MUST SEE LIST

So many of you ask where to go and what to do once landing in Delhi. 

This post will list the best of the best, as far as our family is concerned.  

We've seen loads in this city, and these are our favorites.  

I've linked to previously written posts about each spot, so that you can read more about each location and see photos.  I've also listed some tips/hints.

(For most locations, bring along your FRRO documentation for reduced entrance tickets -- i.e. admission for a foreigner, Rs 250 ... with valid FRRO paperwork, Rs. 20)

Enjoy!

(get your hands on the Eicher's Map Book for a handy reference guide.  Even better, buy two and keep one at home and one in the car!)

Qutub Minar

Our family's visit

My Seven Cities visit

• There are restrooms.  Take a left after the main tower down the crazy huge stairs, then another left.
• Make it a longer visit, by taking a small picnic lunch and take advantage of the many green/grassy areas
• Make it an even longer stay, by visiting the Mehrauli flower market, just a short walk from the monument site.

Delhi Zoo

 

Mia's preschool visit

• The zoo is best visited on a weekday, if possible, as weekends are unbearably packed.
• Take advantage of the trolley service - which starts just as you make the long walk into the zoo.  Rates are very reasonable and will save your legs!  If you have a stroller, be aware that the stroller will have to be collapsed each time you re-board the trolley.  The trolley makes stops at all of the main attractions and the kids like the ride as well!
• There are bathrooms at various points along the way.
• You are not allowed to bring in food or gum into the zoo.
• There are small snack stations all throughout the property with drinks and ice cream.
• If you choose to WALK the zoo, avoid the obvious lines/crowds by going early in the morning and starting your tour from the RIGHT, instead of veering left at the beginning!

Old Fort

My Seven Cities tour

My spur-of-the-moment visit with Mia

• While there isn't much to "do" here, it is a beautiful and serene location, often visited by "lovebirds" and picnickers.
• Restrooms are located in the office (towards the back on the left hand side of the property) although you need to say "please and thank you" and have the little ones in tow to gain access (toddlers jumping up and down, saying "POTTY!" seems to work wonders as well).
• Near to the restrooms is a small shop selling cold drinks.

Dilli Haat

Retail therapy!

• This is a shopper's paradise when you need to find trinkets, take-home gifts or just want a break from the typical market/shopping experience.  
• Entrance is a reasonable Rs 15 per person.
• The vendors will rotate every couple of weeks, so your shopping finds will never be the same.  
• Take your own carry-home bags and be prepared to BARGAIN!  Of course, feel free to pay the original asking price, but know that bargaining is almost expected and if you're in the mood for it, it can be fun!

Gandhi Memorial / Museum


My visit with mom

I can't begin to tell you how to get here, but the museum and memorial are both located in Raj Ghat.  A somewhat informative website for the museum is here.  

Entrance to both the museum and memorial are free and photographs are encouraged.  You WILL want to know though that there are no shoes allowed inside the memorial area, so if you go on a hot/sunny day, it is advised to bring socks! They do roll out carpets of green turf, but it still gets steamy on the ole toes!

Santushti

I have yet to photograph or blog about this location, but it is a delightful break.  Filled with individual shopping huts, you will find all sorts of clothing, home decor, etc here ... as well as several great restaurants.  There are two sides to Santushti (separated by a small street).  There isn't much shade to be found here, but the ambience is such that you won't feel stifled, crowded or bothered by anyone trying to sell you trinkets, sunglasses or belts.

DELHI CLIMATE

Back in Nebraska, we joked that there were 5 seasons ... Spring, Summer, Winter, Fall and Construction.

Delhi seems to have 3 ... Summer, Winter and Monsoon.  I'll share with you some of my tips for getting through each season and adjusting as best you can!

SUMMER ::

Adjusting to the summer heat in Delhi can be a chore.

With temperatures typically ranging from 35-45 degrees Celsius (100 - 113 degrees Fahrenheit), it can be quite oppressive.  Factor in the humidity and you end up with normal "feels like" temperatures of sometimes 52 Celsius (125 Fahrenheit) !!

The summer months and associated heat begins in April (give or take) and lasts through at least September.  The following are some of my suggestions, based on our experience, for how to handle, survive and actually ENJOY the heat!

• Get in the habit of placing filtered water bottles in the freezer each night.  When you place those frozen water bottles in your car in the morning, you are left with deliciously chilled water throughout the day!
• Drink water, drink more water and drink some more water.  
  
• Pack babywipes in your car.  Perfect for washing hands, legs and faces AS WELL as providing an instant "bath" if you will.  If you are out and about for several hours, a quick washdown is helpful and often NEEDED!
• Plan for short trips out.  If you need to go to the market, avoid staying any longer than one hour.  If you are planning a sightseeing trip, be prepared that you might need to cut it short based on your children's ability to handle the heat.
• Make friends with someone who lives at a farmhouse (i.e. has a POOL) or consider joining a club that has a pool.  If you keep a bag in your car that contains an extra swimming suit, some towels and goggles, you'll always be prepared for a quick dip in the water!

WINTER ::

On the flip side, winter can be a shock to the system as well ... although you won't find snow and water left out overnight is unlikely to freeze.

• Wear layers when you leave in the morning.  Having an item or two of clothing you can shed throughout the day is a big help.  Often a very chilly morning gives way to a very pleasant, if not quite warm, afternoon!
• Purchase radiator or fan heaters for your home - as most homes have chilly marble floors and little (if any) insulation.  Teach your children to wear socks, don sweatshirts and keep blankets in your living spaces.
• Most markets have sweaters galore and some even offer warm coats.  Purchase some mittens for the coldest of mornings.
• Know that winter doesn't last forever and is the coldest only for 4-6 weeks!

MONSOON ::

Another component of adjusting to the climate is the monsoon season.

• Wear flipflops during monsoon season, or bring your rainboots!  
• Carry a bag/purse that ZIPS shut.  Nothing is more frustrating than a purse full of water!
• Ziploc your wallet, makeup, anything else you want to protect should it fall out of your car.
• Keep a stash of towels in your car.  Better to wash towels than have damp/musty seats in the car!
• Let your children enjoy monsoon season.  We've never seen rain puddles quite like this!

Those of you who live (or have lived) in Delhi.  What other tips and tricks can you offer readers on how to acclimate to the climate?  

CULTURAL INFO

Importance of Hierarchy

India is a complex interplay of deeply entrenched hierarchical tradition and a rapidly changing social milieu that is heavily influenced by a huge influx of foreign business as well as Indians returning from work or education abroad. Regardless of the modernity of the individual, India’s long history of hierarchical structure and reverence for family is still quite influential.

Indians are aware of their social order and each person’s place within it, even though there are some young people who are beginning to question these social mores. Traditional values held that Hinduism’s emphasis on karma and reincarnation reinforced this hierarchy in that many believed their current standing stemmed from behaviour in a previous life. For example, to be born poor meant you led an earlier life that warranted your current circumstances, whereas a person of means must have done something right and is now enjoying the reward.

Since India is a hierarchical country where the caste system has left its mark, every person in a working environment has a clear-cut set of roles and responsibilities based upon their job level. An employee’s role in the organization may be as important as the work performed.

Family and Group Before Self

Indians generally will sacrifice for the good of the group, even at the cost of their personal desires because they usually live in close-knit extended families (calling one another “brother” and “sister” even when such status isn’t strictly true). People identify by family name, religious beliefs, or social and career status. This family brings its own interrelationships, structures, and rules, all quite nuanced. The family also affords trust and support, so that relatives loan each other money, help each other find work, nurse their own sick, and more.

In a business situation it is quite important to understand the primary role of the family since an individual’s responsibilities extend to the family at all times. This may conflict with work duties on occasion. Regardless of the motivation of the employee and the desire to do good work, family concerns will often take precedence,

Maintaining Harmony

The need to maintain harmony within the group is an extremely important element of working with people from India. It requires tactful communication and careful listening on the part of non-Indians in order to effectively conduct business. Since Indians do not like to deliver bad news, it’s crucial to ask questions in such a way that negative news can be delivered without disturbing the individuals involved. For example, avoiding situations where the person will have to say “no” is a more effective way to obtain information.

The Caste System

While the caste system is now officially and legally banned, it has its legacy in the depth and tenacity of the hierarchical structures of the society.  Hindu scripture codified this stratification, and society officially recognized it until 1949, when the country’s constitution finally banned caste-based discrimination.

With the industrial revolution and modern life, India’s social delineations have inevitably begun to break down. While remnants are visible, mingling and intermixing occur in previously unimaginable ways. In rural areas, caste structures are firmer than in the rapidly changing urban areas, and attempts at achieving equality often end poorly. While the government has taken measures to instil education and job quotas for people from the lower castes, that, too, often brings complaints of unfair treatment.

FAST PHRASES

• Yes: Haan
• No: Nahin
• Hello/Goodbye: Namaste
• Please: Meharbani she or Kripaya
• Thank you: Shukriya or Dhanyavad

FAST FACTS

Name of country: Republic of India

Population: 1,147,995,898 (July 2008 est.)

Capital city: New Delhi

Key cities: New Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai

ON WHAT TO PACK

For me, the thought of packing for our relocation to Delhi was the recipe for nightmares!

I scoured the internet and found new blogging friends to help with my packing list.  I created spreadsheets and lists galore in an effort to be organized (I'll share those later).

This is a difficult post to construct as your situation may differ from mine.  Your shipment allotment may be larger than ours, or you may have a smaller budget for your move.  Your company (or the government) may dictate what you can and can't bring with you.

My best advice to you is to start laying out the suitcases and boxes early on in your adventure and plan for lots of changes to their contents along the way.

* * *

MOST things are available in Delhi.  This may not be the case in Hyderabad or Chennai, so complete as much due diligence as you can before you start packing.  Try to find out as much information as possible about what things are readily available in the city you're landing in.

Some of the things I have found we DID need to bring with us (some more for familiarity and ease) ::

Children's medicines that you are used to dosing (i.e. Benadryl, Allergy medicine) ... 

NOTE :: the chemists here have everything you need, and most of it you can "self prescribe".  Having the convenience of the chemist is great, BUT it is also handy to have "US brands" available to you.  If you ask for Benadryl at the chemist, you will get a blank stare in response.  

Stain Remover if you employ a dhobi (laundry help) in your home, it is good practice to keep a bottle or two of stain remover in your bedrooms, so that you can treat stains before you discard the dirty clothes into your hamper at night. 

Dryer Sheets (available, but expensive!)

Socks & Underwear (while available, the selection did not make my troop happy)

Regarding women's undergarments, you will find them available, but to save you some headaches and grief, bring a new allotment WITH you versus attempting to find your size(s) in a mall/store where they will try to stuff you into whatever size they currently have in stock!

Feminine Products OB is the only brand I've been able to find on a regular basis.  Plan ahead, ladies!  

Clothing I have had a blast purchasing clothes for myself and the two littles.  However, shopping for my big boys has been a chore.  Indian men are (for the most part) teensy.  Even the "large" doesn't fit my 15 year old.  Be aware that if you have a larger guy/teenager, it may be a bit troublesome to find even normal tshirts, jeans, pants, shorts to fit.

Pantry Items

Crackers, cookies, cake mixes, etc.  You may be surprised that you can find most everything you desire (goldfish, lucky charms, etc!).  It can be a bit hit and run with selections.  One day you may find your favorite kind of chips, and the next time you find them, they are stale.  The following week, they may not be available at all!

Triscuits seem to be the elusive boxed item that we have yet to find ... that and Honey Maid Graham Crackers  :(

Cake mixes and frosting are definitely available, but at a price.  You'll be better off baking from scratch!

Ziploc baggies are available here (contrary to what I had been told before we arrived) but the quality is not what you'll be used to.  Adjust your preferences a bit, and you'll be fine.

Saran wrap, wax paper and tinfoil are all available - however, we have been unable to find the boxes that contain the serated edge for tearing off your selected size of wrap/paper/foil.  I wish that we had brought at least one box of each to use as our dispenser.

Toiletries you will find most everything you need in this category.  However, if you have special needs for your hair, you may want to bring your own products (my frizzy hair demands stuff from the States).

Stick deodorant for the boys in our family seems to be an elusive find.  Spray options abound ... but normal run-o-the-mill STICK deodorant ... you may want to stock up if you have a favorite.

If you're located in Delhi as an expat, what things did you wish you'd packed?

What do you fill your suitcases with when you return home?

What items are on your list of 'creature comforts' that you miss most about your life before you arrived?

ON PACKING & SHIPMENTS

 

Some of my posts about the shipment process can be found ::

On the art of valuing your items

Loading Day

It is very difficult to write adequately about this experience and have it apply to each and every family.  We did the interviewing, hiring, scheduling, negotiating, details planning and all on our own.  The company did not provide any assistance - on either end ... so our situation is the "bare bones" how-it-worked-for-us.

It is also very difficult to write about our experience with a flowing sentence and paragraph structure.  Bear with me, as I simply jot down and bullet point my thoughts ::

When choosing a shipping company, get EVERYTHING in writing - from the little details such as "who is responsible for filing an insurance claim after arrival" to "who do I contact when the shipment is in the middle of the ocean for a status update."

Be aware that even though you assume you are hiring a well-known international moving company, often the representative that shows up in fact works for and is employed by a LOCAL company, whereby if you sign on the dotted line, you no longer are being represented, cared for OR protected by that initial well-known international moving company!  Investigate, ask lots of questions and again ... get everything in writing.

I would highly warn against discussing anything on the phone, unless you follow it up with an email and secure the same information/guarantees you were provided initially.

Request more than one walk through and estimate of your belongings.

Purge your house of things you no longer want/need before the moving company comes for an estimate.

GET BOTH SPOUSES NAMES ON ALL PAPERWORK!!!!  In our situation, I was the remaining spouse for the day of packing/loading ... but Todd was the spouse already in Delhi.  Without going into details, it made for some stressful days/nights.  Insist that both of your names are listed on ALL paperwork.

When the movers are there to pack up your house, it was helpful for me to have a quarantined "tub" that I had set aside of fun toys, books, games, stuffed animals, etc. that I randomly tossed to the men to include in RANDOM boxes.  What fun to open up boxes at the new home and find Charlie the Tiger, or one of the kids' favorite books!

On the Delhi side of the shipment, it was helpful to be prepared with some "spare cash" when it's time to accept the delivery!  Things seem to move a tad bit quicker if you have "bakshees" on hand to pass out to those with open hands, telling you that "it is not possible!"

Our delivery and unpacking was completed in ONE day.  ONE DAY people!  They didn't mess around!  Be steadfast in keeping track of the boxes as they come in, so that you can easily and adequately claim any missing items.

If you have the misfortune of any broken or damaged items, do NOT discard them.  Take photos as you will need them for proof of the damage when submitting your claim.  As soon as your unpacking has been completed, notify the insurance company of your intent to file a claim and start the process as soon as possible, as many companies have a deadline!

A couple more things if you are reading this and about to embark on your own "having them pack up your house" adventure:

• From what we were told, I was not allowed to physically pack anything ... or run the risk of a "PBO" label on each of those boxes (packed by owner) which would then be subject to customs officials going through each of those boxes.  No thank you!
  
• As much as stationing items in the garage as I purged helped me mentally up until the movers arrived (out of sight, out of mind) I fear ... No, I DREAD the unpacking process as we now have bathroom stuff intermixed with books, with some silverware thrown in the mix - no doubt. All of those boxes are labeled "GARAGE" - sigh.
• Have bottled water on hand and plan to buy the guys their lunch each day.  They are grateful and it made me feel a bit better about the care they were taking with our things.
  
• Over-estimate and inflate any estimate provided to you by at least 35%.  No kidding.
• As of the writing of this post, proceed with caution when choosing Allied.
• Schedule babysitters for your children during this process.  They will need to see the house when it's empty and say goodbye to their home, BUT they don't belong at the house during the packing!
• Use sticky notes for things that you feel require extra caution and care during packing.
  
• Use sticky notes to label each child's bedroom.  Place each child's name on their bedroom door so that boxes are appropriately labeled.
• Do a somewhat thorough inventory of your belongings so that you are aware of the age of major items and whether anything is slightly damaged or broken before the movers begin.
• Never stop asking detailed questions.  For YOU, this may be the first time you've experienced a move like this.  Don't let the folks you're dealing with for your move force you into assuming ANYTHING.

I'll compile questions and comments and have this entry be a work in progress .... help me jog my memory!  What things did I miss on the subject of packing and shipments?

ON MY MISCONCEPTIONS

I've been emailing with several gals who are on their way to Delhi ... and as I give out my two cents worth of advice, it struck me that there are loads of things that I held as truth before we arrived as expats in a new country.

This is my list of  "I THOUGHT ... "

• We would Skype regularly with folks from back home.  
• I would interact with more locals.
• We would MISS and CRAVE meat ... and when we got it ... would scarf it down.
• We would learn Hindi.
• We would need huge reserves of deodorant, pancake mix, poptarts and microwave popcorn.
• I would spend more time with non-Americans.
• We would have more time to spend together as a family.
• I would wear more indian-styled clothes, such as kurtas, salwar kameez, etc.
• We would eat more indian food.
• We would have adapted to the heat, nearly a year into our time here.
• We would have spent the Summer of 2010 in the United States.
• That I would not miss shows like Private Practice, Big Brother and others.
• That I would get crazy involved with charity work.
• That Terran would get back into soccer, since lacrosse and American football wouldn't be available here. 
• That I wouldn't miss my subscription to Real Simple  :(
• That I would NOT get involved in any organizations ... on any level ... for at least a year (ha!).
• That we would see more of India.
• That I would write ridiculously inspiring and introspective posts about what it means to be living in a country other than my own.
• That I would easily adapt to the ins and outs of employing people.
• I would spend more time with my kids - but alas, I've fallen prey to the ease of having someone at home willing and ready to hang out with the littles.  I go back and forth on whether I'm doing too much withOUT the kids and may never achieve a balance.
• I really thought I'd at SOME point try to drive here.  It is such a measure of independence for me ... and I'm surprised that I have NO desire to get behind the wheel and tackle the streets of Delhi.
• That I would run a 1/2 marathon on a new continent.

I'm sure there is more ... and plenty that I've left out from the list.  I wish I would have done a list BEFORE we left of all of the things that I imagined this to be.  Would have given it a bit more perspective, I imagine.

ON WATER, COOKING AND YOGA.

Keep the questions coming!  I'll do a Q and A every so often ... am happy to answer questions as you have them, from my perspective and experiences so far ::

1.  Do you have to boil the bottled water at home? 


Our cook, Rosy (who is quartered here in the house with us) oversees the water process.  She boils a large vat of water every morning.  After it cools, she then puts it into a filter "canteen", and then through a second filtering system.  She then bottles that double-filtered water for us and it's ready and cold for us anytime we need it! 

We are also provided with bottles of water in each bathroom each morning for brushing our teeth.

2.  Have you gone for a run yet? 


Not yet ... but soon!  Todd found us a home that is near to a "park" with a track!  I haven't walked one length of the track, but would guess that it's 1/8 of a mile?  I'll have to do any running first thing in the morning until summer is over though as temperatures reach a stifling 100 + degrees most days by 8:00 a.m.  I feel very safe with the prospect of running (in normal running gear) in the morning before Todd leaves for work ...

3.  Did you guys sell the house in Ohio? 


Nope  :(  Our house in Ohio is still on the market.  All we need is ONE buyer ... and we're hoping that one buyer shows up soon!

4.  Have you heard how Donut and Jagels are doing?


They are both seemingly as happy as clams !  We were fortunate that TWO very caring homes were available for the dog and cat, as I am reminded daily of the life they would have had here in India.  Coming from the environment they were both used to, this would have been miserable for them.  Thanks Grandma Mary, and Jake/Kim for inviting our pets into your homes and calling them your own!

5.  Has Rosy cooked for you guys yet?


Oh has she ever!  She is very willing to try new recipes and accepts my recipe book with open arms!  Because I'm used to menu planning for myself when we were in the States, Rosy will also do the same.  I'll provide her with the weekly menu and she'll then coordinate and oversee the grocery shopping and such. 



We are having her cook Indian food for us tonight and we are EXCITED to try it (but with a box of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese on the side, just in case the littles aren't fond of dinner).  

[Will update on the food/dinner in tomorrow's post!]

  
6.  Is there anything you need or want that you can't find there?

We have found nearly everything we want/need, save some few items.  Most things are readily available, although they may come with a hefty price tag (i.e. Ranch dressing, the kids' "sugar cereal", etc.).  Mia asks EVERY day if we can go shopping at Target ... and that is definitely something we already miss ... the ability to go to ONE place to get everything we need (i.e. WalMart or Target)

7.  Have you found yoga? A gym?

Yoga is EVERYWHERE.  From a teacher coming INTO your home, to yoga classes in the park just around the corner from our house, to Yoga Houses where they instruct inside a classroom, it will be very easy to find what I need.  Jill, the staff's former mum has offered to provide me with some suggestions of where her favorites were!  


I won't likely be joining a gym.  We have our membership to the Embassy Club and they have a nifty little equipment/weights room.  I'm not sure how easy it would be to USE it since there is no daycare, but once the kids are in school, I may swing over there for a quick morning *something*.  Also, with yoga so easily accessible, and since we brought our elliptical (and have a handy dandy exercise room in the house) I think I'll skip the gym this go-round.  Not to mention that I'd rather spend my time doing other things besides sweating, since I get enough of that just walking outside!


8.  How close are you to Pakistan or Nepal?  Iran and Iraq?

It's hard to get a feel for "how far" we are from places.   We've been told it's about a four hour drive from Delhi to Agra (can you see it to the South on this map?).  I'd guess then that we're about 4-6 hours also from the Pakistan border to the West, the Nepal border to the East and the Himalayas to the North?

For our daily purposes, travel is fairly simple.  Some of the examples of where we go and how long it takes (all subject to traffic, of course!  What can take 10 minutes with NO traffic, literally can take an HOUR with traffic).

• Mia's preschool :: 10 minutes
• American Embassy School :: 15 minutes
• ACSA (Embassy Club) :: 15 minutes (just around the corner from the American Embassy School)
• Playground :: 3 blocks walking distance
• Markets :: 15-20 minutes depending on which one
• Dominos' Pizza :: 1 block walking distance
• McDonalds :: 10 minutes (but they deliver!)
• Karate Class for Tony (we've not yet registered yet) :: in the park 2 blocks from our house

 What other questions do you have? 

ON HINDI, DRIVERS AND TELEVISION

Some questions ... and my answers ::

but first ... a plea and request for you readers?

If you leave a comment and we've not communicated previously, would you kindly include your email address?  I love to form bonds with you through return emails, but often time have no way of doing so.  In the alternative, you can always reach me via gemgem76@gmail.com!  Would love to chat!

On to the questions ...

Do you employ a driver.  If so, how did you find them and find someone reliable?

We actually have two drivers.  One for Todd and his work needs, and a separate driver for the kids and I.  We are a busy family with our schedules with school, after-curricular activities, and I do the majority of our grocery shopping, so it is pretty necessary to have two.

We were lucky in that we acquired the staff of a family who was leaving, and Kushal has been their trustworthy driver for YEARS.  We adore him and are very lucky to have him.  He is kind, slow to speak, quick to react and I trust him implicity with our daily comings and goings [I will be blogging in more detail about our two drivers in the weeks to come]

There are SEVERAL avenues by which to find employees, and if you need help in the Delhi area, send me an email and I'll point you in the right direction!

What kind of television options do you have?  Cable?

We have "similar channels" as what you are used to in the US (HBO for one ..) but the programming is WAY different and seemingly pretty archaic in when movies are released and played, etc.  From what I've found, most seasonal tv shows (House, Greys Anatomy, 24, what have you) are all a season behind.  Children's programming is also a bit selective as many of the shows are in Hindi.  Our kids are glad to watch cartoons in Hindi, but you can only do that for so long  :)

It tends to be a bit frustrating BUT there is really SO little time to watch TV in the first place, that I haven't missed it much at all .... you hit the ground running first thing in the morning and by the time evening comes, there is no excess energy except to fall into bed and hope you remember to get the lights turned off first!!

How many Indians speak English, or at least enough for you to communicate with them? 

This is simply MY observation, but I'd guess 50% speak very good English.  Enough to be able to aptly communicate without a large gap of "lost in translation"  I'd say that another 25% speak very broken English ... where pencil drawings and hand motions are needed to get my request relayed. 

What I typically do in the situations where communication is a barrier is simply take Kushal along and we instantly have no problems!

Will you learn to speak Hindi?

I am very interested in learning basic Hindi, but have decided to put it on the back burner until there is a time that I feel a bit more balanced and settled.  I have made a list of priorities - both for the kids, for me individually, and for Todd and I.  Learning the language is (honestly) near the very bottom of that list.  I don't want to be ignorant and refuse to learn the language, but I know myself well enough to know that it should not and will not be a priority right now.

Having said that - I am picking up phrases and words here and there from our staff, as well as from the littles.  They are like SPONGES!

ON TOILETS, BEING A FEMALE AND MILK

Have you done much sightseeing?

So far, only Qutub Minar.  On our list?  Lal Qila, Chandni Chowk, Red Fort and of course Taj Mahal.  There are plenty of temples I want to see (although since the kids don't have any interest, I'll be doing that alone).

SO ... what exactly is the "Toilet Situation" ?

In our home, we have western toilets (meaning, just as you're accustomed to), although they come with these "quaint" squirters attached to a hose.  What is the cute little squirter for, you ask?  If you adapt to the Indian way of spending time in the bathroom, it means you will [instead of toilet paper] use the handy dandy little squirt gun thing-a-ma-jig to wash down there ... then towel dry. 

We had the wonderful experience of the other toilet option while getting our family registered at the Foreign Registration R (what does the other "R" stand for?) Office.  Poor little Mia looked at that hole in the ground with disgust and said with force, "I. Am. NOT. Going. In. THAT. Hole."

We made a game out of it, however, and soon enough she was squatting and hovering over that hole with the greatest of ease!

Hey, thanks to those of you who cautioned me against wearing long skirts/dresses here!  I think I've maybe come across 2 of these hole toilets for every 20 western style options ... so it's all good.

What things are you most glad you brought from the United States?

Definitely the mondo shipment of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese.  My curly girl hair products (and I'm not really even that much of a diva, I promise!).  The entire house (I'm so glad we chose to pick up the contents of our house and plop it here in Delhi).  Glad for our craft totes, as things aren't quite the same quality here, especially watercolor paint and markers.  This is actually a hard question to answer, as I'm hoping to assimilate the kiddos slowly but surely to where there aren't major items that they HAVE to have from the States.  Nearly everything (and I'm serious when I say everything) is available here in Delhi, as long as you're willing to search for it.

Are they many cultural differences living in Delhi, as a woman?

I almost hesitate to answer this questions, because I feel it's a matter of perspective and opinion.  It's also depends on where you are coming from and your ability to go with the flow, or take the attitude of "when in Rome ..."   I feel that I am generally on a tier below Todd, in that "Sir" is typically expected to handle everything, make decisions, handle the finances, etc.  We both have one leg though, equally, in the wearing of the pants around here, so I find myself having to assert myself loudly and OFTEN so that people take me seriously as the "one in charge."

I think that huge cultural issues as a woman would exist in say, Pakistan, but generally speaking I don't see much of anything that is a huge deal ... for me at least. 

What does the milk taste like?

I can't stomach it ... and won't try to describe it.  There is a definite difference to its taste, but the important thing is that the littles could care less.  They gobble it up, whether in a sippy cup or in their morning cereal!  It comes most often in a box ... and once opened, is kept refrigerated

If you can't drink the water, how is it on your skin and hair?

I'll take Delhi water (as far as my skin/hair goes) ANY day of the week over our well water in Ohio!  It leaves my hair smooth, virtualy frizz free (also thanks to my wicked awesome curly hair products I brought from the States) and my skin seems just as silky.

Any other questions?  As I said before, I am HAPPY to answer them ... ask away!

ON ADJUSTING

Amber from Everything But The Grill asks :

What do your children find hardest to adjust to? 

This is a hard one.  I asked my middle little and he said "school."  I wonder if he'd say the same thing if we were still living in Ohio?

I asked him again ... in the hopes that he'd come up with something remarkable for his answer.  Do you know what he said?  "Nuffin' "

I think that initially, it was hard on them to not have some of the normal goodies like 'Nilla Wafers, graham crackers, and Little Einsteins on Saturday mornings.  Of course, they had a hard time adjusting to saying goodbye to family/friends ... but all in time, those growing pains have eased and I dare say ... those things have mostly gone by the wayside.

Speaking of friends, one thing I've noticed - that I'll blog about later in more detail - is that friendships here, although quick to get started ... are only arms length.  That is a struggle for our middle guy ... and he may never fully adjust to that.

Mia misses the only life she's ever known.  Her 4 acres of land, her dog and cat, walking to get the mail from the mailbox.  She mourns her little life in "O-Hi-A" nearly every day ...

Terran had a hard time (and still does to a degree) adjusting to the rigors of high school here. Terran also greatly misses his football and lacrosse.  We are hoping that maybe while we're here, we can get a little pickup game of lacrosse started and *maybe* even start some clinics and get sponsors from companies to help bring lacrosse to Delhi!  (yep - I said it out loud ... Terran would love to do this ... but he needs my commitment to make it work)

They all three handled the adjustment to the day-in-day-out issues of moving to a place like Delhi in stride.

They really have all tackled the changes head on and had little issues!

ABOUT DELHI BOUND

My husband has always had "international" in his blood. While working for a major airline before we met/married, he worked overseas in 3 different countries. He loved his time overseas, and while he never lived as an expat WITH a family, he knows what he's doing in that environment. He's good at it.

Dare I say, he was made for it?

My family also has some pretty serious global ties, as my mother lives in Kenya, my father recently returned from Japan, my uncle spent some time in China, my grandfather served in Korea and we have other relatives all across the world.

Terran and I spent time in Africa with my mother when he was just 10 years old, and from that moment I realized that being in a foreign country, in a strange environment and surrounded by people who didn't look like me - was actually ok. It was even more than ok, as it was exciting, educational and exhilirating.

I have always tossed around the idea of raising our children to be internationally savvy and when this employment opportunity came up, my immediate reaction to Todd was:

WHY NOT?

Of course, everyone's first reaction to US is:

WHY INDIA?

To which, I again say ... WHY NOT?

Sure, there are other locations that might be a bit more glamorous ... and certain areas of the world that might hold more appeal. The bottom line though is that with our family unit intact, it doesn't matter where we are physically located.

We are able to introduce our children to a culture that will impact them for the better. They will live a portion of their childhood surrounded by beauty, truth, reality and in the end ... will have a much larger base of friends, family and experience to draw from.

Making this move was a family choice.  This was not a government assignment.  This was not an employment transfer within the same company.  This was not a situation of "Daddy lost his job". 

This was an intentional choice and opportunity that we CHOSE for loads of reasons that we are aware of ... and probably for many reasons that we have probably yet to truly find out! 

Welcome to our life, Delhi Bound!

ABOUT OUR FAMILY

I can't possibly fit "who we are" as a family into one small square space on your computer.

I'll give you the brief rundown though ... soon you'll get to know us even better as you follow along with us in Delhi!

Todd :

Oft referred to as Husb.  My lifeline, my rock and my hero.  Never have I EVER met one person who can so rapidly and efficiently make sense out of complete chaos. He is the yin to my yang as the co-parent to our kids and loves me with every fiber of his being.  Has great taste in wine, grills a mean steak and is amazing at penning his thoughts to me in the most amazing way.

~ ~ ~ 

Terran :

The smartest kid I have ever known.  15 going on 30.  Fast as a bullet, strong as a horse and smart as a whip.  He amazes me every day and I forget to tell him on many of those days. He is an awesome friend to so many, and is growing up so fast.  I haven't yet lost him entirely to the disease called "teenager".  Very cool big brother to his much younger siblings.  Has the sweetest dimples and I can STILL tell when he's lying to his momma!

~ ~ ~

Antonio ("Tony") :

My sensitive little diplomat.  About to start second grade, he is a crazy combination of rambunctious and impressionable ... wild and serene ... thoughtful and perceptive ... all boy and yet so sweet.  He is a master manipulator and will either grow up to be an attorney, an ambassador or a salesman.  Has the most amazing color of brown eyes you'll ever see.

~ ~ ~

Mia :

Oh, where to start.  Our youngest ... our loudest. Just turned 4, she is everything that I asked for and everything that makes me wince.  She is beautiful, sweet, angelic, a pistol and loves the color pink.  She is madly in love with her daddy and her brothers.  She says "nee-night" and and adores picking flowers.

 

~ ~ ~

THE FLAG OF INDIA

The Indian flag, representing India's long struggle for freedom is a national treasure. It signifies the status of India as an independent republic. The Indian National Flag came into being in its present form at the meeting of Constitutional Assembly on 22nd July 1947. The Indian National Flag was designed by "Pingali Venkayya". The flag contains three equal strips of Saffron, White and Green colors respectively. The ratio of its width to its length is two is to three.

A navy blue color "Chakra" known as 'Ashoka Chakra' having twenty-four spokes, is present in the middle of the white strip. According to standard set down by ISI (Indian Standard Institution) it should occupy seventy five percent of the space of the white strip.The National Flag is one of the most respectable national symbols. There are strict laws regarding its manufacturing and its hoisting. The official flag specifications require flag to be made up of just 'Khadi'. It is a special hand spun yarn made up of cotton, silk and wool.

Some Interesting Facts

• The Indian flag was hoisted on the highest mountain peak of the world, Mount Everest on 29th May 1953.
• Madam Bhikaji Rustom Cama was the first person to hoist Indian flag on foreign soil on 22nd August 1907 in Stuttgrat, Germany.
• The Indian National Flag flew to space in 1984 when Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma went to the space. The flag was attached as a medallion on the space suit of Rakesh Sharma.

ON WHAT I LOVE BEST

I recently asked if anyone had any burning questions for me ... keep 'em coming!

Kirsten from The Norwindians asks :

What do YOU like best about living in India?

I first drafted this blog post right away ... sat down and started typing away.  Then it came time to actually answer the question and I got stuck.  I couldn't find the answer to relay to you.  I was unable to narrow down my thoughts in a concise way, so as to smoothly explain what I like best about living in India.

First of all, I think that I need to do a better job of relegating my experiences to just Delhi.  I have seen SO little of INDIA, that my answer can only be in answer to the question, what do I like best about Delhi.

Husb travels extensively all over the country.  I admit that sometimes I slip and instead of referring to his trips as "business trips", I mess up and say "Daddy's on vacation."  It's anything but a vacation and he only sees the inside of hotels, airports and hangars. He gets to see Bangalore, Chennai, Hosur, Mumbai and more ... but he doesn't get close to experiencing Incredible India.

The kids and I thoroughly enjoyed Kerala ...but our travels inside India stop there.  There is SO much of India left to be explored and I wish we had more on our list of sightseeing to add under the heading of "what I like best."

Do you know how often times we forget to be tourists in our own home?  We still joke about the fact that while living in Cleveland, we never once went to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!

* * *

I digress.  Sorry, Kirsten!

I like best the opportunity to have a houseful of staff so that I can DO things.  I can participate in tour groups of the area, spend real quality time with friends, have weekly date nights with my Husb.  Not have to worry about washing clothes, grocery shopping or mopping floors.

I have the huge opportunity to REALLY get to know myself better, get to know my Husb better, spend more time with the kids, etc.

Have I fully utilized that opportunity?  I'm ashamed to say that I haven't.  I've been sloughing away too many of these days and can only hope to get better at taking full advantage in the coming weeks.

I also like best the ability to see some superbly amazing sites ... just minutes from our doorstep.  Alot of people say that once you've seen a tomb, you've seen them all ... but I think they are all beautiful.  Even if I can only soak up 5 minutes worth of history, I feel it's important to keep seeing the sights. What's really the coolest about it all is that even during your daily drives, you pass by some amazing things - just on your way to a market, for instance.

I happen to also REALLY like best some of the ways that Delhi can change me.  I'm not a patient person by nature, and I don't happen to play well with others (read : control freak, hot tempered and quick to speak).  If I can marinate a bit longer in this environment, I could quite possibly come out of this a better person. 

Maybe the BEST is the new friendships.  Becoming an expat doesn't simply mean you relocate to a new address, live in funky places or accumulate alot of frequent flier miles.  It also means you have the opportunity to make some amazing friends. 

You have the ability to meet people from all over the world, who have been to zillions of places and seen miraculous things.  You can learn so much just by asking your new friends "What did you do yesterday?" and could write a book with the answers you get from asking "What is the coolest thing you've seen?"

I'm adding another zip code (here it's called a pin code) to add to my previous TEN on the "where I've lived" list ... and adding so ... so, much more.

ABOUT NAOMI

I am a mother, wife, sister, friend, daughter.

I am a blossoming cook, an avid reader, a wanna-be runner and gardener.

I was homeschooled as a child and some days wish that I had the patience to do the same with my own children.

I am stubborn, melodramatic and sometimes impossible to reason with. I am steadfast in my belief systems, vocal and respectful at the same time.

I have always exercised my right to vote, my right to free speech and my right to stomp my foot when I see something that is wrong.

I type a ridiculous amount of words per minute, but can't possibly have an intelligent argument with my husband to save my soul.

I pass up movies in the comedy section and go only for movies that make me think. I love coffee first thing in the morning, despise housecleaning and adore the beach.

I want to live my life without fear or regret - but only if I've exercised due diligence in researching my options.

I write, I love, I create, I dream and I hope to make an impact ... if only a small corner of my world ... for the better.