or appreciate single moms and it's too complicated to explain to people outside my "circle" (read friends/co-workers) that I am divorced and raising my daughter alone here.  With Dynamo, of course.
• "What's his breed?"  "Does he bite?"  "Can I touch him?"  Yes, all about Dynamo.  He's still quite the hit around here.  Well, people either love him and are extremely curious or they are terrified and turn around and, sometimes, jump out of the way when he is coming their way.  You know, because he is soooooo vicious looking... 
• "Straight to house?" From the driver that drops me in the mornings.  "Yes, thank you."  And then as we approach my drop, "Time tomorrow?"  Insert my "3, 4 or 5," reply here, depending.  Never varies.

Outside of the questions, or doubts, as my Indian friends call them, I also have a pretty set schedule.  Things don't vary much when you don't have the means to just hop in a vehicle and go, when you work starting around 8 PM, and when everything has to be planned in advance, and often with a translator.  So my schedule generally includes the following on Monday through Friday - sleep from around 7 AM until 3 PM.  Get moving, take Dy out, go to gym.  Come back, shower, make up, hair (which doesn't take long because it's generally a clip or a ponytail for the little bit I have left since we are both still losing it in clumps!).  Then cook dinner, pack snack/lunch bag and load up and head out.  Super exciting, huh?   Every now and then something might change due to Savannah's schedule or work meetings or something else, but for the most part, this is it.  I get home in the morning, eat a bite, wake Savannah up for school & wait for her to get in the van and hit the sack.  This last part changed this week for me.  I am a little lost without my routine.  Back in Texas I would have never had such a repetitive schedule.  It's funny how you change according to your environment.

I am sure there is more repetition I could share but I am getting sleepy, so it's about time wrap this up with an update of what is going on.  Savannah has completed the 10th grade this week, topping her year off with a perfect score of 100 on her Geometry final exam.  I am very proud of her.  Saturday I am going to her school and will discuss firming up her schedule which (if we can proceed as previously discussed) will allow her to move directly to her senior year so she can graduate from here by this time next year.  Pretty exciting stuff.  Earlier in the day she will spend time at the Home of Hope boys' home and teach the boys some more English.  She's super excited about this opportunity and I am super excited about the joy she emits when she talks about it.  We will spend this Easter Sunday at our Word of Life church, and I am going to try and find Easter dinner somewhere.  I have a hunch we won't be enjoying any ham, but I'll see what I can find.  I haven't seen any Easter eggs or bunnies, so the commercialism we have in the US hasn't made its way over here yet.  The airline tickets have been purchased, the Singapore portion booked, and almost done with Malaysia for our May trip with Mom, Dad and Michael.  I am going to be in countdown mode for their arrival pretty soon.  Can't wait to see, hug and spend some time with all of them!

That's about all that is going on here.  Still shamelessly ask for your prayers for us missing the family and friends and sending you all wishes for a very happy Easter.  Take some time and read or watch the Easter Story in the Bible or even on YouTube.  I have tried to insert the link here, but I am in India and the internet is going too slow.  I have been trying for a while and I give up.  Search the Easter Story on YouTube and it comes right up.  Also, search Home of Hope, India and Word of Life Chennai on Facebook if you're interested in details on the orphanage or the church we are attending.  I will try to put links up another time.  Love and hugs!

Vicious Dynamo

 
 

Fixer Upper

I am a fixer.  I know this about myself.  Here are some examples of “Nikki fixings” from the US:

• In the office, I was always the one to tell the admin team when things needed fixing (AC temp, tissue replacement in ladies’ room, issues in the locker room/gym). 
• If an item rings up wrong at the store, I make sure they know and ask them to fix it. 
•  When someone in the family is sick I make chicken soup and get Gatorade to help them feel better. 
• If someone’s brake light is out or tire is low and I can, I tell them when we’re on the road. 
•  When someone has an issue – personal, work, home repairs, whatever – I want to offer advice or the name and number of someone who can help.  I have to be careful with this… 

While in India, I have become more observant of my need to fix things.  There are so many things I would like to sit down and go over with the office admin team.  Most of them are small, but they are numerous.  At least once a night I notice something and think how someone needs to fix it.  But nobody wants to hear the crazy American “complaining” so, for the most part, I leave it alone.  Most recent examples - We have clocks here with eastern, central and pacific US times zones.  They haven’t been changed, and the US changed forward an hour this past weekend.  This drives me nuts.  And the ladies’ room tissue paper dispenser is about to fall off the wall.  Again.  It should be repaired.  And the cabinet handle behind my co-manager’s desk’s is falling off.  Someone should fix all these things.  Or maybe I'll make an anonymous list, send, and feel better.  Of course, I'll be annoyed when things aren't fixed, but then I can just make another list. LOL 

Outside of the office, I am still chasing my landlord for a few things… a TV stand as promised when we moved in back in AUGUST.  Finally he has told us to order one and he'll pay for it.  I handled that in a span of three days and one trip out.  A water filter change for a couple weeks now.  A leaky faucet for a month now.  A doorbell since November. I have a list of a few other things, but he is obviously not the fixing personality, much like most of the other Indians I have met while here.  It’s hard to make chicken soup from here for Michael when he’s sick.  So I have to enlist Mom to throw him a can of Campbell’s Dora the Explorer Chicken Noodle Soup and some Zyrtek and tell him with love from India.  Brake lights are optional here, so helping out a fellow traveler is just unheard of; however, my driver did stop someone yesterday and tell them their trunk was open.  It made me feel a little happy.  India is a challenging place to be a fixer. 

I think I am probably really good at customer service because I am a fixer, though, which is good for me.  And my customers.  And my team members.  I expect that things will be corrected and handled by my team, and I correct and handle things that are brought to me.  Sometimes my co-manager asks why I am involved in so much that isn’t directly related to my role.  It’s the fixer in me.  I can’t say no when someone needs help and I follow an issue until it’s resolved.  That’s got its plusses and minuses.

OK enough about that.  What else?  We went to the Home of Hope Orphanage that is sponsored by our church this past Saturday.  It was pretty awesome.  Proud Momma moment, for sure.  Savannah was outgoing and friendly and kept the boys entertained and learning for over an hour.  She was able to gauge their level of knowledge in English usage, verbal and written, in the short time we were there and is working on some “lesson plans,” as she says.  She is looking forward to going at least once a month, but I am guessing it will be more frequent than that.  This month she is busy with finals.  It’s a different learning environment here than in the US and she’s challenged.  She never had to study in the US.  For anything. And she did pretty well, A’s and B’s.  Here she needs to study a lot.  And she has a hard time accepting that and focusing long enough to study.  It’s a challenge for both of us… prayers appreciated.

Still working on firming up plans for our May trip.  We are 99% planned, just need to pay the travel agent and book the airfare.  Waiting on him to confirm and then it’s a done deal.  Malaysia for 4 nights and Singapore for 2.  Yippee!  And the family and Michael coming for days before and after.  Even bigger YIPPEE!! for all that!  I can't wait to see everyone.  It's been about three and a half months since we left, and while time has flown and it doesn't seem that long, we miss them terribly and May seems forever away.  Crazy how that works, huh?

After the orphanage last weekend we went to Pondicherry (Pondy), the local French territory, and spent the night.  We went on a boat ride through some backwaters and had a nice afternoon.  We walked down the beach and did some shopping at the local stores.  There was lots to choose from and my daughter talked me into spending too much money but she got a couple new salwars, some earrings and bangles for the both of us, and we ate some pretty yummy food.  Overall nice time.  We are going to start planning more travel.  I have a list of places within India and out of India that we must visit while we are here.  If anyone wants to sponsor our trips, feel free send me a check.  I promise to send pics to anyone who sponsors! haha 

My sweet niece, Kate, turned a year on Thursday.  I miss this punkin!

Happy Birthday, sweet Kate!

I guess that's probably a good overview of what's been going on here.  Below are some pics from our weekends out.   Sending big hugs and love from Chenna!

Savannah on a walk with the boys.

Excited to have visitors

Savannah & the boys

Our boat ride from Pondicherry to Paradise Island

Almost doesn't look like India, huh?

The boat made me laugh, made Savannah whine and cry.

A fisherman in the waters

The shores

Another fisherman at sunset

My Indian girlie

Sav watching the water

Enjoying Paradise Island with a Kingfisher beer and my girlie

Someone was not happy about the mini-boat ride

Heading to Pondy

When Savannah was little she loved "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom"  This tree makes me think of that book.

Backwaters on the way to Pondy

Remember how everything has a couple names?  Yep.  Pondy, too. 

The Pondicherry Beach

Savannah had the donut and I had the deliciousness on the right.

Oh, government processes, how I love thee...

Thursday was quite a day!  Woke up at 0730.  Last time I checked the clock it was after 0400.  Got showered and ready.  Savannah was up, walked Dy and was ready as well.  Waited 2 hours for Gideon/ML Admin to arrive so we could leave for the Visa renewal process.  Grumbled several times about how I could have been sleeping.  Sipped coffee.  Rode in the car through back roads to Kanchipuram for a little over 2 hours to get to the Police Commissioner’s office for our district.  Sat in car another 2-ish hours while Gideon and the local guy took our docs and went inside.  Went and had a nice lunch and even saw our first up close and personal monkeys on the fence outside.  Went back to PC station.  Waited another hour or so for second round of docs. We were finally approved through round one of this process. Friday before work I met Gideon and our approved docs at the police station near us and got some other approval or stamp or something, but only after he saw me in person...  And then an agent of ML takes the docs back to Kanchipuram PC on Monday and then in a couple months we should be notified they are approved.  And THEN we go pick them up and go to the embassy for the true visa renewal.  Quite a process, huh?  Yeah.  Welcome to India.

Kanchipuram is known as both Temple City and City of Silks.  There are 8 well known temples in the area and a ton of silk saree and wedding saree shops.  I had told Gideon I wanted to see the temples while we were there this time and he asked me why, being a Christian, did I have any interest in Hindu temples.  I explained that since I have been here that I have not seen any temples, and feel like this is a good opportunity to see some with beautiful architecture and help understand the culture a little more.  He laughed it off and said he'd arrange it but would not join me inside.  OK, Gideon, works for me.  This was a couple days ago.  So today on the way there, I mentioned to Savannah about the Temple City and she asked the same thing Gideon did... why, as a Christian, am I interested in seeing where Hindus worship other gods.  JEEEEEZ LOUISE, PEOPLE!  I decided it wasn't worth arguing with them about, I will go see some temples on my own, then.  So we went to a saree shop instead and Savannah got a nice scarf and I got another saree.  So now I have 2, both very beautiful, but this is more simple, less flashy than my first.  And I need to get the blouses sewn so I can wear them!  After the saree shopping we headed back to Chennai.  Another 2 plus hours in the car.  Adding afternoon traffic in there it wound up being nearly 3 into the city.  And we were only entering the other side of the city.  We dropped Gideon and then found a McDonald's for Savannah's dinner.  She was a happy girl to have some McNuggets.  She said, "Close your eyes, listen to the music and taste the food.  Doesn't it feel like we are in the US?"  Uh, no.  I would never be in a McD's in the US.  Nice try, though.  Haha

So the work week is over and Savannah and I are heading out in the morning for her to volunteer the first time and for me to meet some of the kids and see the boys’ home.  We will spend a couple hours and get acclimated.  Once I have some more details I’ll be sure you keep you posted.  We’re excited about it!

After we leave there we will head for our first overnight outing… we are going the French territory called Pondicherry for a little R&R.  Savannah starts preparing for exams next week and will have a stressful and busy few weeks of exams and studying.  I have been promising her for a while we would go and I figure things aren’t going to settle down enough for me to say it’s a good time, so we will go.  Our driver has taken Dynamo home for the weekend and couldn’t be more excited about it.  He’s been wanting to keep him since our trip home in December.  Here’s hoping Dynamo and Murugesan both survive! LOL

Alright off to bed so I can wake up early and go meet some boys.  Sending hugs from Chennai and hoping everyone has a great weekend!

March? Really? Time Flies When You're Having Fun!

It just doesn't seem possible that 8 months ago, today, I was watching the movers pack up the house I lived in for 15 years.  I sat dumbfounded and numb the Thursday after my last "American holiday" before the big move.  Friday morning, however, there was no numb-ness going on.  It was all feeling.  Tears. Sadness.  Fear.  More tears.  I think tears have been my constant during this whole adventure.  Happy to say that the tears are less frequent these days!  (I am sure Savannah would agree with this sentiment.)
Savannah went this past Monday to spend a little time with the boys' home sponsored by our church.  Her experience there was life-changing.  Maybe God has let her in on the reason why she is here.  You can see from her Facebook post that night:
If you want to hear an awesome story about God, keep reading! Today was probably the best day I've had in a while. I missed school to go with my church to a boys orphanage. Walking around and seeing these 40+ boys from the age of 2 and up that had been abandoned (physically or by death of parents) broke my heart into pieces. Anyone that know me knows that I have a heart for children, and also a heart for missions. So today, our tour guide showed us the single TV the boys had been given to learn English from. This method failed and the boys weren't able to get that advantage. When he was talking about this I thought to myself, "This is something I WANT to do. This is an opportunity for me." But I just ignored it.... A little while later Sher, the pastors wife came up to me and asked if I was interested in coming up once a week or once a month and teaching the boys grammar and English. I stood in awe. I then told her what I had thought earlier. This was totally Gods work in the doing. Things like this don't happen often but when they do its literally breathtaking. So, there's my awesome God story. I'm pretty astonished at what an amazing Lord I have.
Other than that great news, we don't have a lot going on, so I'll post some pictures from our recent times out and about.  Enjoy! 

Savannah's high school classmates after a competition (she led the quiz team to 2nd runner up!)

Me, Maggie, Savannah drinking tender coconut juice

My daughter enjoying her fave butter chicken masala and naan.

The juice shop on our shopping outing

Our yummy juices

Maggie adding a bindhi to Savannah during our shopping trip.

Saree-fitting time

More saree colors...

Sooooooooooo many choices!!

Savannah did not like the fitted sarees like this one

The American Maersk-ees in Chennai... Tom M., Cherie, Tom F., Savannah and me

My little violinist on Annual Day

Dynamo on the ride to annual day.  Our driver loves him now... 

2:19

I don't have much to talk about today, but I know it's been a couple weeks and I owe you guys an update.  I was trying to think of something clever to call today's post, but didn't come up with much.  I searched Bible verses with chapter 2, verse 19 in them since it is Feb. 19, and what do you know?  He provided inspiration... Ephesians 2:19 says: 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, and continues with - 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. Pretty cool how this just fits right in with Savannah and me finding our church home recently and not feeling so foreign when we are in His house. <Note - last time I blogged I told you our pastor's name was Eric.  I don't know why I said that.  it's really Shawn. I must think he looks like Eric.  Or I am just as bad with western names as I am with Indian names...)  So we have been to church three times and each visit has been terrific. This past Sunday Savannah brought a friend and asked a lot of questions about the orphanage the church works with and wants to know more about a course they are offering for her age group over the summer.  Good news for Mom... feeling less anxiety about her meltdown.  She's been keeping busy with testing at school (she did really well in some areas, really not so well in others...), and has a dance group, a violin solo, and participating in a group play for her school's Annual day this weekend.  She has gone over to visit our nearby friends, Cherie and Tom, at least one evening a week recently and enjoys the feeling of pseudo-freedom that comes with a mid-week departure from the flat.  We have not had a chance to pick up her fancy dress we picked up while shopping with Maggie and Diana, but hope to do that soon.  Most shops are closed Sunday and our Saturdays have been busy, so it's been tough to plan.  I also need to get my blouse stitched to go with my saree so I can be ready for a wedding at a moment's notice.  

I put some notes together of some recent observations that Savannah and I have had and thought I would share with you.  

• I wonder if Natalie Portman would be annoyed that her very large headshot is posted on a local salon's signage (looking very white and blonde)?  
• Do you think after working out at the gym down on OMR that the local Chennai-ians will really look like John Cena, as the sign portrays?  I told Savannah I would happily go hang out there if there are any John Cena look-alikes. Michael might not appreciate that too much.  LOL
• Why do Indians not cry in public and what in the world must they think of this white girl crying all the time?  It is certainly a very private time if someone is crying.  When I was upset about Savannah and the meltdown time, I was trying to explain to Lakshmi and the driver (separately) that they could go and I was not working that night, both through tears.  Lakshmi had someone text me from her phone later asking if I was OK and telling me to eat well so I stay healthy (??? sweet, but funny) and the driver told me "relax, relax" and I just had some tears, it wasn't like I was sobbing or anything.  Then I got a little choked up telling my co-manager about needing to miss work and he told me I needed to be strong and don't let Savannah see me cry.  Cry during prayer time or while alone, and then be strong the rest of the time.  I have decided that tears are a sign of weakness here.  I suppose, to an extent, they are in the western world as well, but not as much.  I am going to be more observant of that when I get home, that's for sure.
• Our pastor brought up a funny story in his sermon and Savannah and I witnessed it at the mall Saturday: There are some people here who have never been on "moving stairs" (escalators) and are petrified and don't know how to step onto them.  We watched a near pile up at the new mall and were cracking up from the food court.   A little boy REFUSED to step on there, even though his mother was encouraging him.  She finally picked him up and he was crying and carrying on out of fear.  At the top he was fine.  A few minutes later a young girl, maybe in her early 20's, stood there for a minute and then turned around. I guess whatever she thought she wanted to see on the next floor wasn't worth the risk of getting on those crazy moving stairs.   Pretty funny stuff for Savannah and me, but I guess it would be scary for a first time escalator passenger.  I don't think I can remember back that far. But fear is fear, and there's always something to hold us back.  We have to make the decision on whether or not the risk is worth the reward and put the fear behind us and move on.  Pretty good life lesson there.
• The last observation is a big difference we have noticed between Indians and westerners, but more specifically, Americans.  Savannah and I can follow some Tamil conversations pretty well.  And when we do, if we comment on it, or are able to join in later with English, the original parties are always shocked.  Like, "OMG you know Tamil??!!" amazed.  Eyes wide open, jaw dropped, completely unsure of what to make of us, which is pretty amusing for us.  But really what happens is that we use our context clues.  Between their sprinklings of an English word here and there, hand motions, pointing gestures, and even intonation and inflection, we can pick up on quite a bit.  Example - Maggie had a conversation when we were shopping about the type of dress Savannah wanted, which was flowy long skirt and bright colors.  When she was done telling the guy the details, I told her thanks, she communicated exactly what we were looking for.  She was shocked that I knew (basically) what she told him.  But she's very animated in her communication, so it's easy for me to follow.  Savannah said the same thing happens at her school, where she can get the gist of whatever is going on and then all the kids freak out and ask her when she learned Tamil so well.  Taking this little bit of knowledge and applying it to the daily world around us, we have decided that the Indian culture is not a culture to figure things out for itself, rather a culture that will "do the needful" until something is complete.  In the office, in the shops, in the maintenance teams at the apartments.  They follow the SOP until someone changes it or tells them, specifically, what needs (and is authorized by the proper party!) to be done.  It's not wrong.  It's not right.  It's just different than our culture and we are learning to live in it, one day at a time.  It's interesting.

OK it's about time for me to get ready for work.  Hope everyone is doing well.  I did recieve some sad news yesterday that a friend's mother passed away after a very recent diagnosis of a terminal illness.  Would appreciate some prayers for her and the family as they deal with the loss.  Wishing I was home to be there for the services and help with her daughter right about now...  So will send all the prayers and thoughts her way to help since I cannot.  Also appreciate your continued thoughts and prayers for my kiddo and me.  Still prepping for May visitors, which is exciting, but takes time to plan.  I need to get on that.

Happy Tuesday, All!  Love and hugs from Chennai!