Many of the expats I've talked to describe it as being on a roller-coaster....
Saturday started out a great day. Caden slept until almost 4 (hey, that’s improvement). We put on a movie for him in the room, throughout which he had many questions: Caden: “Mom…MOM…MOM!!...(pause)...what was that?”
Mom (through closed eyes): “I think it was an elephant”
Caden (incredulously): “Noooooo.”
Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
Oh well, we got up and got the hotel room packed back up into the 12 pieces of baggage of which we’d somehow managed to use all of them. Then down to breakfast, where I decided that I will probably not lose any weight in India, as intended. Again the most fantastic buffet of food ever seen. Juices of every kind, fruit, cereal, made-to-order omelets and waffles, meats, potatoes, and on an on. Far from struggling to eat, Caden had two eggs, a waffle, juice, fruit and hash browns. I also ate well, and again opted for the beef tenderloin (just on principle). Oh, and they had great coffee. Black. Liars everyone that told me no good coffee (at least for now). I do have to add that this is not the affordable way to dine in India, but it’s good to know there are options.
Saravanan (Tracy’s driver) picked us up from the hotel and took us to the birthday party at Palm Meadows. It was great – quite a party and Caden had a lot of fun, as did we. There were so many kids there, and face painting and pottery and games. Really fun. And a view from the open air party room in our neighborhood that was great – surrounded by warm, sunny palm trees. Some things I learned…the cake cutting is a big deal (think wedding), they don't open the presents there, and usually the food is last up at an Indian party (you party, then eat and leave) versus the US style, eat immediately upon arrival, then party… leaving time is ambiguous. Apparently most parties are clear within a half hour after the food. Interesting and I kind of like it.
Then we got to move into our new house. It felt good to be “home” (with the suitcase full of furnishings anyway) and I’ll attach the string of pictures right after this, with commentary. We had dinner (steak BBQ – see previous note about not losing weight) with Tracy’s family and her visiting parents. It was a lot of fun to have a good BBQ at the neighbors right away and the kids seemed to get along really well.
So, all day up and up – what an awesome place. Ah, but all rollercoaster start with up...it was a rough night (see disclaimer now). Caden had fallen asleep before we left, so we carried him home and slipped him into bed. Then collapsed into our bed – ouch. It is about four inches thick with the give of a wooden table. The sheets we brought had enough fabric but the shape didn’t work out well, so the “top” sheet was on the bottom, and we were trying to use the “bottom” sheet on top. Our pillows went air freight, so we were using towels as impromptu pillows. We are apparently directly under a flight path that is traveled all night long. Rough night sleep (on a bright note, I expect this will be rectified soon as I packed foam mattress toppers thanks to several heads-ups on this one, and the pillows and additional sheets will also be found soon; and one easily grows accustomed to noises).
Still, tossed a lot, and Caden woke up at 4am again and wanted into our room. This seemed reasonable. He wanted water – again, good idea. I clamor downstairs through the ceramic house to get bottled water. Caden drinks it all and wants more. No problem, again through the house I go and sink, no gently place myself, back in bed. Caden curls right up onto my chest and says “my belly hurts…” BARF – not to get graphic, but something like four gallons of water-volumized vomit all over, mainly, me. Mmmm. Ok, this is not good. Let’s get cleaned up. We go into the bathroom and flip every switch and valve to try to figure out the combination that might get the contraption in the bathroom to yield hot water. No luck after five minutes standing covered in puke. Ok Caden, let’s get brave and take the most icy frigid shower imaginable to rinse the barf off (they don’t serve beverages this cold so where they get this water from I don’t know). Of course, we only have one set of sheets. I get Caden back into bed – me and him and a spider man sleeping bag. He barfs again – twice. I’m now sure I am the worst mother possible and have recklessly endangered his life and am being punished his first night in our new house. He’s also riddled with mosquito bites and Wade is sure it’s malaria. We review the travel clinics’ folder of information and WHO printouts. Malaria takes at least 8 days to incubate. Caden barfs again. He looks up at me limply and says: “I had four garfers, I must be really sick.” (How are they so cute, even with barf on their chins?) We decide to give Caden the Cipro now. Wade starts laundry in our new pint-sized washing machine so we can hang dry the sheets in time for tomorrow afternoon. I lay in bed with Caden, contemplating modern medicine and food safety… the power goes out.
Mom (through closed eyes): “I think it was an elephant”
Caden (incredulously): “Noooooo.”
Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
Oh well, we got up and got the hotel room packed back up into the 12 pieces of baggage of which we’d somehow managed to use all of them. Then down to breakfast, where I decided that I will probably not lose any weight in India, as intended. Again the most fantastic buffet of food ever seen. Juices of every kind, fruit, cereal, made-to-order omelets and waffles, meats, potatoes, and on an on. Far from struggling to eat, Caden had two eggs, a waffle, juice, fruit and hash browns. I also ate well, and again opted for the beef tenderloin (just on principle). Oh, and they had great coffee. Black. Liars everyone that told me no good coffee (at least for now). I do have to add that this is not the affordable way to dine in India, but it’s good to know there are options.
Saravanan (Tracy’s driver) picked us up from the hotel and took us to the birthday party at Palm Meadows. It was great – quite a party and Caden had a lot of fun, as did we. There were so many kids there, and face painting and pottery and games. Really fun. And a view from the open air party room in our neighborhood that was great – surrounded by warm, sunny palm trees. Some things I learned…the cake cutting is a big deal (think wedding), they don't open the presents there, and usually the food is last up at an Indian party (you party, then eat and leave) versus the US style, eat immediately upon arrival, then party… leaving time is ambiguous. Apparently most parties are clear within a half hour after the food. Interesting and I kind of like it.
Then we got to move into our new house. It felt good to be “home” (with the suitcase full of furnishings anyway) and I’ll attach the string of pictures right after this, with commentary. We had dinner (steak BBQ – see previous note about not losing weight) with Tracy’s family and her visiting parents. It was a lot of fun to have a good BBQ at the neighbors right away and the kids seemed to get along really well.
So, all day up and up – what an awesome place. Ah, but all rollercoaster start with up...it was a rough night (see disclaimer now). Caden had fallen asleep before we left, so we carried him home and slipped him into bed. Then collapsed into our bed – ouch. It is about four inches thick with the give of a wooden table. The sheets we brought had enough fabric but the shape didn’t work out well, so the “top” sheet was on the bottom, and we were trying to use the “bottom” sheet on top. Our pillows went air freight, so we were using towels as impromptu pillows. We are apparently directly under a flight path that is traveled all night long. Rough night sleep (on a bright note, I expect this will be rectified soon as I packed foam mattress toppers thanks to several heads-ups on this one, and the pillows and additional sheets will also be found soon; and one easily grows accustomed to noises).
Still, tossed a lot, and Caden woke up at 4am again and wanted into our room. This seemed reasonable. He wanted water – again, good idea. I clamor downstairs through the ceramic house to get bottled water. Caden drinks it all and wants more. No problem, again through the house I go and sink, no gently place myself, back in bed. Caden curls right up onto my chest and says “my belly hurts…” BARF – not to get graphic, but something like four gallons of water-volumized vomit all over, mainly, me. Mmmm. Ok, this is not good. Let’s get cleaned up. We go into the bathroom and flip every switch and valve to try to figure out the combination that might get the contraption in the bathroom to yield hot water. No luck after five minutes standing covered in puke. Ok Caden, let’s get brave and take the most icy frigid shower imaginable to rinse the barf off (they don’t serve beverages this cold so where they get this water from I don’t know). Of course, we only have one set of sheets. I get Caden back into bed – me and him and a spider man sleeping bag. He barfs again – twice. I’m now sure I am the worst mother possible and have recklessly endangered his life and am being punished his first night in our new house. He’s also riddled with mosquito bites and Wade is sure it’s malaria. We review the travel clinics’ folder of information and WHO printouts. Malaria takes at least 8 days to incubate. Caden barfs again. He looks up at me limply and says: “I had four garfers, I must be really sick.” (How are they so cute, even with barf on their chins?) We decide to give Caden the Cipro now. Wade starts laundry in our new pint-sized washing machine so we can hang dry the sheets in time for tomorrow afternoon. I lay in bed with Caden, contemplating modern medicine and food safety… the power goes out.
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