Timken Office in Bangalore, Dasara Holiday

Timken Office in Bangalore



Kids in the Timken Lobby which was decorated for the Dasara Holiday




Our car decorated for the holiday. Our decorations were pretty tame compared to most.




Decorated for the holiday




It was so fun driving around that day and seeing all the cars, trucks, and motorcycles decorated for the holiday.



More Mysore Pics

Chaumundi Hills Temple in Mysore



Lots of cows walking in the crowds around the temple, everyone just gets out of their way




This statue was keeping the evil out of the temple. Jonathan thought he was a pirate and loved his sword.




Brindavan Gardens, right outside our hotel in Mysore




Jonathan and Brian playing chess at our hotel. Jonathan's new favorite game! He is in the chess group at school.




MK and Jonathan getting their pic with some Indians.




We got stuck in this spot for awhile, people took turns getting their picture taken with MaryKate.




Our hotel in Mysore




There was a light show at night at the Brindavan gardens outside our hotel.



Mysore, India

Lots of monkeys in Mysore



Mysore Palace (It was hot and crowded inside, but the kids like the golden thrown. We were in and out of the palace in 15 minutes)




Chaumundi Hills



Lots of monkeys, the kids loved but we kept our distance. The monkeys weren't nice.



Old temple on top of Chaumundi Hills



Trip to Mysore, India and other stuff

Last weekend we took a trip to Mysore, India, which was a three hour drive south of Bangalore. It was an interesting time. We were quite popular there, as we were the only light skinned people for what seemed like miles. We are used to getting stared at when we are out in Bangalore, but this was a little more then normal. We couldn't get too far withour someone asking to take our picture.Our driver, Stephen, was with us and was quite helpful navigating the crowds. It was hot and crowded. The Indian people seemed to want to touch our kids faces and hair, especially MaryKate. Our maid, Rosey, told me that some of the Indian people think blonde hair/blue eyes are lucky so they want to touch the kids to get some of their luck. The kids are actually usually quite nice about it, but after awhile it gets old.

It was an Indian holiday, Dussehra, around October 5. On this holiday, the cars, busses, trucks, bikes, etc. get a blessing and decorated to help keep them safe. So, all over Bangalore the cars, trucks, busses, motorcycles were all decorated with paint and flowers. The Timken office here had a little ceremony at which the cars were blessed. So, our SUV got a blessing. I figured it couldn't hurt! The kids loved this too. 

I'm getting a little braver. I am now walking out of our compound about 1/2 mile to get to my exercise class. While walking, I have to wear long pants and have my shoulders covered (in 85 degree heat) so not to draw any more attention to myself. But I like being able to get out on my own and I feel a little more independent.

There is another Indian holiday coming up next week. We are taking a trip to Kerala, India, which is on the southern coast, along the Arabian sea. The kids are off school for a few days and Brian has meetings in Kerala, so we are tagging along. We will be staying on the beach for a few days. I can't wait!

We are still struggling with the lizards in our house. MK and Sarah are sharing a room, which I thought would never happen, but they don't want to sleep by themselves with lizards loose. I would give anything for some weather stripping, not a common item in India.

Oh....found out today that our boat shipment has made it to Sri Lanka. It is getting closer! Still probably two weeks away. I've had visions of our container on the ship that is stuck off the coast of Venezula, so I'm glad it has made it safely to Sri Lanka. I can not wait to have our beds. We have been sleeping on air mattresses for about a month now.

Missing everyone! Kelly

Our new trampoline and stuff

Making cookies

More pics of our house

Jonathan swinging at the park right across the street from our house



Our house




Jonathan's room




The girls eating Dominos (it's not the same, but not bad)




Patio furniture in the family room




MK in the kitchen with chocolate cake




Our washer (which is in the kitchen) with MK. We do not have a dryer. Everything gets hung outside to dry.




Our little fridge with MK




Making cookies



Getting Used to living in India

So, we have been in our house for two weeks now. The kids have made friends in the neighborhood and Brian and I have too. It is quite a supportive bunch of international neighbors we have.

I have also made friends with a group of American ladies which I meet for lunch every so often. They have been completely helpful and full of tips.

I have learned that if I see something in the grocery store buy it, it might not be there tomorrow. You can not go to one store to buy all your groceries. There isn't such a store. My first two trips to the store closest to our house, I bought diet coke, chocolate bars and potato chips. I really couldn't recognize much else. I'm getting better and I am learning where to shop. It still takes several stores to find everything. I have been searching for dishwasher detergent for two weeks. They do not have many dishwashers in India. Anyway, I finally found it yesterday. I was so happy. I also had been looking for baking powder, went to six stores in three days before finding. It is trial and error. I learn from the other ladies what stores might potentially have what I need. However, the stores are often out of stock of many items. So you never know until you get there. The stores are not at all the same as in the US. Most of the stores that I shop in here are often dirty and aromatic. I'm getting used to it. I still gag sometimes. I have not been able to buy meat. I'm just not sure about it. Although, I hear from my friends here that there are several stores that sell safe meat.

Enough complaining! There are many nice things too. I have met a French baker that bakes bread 6 days a week and will deliver to our house. THAT IS SO NICE! We also get wonderful very fresh fruits and veggies (that I have to clean with my special germ killer wash, but still nice fruits and veggies!)

We have many things that make our lives easier. Our maid, Rosey, comes to our house smiling Monday - Friday, 9:00 - 4:00. I often feel very guilty about having her. She is so thankful to be working for our family though. She has had a very hard life and yet is very thankful for all the good that comes her way. We get along very well. She makes me realize I should be thankful for the life we have in India, and not so worried about all the things we are missing here.

An update on the kids (for the grandmas:)
Sarah received a special award last Wednesday at the school assembly for working hard in school. She was completely surprised and thrilled.
Jonathan got the highest score in the class on his math test and got a little prize. He was pretty happy about that. His confidence seems better this year. He is taking guitar lessons at school and seems to really like it.
MK is doing well too. She likes to chase the boys at recess. She loves her Spanish class and thinks she is going to be able to talk to the waiters at El Rincon when we are back in Canton in December.

We made chocolate chip cookies for the first time tonight. It took me a week to find all the ingredients, and I still couldn't find chocolate chips. I found chocolate bars though, and chopped them up. The baking made our house smell like home. The cookies were so so. Everything is just different here, the flour, the butter, the vanilla, the sugar, all different.  We are eating the cookies though. I have already started a list of all the things I'm bringing back to India from the US in January.

Missing everyone!