still alive

3/27/08

Thought it was time to send out a quick update and let everyone know I'm still alive, in defiance of the Bangalore traffic....The driving really is quite impressive... scooters, auto rickshaws, cars, cows, buses, and ox drawn carts all crowd the same streets. No one obeys traffic signs, uses signals or pays any attention to lines on the road, so basically my driving technique fits right in, but with 8 million people it sure makes the drive to work interesting. However I love my little scooter and I'm getting more and more comfortable zipping around the city. But just to give you an idea of how crazy the driving is....I actually bought insurance within 2 weeks of trying to drive here....that says something.

I recently had a 3 day weekend (which is a luxury in a town that has a 6 day work week). The occasion was Holi, a festival of color. Apparently it was started by Lord Krishna who seemed to like a good time, and would dance around with his 16,000 girlfriends (known as Gopis) tossing color at each other in some form or merriment (or at least that's the story that was related to me).....not bad....So to celebrate I hopped a flight up to Goa, which is famous for it's beach towns, and met up with Megan and Lena who recently left me to bum around India. I spent the weekend swimming in the warm arabian sea, laying on the palm fringed beach and getting smeared with bright fuchsia paint in celebration of holi....It was a great break.

Now I'm back in Bangalore....Doing the IT thing...every time I meet a person and am asked what I do, I have to suppress a giggle when I say I work at a software company and am opening our first development office here in Bangalore...I mean i can barely turn on my computer...how in the world did i end up in the silicon valley of India? Life is funny....anyway i'm enjoying the roll. Interviewing software developers, arranging hires, researching recruitment agencies, buying computers for the office (yah i want the one with 2 gigs of whatchamacallit, ram, right that's it, ram). All good fun.

The summer is heating up, and we've had a few huge rains even though monsoon season is still a few months away (another effect of global warming is what i'm told). I'm really happy and enjoying life.....there's just one thing, I'm quickly tiring of Indian food...I've eaten over 145 indian meals in the past month and a half...curries and dosas for breakfast, lunch and dinner...every day.... I'd kill for a good burrito, pizza slice or anything that doesn't have ghee or tumeric involved. Think I just have to work through it, and I'm sure I'll regain my love of curries one day. Till then sending everyone back home lots of love.

Best from Bangalore,

Karina

settling in

3/5/08

Hi All,

It’s been a few weeks since my last update…and not much to report. Living and working in one place is such a different experience from the constant travel I’m used to. No big travel stories of epic bus rides, new cities or hostel hangouts. Instead I’m settling into a routine and finding enjoyment (or at least a sense of accomplishment) in the little day to day tasks that I’m learning to take care of in a new country...

I’m really enjoying the new experience. The mundane tasks from home can easily become an adventure when living in a new place. For example….did you know it’s impossible to find a plunger in Bangalore…go ahead give it a try….but I assure you that after a day of zipping all over the city on my scooter, popping into every corner hardware/plumbing store, making many apparently obscene jesters, and receiving a dozen blank stares…there is no such apparatus in the entire city…just a random fact you probably didn’t need to know. Moving on....

I’m starting to rack up a nice little list of characters that I interact with daily. Since I moved here knowing no one, I take pride in this list, and find pleasure when I get to add to it. My interactions with people are different than when I’m on the road. I have neighbors, contacts, acquaintances and in many locals I’m becoming a regular. For example I have my Papaya Man, who sets up his cart at the end of my street every morning…He doesn’t speak a word of English, but we smile and nod as he cuts my morning papaya. He finally learned (to his amusement) that I take my papaya without the usual salt and pepper, and I no longer have to do my overacting charade involving multiple silly face to let him know I’ll take my papaya plain.

I’ve also established my local chai hang out, where I get my mid-afternoon caffeine fix. The cashier starts to ring up my chai before I say a word and they guy behind the counter has my drink served, piping hot and waiting. My Indian version of "Cheers". Kumar, who owns the local movie rental store, and I are on a first name basis, and he kindly overlooks my late fees, while giving me daily recommendations of (horrible) 2 year old american films. I have contact numbers in my phone for a plumber, electrician and banker. I’ve found the phone companies head office and know which line to stand in, no small feat. I have a jasmine lady, my favorite fruit stand, and my public pool, but my newest and favorite acquaintance is my ironing man.

As you probably know I’ve never been an “ironing type gal”…I’m more of a “this smells clean” type….however, ever since I’ve discovered there is a guy who will iron, fold and deliver my cloths in 30min for 3 rupees, I’ve been hooked and have even taken to getting my t-shirts and jeans ironed. I do laundry just so I can get things ironed...This guy’s work is spectacular. Origami like perfection in his folding technique, and it’s all done on a rickety old wood table, with an iron filled with coals, right on the street in front of my apartment.

So this is my ever growing community. Not a replacement for the one I’ve left back home, but one that I’m enjoying and love to see grow. Hope everyone is well..I’m sending you lots of sunshine and warmth from India, summer is arriving and it's getting HOT!

Best from Bangalore,

Karina