Making friends / OWC Charity Ball

Overall, we’ve had a pretty easy time in settling into life in Palm Meadows. The neighborhood is great and really friendly. But most of all it helps to have a great network through Target and the other ex-pats (especially the neighbor ones). We’ve had such fun meeting people with all different backgrounds and from all over. In fact, having just landed in Bangalore from Minnesota, with a 3-year old in tow makes us some of the most boring people we’ve met! There are so many people from all over, on multiple ex-pat assignments, with varying family constraints – even a single mom here working! It’s really wonderful to have such a great support network of people that have all been through what you’re going through. I was checking out from a store, and the woman in front of me paid with a Target Visa. She was from Texas, and had some good advice – surround yourself with positive people, and enjoy it! So that’s what we’re trying to do…

Pretty much everywhere we’ve met great people. One highlight was last Saturday’s Overseas Women’s Club Charity Ball. One of my team members took me out shopping on Saturday afternoon and I procured complete Indian outfits for both me and Wade. So we went in Indian formal attire. (I wasn’t able to wear my sari, as apparently it takes time to stitch proper undergarments. And I sure didn’t want to head out to my first party without proper underwear!) We met more great people there, and Wade “won” a brass elephant at the silent auction – for luck.

Most recently, one of my co-workers at Target invited Wade out to play golf on Saturday. I’m a little jealous to not be included, but glad to see Wade getting out after so patiently (ok, not so patiently) looking after so many of the household issues the past two weeks. More importantly, it’s just awesome how great the people are here, from ex-pats to the Target team to the local residents (like my new boss and his wife). One thing you can’t say about here is that the people aren’t nice. It would give “Minnesota Nice” a run for the money! (Except on the road. :) )