Finished year 1

I have not blogged in while - very busy ending the school year!

All the work and preparation I did to land an overseas teaching job paid off - I got an amazing job in the place I said I'd never live - India!!

I have loved teaching here and have a thousand ideas on how to make next year great too! I've learned a lot about teaching, technology, geography, traveling, etc.

It's hard to believe that I need to pack up and leave my flat for 2 months.  I'm a little concerned about "reverse culture shock".  I'm not going to know what to do with myself.  It's going to seem too quiet and clean :)  I do look forward to eating cereal and milk, blueberries, seedless grapes, Jimmy Johns, Steak n Shake and Mexican food!!

I'm off on a lot of adventures this summer then back to more adventures in India. :)

Missing Team in Training

I miss a lot of things from the US - cereal and milk, no honking, real Mexican food, rules and order etc. What I miss the MOST is running with my Team in Training group.  For years my Saturdays from May to November consisted of getting up at 4:45am and driving to Terry Hersey Park and then running for hours with my peeps. There is something really cool about meeting a group of strangers for the first three mile run and and then months later spending 5 HOURS running together on a glorious 21 miles run. You make a lot of friends when you have hours stretched before with nothing to do but run and chat :)  many people train for Half Marathons but I always trained for the full marathons and I was the slowest.  So every week I came in last, but every week my teammates would be waiting for me and (whoever was running with me) to cheer me on and eat breakfast with me at the picnic tables.  I'd get in my car all sweaty and smelly and drive home.  I'd get out of the car and limp up the stairs and stagger into the shower.  I would painfully get dressed and hobble down the stairs, put ice on my knees, make lunch, and lay on the couch watching Lifetime and Hallmark movies.  People don't think that sounds like a great Saturday, but it is the BEST Saturday.  As a Team in Training mentor I loved encouraging other runners and keeping their mind off the pain with funny stories from school :)

People always thought I was weird for spending my Saturdays like that.  and for spending my money to travel to cities in order to run a race.  People don't think that's a vacation, but I enjoy seeing a city on foot :) I also enjoy going to TNT events and hearing stories of survivors - people who beat Leukemia due to the money TNT training raised for research. 

I talked my friend Norma into running a few half marathons with me and this year I convinced her to train with my team!!  and she is taking two more people - Dawn and Cortnee who both worked with Norma and I in Texas.  I cannot wait to hear about all their adventures! And run with them on June 9^th at the best running park – Terry Hershey Park!  It will be such a change of pace from running in Mumbai.

January of 2011 was the last time I ran a race for Team in Training.  I did the Goofy Challenge at Disney World.  You run a half marathon on Saturday and a full marathon on Sunday -39.3 miles!  Painful but you get 3 medals for running 2 races!  I had such a great time that weekend.  There was a big group of experienced TNT  people who did that race with me.  I am not nearly as talented a runner as most of them so I was in way worse shape than them after the race.  I remember we were sitting in the airport to go home and one of the participants asked if we thought we could have run that distance in one day ( a marathon is about 42 km and a half is about 21 – so we ran 63 km) She suggested we sign up to run a 50k together.  If you can image a bunch of people who were in so much pain they can barely move – we had to lift each other up to board the plane.  But we all agreed we could do a 50k in one stretch.  I remember laughing because it was so ridiculous that we were willing to do that when we were so messed up from this race. 

Runners are a weird strange bunch.  But I love them.  And I love being a part of them. J

Mob violence sucks

I generally feel very safe in Mumbai.  You have to watch where you walk so you don't fall in a hole.  You have to cross the street frogger style trying to avoid a collision.  and it is best not to look when being driven in a taxi or rickshaw.  but women can walk around safely even at night and people don't carry handguns so you don't have to worry about being shot like in the US.

But one thing that is scary is is mob violence.  A friend of mine saw that a guy accidently hit a passenger with his car and he immediately got his phone and was calling someone while dozens of people came from everywhere to beat the guy.  We believe he was calling the police and hoping they got there before he was too injured.

Today I walked out of a store and saw about 100 people on the street watching while a dozen men chased another man down the street with a bamboo rod.  He fell on the ground and they beat him.  He got up and they chased him while hitting him.  i have no idea what he did.  I walked half a block and saw a man with blood on his head.  Several men had belts folded up in their hands.  maybe they hit the guy with the belts first?  The shocking part.  The police were with the bleeding man.  and allowed the mob to chase and beat the perpetrator.  you feel guilty for seeing violence and not doing anything about it.  but what was I going to do.  call the police????  they were already there and not doing anything!!!
I really hate this about Mumbai. 

Dharavi and Mahim

Dharavi is often called "Asia's largest slum"  It is reported there are nearly 1 million people living in this area that is 0.67 square miles.  National Geographic said that in some places in Dharavi 18,000 people are living in one acre.  Dharavi is very close to our school and I have wanted to take a tour of it and just haven't gotten around to it.  My friend Nancy is moving to Thailand this fall so she is trying to see a lot in Mumbai before she leaves so she and I headed out with our guide Felix.  It was super hot out and we had to walk a lot.

People hear the word "slum" and think of a horrible place.  In the US and other western places slum equates to a crime ridden poverty infested cesspool.  Poor people tend to turn to a life of crime etc.  It is not the case here.  There are booming businesses in Dharavi.  Years ago it was a lot worse off - poor people forced to lived there etc.  But now there are wealthy people that live there and don't want to move out.  People from all over India come to Dharai for jobs.  Reality Tours is a company that does tours of Dharavi - you are not allowed to take pictures so as not to exploit the people.  Since we did a private tour, we were allowed to take pictures in every place but one.  They had child laborers and did not want it documented.  Part of the reason that Reality Tours doesn't let anyone take pictures is because people take photos and videos and use them for documentaries etc to report how horrible the conditions are in Dharavi.  I am convinced they are westerners not familiar with India and just came to see and report on Dharavi.  I live in Bandra which is one of the nicer areas of Mumbai.  I see slums in Bandra that are FAR worse than Dharavi!  In Bandra I am hounded by beggars and have to walk around homeless sleeping and peeing on the street.  We didn't encounter a single beggar once we got to Mahim and Dharavi.  People had jobs and seemed happy.  They children were much cleaner and better dressed.  Our guide made sure to point out that the women had gold jewlery - not all of these people are horrible poor.  I took a lot of pictures and most of the workers were happy to tell us about their jobs and how much money they make.  They also asked for us to take pictures with them of course :)

We started our tour in Mahim (which a lot of people consider to be a part of Dharvi but isn't) They collect plastic from all over Dharavi and sort it, chop it, clean it, melt it etc. It is amazing how much plastic is there and how much is still left on the street!

They also make bread that is distributed all over Mumbai for sale.  They make jeans and other clothing too. I have lots of pictures on facebook of other businesses they have in Mahim.

really intricate cloth stamping

separating the plastic from the wire

Dharavi - lots of very interesting businesses.  I have a lot more pictures on facebook.

thousands of eggs on one truck!

printing and folding boxes

making brooms with his feet

leather making - briefcases

pottery making shop

sock making factory

oh India

there are often things about India that are not rational and it drives me crazy!  I am a math person - i like order!

My visa is running out and I have to go to FRRO - the Foreign Regional Registration Office.  It is the office that gives us our resident card too.  It's riduclous.  When I went there in July it was chaos.  We had to fill out these forms on the computer, then go to another station and fill all the same info out on paper, then another station where they copy the information on another piece of paper and so on!!!  augh!!! 

Anyway they give you a 10 work day window to go.  I talked to my principal to see if i could go during our standardized test day so that I would not miss any class.  I arranged for that.  Sree told  WHY THE HECK NOT????  If you are open I should be able to come.  So I had to change the day and am now missing school and a meeting with a consultant!  augh!  Not looking forward to a day of FRRO!

My internet stopped working and they said my plan ran out.  You buy these plans for 6 months with a certain MB amount.  You have no idea how much you are using etc.  They don't give you a bill so you can keep up with it.  they just turn your internet off and show up at your house one day demanding 7000 rupees.  Which I don't have just laying around!!  augh!!  so They came in nov or dec.  Friday my internet didn't work and page popped up on my computer that said I ran out.  I figured out how to pay it then called the company to see when it would come back on - 24 hours!  augh.  but now I have it set up online - if only they would have told me to do that in the first place!!!

My friend Rachel and walked to a friends house that was having a clothing swap party.  We nearly got hit by rickshaws multiple times.  If you put your hand out when you are crossing the street they usually stop.  Rachel put her hand up and the rickshaw actually touched her hand so that she was pushing the rick away.  it is ridiculous!  pedestrians have zero rights.  and they just speed towards you and honk at you to get away instead of slowing down or stopping.  BUT if someone hits a pedestrian badly, a mob of people will put him out of his rickshaw/car and beat the crap out of him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  so bizarre.  You wouldn't think they'd be so harsh - it's a miracle everyone hasn't hit a pedestrian!!

As people were pushing and shoving a queue today I was thinking how excited I will be to stand in a proper line in the states this summer.  A nice grocery store line where people wait their turn in a civilized manner!

Spring Break - Aamby Valley City

Aamby Valley City

One of our staff members has a house in Lonavala which is about an hour and a half from Mumbai.  It is quiet and peaceful with lots of land to drive 4 wheelers and climb mountains etc.  I enjoyed it a lot.  My friends were doing lots of different things for Spring break and I had options to go with people, but I just wasn’t feeling like major adventure.  I thought about going back to Lonavala and hiking etc.  My friend Madeline suggested going to Aamby Valley City which is close to Lonavala.  Her husband is the works with the resort there.  I looked up AVC on line and it is a planned community with a hospital, International school, lots of activities to do etc. I decided to come spend a few nights up here.

Carol is a teacher at our school who has worked here for 20 years.  She married an Indian actor and speaks Hindi so she is a great help.  The school said I couldn’t hire one of their drivers to take me because they were busy doing airport runs for teachers for spring break. I asked Carol if she could recommend a driver.  Her personal driver asked around and found Alam.  He came to the school to meet me and find out where I live etc.  He agreed to pick me up Sunday morning and drive me 2 hours to AVC, stay there until Wed and drive me back.  The hotel charges about 30 USD a day for a driver to stay and get 3 meals. 

I was feeling really sick the morning I was supposed to leave.  I called the driver to see if we could leave later.  All he kept saying was 9 am.  Ah. Language barrier.  I packed plastic bags in case I had to throw up in the car and prayed I wouldn’t need to find a bathroom on the way up there.  I laid down in the back seat and it wasn’t too bad.  Even though I couldn’t see out the windows I could tell when we crossed the bridge to the mainland (Mumbai is on Islands) the car starts moving faster and there is less honking.

I have not been around wealthy people much in my life and it unnerves me a little.  I’m getting a little more comfortable with it here because so many of my kids have really wealthy parents etc.  but I am still not at ease with it.  We get to AVC and it is a like a fortress.  I had to prove I had reservations to get through the first gate. Then we pull up to security rivaling Israel.  We had to take everything out of the car and scan it.  They checked the car and deemed I had no bombs so off we go.  A guard gets in the car ahead of us and escorts us to the hotel!  The hotel staff was so nice!  They gave me juice upon arrival and went out their way to accommodate me because their my friend’s husband had set this up for me.  I got the top floor of a timber chalet – it is gorgeous.  They are built kind of like log cabins and the stairs to my room smell like it and creak like an old house.  I spent Sunday exploring the grounds after I made sure Alam was taken care of.  I walked to the “town plaza”  which was farther than I thought.  And it was over 100 degrees F.  HOT.  Mumbai is hot, but we are closer to the water and because it is a big city it feels cooler because buildings block out some of the sun etc.  Here it is wide open spaces with the sun blazing down like in a desert.  I had lunch at the Four Seasons there.  They had some good Indian food even though it is not my favorite.  Really the only culinary things I will miss from India this summer is garlic naan, fresh lime soda and pineapple juice.  I had a great lunch with great dessert and drank my weight in fresh like soda because I was so hot.  I went to the “store” they have there and got some water for the long walk back.  I took a nap and then did some more exploring in the evening. I saw lots of Indian worker walking everywhere in long lines.  I’m wondering if they stay here in this city and where.  Walking is great here.  It is hotter than heck, but I don’t have to watch out for rickshaws, and poop, and people sleeping on the sidewalks!  I ordered pizza in my room and called my dad – haven’t talked to him in awhile. 

I slept well.  The shower had way better hot water than I have at my flat!  I walked to the Four Seasons again but it was cooler in the morning. Breakfast was good – There were omelets, yogurt, fruit etc.  Along with Idli, dosas etc.  A good balance since I cannot stand Indian breakfast food.  The waitress was very nice to me – she remembered me from the day before.  I am used to eating alone on vacations but they always make you feel bad – taking away the extra plates, glasses and napkins and making a big deal that you are alone. At least she took the stuff away while I was getting food.  I walked back, took some pictures, took a nap, read a magazine on my ipad, finished a book.  I wanted some ice cream in the afternoon but didn’t want to walk all the way out there.  I hadn’t talked to Alam since yesterday when he dropped me at the hotel. I am not used to having a driver.  I know he is staying here to drive me anywhere I want to go, that is his job, but I felt bad just needing ice cream!  Ha!  I offered ice cream, he wouldn’t take it. I asked him to drive down a road I hadn’t been down so I could take pictures.  He kept saying it was beautiful.  On the way back he drove holding his phone up so he could video!  Not the safest, but there are very few cars on the road so I let him.  I asked if he was recording to show his wife. He said “I have girl 13 years and boy 7 years”  He wanted his family to see what life outside of Mumbai looks like.  I felt awful that I am keeping him from his family for 3 days just so I can read, hike, lay at the pool.  One night at this hotel costs more than what I am paying him for 4 days.  Ridiculous!  I have never stayed at a hotel this expensive myself – usually split it with someone.  It is nice to get away and it is nice to not have to watch every penny here like I did in the US. 

On Tuesday I walked some more, went on a boat ride on the lake and laid out at the pool.  I actually got some color!  You can spend hours outside in Mumbai and not get any color.  Alam came to get me to take me to dinner and ice cream J

On Wednesday I went walking, swimming and then headed home around 11:30.   It was really weird being waited on and being treated so well.  Not sure I'll get used to staying at places this nice.  I had a really restful break and I think I will hire Alam to drive me to Pune in a few weeks J

seeing a movie in mumbai

In my first few weeks here I saw a Bollywood film in Hindi - we stayed for half of it.   That is my only moviegoing with a lot of really nicehere.

Yesterday I decided to go see The Hunger Games at the Phoenix mall.  Rickshaws can't go that far so I had to walk 15 minutes in this ridiculous heat to the hospital where I could get a taxi.  It rattled and shook and I though it was going to shatter!  When I got in he said "sealink?"  going across the sealink is faster but has a toll.  When we got there he said if I bought a return ticked it would be cheaper.  He was very concerned that I keep my ticket and get my discount :)  sweet taxi driver.

I got to the mall  - it's really a complex of malls with nice stores.  The movie theater is really nice with comfy chairs.  The tickets are $2 before noon, $3 from noon to 6, and $4,50 are the most expensive tickets at night.

other differences -
They give you assigned seats.
you stand for the national anthem before the movie starts
it is totally acceptable to talk during the movie and discuss it :)
there is intermission at all movies.  so right when Katniss got into the arena for the games, the movie stopped!
    it's nice you can go to the bathroom without missing anything and get some more snacks.

I had a nice pizza at california pizza kitchen and got a cab home.  It cooled down in the evening and the ride home was nice - watching the sun set over the sea link :)