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.
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 ...
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!
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
