Avi and his interaction with my Dadi

My dadi (my grandmother) she, in reality, is my father's sister. However, since she raised him after the parents' death we've always given her the respect of a grandmother.
We went to visit her, she's 86 and not in that great of a health. Avi is my observer. He sits and listens. So we were sitting there talking and she was mentioning about her needing an x-ray ,etc.
Avi has been collecting some money while we were there. He'd pick up a rupee here or there or find 10 rupees and pocket it. Suddenly he turns to me at Dadi's and says I gave her my money. I asked him what money? You know the 13 rupees I had....he kept the money at her bed side table so I told him to actually give it to her instead of leaving it there, thinking he might change his mind at this point.
He didn't. He went over to Dadi and gave her the money. She was completely overwhelmed by that. Granted it was barely anything, but the sentiment of this kid (which we found out later) he felt that given her condition she would need this money more than he would, hence the gesture. I was so surprised. There is a future for this world!

Finally getting a chance to post...

It is about time I would get time to post. We've been here almost 11 days and almost at the brink of heading out back to the US.
It's been a great few days with the family...absolutely fabulous, and like any other family get to gethers with some ups and downs...some tiffs, lots of laughs and lots of great times.
Our vacation within the vacation was cut short due to one of the kids (not ours) getting sick and so we had to cut it short by two days..which was a little disappointing at first, but then looking back at it, it gave us more time to relax and pretty much not be under pressure to HAVE to do something. I would have liked some photog opps..but I guess it is what it is...And guess where I'm posting from now..HOME..back in the US...
This was such a hectic trip that we landed in Newark around 5 AM, got back to our park2go, loads of ice and snow...nice welcome back..NOT...and then finally got to head home...reached home around 9...by 12 in the afternoon, we were completely unpacked...suitcases up in the attic, loads of wash done..by 1 PM we were washed up and headed to pick up the pup...
Her reaction to Atul was weird..she completely ran from him and tried to hide. He actually had to coax her to come to him, once she got close, it was a different story...she was all over him. She had already more than acknowledged us so we weren't an issue.
It's back to the grind now...post more with pics probably...may be link to shutterfly or this thing might just burst with the number of pics we have..

15 years!

Yesterday we celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary. Here's how the day went: both woke up, wished each other...I got a camera! A Nikon D5100...supposed to be right below professional and I got him a used X-box..do I feel lousy...absolutely...can he return it and get money back..absolutely..so the ball's in his court...he decides...to me he gets another toy..and for a change I got one too :) Exchanged cards. Kids woke up on their own..got a card from D, nothing from Avi...diya also got me earrings that I bought for ma...so that was that..


Then, since I had an 8:30 session, he took the kids to school. Hurried goodbyes and off everyone went about their business. Both worked all day, he and the kids came back home around 4:00, he goes to his room to continue working, I help with hw and then I had to don my teaching hat and rush off to teach...hurried goodbyes later...


Several text messages over the evening..what to do for dinner..well I am in the midst of teaching..I cannot text back...we go all the way up the last minute in class...and finally got a chance to call back after class...he heading to pick up burgers at Ruby Tuesdays..me rushing home..


9:15 rolls around and dinner arrives..hurried welcomes later...stuff burgers in our mouths..and hurried good nights and head off to bed..oh a couple of pictures were taken...so that's how it went...

Almost 2.5 years later!

I actually had to search for my own blog so I could post to it again. I am going to try and post more often. There is just so much going on! We are headed back to India in about 2 weeks. This time for my other brother's wedding. He is getting married on 10/17, a day before I turn 40! Now talk about a noteworthy event...no not my brother's wedding! Me turning 40! I had great plans this year. I had told A that since this was a major year for us (our 15th anniversary) and an even bigger event-- ME turning 40! that I wanted to do something special, go on a trip to Europe, may be do Euro-rail or something exotic (guess that's not so exotic, Egypt is exotic but my husband thinks that since we're not going to exactly meld with the people we might be the first people to get shot :(..that I would get to spend it with MY family is the best thing that could have happened. I think I am going to love it.

Not to sound selfish and self-involved but I am really happy for my brother and his wife to be, I think they're both wonderfully suited for each other. I hope they get to be as happy as I have been ( I can only speak for myself) I can't speak for my husband. I don't think he's entirely miserable, but I could be wrong :)

When I first began posting to this blog, Diya was going to first grade. She is now in 6th grade...so have I deprived us all of a wonderful outlining of our everyday lives and then some? Don't think so, you haven't missed much!

Kids are growing, doing well in school (for the most part) and I have been busy as busy can be. This year I was working at Montco, I also took on a new position at my current place of employment...so the deal that my bosses came to was to continue to have me carry on in BOTH departments and positions for 3 months! Today is the day I got my freedom! I actually moved to my new department completely!!! but you'd better believe me when I say that wearing 3 (teaching, support, training) hats took its toll. A LOT.

There would be days I would come home and literally sat on the sofa and curled up in a ball. The only thing missing was the thumb sucking and rocking. Tears wouldn't stop, I dreaded heading back where I had just come from. It took everything out of me.

My husband was/is my rock. He stood by me and listened to me and held me through my crying. He is happy now and is hoping that working from home is going to help me (and in turn him) become a happier person. I hope so. Stress is NOT my friend, I am not sure if it does good things to other people but it makes me break out...I have my face to show as proof. right. now...it is awful..but anyway enough about that...

On to the 15 anniversary bit. Did I think it would be a bed or roses? Absolutely not, has it been a decent ride? you bet. We've been through a lot and continue to do so, but I think the fact that my husband has the kind of patience that he does has helped us get through the tough times..and our faith. Without our faith in my God, I wouldn't be here. My prayers are heard, my faith gets stronger and I get through another day thanking Him. He is my rock and my strength. Like I said, life's not been easy but everything that we need/want...we have..and then some! I think in this day and age to have ANY job is a boon, so for me to have 2! is pretty great! Extra cash never hurt any one :)

Anyway enough for now...hope to come back later!!!!!

Papa, why do you need to take a shower in the morning?

A very innocent question asked by Avi. Atul was in his room writing out their lunch checks right before he jumped in the shower. Avi walked up to him and asked him the above question. Hmmm...because I want to be clean and also it wakes me up. Hmmm...why can't you get someone to scream in your face and wake you up, like you do to us?
This was said in such a monotone and serious manner that Atul couldn't help but burst out laughing. How else would you respond?

It's been a while...

I haven't had the desire to write a lot since the trip to India...yup over a year ago! A couple of mornings ago, Avi got a hold of one of my photographs from back when we had first met in India (when Atul first came to visit), In that photograph I have my elbows on the wall and am looking ahead with "dreams" in my eyes...he says Ma what are you looking at? I say, I am looking at my future, kiddo! He comes and opens up his arms and gives me a BIG hug and says "This is your future, Ma!" Almost brought tears to my eyes...and that was that for that emotional moment...then the day proceeded the way it usually does...towards bed-time, Avi and I had an argument and he says...OK if you don't want to talk to me, that's OK...broke my heart again, in the same day...he went from hugging me and telling he's my future and then to wrap up the day telling me it was OK with him if I didn't talk to him? anyway, all's well now!

Of cell phones (mobiles) and the whole culture shift

Growing up I remember that we did not get our landline phone until around 1991/92. It was a really big deal for us, we could now keep in touch with the outside world, our friends could call us up and chat with us and we would not feel completely cut off from the rest of the world. We, however, did not feel that we had missed much. This is my 3^rd trip to India in 10 years. I was here in 1998, 2000 and then now in 2007. The trips in ’98 and 2000 did not have much of an impact by way of if/how India had changed. In ’98 our primary goal was to bury my mother-in-law’s ashes, in 2000 my brother was getting married, both trips did not entail much travel time. Also, I think I was too muddled…being newly married and such in ’98 and a new mother in 2000. Diya was only 4 months old in 2000!

Before we got here we had heard a lot about how much India had changed. I don’t think any amount of warnings could have prepared us for the number of changes that India has seen in a mere 7 years since our last visit. I was more taken aback by the cell phone culture than anything else. As soon as we landed in Delhi we went out shopping for a little bit. On the way back I saw a cart puller pulling a load of chopped wood, resting an elbow on that load of wood and carrying on a merry conversation on the cell. Picture a rickshaw (a three wheeled contraption that is used to transport people) only this one is adjusted to carry large loads. You would think that he was on his bed carrying on this convo! Understand that this person maybe makes a100 dollars a month IF that!

Then once we got to Kanpur my brother told me another mobile story. He stopped at a place to get some cheap (really cheap) not more than a cent worth of toys. Well this “place” was a man who was carrying the toys in a basket on his head. Anyway, so my brother started talking to him and said how he works for a mobile company, that the toys better be good, etc. Anyway, no sooner had my brother said this than the man pulled out a mobile from his bedraggled clothing and told my brother to make sure he got his number and told him about the toys! This man probably makes 10 dollars a month, maybe slightly more.

I have seen so many changes in Kanpur itself. People have a lot of liquid cash and the advent of cable has somehow necessitated that we emulate the west in every which way we can. Now we have malls and it’s become a big thing to just go to the mall and walk around, pretty much like it’s in the States. I don’t know, for me it’s just very different.

Congestion in Kanpur is at an all time high. I don’t remember it being this bad 7 years ago. The weather forecast also says it’s going to be a smoky day. Can you imagine? The smog is terrible, but people don’t seem to notice. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not all bad! The food still tastes really good, and I realize how much I just miss everything about my city. I truly don’t care about all of the above, I just miss India so much. I am already getting so depressed thinking about going back to the States and going back to that same humdrum life. I truly don’t want to sound ungrateful, America is now my home…but regardless of anything, my roots and everything about me is all Indian!