Just want to give you an update of the happenings around here!
1. We are excited to celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow and roast the turkey we brought back from the states last July (hope it's not too freezer-burned). Looking forward to a day off with the family and friends, and eating yummy food!
2. ERIC MADE THE SOCCER TEAM!!! Out of 25 kids, only 12 made it and we are so proud of him for his hard work and dedication to practicing hard and doing his best. He is very tired at the end of the day so he has been waking up at 6:00am to do his homework.
3. Because Eric made the team, we will be travelling to Colombo, Sri Lanka for the soccer tournament the first weekend in December. It is about an hour south of us by plane. I will be going with him and Corey and Paige will stay here. Can't wait to post pictures for you!
4. Corey is heading back to the US the same weekend Eric and I will be in Sri Lanka. He has business in Illinois and will be gone about 10 days. So, I've been busy on the Internet ordering miscellaneous stuff for him to bring back - mostly things I can't find here and diabetes supplies for Eric.
So life is good! We love our new house (I promise I'll post pictures soon), Corey's job is going well, the kids are doing excellent in school and we've made lots of friends. I think we're feeling like we can call India "home".
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
A Couple Pictures of Us
In our own "American" way, we celebrated one of the biggest holidays in India called "Diwali" or "Festival of Lights". In basic terms, it's a time they celebrate light over darkness and good over evil. Lights are hung, candles are lit, prayers are said, and lots and lots of fireworks are let off (day and night). It is a time for new clothes, presents, and feasts.
We started on Friday night by celebrating with several friends at the Mitchell's home. We roasted hot dogs and marshmallows, enjoyed homemade ice cream, and lit a few fireworks of our own.
Saturday night, we were invited to dinner with friends who are native to India. We enjoyed yummy Indian food and more fireworks. It was a fun weekend! It was so fun, I hardly took any pictures - not enough to do it justice. Oh well, here's a few of us:
Paige with her sparkler
When it comes to fireworks, grown men become boys!
Me and Corey
We started on Friday night by celebrating with several friends at the Mitchell's home. We roasted hot dogs and marshmallows, enjoyed homemade ice cream, and lit a few fireworks of our own.
Saturday night, we were invited to dinner with friends who are native to India. We enjoyed yummy Indian food and more fireworks. It was a fun weekend! It was so fun, I hardly took any pictures - not enough to do it justice. Oh well, here's a few of us:
The entrance to our friend's home on Saturday night
Eric trying to eat popcorn while holding a sparkler
Paige with her sparkler
When it comes to fireworks, grown men become boys!
Me and Corey
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Mehendi Party!
Last month, the kids had a week break from school and on one of those days, a few friends and I hired 2 mehendi artists to come work their magic on us "Americans"
Mehendi is basically henna tattoos done Indian style. It is a temporary form of skin decoration that is used during special occasions like weddings and festivals. It is very popular for a bride to have it applied before her wedding.
Once the henna is applied, it needs to dry for 3 hours. Then it crumbles off and you're left with a tattoo. It continues to darken for 2-3 days and last about 2 weeks.
We just did it for fun!
The designs were peacocks, feathers, flowers, lattice, etc.
Palms and wrists complete
This is what the tops looked like.
Can you imagine what it was like for her to keep it smudge free for three hours?
I only had my feet done.
All the women had their feet done
Eric had a little something done too. He originally wanted a cobra snake but his request got lost in translation and he ended up with a flower on his right arm. We quickly wiped it off but it still appeared the next day. Luckily his shirt sleeve covered it. So we told the artist to do something "manly" on his left arm and this is what he got.
Mehendi is basically henna tattoos done Indian style. It is a temporary form of skin decoration that is used during special occasions like weddings and festivals. It is very popular for a bride to have it applied before her wedding.
Once the henna is applied, it needs to dry for 3 hours. Then it crumbles off and you're left with a tattoo. It continues to darken for 2-3 days and last about 2 weeks.
We just did it for fun!
Paige has one artist on each hand
A closer look
The designs were peacocks, feathers, flowers, lattice, etc.
Palms and wrists complete
This is what the tops looked like.
Can you imagine what it was like for her to keep it smudge free for three hours?
I only had my feet done.
All the women had their feet done
Eric had a little something done too. He originally wanted a cobra snake but his request got lost in translation and he ended up with a flower on his right arm. We quickly wiped it off but it still appeared the next day. Luckily his shirt sleeve covered it. So we told the artist to do something "manly" on his left arm and this is what he got.
However, in India, this isn't considered a negative symbol
Monday, November 2, 2009
Ayudha Puja
I swear I am such a lame blogger. I guess I just haven't mastered posting events on a timely basis. There are about 10 different things that have happened in the past couple of months that I want to share, but just can't find the time to do it right after it happens.
Oh well.....better late than never.
This event happened the end of September. We just returned from Mumbai to celebrate an evening of "Ayudha Puja" with our staff. This is a day of thanks and blessing the mechanical equipment around your home. Our helpers washed, decorated, and blessed our cars, motorcycles, bikes, tools, generator, pool equipment, and other devices. In addition to decorating with palm and banana leaves and flowers, they spatter a paste made of turmeric and sandlewood. They offer special prayers (puja) of thanks and hope that this equipment will serve you well the following year.
Take a look:
Oh well.....better late than never.
This event happened the end of September. We just returned from Mumbai to celebrate an evening of "Ayudha Puja" with our staff. This is a day of thanks and blessing the mechanical equipment around your home. Our helpers washed, decorated, and blessed our cars, motorcycles, bikes, tools, generator, pool equipment, and other devices. In addition to decorating with palm and banana leaves and flowers, they spatter a paste made of turmeric and sandlewood. They offer special prayers (puja) of thanks and hope that this equipment will serve you well the following year.
Take a look:
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All Moved In
This past week we moved to a new home about 15 minutes up the road. The landlord of our old home sold the house and the new buyers wanted to occupy it. Well, that is what he tells us anyway. It will be interesting to see if that is truly the case.....we've heard rumors otherwise.
SO, now the task of unpacking! The kitchen, dining room, living room, and family room are done. Still need major work on the office, guest room, computer area, and bedrooms. So far, we are thoroughly enjoying our new home. We are very close to the beach and love to see the waves and hear the ocean. When all is set - and it stops raining - I'll post pictures.
SO, now the task of unpacking! The kitchen, dining room, living room, and family room are done. Still need major work on the office, guest room, computer area, and bedrooms. So far, we are thoroughly enjoying our new home. We are very close to the beach and love to see the waves and hear the ocean. When all is set - and it stops raining - I'll post pictures.
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