Brad and I have just been cast as the English voiceovers in a Tamil movie! We're demanding a copy of the movie as part of our payment. Details coming...
Update:
OK, I spoke to soon. Ain't gonna happen, at least not for a while.
But it's ok because I don't think they planning on paying us.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
school
I realized that I haven't told you much about school. I'm not allowed to post pictures but here are some things that you might/ might not find interesting:
I have students from South Korea, the US, France, Czech Republic, Japan, the Phillipines, India and Canada.
I am the assistant coach for the school's swim team.
There is a gourmet coffee shop downstairs.
On Mondays and Fridays there's Thai food in the teacher's lounge and on Tuesdays and Thursdays there's Iranian food. Both are delicious and only $2.66. I try to limit it to just once a week, though because the food's a little heavy and the weight's not falling off here like I thought it would.
My teaching partner is a Kiwi and she's endlessly helpful and wonderful. I love her.
We can order cases of wine and beer through the purchasing department.
We have a week off in October and unlike our last school, we actually get the week off. We're going to Goa.
The middle school has a week without walls where we take the kids on a trip.
Rumor is there are sometimes rain days during monsoon season where the city gets so flooded no one can make it to school. Last year a teacher had to be rescued from her second story.
The kids here will actually sit and work quietly when I tell them too. It's amazing. Unlike anything I've ever seen.
Oh, and I'm starting a new list of hilarious kid writing beginning with, "he was always acting so goody-tutious."
I have students from South Korea, the US, France, Czech Republic, Japan, the Phillipines, India and Canada.
I am the assistant coach for the school's swim team.
There is a gourmet coffee shop downstairs.
On Mondays and Fridays there's Thai food in the teacher's lounge and on Tuesdays and Thursdays there's Iranian food. Both are delicious and only $2.66. I try to limit it to just once a week, though because the food's a little heavy and the weight's not falling off here like I thought it would.
My teaching partner is a Kiwi and she's endlessly helpful and wonderful. I love her.
We can order cases of wine and beer through the purchasing department.
We have a week off in October and unlike our last school, we actually get the week off. We're going to Goa.
The middle school has a week without walls where we take the kids on a trip.
Rumor is there are sometimes rain days during monsoon season where the city gets so flooded no one can make it to school. Last year a teacher had to be rescued from her second story.
The kids here will actually sit and work quietly when I tell them too. It's amazing. Unlike anything I've ever seen.
Oh, and I'm starting a new list of hilarious kid writing beginning with, "he was always acting so goody-tutious."
Monday, August 24, 2009
our 'hood
Sorry for the wait! Brad took these pictures of the neighborhood this afternoon. So, this is where we live. Yep.
our house
someone else's house in front of our house
our street
just around the corner
flower lady
jasmine flowers
why we have a driver
cow eating garbage
ice cream!
pretty soon the dust will turn to mud. monsoons start any day now.
kick-ass car, the Ambassador
road widening project
our corner
auto rickshaws
neighbor's decoration
heading back home
I'll post pictures of the inside of our house soon, I promise. But we're still waiting on some furniture for the upstairs, which (they say) should be here this week.
our house
someone else's house in front of our house
our street
just around the corner
flower lady
jasmine flowers
why we have a driver
cow eating garbage
ice cream!
pretty soon the dust will turn to mud. monsoons start any day now.
kick-ass car, the Ambassador
road widening project
our corner
auto rickshaws
neighbor's decoration
heading back homeI'll post pictures of the inside of our house soon, I promise. But we're still waiting on some furniture for the upstairs, which (they say) should be here this week.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
disconnected
This weekend we were without phone and internet, which was a little devastating considering they are our only connection to the real world (and the Real Housewives), but we managed. I don't know when we'll get the connection back. We're filling out work orders now, trying to get them to the right people.
But besides that nuisance we had a pretty good weekend. We went to a restaurant called Lydie's on Saturday. Lydie is from Belgium, but has lived all over, including, of course, Chennai where she's lived the past 5 years. She is an amazing cook. We had a delicious, three course meal and then sat in traffic for TWO HOURS trying to get home. We were supposed to go to a party at another teacher's place, but after TWO HOURS in traffic we couldn't face the streets anymore.
Without internet we don't have any TV, so I read Dead Man's Walk this weekend, the prequel to Lonesome Dove, and this is making me realize that life here could be a whole lot worse. For one thing we always have food. And we almost always have water. Also, the Indians here aren't after our scalps.
So, I tried to keep this is mind as I raged around the apartment Sunday morning thinking that one of my work tops and a pair of jeans had gone missing. I thought they'd blown off the roof during the laundry process and were gone forever. Fists clenched, stomping up the stairs I shouted, "I HATE IT HERE!!!!" But then found my "missing" clothes in a remote cupboard near the ironing board just a few minutes later.
Feeling a little sheepish about the temper tantrum, but still kind of rattled, I decided it was time for some retail therapy. So Brad and I went to FabIndia and bought two sets of gorgeous bedding, some picture frames, throw pillows, a painting and various knick knacks. Coming home with arms loaded felt like Christmas and once we had our new stuff on the beds, couches and walls we decided that we absolutely love life here and are staying for years and years...
But besides that nuisance we had a pretty good weekend. We went to a restaurant called Lydie's on Saturday. Lydie is from Belgium, but has lived all over, including, of course, Chennai where she's lived the past 5 years. She is an amazing cook. We had a delicious, three course meal and then sat in traffic for TWO HOURS trying to get home. We were supposed to go to a party at another teacher's place, but after TWO HOURS in traffic we couldn't face the streets anymore.
Without internet we don't have any TV, so I read Dead Man's Walk this weekend, the prequel to Lonesome Dove, and this is making me realize that life here could be a whole lot worse. For one thing we always have food. And we almost always have water. Also, the Indians here aren't after our scalps.
So, I tried to keep this is mind as I raged around the apartment Sunday morning thinking that one of my work tops and a pair of jeans had gone missing. I thought they'd blown off the roof during the laundry process and were gone forever. Fists clenched, stomping up the stairs I shouted, "I HATE IT HERE!!!!" But then found my "missing" clothes in a remote cupboard near the ironing board just a few minutes later.
Feeling a little sheepish about the temper tantrum, but still kind of rattled, I decided it was time for some retail therapy. So Brad and I went to FabIndia and bought two sets of gorgeous bedding, some picture frames, throw pillows, a painting and various knick knacks. Coming home with arms loaded felt like Christmas and once we had our new stuff on the beds, couches and walls we decided that we absolutely love life here and are staying for years and years...
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
forgot this
So, I mentioned that we survived our first "earthquake" but I didn't mention that we survived something much more terrible and dangerous. Brad drove to school this morning! I can tell you this now because 1) we're alive and 2) we're never going to drive again. Promise.
Had to do it because Michael had a friend call and say that he would be out sick for a week. I'm sure. Either way he's done. We were supposed to meet with a driver this afternoon, which is why we drove this morning, thinking we'd have a driver for the way home. But naturally, no one showed up. So we left the car at school and took a rickshaw home, almost equally terrifying, but once again we're alive so what do I have to complain about?
Had to do it because Michael had a friend call and say that he would be out sick for a week. I'm sure. Either way he's done. We were supposed to meet with a driver this afternoon, which is why we drove this morning, thinking we'd have a driver for the way home. But naturally, no one showed up. So we left the car at school and took a rickshaw home, almost equally terrifying, but once again we're alive so what do I have to complain about?
in case you were worried
I didn't feel a thing:
The quake hit at 1:55 am (1955 GMT Monday) around 263 kilometres north of Port Blair, and was around 33 kilometres deep. Mild tremors were felt 1,190 kilometres away in the eastern Indian port city of Chennai.
The quake hit at 1:55 am (1955 GMT Monday) around 263 kilometres north of Port Blair, and was around 33 kilometres deep. Mild tremors were felt 1,190 kilometres away in the eastern Indian port city of Chennai.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
ups and downs
I'm sorry I left you for so long with just an I'm sick post.
It turns out that things just had to get really bad before they started to get better, and that's how things are now: much, much better. I didn't have food poisoning on Thursday, turns out I just had a 24 flu. I decided this was so when my body was aching so bad that even my teeth hurt. And this was all happening while I was waiting in line at immigration, which is never fun but so much worse with the flu.
But then I woke up the next day as an official Indian resident and feeling 100% better so I decided not to drive straight to the airport after all and put in a full, productive day at work. Work, I think, is going to be good. I have only 19 students TOTAL, which is almost 100 less than I had last year and there are many great resources. So, that, at least is a very bright point.
There are other good things too, we found a Thai spa where we spent some time yesterday. It costs too many rupees to make it happen more than once a month or so, but we left there feeling pampered and relaxed.
Food is good here too and, like Barranquilla, almost every place delivers. Last night we had some South Indian food delivered and ate it downstairs while upstairs someone from the furniture store was busy assembling our new dressers. This morning I was able to finish the rest of the unpacking at long long last.
And, this is probably the best news of all, we found a maid, Subu, who I think will be great. She came over on Saturday so I could show her the ropes and she really whipped this place into shape. You should have seen the dustbunnies she uncovered. So now we have a nice, clean house and the assurance that it will be that way 5 days a week.
I really mean it this time when I promise that I will post pictures soon. Probably not tomorrow, because it's the first day of school and I'll have way more interesting things to tell you about.
In the meantime, if you want to see some pics you should go check out my beautiful niece here: http:.//strawworld.blogspot.com/
It turns out that things just had to get really bad before they started to get better, and that's how things are now: much, much better. I didn't have food poisoning on Thursday, turns out I just had a 24 flu. I decided this was so when my body was aching so bad that even my teeth hurt. And this was all happening while I was waiting in line at immigration, which is never fun but so much worse with the flu.
But then I woke up the next day as an official Indian resident and feeling 100% better so I decided not to drive straight to the airport after all and put in a full, productive day at work. Work, I think, is going to be good. I have only 19 students TOTAL, which is almost 100 less than I had last year and there are many great resources. So, that, at least is a very bright point.
There are other good things too, we found a Thai spa where we spent some time yesterday. It costs too many rupees to make it happen more than once a month or so, but we left there feeling pampered and relaxed.
Food is good here too and, like Barranquilla, almost every place delivers. Last night we had some South Indian food delivered and ate it downstairs while upstairs someone from the furniture store was busy assembling our new dressers. This morning I was able to finish the rest of the unpacking at long long last.
And, this is probably the best news of all, we found a maid, Subu, who I think will be great. She came over on Saturday so I could show her the ropes and she really whipped this place into shape. You should have seen the dustbunnies she uncovered. So now we have a nice, clean house and the assurance that it will be that way 5 days a week.
I really mean it this time when I promise that I will post pictures soon. Probably not tomorrow, because it's the first day of school and I'll have way more interesting things to tell you about.
In the meantime, if you want to see some pics you should go check out my beautiful niece here: http:.//strawworld.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
feeling better, kind of
Brad and I have decided to fend for ourselves domestically, and I know the reading of this probably brought on a round of eyerolls, but I'm telling you it's not easy. For one thing the grocery store is about an hour's drive from school, there are other closer food-selling outlets, but I'm a little leery of those.
But we do have a well-stocked kitchen thanks to some Corning Ware I shipped (and thanks to some wedding guests. Thank you Joe and Leslie!) So last night I made tuna noodle casserole and despite a few improvisations it came together pretty well.
Then it was time to do laundry. Our washing machine is on the first floor and we have to dry the clothes on the roof. Hauling wet clothes up two flights of stairs isn't itself terrible, discovering that it's raining once you get there is. So again we improvised and rigged up a little shelter. I haven't yet checked on the status of the clothes because I can't go on the roof until I'm decently covered and if I cover up AND go outside I'll get sweaty, which is no good since the water is still just drizzling from the taps.
Michael, the driver, seems to know that his goose is cooked and is dragging his feet getting the registration done. But I have confidence that he will.
I'm also sure that in two weeks or less we will be mostly well adjusted to life here and I'll look back on these posts and laugh and laugh.
But for now, a little tear of self pity, a sniffle, and the last of the Doves....
But we do have a well-stocked kitchen thanks to some Corning Ware I shipped (and thanks to some wedding guests. Thank you Joe and Leslie!) So last night I made tuna noodle casserole and despite a few improvisations it came together pretty well.
Then it was time to do laundry. Our washing machine is on the first floor and we have to dry the clothes on the roof. Hauling wet clothes up two flights of stairs isn't itself terrible, discovering that it's raining once you get there is. So again we improvised and rigged up a little shelter. I haven't yet checked on the status of the clothes because I can't go on the roof until I'm decently covered and if I cover up AND go outside I'll get sweaty, which is no good since the water is still just drizzling from the taps.
Michael, the driver, seems to know that his goose is cooked and is dragging his feet getting the registration done. But I have confidence that he will.
I'm also sure that in two weeks or less we will be mostly well adjusted to life here and I'll look back on these posts and laugh and laugh.
But for now, a little tear of self pity, a sniffle, and the last of the Doves....
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