I was looking at my calendar the other day, and I realized I crossed the 4 month mark this past week. In some ways, it doesn't feel like that much time has passed. In other ways, it feels like I've been here for a year.
This week has been exceptionally long. It has crawled along at a pace that could only mean one thing--it's time for vacation! The carrot at the end of the stick that is this week is a weekend in Kuala Lumpur and a week in Bali. For us, Kuala Lumpur is a mandatory stop on the way to Bali. We decided to stretch the lay over out and extra day or so.
We have done quite a bit of traveling the past few months, but it's been a long time we had a week to unplug and relax. That's actually a large part of the reason we chose Bali (that and the fact that we've wanted to visit there for a long time). This will also be our first trip out of India, where we aren't planning to come back into India with two duffel bags full of things we can't get in India. Don't worry. We are still taking the duffel bags. :-)
The only thing that would improve on this sunny vacation would be to see some familiar faces. We miss you all and wish you were here to join us.
Be good,
-TJS
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
Sometimes It's The Little or Small Things
If you ever find yourself moving halfway around the world under the pretense that most of the people there will speak English, keep one thing in mind. There are many different interpretations of the English language.
After about six hundred trips to Subway, which resulted in sandwiches containing lots of everything I asked for (and sometimes things I didn't want), I had a major break through.
The catalyst was a conversation we had in the car with our driver for the day. He was telling us he'd had a good time a couple of days earlier with a group of friends. "Yes, we had a good time." he said. "We had some drinks and made small jokes and told small stories."
I didn't think much of it, because that's how he always talks. It wasn't until a few hours later, when we were standing in line at Subway, that I had a moment of clarity. Up to that point, I'd been trying (in vain) to get the Subway guy to understand my English. "Can I get a little bit of this and a little of that?" And every time I would watch the guy make three passes with the mayo shooter.
This time, I thought I would try to use his English. With the most serious and strait face I could make, I placed my order. "Can I get a foot long turkey on wheat with small lettuce, small tomatoes, small pickles and small mayo, please?" What happened next changed my life.
The Subway guy opens the bread and places the turkey and cheese on it. Then, with the precision of a heart surgeon, he places a small amount of lettuce on top. Next, it was six small tomato slices and 8 pickle slices. I turn to Hillary with a look of awe and delight. I struggled to suppress my smile. He reaches for the mayo and pauses to choose his line. In a deliberate and focused stroke, he applies one thin strip of mayo. Perfection!! Just the way I wanted.
As much as I hate to say it, sometimes you have to be willing to bend to get what you want. From that day on, we've used the word small when ordering from Subway. When in Rome...
Be good,
-TJS
After about six hundred trips to Subway, which resulted in sandwiches containing lots of everything I asked for (and sometimes things I didn't want), I had a major break through.
The catalyst was a conversation we had in the car with our driver for the day. He was telling us he'd had a good time a couple of days earlier with a group of friends. "Yes, we had a good time." he said. "We had some drinks and made small jokes and told small stories."
I didn't think much of it, because that's how he always talks. It wasn't until a few hours later, when we were standing in line at Subway, that I had a moment of clarity. Up to that point, I'd been trying (in vain) to get the Subway guy to understand my English. "Can I get a little bit of this and a little of that?" And every time I would watch the guy make three passes with the mayo shooter.
This time, I thought I would try to use his English. With the most serious and strait face I could make, I placed my order. "Can I get a foot long turkey on wheat with small lettuce, small tomatoes, small pickles and small mayo, please?" What happened next changed my life.
The Subway guy opens the bread and places the turkey and cheese on it. Then, with the precision of a heart surgeon, he places a small amount of lettuce on top. Next, it was six small tomato slices and 8 pickle slices. I turn to Hillary with a look of awe and delight. I struggled to suppress my smile. He reaches for the mayo and pauses to choose his line. In a deliberate and focused stroke, he applies one thin strip of mayo. Perfection!! Just the way I wanted.
As much as I hate to say it, sometimes you have to be willing to bend to get what you want. From that day on, we've used the word small when ordering from Subway. When in Rome...
Be good,
-TJS
India (De)Construction
As some of you know, Hillary and I have run into a handful of issues related to being the first occupants of our house. Basically, the concept of weather proofing and keeping the elements out didn't seem to make it over. When I say elements, I mean all but fire. That would include earth, wind and water...lots of water.
Don't worry. It's nothing a few weekend projects and a gallon of silicone can't fix.
The one that just blew my mind actually started as a small area of peeling paint near one of the air conditioner units. Over time, it grew into a pretty obvious water spot. It was clear something was leaking into the wall.
After a week or more of begging, pleading, yelling and finally threatening (not to pay rent), we were able to get a plumber, a random guy and the guy whose job is to make holes in the wall over. Prepare to be amazed.
Apparently, if you are sawing into a wall and you slice into a drainage pipe -TWICE- you just keep going and concrete and plaster over it. No one will ever realize the air conditioner is draining into the wall; at least not until somebody moves into the house during 100 degree heat and uses the air conditioner.
It's fixed now, so I can actually laugh about it. I hope you are also able to find the humor in this.
Be good,
-TJS
Don't worry. It's nothing a few weekend projects and a gallon of silicone can't fix.
The one that just blew my mind actually started as a small area of peeling paint near one of the air conditioner units. Over time, it grew into a pretty obvious water spot. It was clear something was leaking into the wall.
After a week or more of begging, pleading, yelling and finally threatening (not to pay rent), we were able to get a plumber, a random guy and the guy whose job is to make holes in the wall over. Prepare to be amazed.
Apparently, if you are sawing into a wall and you slice into a drainage pipe -TWICE- you just keep going and concrete and plaster over it. No one will ever realize the air conditioner is draining into the wall; at least not until somebody moves into the house during 100 degree heat and uses the air conditioner.
It's fixed now, so I can actually laugh about it. I hope you are also able to find the humor in this.
Be good,
-TJS
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Singapore!
Two weeks ago we took a trip to Singapore and it was fantastic! It is a new nation with people from several different cultures, so there is not a predominate feel of a specific culture (like most major cities). I had been to Singapore once before, but this was T.J.’s first time. It was exactly what we needed to have a reprieve for some of the frustrations we have battled over the last 4 months. We spent our 3 days in Singapore riding Hippo Tours, shopping, and drinking wine on the banks of the Singapore River in Clarke Quay. We left feeling like we needed more time in Singapore considering we did not even get to Orchard Road for shopping when we ran out of capacity in our suitcases!
We stayed at the Novotel in Clarke Quay to be close to the night life, but I would not recommend the Novotel. We probably got what we paid for, but it had an older, 3-Star, no pizzazz feel, which was a contrast to the new Novotel in Hyderabad where I lived last fall. The Swissotel across the river looked nicer from the sidewalk and they were all in the same price range.
We will definitely be going back to Singapore!
We stayed at the Novotel in Clarke Quay to be close to the night life, but I would not recommend the Novotel. We probably got what we paid for, but it had an older, 3-Star, no pizzazz feel, which was a contrast to the new Novotel in Hyderabad where I lived last fall. The Swissotel across the river looked nicer from the sidewalk and they were all in the same price range.
We will definitely be going back to Singapore!
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