A month already!!

Time just flew. Its been a month since we landed. Settling in nicely but still in a very sheltered environment. Due to corporate accommodation we haven't faced the real music yet.


Positives:

• Everyone managed to stay healthy, not even a cold. Touch wood. We definitely were worried about this with the rainy season and what not.
• Anurag loved school day one and has not complained yet apart from the daily Rice fix for lunch
• Anushka adjusted after 2 weeks and doesn't mind going to school any more
• Anurag can write all the hindi letters except "Ksha and Gnya" and read some from newspaper. Anushka sings a few hindi rhymes and knows the whole national anthem.
• The Multiplex is way better than US and added is the choice of Samosas/Veg Puffs/Chai
• Hot and different breakfast every single morning
• Have not ironed a single garment or washed a plate since arrival
• 24X7 Cricket on TV, that too FREE
• News and Newspapers that have sensible news. I am back into routine of reading them every morning

Negatives:

• Have to work late hours though I do start work late
• No amenities/facilities like GYM/Racket sport/etc at work
• No concept of voicemails. Though I am getting used to the "missed call" culture it still seems so ineffecient to not be able to leave a voice mail and just keep calling the person until one gets through
• The traffic is way crazy and messed up (I don't know why I was not expecting this degree of messiness)
• Dependency on some one always to get around. I was hoping there would be some mapping system in place by now
• Cannot spend quality time with the kids

Annoyances:

• People will not wait for you to get out of the elevator (even at work)
• Body Odor. This is a real problem and I don't know how I will get used to it. Given the cramped elevators and other crowded places it is inevitable.
• Escalators mostly only go up, you have to walk down (painful when my Mom was around as the elevator usually is a mile away)
• None of the urinals, even in the new Malls, made kid sized. Anurag always has a challenge.
• Folks, even in the cafeteria at work eat rice and curry with there hands submerged to their elbows
• People cutting lines even in places like Multiplexes and high end Malls

Things I miss:

• Taking long hot showers as the water will get cold in about 10 minutes or so in the Geyser
• Olive Garden and Tacobell
• Driving

Its too soon to answer the question: "Do I like it here?"। In another couple of months once real life begins would be a right time to evaluate. अभी देल्ही दूर हैं!