On our way home we stopped at a hotel/restaurant (minus the hotel)....we think the hut in the back may have been the sleeping quarters; certainly not the Hilton. The food was delicious and the flies would agree with us.
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Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Gingee Fort
On Saturday Domenic spent the day with some friends and we ventured to the village of Gingee, about 2.5 hours south east of Chennai. Here we visited a 13th century military fort which was under operation up until the 19th century. The fort was strategically built atop a mountain and surrounded by large boulder fields below. The ascent took 2 hours in the sweltering mid-day heat, super planning on our part! Along the way we encountered beautiful scenic vistas along with numerous resident monkeys who were leery of trespassing tourists. The trek was long and hot but well worth the physical effort.
On our way home we stopped at a hotel/restaurant (minus the hotel)....we think the hut in the back may have been the sleeping quarters; certainly not the Hilton. The food was delicious and the flies would agree with us.
On our way home we stopped at a hotel/restaurant (minus the hotel)....we think the hut in the back may have been the sleeping quarters; certainly not the Hilton. The food was delicious and the flies would agree with us.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Indian Wedding---celebrity status
Thursday we attended our first Indian wedding and what an experience it was! We were the only Americans--or non-Indians for that matter--who attended the wedding. You would think the event was coordinated and designed around our needs and wishes. George, our driver, arranged for a good friend of his to "take care of us" at the wedding and reception. We had no idea what we were in for.
As soon as we arrived, people gathered around and welcomed us. We were escorted into the church and seated in the front row. There were people taking photos and videos of us....paparazzi style. The service was beautiful and long and we didn't understand a word that was said. Domenic was slowly melting into the pew and dripping onto the floor, but other than that he was extremely well behaved. Toward the end of the service the priest was speaking and pausing while the guests applauded. We had no idea why until the gentleman who was in charge of us leaned over and explained that the priest was using us an example of good parenting, filled with love and patience and wishing the bride and groom to have the same. All I can say is good job Domenic for pulling this off while we sat under microscope and thank you Seth for diluting Domenic's impatience by offering some of your patience. Phew!
After the service we were asked to stand with the bride and groom for more photos. Then we were whisked away to the reception where once again we sat front row. The bride and groom entered on stage. The priest joined them and said a few words but this time in English. He was reading off all of our names, referring to us as the guests of honor and inviting us on stage. We were given a beautiful lei, sat on stage, and ate cake that was hand fed to us by the bride! Later we had a delicious dinner served on a banana leaf.
It was a wonderful experience. We had no idea we would be treated like such celebrities!
As soon as we arrived, people gathered around and welcomed us. We were escorted into the church and seated in the front row. There were people taking photos and videos of us....paparazzi style. The service was beautiful and long and we didn't understand a word that was said. Domenic was slowly melting into the pew and dripping onto the floor, but other than that he was extremely well behaved. Toward the end of the service the priest was speaking and pausing while the guests applauded. We had no idea why until the gentleman who was in charge of us leaned over and explained that the priest was using us an example of good parenting, filled with love and patience and wishing the bride and groom to have the same. All I can say is good job Domenic for pulling this off while we sat under microscope and thank you Seth for diluting Domenic's impatience by offering some of your patience. Phew!
After the service we were asked to stand with the bride and groom for more photos. Then we were whisked away to the reception where once again we sat front row. The bride and groom entered on stage. The priest joined them and said a few words but this time in English. He was reading off all of our names, referring to us as the guests of honor and inviting us on stage. We were given a beautiful lei, sat on stage, and ate cake that was hand fed to us by the bride! Later we had a delicious dinner served on a banana leaf.
It was a wonderful experience. We had no idea we would be treated like such celebrities!
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Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Welcome Back Picnic
Saturday was the annual Welcome Back Picnic at AISC. There was plenty of food, music, games, swimming, and people. The pictures show how truly big the campus is, and we know because we walk it everyday!
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Sunday, September 12, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Paperwork, Lines, Cell Phones, and Laughs
I think it goes with out saying that life in India is much different than back at home. This country LOVES paperwork and lines. Forget about the days of writing out a tidy TO-DO list and feeling the joy of crossing each completed task off. Not going to happen in India--EVER. You're lucky if you get one thing accomplished in a day. How can that be? Because this country LOVES paperwork and lines and most things defy logic--THAT you can count on.
CELL PHONES
Getting a cell phone in this country is a chore and keeping your cell phone turned on and working is a process in itself. Buying the actual phone is simple (by India standards that is...) but obtaining the sim card is another story. The only way to get a sim card for your phone is to have a residency permit. This is obtained through immigration (the place where there is a line to get in a line to get in another line and so on...)..... I think the application packet requires more signatures than buying a house. You must also provide: 2 passport size photos, copy of your visa and copy of your passport. Once the phones are activated, someone will call and verify that I really am Carlina Fiordilino.....if you are lucky enough to understand the person on the other end then you move to stage 2---a visit to your house where they verify once again that I am Carlina Fiordilino and I sign off on more paperwork. There are black out dates where the phones can't be used at all and if your phone isn't used at least once in a week it gets disconnected (this just happened) and the paperwork and lines to get it reactivated begin. Regardless of whether you can keep your phone working or not, a bill will be generated and mailed to you---on Indian time so don't expect regular billing cycles. It would be handy to pay the bill online---but? After 3 weeks I am still unable to access my local bank account online (that's another blog entry). Today I went directly to Airtell to pay my bill. I waited in a giant, sweaty line and was finally able to hand over my bills (my bill and Domenic's bill) totaling about 330 rupees ($7.50). The guy behind the counter jotted down 120 rupees on one bill and 120 rupees on the other. "That will be 240, please." I didn't even ask---just opened my wallet and pulled out some cash. I handed it over to the guy and he smiled and said, "over there....someone coming"....o, yes. I fogot......there is a separate line where you actually hand over the cash. I'll tell you what.....it really is very humerous and India has provided ample opportunities for laughter----and you know how I love to laugh!
CELL PHONES
Getting a cell phone in this country is a chore and keeping your cell phone turned on and working is a process in itself. Buying the actual phone is simple (by India standards that is...) but obtaining the sim card is another story. The only way to get a sim card for your phone is to have a residency permit. This is obtained through immigration (the place where there is a line to get in a line to get in another line and so on...)..... I think the application packet requires more signatures than buying a house. You must also provide: 2 passport size photos, copy of your visa and copy of your passport. Once the phones are activated, someone will call and verify that I really am Carlina Fiordilino.....if you are lucky enough to understand the person on the other end then you move to stage 2---a visit to your house where they verify once again that I am Carlina Fiordilino and I sign off on more paperwork. There are black out dates where the phones can't be used at all and if your phone isn't used at least once in a week it gets disconnected (this just happened) and the paperwork and lines to get it reactivated begin. Regardless of whether you can keep your phone working or not, a bill will be generated and mailed to you---on Indian time so don't expect regular billing cycles. It would be handy to pay the bill online---but? After 3 weeks I am still unable to access my local bank account online (that's another blog entry). Today I went directly to Airtell to pay my bill. I waited in a giant, sweaty line and was finally able to hand over my bills (my bill and Domenic's bill) totaling about 330 rupees ($7.50). The guy behind the counter jotted down 120 rupees on one bill and 120 rupees on the other. "That will be 240, please." I didn't even ask---just opened my wallet and pulled out some cash. I handed it over to the guy and he smiled and said, "over there....someone coming"....o, yes. I fogot......there is a separate line where you actually hand over the cash. I'll tell you what.....it really is very humerous and India has provided ample opportunities for laughter----and you know how I love to laugh!
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