$675/month

Thursday I had my first Indian interview. It was a sales/marketing position for a travel agency. Sounded like something that would be right up my alley, but ended up to be the opposite. The interviewer never asked me a single question about my background or experience. All he cared about was the color of my skin and the fact that I could get into any Embassy in Delhi. This is just wrong! He offered me the job on the spot paying 30,000 rupees/month=$675 month. It would be a position that involves traveling around and drumming up new business. India is frustrating enough with everyday living so I can't even imagine the additional stress of trying to find new locations daily and new business. Ben and I agreed the position would be a waste of my time! I will stick with German studies, working out, and taking master's classes starting next Jan. I think I deserve more than $5/hour for the color of my skin!

Remember When?

Picture 1) Remember when you could see a huge mall 100 yards away and walk to it? Instead we have to walk a mile around on the road to get there because of a security fence.

Picture 2) Remember when everyone used to hang their laundry out to dry. Also notice the satelite dish on one of the homes. How do they even have electricity?

Picture 3) Remember when playing on the old red truck was fun? These are the kids that keep me entertained during my afternoon window watching hours. I'm like a grandma in a nursing home.

GRAND OPENING: Stabe's Fresh Oven Shop

What has amounted of a person's life when the highlight of their month is buying an appliance? Tuesday night we finally came to a decision after we had thoroughly completed our research on toaster ovens. We settled on the Koryo 19 liter white dual rack toaster oven with a rotisserie, rib rack, and dual burners from Big Bazaar (Indian Walmart). The fact that it was on sale just topped the cake! So now our new little bundle of joy is really bringing excitement to our life. She first turned out potato wedges and hot dogs. Tonight we put her to the test with Betty Crocker fudge brownies and homemade pizza. MMM! Ben said the whole hallway of the apartment smelled like "real food, not Indian" when he came home from work.

I now spend my free time researching toaster oven recipes online and trying to determine if I can find ingredients for them. I was thinking tuna noodle casserole so yesterday I went to the store to find tuna in a can. Would you believe that they don't have regular old tuna in a can, but they have Starfish curry tuna, dill & tuna, mayo tuna, etc. All this after spending 10 minutes trying to find wheat flour. They have corn flour and all other kinds of things I've never seen. Finally I turned to reading the ingredient list and discovered something called Maida made from wheat that looked like flour. I double checked with a friendly looking woman in the super market and was correct. If anyone has any good toaster oven recipes please email them over.

Toe Chicken Cutters

My life is now almost complete as last night I witnessed how an Indian cuts up a chicken. In the traditional and very popular squatting position the men sit with a tree stump in front of them. They hold the fresh chicken between their feet and stick the knife between their toes. I really apologize I do not have a picture of this very "Emerald" cooking style, but I didn't have my camera with me. Keep your eyes peeled for future pictures and then maybe I can get the inside scoop as to why they don't just hold it with their hands to cut it up. Maybe it cuts down on carpel tunnel? This could be a new movement in the U.S.!

Ben's life is also now almost complete as yesterday he saw his first Indian elephant. Once again no pictures to share as he wasn't fast enough with his camera, however someday we will surprise you with pictures. I guess just down the street from where he works there was a man riding an elephant along the road. A completely random moment in Gurgaon, India but not out of the question considering the terrain.

Two life changing events in one day...what's next you ask? Well, next weekend we are headed to a camel fair. 150,000 camels being traded and Ben has already dubbed it "The South Dakota State Fair."