Mumbai terror rage ends after 60 hours, 195 dead

MUMBAI, India – A 60-hour terror rampage across India's financial capital ended Saturday when commandos killed the last three gunmen holed up in a luxury hotel engulfed in flames. At least 195 people died.
Click here to read the article

18 foreigners were killed including six Americans

Religion matters

I don't give a person's religion much thought when it comes to my relationship with him/her. I take more of a "live and let live" approach and if you're this or that it makes no difference to me.

Here in India, religion is huge. You are almost defined by your religion. Like the caste system is alive an well in India, so I believe a lot of the lower caste people become Christian to try and brake free.

I'm writing this because now religion does matter and it's something I take into consideration, like:
- I can't go to my favorite grocery store between 12:00p - 3:00p because they're Muslim and close shop to go to Mosque
- Christian cooks will cook beef
- Hindu staff will work on Christmas (but Hindus have LOTS of other holidays)
- I feel guilty going to the butcher because Gopi is Hindu, he doesn't seem to care, but I feel like he knows there is sacred animal in my shopping bag
- People assume I'm Christian and are shocked to find out that I'm "nothing"

My cook, Angel, is a form of Christian that does not wear any religious symbols - so she does not wear a cross, or the rosary, or a bindi, etc. So she thought MOST OF THE US was her form of Christian because on TV or in movies we don't wear crosses or bindis. She was very surprised to hear that her assumption was incorrect.

Living in another culture is very interesting. :-) I feel very fortunate.

Happy Thanksgiving USA!

It's 8:00am Thanksgiving morning on the West Coast of the US. Here in India it's 9:30p and we're winding down our day.
We will be celebrating Thanksgiving on Saturday at our house with a group of about 30 people. Erik has even downloaded a football game so it can play on the TV in the background - just like home. When our bellies are full and we need to blow off some steam, we'll go outside to play soccer and cricket.



I am thankful that my family is safe and that no one I know was injured in Mumbai.
I am thankful for this opportunity to live in India.
I am thankful that my family is happy and in good health.
I am thankful that Obama is President-elect.
And I am thankful for friends and loved ones and that the internet helps keep us close together when we are far apart. :-)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

We're OK

The news from Mumbai just keeps pouring in.
No threats to Bangalore as yet, but we are a western tech center so who knows. It seems like the terrorists arrived by boat so Mumbai was an ideal target.
Terror attacks in Mumbai; six foreigners among 101 dead
Plus 100+ foreigners are being held hostage.

UPDATE: Authorities said 119 people died and 288 were injured when suspected Islamic militants — armed with assault rifles, hand grenades and explosives — launched a highly coordinated attack against 10 sites in the city Wednesday night.
Mumbai: Hostages freed as PM blames 'outsiders'

Another one of those "Oh yeah, I live in India" moments

I was in the car coming back from grocery shopping. I was all entranced in thoughts of Thanksgiving this weekend... about the holiday season approaching quickly... about how we're going to make it feel like Christmas for the kids and what we're going to do for a Christmas tree/ornaments...
I look up and see a man in a loin cloth and turban riding his bike barefoot in the rain/mud.
Yup, I'm in India.

Had a great time in Delhi

I had a great time in Delhi this past weekend. There are many photos to go through and lots of stories to tell... only I'm exhausted. We didn't get to sleep before 1:30am for 3 nights and my old body just isn't used to it. I will try to upload some photos tomorrow.

In the mean time... please enjoy viewing my new toe rings.

In India, rings on the second toe of both feet means you are a married woman. (No such tell-tale signs for men)


Toe rings with Saree. :-)

Headin' to Delhi

I'm leaving Bangalore for a three day trip to Delhi. Erik is staying home with the kids. Jenne, John and I are heading to the north to attend a coworker's sister's wedding (and see the city).
I bought my sari and I'm so psyched to wear it.

I also can't wait to see another part of India. We've been to the Kerala backwaters but that was such a vacation spot that it hardly felt like the real India. Delhi will be an eye opener. It's even cold up there!

I'll have lots of photos to upload when I get back.

Drew family at Ghiza

I still can't believe my sister + family are in Egypt and we're in India... pinch me please!!

Birthday party time!

Jennifer's sister Sheila made a design in front of our house for the celebration.




I actually managed to rent a jump slide in India!! Wasn't as tall as we were used to but the kids didn't seem to mind.




Caaaaaake!








The popcorn maker was eventually leveled out and worked great but initially we had our doubts.

Marathalli flyover

I was checking Bangalore Daily Photo and today's entry is about the Marathalli flyover, a road I travel over several times a week. The author describes it as "heaven". Wow... that word would never enter my mind to describe any heavily traveled stretch of road in Bangalore. But apparently before this flyover was built traffic was hell - so I suppose for many who knew the way it used to be, maybe heaven is appropriate. Glad I wasn't here for that.
click here

Happy 1st Birthday NADIA!!!

Little Nadia is 1 year old today!
H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y ! ! !

Annika is 6 today!!!

New birthday Salwar - you don't have to wear your school uniform on your birthday

My little girl is 6!
And smiles with a toothless grin.
How did she get so big so fast??

We had a very fun party on Saturday for little Miss Annika. I will upload photos tonight.
But in the mean time...
H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y !!!

Annika's birthday Urli

Pink for my girly girl.

Jenne's Flickr photos

Photo by Jenne

If you're one of those people who just can't get enough of our experience in India, I just added our friend Jenne's Flickr site to our "links" list. We do a lot of things together so you can see the Vignau family in a lot of her photos. But she also does her own thing so you can see sites I haven't been able to share yet.
It's worth checking out
Click here

Funny...

I was looking at images on Google and came across this Helen Hunt pin-up.
It makes me laugh because I've never considered her to be pin-up material.
Thought it might give you a chuckle too.

Another thing about arranged marriage

No dating!

Since the kids have been home sick, Jennifer has seen clips of movies she's never seen before. Yesterday the kids were watching Pee Wee's Big Top (no, I don't know why it's in our library) and in one scene Pee Wee and his girlfriend Winnie are having sandwiches under a tree. Jennifer says "they are married M'dam?" and I say no, they are dating. She totally does not understand (I try to explain dating but she doesn't get it). She sees how intimate they are and is surprised that these unmarried people are going on the way they are. And what's really funny is the character of Winnie is supposed to be a prude. So it's actually quite tame.

But yes, Jennifer is 17 and is not allowed to have contact with boys of a similar age.

Going Saree shopping tonight

Jenne, John and I are going to Delhi next weekend for a wedding. So tonight, Jenne and I are going SAREE SHOPPING!!! I'm so excited. White women in Sarees look ridiculous BUT Saris are traditional wedding wear AND I totally want one!!
Oh, and best part... one size fits all! The saree always fits. You get a blouse custom made to go with the saree.

Erik is staying home with the kids tonight while I have a girls night out. He's also staying home with the kids next weekend while I go to the wedding. Very excited.

UPDATE: It's 7:15p and Erik is still at work. And Jenne is waiting for a delivery that is an hour late and they're still not there = no saree shopping tonight. :-( Maybe Sunday.

What's Helen been up to?

Two words... sick kids.

Annika started getting sick on Saturday and was struck with fever late that night.
August came down with fever Sunday night.
Kids were home from school Monday & Tuesday.
Today is Wednesday and Annika went to school because they had a big field trip to a Butterfly farm.
August is home again today because he had a very rough night last night - fever and headache.

Jennifer stayed with the kids yesterday afternoon so I could get away for my 1-hour Hindi class.
Today I missed my day at the orphanage. I missed last week too 'cause I had my first illness in India (head cold/sinus).

I'm hoping both kids will be in school tomorrow because I have a lot of running around to do in preparation for Annika's birthday party on Saturday.

UPDATE: Just picked up Annika from the bus. Her face was pale and lifeless. Took her temperature when we got home - 100'. Auggie is warm too and his eyes are squinty. Looks like I'll have company again tomorrow.

Arranged marriage

Blew my maid's mind today.

Annika and I were talking about love and marriage and she asked me if I fell in love with her Daddy because he was so handsome. So I told her I was attracted to Daddy because of his rugged good looks but it was spending time together that really sealed it for me. After a few more questions I told her that Jennifer's sister is getting married next month and it is an arranged marriage. Annika looked puzzled. So I told her that other people picked Sheila's husband for her and she didn't get to meet him until the night of her engagement. And even on that night they had to wear veils so they have talked with each other but still haven't seen each other.

I brought Jennifer into the conversation to answer any questions Annika had. So I turned to Jennifer and told her that Erik & I have a love marriage. And everyone in our families have love marriages. And actually, out of all my friends and acquaintances back in the US I only have ONE friend who had an arranged marriage.

Jennifer was totally knocked over with this. It's the absolute opposite experience for her. She doesn't have any friends/social acquaintances who have love marriages. Then she had so many questions for me... "your sister?" "your parents?" etc.

Can't Stop Baracking

Click here

Hindi lessons

Had my first Hindi lesson yesterday...

We were introduced to 12 vowels and 36 consonants

Good phrases to know...

Urli

The cook came today

A cook named Angel was recommended by some of the French artists Erik works with. They are very happy with her cooking so he arranged for me to meet her and give her a try.

When I interviewed her I asked if she does dishes. She said no but she cleans the stove and countertops that she uses. So when we discussed what time she should come to the house, I picked a time when Jennifer would be here so she could wash the dishes...

Looks like great thinking on my part...




Jennifer and the crazy stack of clean dishes.

A picnic in the neighborhood

View from our front patio.

We live at the end of a cul-de-sac and at the end there is an island so cars can turn around.
This island is a popular spot for A&A picnics - independent but not far away.


The little girl is "Little Rachel" and she lives across the street.

Suddenly, it may be cool to be an American again

Read the article here.

Mr. President (elect)

Very happy.
India is happy with the result too.

Nov. 4th

I'm so excited. It's 6:00pm here in Bangalore, which means it's 4:30am in California (thanks to the time change - pushed it back an hour). Today is such a big day. I keep checking the political sites on the web but since it's still the early am there isn't much to see.

I wonder if Erik and I will get any sleep tonight. And when we wake up in the morning we could wake to the news of a new future for the US. That's pretty amazing.

Go Obama!

Cheeky Auggie

Such a good girl...

Annika came home from school today and asked if we had any pickled beets because that's what she'd like for her snack. Awwww, such a good girl. :-)





She's wearing her Indus School PE uniform. She wears this uniform on days like today when she has yoga.

In memory of Mom...

Urli made with bougain villa leaves.