I know I'm a little late on the post, but this has been a very busy week. Things are starting to get real and I'm starting to find things to occupy my days with.
Last week was one for the books here in Mumbai. Aside from being a long weeknd, it ended up being a fun and very busy weekend.
On Monday I asked our housekeeper to come in earlier so she could take me to the market she usually goes by herself, but I wanted to go so I could see what they have. I really enjoyed that because it gave me a sense of how things work around here and what are the good places to buy fruits, vegetables and meats. It also didn't hurt to see my housekeeper bartering the prices...
Tuesday was a little lay back. I went over the Cosulate to use their gym. Their gym is way nicer than the one we have and James wanted to stay for Cross Fit. It felt good to be back running and in a good treadmill too. I am hoping that once I start working at the Consulate and Monsoon season is over I will be able to start running outside.
Wednesday was the busiest and funnest days I've had since I arrived. I went to the Trident Hotel near the Consulate for a coffee and tea date with some of the women at the American Woman's Club of Mumbai. During this event I was able to meet several women expats from different parts of the world and chat about our time in Mumbai. I made a couple of friends and decided that we would meet the following week for some coffee. After the coffee and tea I met James at the Consulate for lunch and a little workout. That afternoon I got to volunteer at the American School of Bombay for the Avarasa Leadership Academy. During this time I met with 5 teenage age girls that attend this program several days a week and they participate in STEM classes, as well as, with the volunteers help, the girls have a chance to learn about US History/Culture, Art, Math and Reading. On this particular day the girls would be participating with me in an Art activity. Since it was my first time, I did not know what to expect and wat the girls would do. The girls came in the room we were in and we all introduced ourselves and I procedeed to tell them what we were doing during their time with me. I told them to draw about something they would be doing during the weekend since it was Independence Day that Friday or whatever they wanted. I noticed right away that all girls did 1 of 2 drawings, 1 of them being of an Indian mountain landscape and the other one a drawing of the Indian flag in a pole and students standing at attention. When I asked them about what they drew (like I did with my 1st graders), their response was minimal or rote. They described in little words their drawing without any deviations and all very similar. After listening to their response it made me realize how rote memory is still a big part of education in some parts of the world. After asking them more personal questions they started to get out of their comfort zone and they were able to tell me what their favorite subject in school was and what they were doing that weekend. This experience got me to look forward to more volunteering work with this program.
Thursday was a chill day in preparation for the weekend. We attended a going away party for some awesome folks and this just brought back memories of my College Program Days.
On Friday we took it easy during the day. We met some friends at Smoke House Deli for lunch. This is a great Brunch/lunch place since they serve breakfast all day. Then we procedeed to a spa where the boys got a massage and I got a pedicure for $6. Later on in the afternoon, we invited our neighbour Joel for some Domino's pizza and beer, that followed with a trip to SMAAASH. SMAAASH is an arcade haven for children and adults alike. You can call it the Disney Quest of Mumbai. It is a pretty cool place that have criket cages, instead of batting cages, great arcade games, bowling, a 9D movie adventure and paint balling. The 3 of us had a great time, but we realized that it would have been more fun with a bigger group of people, and, if it wasn't India's Independence Day and a dry day (you can't have alcohol).
We spent Saturday afternoon down south in Colaba at the Taj Majal Palace Hotel where we were given a tour of the premises that followed High Tea. This was an excellent event. Our tour guide Viren was wonderful and very knowledgeable. He took us into a time traveling journey of the hotel and explained the history behind the hotel and all the famous people that have stayed there. We were taken to the Presidential Suite in which President Obama stayed when he came to visit Mumbai in 2012. He was the first peson to stay there after the terrotist attacks in 2008. This room is also bullet proof and has one of the best views on South Mumbai. After the tour we headed to the tea room where James and I and the rest of the group had the experience of High Tea for the first time. We were served delicious Ice teas, latte's and delicious "street food". The Taj Hotel decied to bring the street food experience to the hotel. It was a great and delightfull afternoon with wonderful people from the Cosulate. Experiences like this have me looking forward to exploring more of the city.
Sunday was another epic day. 6 of us packed ourselves in Joel's mini van and drove 2 hour outside Mumbai to the land of Adlabs Imagica. This my friends is the "disneyland" of India. Rumor has it that Disney did not want to build a Disney World or Land here, so someone here in India decided to build one themselves. I'm telling you, I'm pretty sure that they sent some young kids to work at Disney, Universal, Six Flags or any other theme park in the states and had them come up with ideas for the theme park. The park has "different lands" or rides which are all super fun. I went on almost every ride there. They have really good roller coasters, one that simulates Jurasic park at IOA, other ones that resemble Big Thunder Mountain, Haunted Masion, Buzz Lightyear and Space Mountain at Magic Kingdom. We ate lunch at an "American Diner" which was great. We bought express passes which took us to the front of the line everytime, so we never waited more than 5-10 minutes for a ride. This was a great experiece because I got to go to a theme park, but also, I got to get to know some of the people I will be working with.
In the 3 weeks that we have been here, although I have not explore things by myself, I have been able to experience great places among great people. These experiences keep reassuring me that James and I made the right choice in coming to Mumbai. I know that the next 2 years are going to be memorable and I am really happy that I will get to experience this Maximum city with awesome people, my husband included.
Until next time and please keep your feet traveling because there is no better experience that the experience of traveling and exploring places with people that matter. Remember life is too short to sit and wonder where your life is going or why you haven't done anything with it.
Nats
Last week was one for the books here in Mumbai. Aside from being a long weeknd, it ended up being a fun and very busy weekend.
On Monday I asked our housekeeper to come in earlier so she could take me to the market she usually goes by herself, but I wanted to go so I could see what they have. I really enjoyed that because it gave me a sense of how things work around here and what are the good places to buy fruits, vegetables and meats. It also didn't hurt to see my housekeeper bartering the prices...
Tuesday was a little lay back. I went over the Cosulate to use their gym. Their gym is way nicer than the one we have and James wanted to stay for Cross Fit. It felt good to be back running and in a good treadmill too. I am hoping that once I start working at the Consulate and Monsoon season is over I will be able to start running outside.
Wednesday was the busiest and funnest days I've had since I arrived. I went to the Trident Hotel near the Consulate for a coffee and tea date with some of the women at the American Woman's Club of Mumbai. During this event I was able to meet several women expats from different parts of the world and chat about our time in Mumbai. I made a couple of friends and decided that we would meet the following week for some coffee. After the coffee and tea I met James at the Consulate for lunch and a little workout. That afternoon I got to volunteer at the American School of Bombay for the Avarasa Leadership Academy. During this time I met with 5 teenage age girls that attend this program several days a week and they participate in STEM classes, as well as, with the volunteers help, the girls have a chance to learn about US History/Culture, Art, Math and Reading. On this particular day the girls would be participating with me in an Art activity. Since it was my first time, I did not know what to expect and wat the girls would do. The girls came in the room we were in and we all introduced ourselves and I procedeed to tell them what we were doing during their time with me. I told them to draw about something they would be doing during the weekend since it was Independence Day that Friday or whatever they wanted. I noticed right away that all girls did 1 of 2 drawings, 1 of them being of an Indian mountain landscape and the other one a drawing of the Indian flag in a pole and students standing at attention. When I asked them about what they drew (like I did with my 1st graders), their response was minimal or rote. They described in little words their drawing without any deviations and all very similar. After listening to their response it made me realize how rote memory is still a big part of education in some parts of the world. After asking them more personal questions they started to get out of their comfort zone and they were able to tell me what their favorite subject in school was and what they were doing that weekend. This experience got me to look forward to more volunteering work with this program.
Thursday was a chill day in preparation for the weekend. We attended a going away party for some awesome folks and this just brought back memories of my College Program Days.
On Friday we took it easy during the day. We met some friends at Smoke House Deli for lunch. This is a great Brunch/lunch place since they serve breakfast all day. Then we procedeed to a spa where the boys got a massage and I got a pedicure for $6. Later on in the afternoon, we invited our neighbour Joel for some Domino's pizza and beer, that followed with a trip to SMAAASH. SMAAASH is an arcade haven for children and adults alike. You can call it the Disney Quest of Mumbai. It is a pretty cool place that have criket cages, instead of batting cages, great arcade games, bowling, a 9D movie adventure and paint balling. The 3 of us had a great time, but we realized that it would have been more fun with a bigger group of people, and, if it wasn't India's Independence Day and a dry day (you can't have alcohol).
We spent Saturday afternoon down south in Colaba at the Taj Majal Palace Hotel where we were given a tour of the premises that followed High Tea. This was an excellent event. Our tour guide Viren was wonderful and very knowledgeable. He took us into a time traveling journey of the hotel and explained the history behind the hotel and all the famous people that have stayed there. We were taken to the Presidential Suite in which President Obama stayed when he came to visit Mumbai in 2012. He was the first peson to stay there after the terrotist attacks in 2008. This room is also bullet proof and has one of the best views on South Mumbai. After the tour we headed to the tea room where James and I and the rest of the group had the experience of High Tea for the first time. We were served delicious Ice teas, latte's and delicious "street food". The Taj Hotel decied to bring the street food experience to the hotel. It was a great and delightfull afternoon with wonderful people from the Cosulate. Experiences like this have me looking forward to exploring more of the city.
Sunday was another epic day. 6 of us packed ourselves in Joel's mini van and drove 2 hour outside Mumbai to the land of Adlabs Imagica. This my friends is the "disneyland" of India. Rumor has it that Disney did not want to build a Disney World or Land here, so someone here in India decided to build one themselves. I'm telling you, I'm pretty sure that they sent some young kids to work at Disney, Universal, Six Flags or any other theme park in the states and had them come up with ideas for the theme park. The park has "different lands" or rides which are all super fun. I went on almost every ride there. They have really good roller coasters, one that simulates Jurasic park at IOA, other ones that resemble Big Thunder Mountain, Haunted Masion, Buzz Lightyear and Space Mountain at Magic Kingdom. We ate lunch at an "American Diner" which was great. We bought express passes which took us to the front of the line everytime, so we never waited more than 5-10 minutes for a ride. This was a great experiece because I got to go to a theme park, but also, I got to get to know some of the people I will be working with.
In the 3 weeks that we have been here, although I have not explore things by myself, I have been able to experience great places among great people. These experiences keep reassuring me that James and I made the right choice in coming to Mumbai. I know that the next 2 years are going to be memorable and I am really happy that I will get to experience this Maximum city with awesome people, my husband included.
Until next time and please keep your feet traveling because there is no better experience that the experience of traveling and exploring places with people that matter. Remember life is too short to sit and wonder where your life is going or why you haven't done anything with it.
Nats
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