What's New in India

1) Last Friday the front page news was about a man who got run over by a train and then his corpse layed on the tracks for 2 hours while the workers decided who's job it was to move him. By that time a second train had come along and run him over again. Now you can see why work for Ben is frustrating at times...making a decision is a big deal.

2) I took my leather shoe with a hole in it to a hut down the street and 4 day later I picked it up. Beautiful hand sewn work that was really good. The cost: 50 rupees=$1. These are the moments when India is good.

3) Yesterday I made potato salad for the first time in my life and it turned out very well.

4) Tuesday I saw a mouse at my favorite Pakistan Fruit Stand and debated what I should do. All the places probably have mice so I just have to examine the fruits and veggies really well, continue to boil them before consumption, and move on in life. Our old house had mice and I'm still alive...right?

5) I just finished reading "A Thousand Splendid Sons" by Khaled Hosseini and found it to be an eye opener. It definitely helped my world view and history of Afghanistan. He also wrote "Kite Runner" and I think that is probably next on my list.

6) We recently got an Aquafina 25 liter water dispenser so we are no longer polluting India with plastic bottles. It was a cheaper alternative and very convenient. We go through about a jug a week and all I have to do is make a phone call for a new jug and they deliver that day.

7) Yesterday or today was the last day to get married in India for the next several months so something like 20,000 people got married yesterday. Our source is our driver so I'm not sure if it is credible. I would assume it is because of lent, but they are Hindu here so it shouldn't matter. Ben was thinking it was something astrological.

8) Speaking of Arun (our driver), he is getting married in May and he now knows who he is marrying. She is an 18 year old and he is like 31, but he seems fine with it. I think the pressures of supporting her are starting to concern him a bit, but nothing major.

9) Today I learned that having friends that live at nice places is the key to living good. I had lunch outside at a beautiful apartment complex in Gurgaon that overlooks the golf course. Thanks Ladies!

10) Last week I learned the German word for zit is pickel (pronounced like pickle) and I think it is hilarious everytime I use it in a sentence.

Beach Baby, Beach Baby, Fun in the Sun

This weekend we discovered a place that our western families and friends might actually come and visit. Goa is on the west coast of India and it is an absolute tropical paradise. Why we don't live in Goa and commute via chopper I don't know? We have found one more place that we can go and not feel like we are in India. We stayed at the beautiful Park Hyatt Resort and Spa and really enjoyed the enormous pool area, walking along the sandy beach, eating fresh seafood, the spa, and celebrating both my birthday and Valentines Day. A very refreshing and rejuvinating weekend for both of us! We are so thankful that we had the opportunity to get away to such a tropical paradise. We felt like we were back in Jamaica enjoying the sun and fun. The first time in 28 years that I was in a tropical paradise on the beach for my birthday. I would highly recommend Goa to ANYONE who thinks of visiting India.

Pictures: 1) Our Resort 2) Pool Bar 3) Jodi with her birthday cake...thanks Ben! 4)On the beach of the Arabian Sea 5) The Stabe's by the resort sign on the beach