Did you say India?

So in the past few months, Chris's company has been talking about sending him to India to work for a year. I think he wants Ivy and me (and the fetus) to go too.

So this thought has been brewing and stewing and causing alternating fits of anxiety and excitement, and India? Really? Like tigers and samosas and the Taj Mahal India?

Bangalore, to be precise, southern India, where it is supposed to be cooler. I think this is one of those cases where cooler means not the scorching-pit-of-hell hot, but more the town next door to the scorching-pit-of-hell. And there really aren't tigers there in Bangalore, though I hear that there are plenty of cows and stray dogs roaming the streets. Sounds almost like Montana!! Except for the, you know, pollution and open, running sewers, and horrible sad poverty. But really, there is excitement too, at the possibility of an adventure. I try not to let my romantic notions get the best of me, it is after all a big bustling city full-o-high techiness.

So should we do it? I'll post my list of pros and cons next. Once I figure them out.

Comments

[Did you say no tigers? :-p]

For starters, this is definitely one of the 'cooler' parts of India. And I mean temperature. :-)

And hey, there ARE tigers, obviously they don't roam the streets (expected that, did you?), as the streets have a real-estate issue with the stray-dogs having sex and reproducing like anything. But yes, if you're willing to take some time out, Tigers galore. My blog has a few pix.

Sewers are sad, and some of them are open, yet evadeable. The real problem here is the power, or rather -- the lack of it -- but nothing earth-shattering. Poverty is both inspiring and disappointing, depends on how you take it.

All in all, I assure you, there are more take-aways from a visit to this part of the woods, than the gives. This, from an immigrant in his own nation.

[Alice]

Holy Moly, you keep surprising the heck out of me with every post!!!

OK, lunch or dinner next week?!

[Nicole]

How can you not? How often do opportunities like this come around? What a grand adventure for you and family. Think of all the amazing curries you will be able to cook. The colours, the culture, the food, the clothing. It's not all open sewers and anyway you can get used to anything. I used to live in Singapore in the old days and our fave eating place was next a to a huge open drain. I was only 5. Kids are so adaptable too. What a cute baby sari you could buy!
While there are poor areas, there are nicer areas too.
GO FOR IT!