Dark Days

I've been back in Bangalore for almost two weeks since my incredible trip home.  From the moment I landed, the weather has mirrored my sadness.  We are in monsoon season now, and while the rain lets up often enough, we cannot shake the dark clouds that loom overhead.  It's been so dark and damp and chilly that it seems weird to think that it is still July, still summer back in the States.  The trip back seems so far off, so long ago, it's almost as though it never happened.  I find myself staring blankly at all of the photographs that I took, trying to accept the idea that it is me in those photos, smiling and happy and surrounded by my favorite people in the whole world. I try to remember what it felt like to be back, but that only makes me more homesick.

I was fortunate enough to be able to pack each day with friends and family and fun.  And I was able to spend time by myself, to walk around the city alone and unafraid, independent and free.  I loved that no one noticed me.  When I insisted that Jef wear his bright-red, onesie pajamas, complete with butt hatch to the grocery store on the 4th of July, no one even glanced at us.  It felt amazing to not be stared at, to go about my business without people bothering me and reminding me that I don't belong.  It was absolutely the best vacation of my entire life.  At home.

Fortunately, I suppose, I started a new project at work today, so I should be too busy in the coming weeks to spend my time wallowing.  I am going to try to force myself to update this more often, even when I feel like I'm going to be negative, which is why I had been hesitating to write very regularly.  I've found that the one thing that motivates me to leave the house on the weekends is the possibility of taking a good photograph, so at the very least I should have picture posts when I don't feel like I have much to say about life here.  The photos below were taken yesterday.

The view from our balcony

Another attempt to illustrate the cloud cover

Typical traffic scene - family of five on a motorcycle.  Notice how only the dad wears a helmet.

Mangy but cute dog on MG road

Buying socks on the street

I was excited to read that this bookstore had a women's interest section.  Until I got there.

Around the corner from my apartment.  Notice the large pile of cow shit in the right corner.

Cleanest little stretch of ground in the city.

It seems to be baby cow season - they are all over the neighborhood right now.

These signs are everywhere and they creep me out.

Front door of a neighbor's house

Another neighbor's "house"

The dogs don't seem to mind living in the trash.  It makes me sad.

The above-pictures dog's brother, scrounging for food.  Typical street corner - and we live in a "nice" area.

A wedding and an Anniversay

Tim and I celebrated our one-year anniversary this weekend - I can't believe that a year ago this week, I was frantically trying to get rid of all my stuff to prepare for life abroad! And we were fortunate to be able to attend two swanky parties, thanks to the fact that the CEO of my company was getting married. Here are some of my favorite pictures from this weekend.

Reena, Chandini, Archana, and Asmita



Sad the elephants were not alive





Somrita and Viny





Prathap and Tim





Viny, Arvind, Stuti, and Pradeep





With Arvind and Anil - a year to the day, in the dress I was wearing when we met.

Click here for the whole album

Many Happy Returns

That's what they say here to wish you a Happy Birthday. And they shake your hand. It's somewhat awkward to be repeatedly interrupted at your desk by coworkers who want you to stand up and shake their hands throughout the day. But very sweet. They also make you bring treats for everyone, like when you were in grade school and brought Little Debbies in for your class. I distributed Kit-Kat, Twix, and Snickers bars. People seemed into that. They "gifted" me with a homemade card (courtesy of Viny), some glamourous jewelry, and a new sari. They also made me give a speech, because whenever anything happens in the office, multiple speeches must be made. I gave a good one, and got all fahklempt, which they loved. The more emotional and grandiose, the better the speech. So that was my birthday. Over the weekend, I also went to the fish spa, where little creepy fish nibbled on my toes, tried Bengali food for the first time (really good), and lounged around my favorite local resort pool. Next weekend is the CEO of my company's wedding, which promises to be a lavish affair. Then 60 hour workweeks until I come home. God, I can't wait!!

Cat Genius (Or, I have created a monster) PLUS bonus footage of Indian children yelling at us

This will not seem as awesome when I come home to a flooded apartment.





AND, as an update to my vacation post, this is what happens when you buy a postcard in Agra;

Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (sorta)

One of my favorite things about living in an undeveloped country is the relative disregard for trademarks and copyright, as compared to the U.S. For instance, a tour of any neighborhood in Bangalore will take you past several bootleg dvd vendors, and usually a bootleg book seller, too. In my neighborhood, though, there also seems to be a curious number of misappropriated celebrity images! Especially on beauty parlor signs. It's weird to be walking down the street and to look up and see Zac Efron or Kate Hudson smiling down, luring Indian patrons in with the promise of their white Western good looks. I am basically the only white lady in these parts, and yet, there is not one beauty parlor nearby that has a picture of an Indian lady outside of it! I went walking through my 'hood today with the express purpose of photographing these celeb images for my blog. But, of course, there were a lot of other interesting sights to capture as well, so this is just a mix of shit I saw today while walking around.



Kate Hudson?




Resume booster or resume killer? I'm thinking of asking for a course catalogue.....





There is also a "European Fried Chicken" KFC rip-off further away.




Baby cutting?!?!




Excessively fly-covered cow friend number one



Posh Spice?



Zac Efron...I'm ashamed to admit that I actually know who he is.




Bunny and chicken friends waiting to become someone's dinner. Sad times.




Even sadder times!! Deformed ox-like something or other being led around by beggar. I gave the guy money because I felt sorry for the animal, but I'm kinda thinking the guy made the poor thing look like that to begin with. Ugh.





Very proud and somewhat hostile cow friend number two



This guy isn't a Western celeb, but damn, he should be!



Goat friend



Hot.




David Beckham




Jared Leto and gunshots! This is where Tim gets his beard trimmed, so maybe the only one of these places that actually has a white customer.



We asked that guy if those big hangy things were testicles. He said they were not, then grabbed the testicles of that goat carcass and kept pointing at them and saying "balls, balls, you want?" He was really disappointed we didn't buy any.






Charlize Theron?



Cow friend number three




The Happy Shoppy! It's the place to go for all of your hideous pink stuffed animal/plastic flower needs.





Yum.






Mariah, Heather, and Jenny. Jenny's features "sheep foetus extract."