Spring Break!

Our spring break has officially begun. We are getting ready to head to the Maldive Islands. For those of you who are geographically challenged like myself these are a chain of islands located southwest of India. Ted is quite excited as once we arrive in Male, Maldives we will board a seaplane to head to the resort. So we will be gone for one week, the second week will be spent at home just enjoying the pool here!

A memory for life

Today I received a text message from a mom at school announcing that Fisherman's Cove was releasing baby sea turtles! Of course those of you that know me, know that I had to be there! I had an idea what it would be like from a friend but it was so awesome to be able to be a part of this! The Olive Ridley Sea Turtle commonly lays it's eggs on the shores of the Bay of Bengal but often the eggs are endangered by dogs, seagulls and crabs so a group of volunteers have formed Turtle Walks. People walk the beaches between January and March and when turtles are found laying the eggs the eggs are then dug up and moved to a protected site and buried one foot deep in the sand. Then approximately 40-45 days later the turtles start to hatch. The turtles are then gathered and released into the ocean. I was asking the man in charge how he marked the nests. It appears that it is like a treasure hunt, take 10 steps, then turn 15 steps, etc! They indeed found the nest as there must have been at least 150 turtles that we released. They were about 1 1/2 -2 inches in diameter and were quite active. A few still had the yolk sack hanging from their belly. Each of us got to release 5-6 into the sea. The turtles were gently placed on the sand and the waves carried them out to sea. What a site to see these turtles take their first swim and we were there to witness it! Awesome! Unfortunately only about 10 percent live to be full grown turtles. I look forward to going on the turtle walk next year!

So what side do you drive on?

I was talking to a man from Scotland the other day who was telling me the he drives on Sunday as they have no driver that day. Then I stupidly asked him if he was used to driving on the "wrong" side! We both had a good laugh at this question.
Today I saw a car that had the steering wheel on the left side (aka the normal side) and I was shocked. I saw a westerner getting in the right side of a van at school and thought how unusual that she was driving and then realized...no steering wheel on the right, it was on the left! Bhaskar was telling me the consulate personnel import US vehicles when they move thus the American van with the steering wheel on the "right" side or I mean the left side!

A good weekend

We had a very nice weekend! The children were off school for Good Friday and each of the boys had a friend over. I even had a friend over! We played Scrabble in between fielding questions from the kids and making lunch. In between rain showers the kids managed to swim. We have had a lot of rain lately. due to some tropical depression somewhere at sea. The bad thing about rain here is that there just doesn't seem to be anywhere for it to go, so it puddles everywhere. On Saturday I celebrated my birthday. We just hung out at the house in the morning and then in the afternoon went and checked out some antique shops. We have found several pieces that we like. It is so neat to see a piece of furniture made out of Jack fruit or Teak. That night we went to dinner at a new hotel, the Asiana. On Sunday we went to church, the past two Sundays we have visited an on old Scottish Presbyterian called St. Andrew's Church (aka The Kirk...I guess Kirk means church in Scotland). We have definitely been the minority in the church but the sermons have been good. The opening prelude played on Sunday was arranged by Harold DeCou who plays the piano at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Peoria, IL. In church communion was offered and Mason said, "Mom, is the bread safe to eat?" Only in India would you hear this question! After church we head to some friends for lunch/dinner. There were people from Michigan, China, Minnesota, Scotland, Illinois and some other country in Europe I can't remember. One thing I have realized living in India is how terrible my geography is! It truly is an enriching experience living abroad. Not that we don't miss our family and friends as we do, but we just remind ourselves that this is just a season of our lives.

A tight sqeeze

This is just a street that we drove down in India. There was so little room that I thought for sure we would never get out again and our car would have to be removed piece by piece. Amazingly enough we came out without any scratches! The area we were in is called "Electronics Street". We went out to look for another UPS (uninterrupted power supply). After going down this street and some other very narrow streets we were unable to find a parking spot. We decided to head to Spencer's plaza which is a shopping mall that is really huge and has several phases (to get lost in). We thought we would park at Spencer's Plaza and then take a auto rickshaw, but we ended up finding a UPS in the mall! While at the mall Ted even got an eye exam and new eyeglasses!! The exam was quite different than the US but it worked.

Our lawnmowers

Yep, the title is right. This photo is of our lawnmowers...Vincat and his father are cutting the lawn. No machine powered mowers here, just an old fashioned knife or machete type thing! They are on about day three of the cutting, each day they have spent 2-3 hrs. I think when the all the grass is established around the pool construction we will be looking at buying some type of mower. It is nice to have the grass cut as it was getting quite long. I joked that I was going to bring a cow in the yard!

Missing Teeth

Emily is really growing up in India. In the past 2-3 weeks she has lost three teeth! She is quite proud of the fact that she can pull her own teeth. What a trooper she is. We have been teasing her that she looks like a jack-o-lantern. The tooth has been placed under her pillow with a note that reads, "Dear Tooth Fairy, I am excited because it's the top tooth. Love, Emily Green". I wonder what will be under her pillow in the morning?

What a night

Tonight was a very bad night in India. Millie (our golden retriever~the best dog ever!) had gotten a bad bug bite or bee sting. She then developed a hot spot (a skin infection due to her licking the bite so much). I was really alarmed at how bad it was looking and really wanted to get it looked at very soon. I had local vet that was recommended by a friend come and look at Millie. He ended up giving her 1 injection with 2 different medicines that caused a toxic reaction. She immediately had some very bad side effects. The vet kept saying the medicine was not the cause, he kept saying "It is not possible, it was something she ate." I said no it is not, she is having a severe reaction to the drugs and I am taking her elsewhere so leave. Ted carried Millie to the van and off we sped to The ARK where a doctor administered an IV (note her front right leg where the hair is shave), antidote and an allergy pill. After about 1 1/2 hrs she finally turned around. Let me say how scary this was! I know she is a dog but she is still such a part of our family! They may not be the Wyoming Vet Clinic but I am glad they are here in Chennai. The kitty has an appointment on Tuesday. The kitty does have a name now...Cleopatches! We will call her Cleo. She and Millie are quite good friends, finally!

The zoo

Emily and her class went to the Vandalur Zoo and I was allowed to go. It is a huge zoo and covers a lot of land. There was a paved road throughout but we were put on a trolley so that the kids would not get too tired. It meant not being able to see everything but there would have been no way to walk the whole thing with the kids. There elephants, hippopotamus, lions, tigers, leopards, deer, orangutan's, gorillas, snakes (saw my first on hopefully only cobra in India), crocodiles, etc. It was a fun time. We went on a "lion safari" which consisted of us riding in a bus type vehicle which was covered with metal grates to keep us from being lion food. Although the way things are done here I am not sure I would have withstood a lion attack. But we went through a couple of double gates and out into the forest. We saw all 6 lions with in about 5 minutes. It was very cool to see the lions so close in there natural environment. I was most amazed at what the snakes are fed...live chickens are put in the cage. I feel really sorry for the chicken and wonder if he knows what his future holds.

Friday Market

Poultry for sale

Dried Fish

Oxen already sold to the highest bidder

Colored Chicks (reminds me of Easter Peeps)

The market

A few Friday's ago Bhaskar and I headed to a Friday market to look at some plants and it was a really interesting trip. At the market you could buy everything from a water buffalo to a toothbrush. They sold lots of different kinds of poultry- ducks, chickens, turkeys, parakeets, and lots of other birds that I didn't recognize (and I didn't even come down with the bird flu). The most amazing thing I saw were colored chicks. One day we drove past a bicycle carrying a basket of these colored chicks and I thought my mind was playing tricks. I am not sure why they dye them. They definitely looked like some sort of Easter decoration! The market had a lovely selection of plants, I ended up buying some rose bushes and a giant dahlia. I really enjoy going out and seeing things like this. Unfortunately we missed the water buffalo sale, I guess that begins around 6 am. I guess we really don't need a water buffalo that bad! On the drive to the market we went past a landfill...or garbage dump. We do have garbage pickup on our street and I always wondered where it went once it left our house, now I know. This service is alreay paid to the government but in order to get the people to pick up our trash we have to pay them a bribe of 200 rupees (about $5 USD) once a month. There were people, dogs, cows, goats and I am sure lots of other things out digging through the garbage. Then eventually the garbage gets burnt.

Happy Birthday Mason

Mason's 1st birthday

Today March 10 is our oldest son's 12th birthday. This posting is in honor of him. It seems like just yesterday he was born. What a blessing he is to us. Mason is growing up. It seems like just yesterday he was crawling through the house and today he runs full blast through the house. He used to ask lots of questions but now he answers lots of questions (especially computer and electronic stuff for his mom !). He used to ride a tricycle but now he rides his ripstick. He used to ask me to put his bandaids on, now he puts his own bandaids on. He used to ask for hugs, now I just give them to him anyway! He is growing up before our eyes! Happy Birthday Mason! We are proud of you!

Mason's 12th birthday

Sports day

Our school, AISC (American Int'l School of Chennai), had sports day last week and the kids had such a fun time playing games and running relays. The sports day was just for preschool- 5th grade so just Emily and Logan were involved. The weather was beautiful but was fairly warm. The kids drank lots of water to stay cool and hydrated. They proved to be quite the athletes.

Emily running the relay

Preschool through 5th grade

Logan (with Black cap) pulling on the tug of war rope

Emily

Logan and Issac

Logan during the sack race

It is swimming time!

The pool is completed...almost, a few minor things to be done, but we can swim in it! We still have lots of sand around the pool and will have for several more weeks. The kids were ready to hop in but were told that the pool had to be blessed first. So Bhaskar and 1oo rupees went off to buy the supplies for the blessing ceremony which consisted of a white watermelon, coconut, fireworks, red dye and some incense. So after the pool was officially blessed it was swimming time!

Sampeth and Vincat - the gardeners

Almost Swimming Time!

Wow, it is almost really done! It is hard to believe, it took much longer than thought! We are hoping by this weekend to be able to swim it. Amazingly Millie has not gotten it. I am afraid once she discovers it we won't be able to keep her out. There are men here removing the dirt. They thought that they would just be able to spread the dirt over the yard, but they finally figured out there was just too much! So for the past 4 days they have had this truck and about 5 guys shoveling. So much for using earth moving equipment. Emily, Logan, Millie and Harry (the neighbor boy) managed to find there way up in the truck while the workers were loading the truck. Both the maid and I are ready for grass as we are tired of dealing with sand which manages to find its way into the house... !! The pool will just have grass right up to the edge, don't ask why, I guess it is just something they do in India. We need to get the grass planted, work on landscaping and put up a privacy fence. But at least we can still swim this weekend (hopefully).