January 14, 2007-Carter Road Beside the Beach

I spent a bit of the afternoon down by the beach where families were out flying kites. I thought I’d also share with you a sample of the good health wishes that sponsors display beside the promenade. Finally, I haven’t found a city yet that didn’t have its own phallic symbol displayed prominently. Go, Titan!

Le Louvre

Le Metro

View from Les Editeurs

Scenes from Paris: Ferris Wheel

New Year’s Resoution 1: Post to blog more often.

I found it very difficult to return to Mumbai on January 6, after having enjoyed 3 weeks of leisure—first in Paris; then in New Mexico.


Paris was a dream I had imagined for more than 20 years. I made the most of my 3-day visit. I explored several museums, of course: Le Louvre, Musee d’Orsay, Musee Picasso, Musee d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris. However, I mainly spent my time meandering through the streets aimlessly, strolling beside the Seine, enjoying the glittering lights along the wide avenues, and riding the Metro. One of my most memorable moments was when I stumbled upon L’Arc de Triomphe at the end of the Champs Elysees at sundown and witnessed the lighting of a giant menorah by the Jewish Community leaders. They passed out sodas, donuts, and menorahs with candles to celebrants. A rabbi recited the blessings as his assistant helped him to light the shamas and six other “candles.” A huge screen projected images of other Jews celebrating the same throughout the world. I also enjoyed my final meal of the trip at an Indonesian restaurant where I was able to chat with the owners in Indonesian while enjoying a plateful of nasi goring, sate ayam, and gado-gado.


This visit to the States was much more enjoyable than my last emergency visit in November. My mom is making a steady recovery from her horrendous experience at the hospital in October/November. We spent most of my two week trip in Las Cruces. I found ample time to eat (mmmmmm green chile cheeseburgers!) and drink my way through my favorite haunts (I am still dreaming of IPA and Irish Red) and meet up with many of my friends.

Though it was very difficult to say goodbye to everyone back “home,” I am adjusting back to my new surroundings. Last night, arriving at my flat past midnight, I did have big, empty, sad feeling overwhelm me as I unpacked my bags and reminisced about how awesome the time spent with family and friends had been. Yet, after a good night’s sleep and a day of settling in, I am just about ready to get back into the groove of teaching. I woke up Sunday and finished unpacking. At around 9 AM, I walked over to the promenade beside the Arabian Sea and headed south. I indulged in a breakfast at the Taj Hotel, with the excuse that I was there to investigate joining their Health/Spa. Sadly, I was informed that they will be renovated the facilities in the near future and are, therefore, not accepting new members at this time. So much for my first New Year’s resolution! After breakfasting on an omelet, lox, fruits, and cheeses, I made my way to the market. I bought fruit, bread, and some meats. I even bought a whole chicken and endeavored to make my first pot of chicken soup having asked my mom how to make some. To my delight, I created a delicious homemade chicken soup and will never again have to search in vain for a can of Campbell’s Chicken Noodle. I slept away the afternoon—jetlag—and met up with my friend Mike for dinner. We discovered a charming Thai restaurant which serves Indonesian food just a few blocks from where we live! I do hope that I continue to make these small, but fulfilling, discoveries as I complete my second semester here.

Here’s to a healthy and happy new year!

Thursday, November 23—Sunday, November 26, 2006

I spent my first Thanksgiving in India this past weekend and it was quite enjoyable, if not always relaxing. Though school was only in session a half-day, I spent most of Turkey Day working. I had a lot to catch up on since leaving for an unplanned visit to the States for a couple of weeks (another story…). I did, however, get to work from home since my Internet is finally connected again. I completed most of the ordering for next year’s departmental materials. I’ve asked for the moon figuring if I even get half of what I request I’ll be improving the resources twenty-fold from what they are now. I finessed my end-of-the-year lesson plans—Yes, only three more weeks to go!—trying. I responded to all my students’ journal entries—well, those who completed them, anyway. (Do substitutes ever actually follow lesson plans and encourage students to complete and TURN IN their assignments?! Or maybe even leave notes about what exactly they did accomplish in the class period?!) I even began working on end-of-the-semester comments. With all my meetings scheduled next week, I thought I had better try to get ahead of the game, a bit.

That evening, I celebrated Thanksgiving in proper, American style by sharing a meal with my fellow countrymen—and women—at the Taj Hotel, Lands End. The American Women’s Club of Bombay organizes this amazing event for displaced ex-patriots yearning for a patriotic feast. The gala began with an open bar (as usual no IPA or Dark Bock on tap ) set outside beyond the pool area. I quickly found my colleagues hovering around the bar, a mere coincidence, I am sure—having nothing whatsoever to do with strategic maneuvering. After a bit of mingling, the crowd dispersed as our hosts announced that food was being served. Though we were assigned tables, many of us chose our own lucky number so that we could eat with our friends. It was, after all, Thanksgiving: THE holiday to share with friends and family. I found my “family” at a nearby table, directly beside the podium where the head of the consulate was narrating the events of our forefathers and the poor souls who would soon be nearly exterminated by the white man’s disease and greediness. Well, he didn’t relate that part of the story, but we all know what was to happen to the natives after the pilgrims stole the recipes from the head chef, don’t we?

Having tricked us into sitting down by telling us we could eat, the hosts followed the U.S. Consul General’s storytelling with necessary, but seemingly endless, kudos to those who made the evening possible. Finally, thanks having been given to all of those who organized the Thanksgiving feast, the Star-Spangled Banner having been sung, and chairs having been rearranged to suit everyone’s desires, we merely awaited the “Turkey Parade.” Those of us who had never witnessed one of these parades before were not disappointed. Servers holding sparklers alight led the procession through the dining area, followed by other attendants with platters of turkeys. They finished off by standing in a line bracketing the head chef. After applause broke out, sparklers extinguished, and platters set down at each table, dishes of cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and other holiday favorites mysteriously appeared on our table. Now, this may not sound like much to those of you who have never lived abroad, but to those of us far away from home during the holidays, having Turkey with dressing and gravy and all the extras was nothing short of a miracle. THANK YOU AWB of Bombay!