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Published: February 6th 2007
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Hello all…just a brief update about my week of moving, parties and future plans. Last week my boss returned from Sri Lanka, again we drank lots of beer, discussed my job, and decided to find me a new apartment. Within about 3 days it was signed and I moved this weekend gone. My new apartment as I like to call it, or shall I say bedsit, as it is only a room with a bathroom, is wonderful. By western standards probably not, but I have purchased a fridge, I keep looking at it with admiration, it provides me with nice cold pasteurised milk so I can finally have cornflakes! This morning I had toast, I don’t own a knife yet so had to use a spoon to butter it, bizarrely I have very limited cutlery, just four tea spoons, but the finest selections of tea you have ever seen, Assam, English Breakfast, Earl Grey, you name it, now I have my own place I can finally get my priorities right. When I first arrived I hated Indian brooms, they are like broom sticks and I saw no logic in having one, but after a while I came around and I have
bought one, and its brilliant now I know how to use. Little things like that, such as using the word Lakhs which means 100, 000 here, makes you feel like you are really living somewhere and not just visiting and that sort of thing happens all the time.
I moved in on Sat, and Sunday I decided to invest in a TV, so off I went to Big Bazaar, Big Bazaar is a huge store where you can buy pretty much anything from washing powder to washing machines, furniture etc, and it has become my second home. When buying my other things, fridge, toaster etc, I had the company of some guys from work, which made life far easier, this time I decided to buy a TV and have it delivered on my own. My god, it took bloody ages, and I ended up in the delivery van with some Indian guy traipsing around the streets of Jayanager looking for my house. Anyway it is now in, and conveniently the cable guy came round and installed 90 channels on Monday morning so I am all set. Before you ask parents its only Rs 250 per month which is less
than £3.
This morning (Tue) my maid came for the first time, she is coming twice weekly to wash my clothes and clean my apartment, for Rs 400 a month, I think is quite expensive but works out at just over a pound a week. It was quite the life sitting on my terrace reading in the sunshine whilst having my house cleaned! However when I left her earlier she was beating the hell out of my clothes so not sure I will have any left. She doesn’t understand English, I don’t understand Kanada, so I think it’s going to stay that way for a while.
Moving on from my new ‘apartment’ I had a good week socialising, on Wed I went to Taika a club in central Bangalore where they had a belly dancer who was awful, but met loads more people, mainly Dutch, and made some good contacts for fundraising. Then, on Friday, I went to Leela Palace, Bangalore’s only 7* Hotel, to the club Athena. Again met loads more Dutch people, I think they are planning on colonising south India or something as they are everywhere. Having not met many British people I randomly met a guy from St Albans! Not only that he know some people from Sandringham!! Absolute madness! He is going home for a few weeks so may get you guys to sort a little package for him to bring back! I cant find cotton wool anywhere!!
This weekend I might be going on a trip for a couple of days, we (me and some of the dutch people) are thinking of hiring a mini van and a driver and going to a nature reserve, which should be fun!
Work wise I am going to Coorg to visit a project on the 12th Feb until the 15th, this is meant to be beautiful, hilly, with coffee plantations, I think its a little west from here. Then to Jharkand on the 25th to the 28th, this is north east India and very poverty stricken with many disabled, I have to write a proposal to raise some funds so will be great to get an understanding of it. Also there is talk of a work retreat maybe to Goa for three days, where we will just drink, eat and discuss work things but should be fun, and it also looks like I am going to Sri Lanka for a month in June/July to help with their fundraising, once I know how to do it of course, so lots ahead!! and lots of travelling!!
Must have forgotten lots, but will update again soon, ooh I can now walk home from work and last night I saw some street dogs chasing a monkey up a tree which I quite enjoyed, I will attach the picture.
Lots of Love
Kate
p.s I have attached a video of my new home!
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Julian
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I wish I'd done something like you're doing when I left University. Enjoy the Koorg - it really is beautiful there. I managed to walk there for approx 5 hours without seeing anyone. As u can imagine a big achievement in India!