Out With the Old and In With the New....

Nothing like starting over.....again.  Just in case you haven't heard, I experienced an apartment fire due to a defective dehumidifier.  Approximately at 10:30 pm on the night of the 27th of December, I was woken up by the smoke alarm in my apartment to discover that the guest bedroom next to my bedroom was engulfed in flames.  Immediately I ran to my kitchen and grabbed the fire extinguisher to try to put the fire out but unfortunately, I couldn't get the extinguisher to work so I had to evacuate the apartment.  Nothing like waking up to a fire!  I grabbed Nika and ran down stairs to alert my security team but unfortunately they were no help and did not do much.  I have a lot of lessons learned that I need to summarize and share at some point but bottom line - Make sure that you have smoke detectors that have batteries in them.  My smoke detector saved my life.  The fire contained itself but the smoke traveled to all corners and covered the apartment with soot.  After being in the room for just a minute, I was having difficulty breathing.  All of my belongings are covered in soot and the apartment has a lot of damage but I am safe and Nika is ok.  

Currently we are living at the Sofitel Hotel at BKC just a couple minutes walk away from the US Consulate so my commute to work is very simple.  The staff are amazing and treat us (Nika and I) so well.  Actually treat us like royalty.  All greet Nika when we go for our walks.  Since my housekeeper/dog nanny cannot go to the apartment, she comes to the hotel to sit with Nika and keep her company daily.  Natalya is like family.  I am so lucky to have such wonderful house staff.  Natalya loves Nika so so so much!  She has spoiled her beyond spoiling level.  Due to the house not being able to be used, she now cooks Nika's food at her place and brings it to Nika daily at the hotel.  It is fun to watch her and Nika.  It is cute! 

So we are living in a five star hotel for at least a month.  I am so thankful to all that have been supportive and reached out to help us.  Our Consul General and his wife were very sweet to have my laundry washed at their place and sent over a nice care package.  Everyone has been so nice.  

Today the cleaning company arrived and started their work on the apartment.  It is going to take several days to get the first cleaning done but I am hopeful that they will get it clean for the most part.  Following the cleaning, we will be moving everything out of the flat to do the Make Ready since the smoke damage was so extensive.  All AC's have to be replaced, furniture scrapped, all clothing sent to dry cleaners.  Everything was damaged.  My carpets are at a my jewelry store getting cleaned.  Harry has been taking care of Americans for years and also sells carpets and he is attempting to clean them now.  The felt carpets from Kyrgyzstan are ruined but I am now planning a trip back to Bishkek to buy more!  I miss my friends there so this is a great reason to return.  

The gift of India - Dehli Belly

First of most likely many....Sickness hits!

Yesterday was a holiday in India and the consulate was closed.  I was looking forward to celebrating the holiday at my neighbors residence but instead was struck with severe bout of illness that had me thinking I definitely had dengue or malaria.  The pain and symptoms were so severe.  I never felt a chill like that - ever.  Teeth rattling so severely that my jaw still hurts today.  Luckily 36 hours later and I am feeling better.  I learned from this round of sickness that I have some amazing people here in India ready to take care of me at a moments notice.  My driver, Badrudden,  was sad that I didn't think to call him for assistance regardless of hour and the fact that he lives around 2 hours away or Natalya, my housekeeper/dog nanny, was insistent that she stay with me or come in tomorrow to take care of me.  Luckily, I have an excellent group of Health Professionals at the Consulate that were there to assist and feel some improvements today.  Bless Natalya - being home with her all day while sick is another form of torture.  Every minute she is in my room asking me something or checking on me.  The only time I am safe from her nonstop chatter is while asleep.  I know she has the most amazing intentions but when you are not feeling well you sure don't want to be bothered every second.  But then it is nice knowing someone is there and wants to make sure you are ok.

Good news - not Malaria or Dengue.  Not sure what it was but that was one I hope not to repeat anytime soon!

All About Ganesh

Today I went on a great tour with Beyond Bombay to learn all about Ganesh and preparations for the Ganesh Chaturthi Festival that begins on the 17th.  I am so excited to witness this festival!  Our first stop on the tour was very informative.  We learned all about Lord Ganesh and the symbolism of each part of his body.  I really did not know anything until today about Lord Ganesha and how he was formed and what he meant to people.

If the trunk is to the left it is a calmer Ganesh and easier to please.  If to the right, then you have a lot more to do to please Ganesh. See the diagram above regarding the belly, eyes, tusk, mouse, ears, etc.  

15 years later .....

Peace Corps was an experience that changed my life.  June 1, 2000 I began my journey to Armenia and what a journey it was.  I created some of the best friendships that have turned out to be lifelong friendships.  While I was in Italy in August, I had the opportunity to reconnect with Brooke for one evening right before I flew back to Mumbai.  It felt as if we had just seen each other yesterday and not that 15 years had passed.  Brooke was my first roommate when we arrived in Vanadzor, Armenia. The first few days of training were fun, painful and definitely memorable.  One memory that comes to mind from the first day was regarding bathing and flushing the toilet.  We had no idea how to flush the toilet or bathe.  I had never heard of bucket flushing, where you actually fill the bucket with water and dump it directly into the toilet bowl.  Instead we were both trying to fill the top tank with water to flush and that just was not working out.  The Peace Corps experiences bond you together for life.  I am so lucky to have so many wonderful experiences and friends from my Peace Corps service.

Bandra - Home sweet home

 I feel like I lucked out in regards to housing assignments.  I love Bandra and am really happy with the apartment I was assigned.  Great location and nice flat.  A few pics from the neighborhood.

Feels like home.....Back to Italy

 Each year I try to make it back to Italy to visit my (would have been) family.  I love these people so much and feel so loved and supported by each one of them.  Not pictured - Rinaldo's parents.  I spent the majority of my time with the two of them and just didn't get a picture this round since I was so involved in translating our conversations mentally.  I loved the hours we spent talking.  Well let me rephrase that - I loved the hours that they spent talking and me listening mainly since I am a terrible Italian speaker.  My comprehension is pretty good but my ability to speak/produce is much to be desired.  We had great conversations and wonderful moments.

I spent some wonderful moments hiking with family, listening to Paolo play guitar at sunset on the beach and catching up on life and events over amazing home cooking.  It was such a bonus treat to see almost all the aunts and uncles and many cousins.   My heart was overflowing!

My second home is here with this family.  Love!

Chivita, Fagnana Costello, Diamante - Italy

Girls Weekend Getaway to Greece

Working for the State Department has many benefits.  One benefit is the great friendships that you develop at each Post.  Although the other side of that is that you leave those friends after two or so years and move on to your next Posting/Assignment. Still, it can be a benefit if the friend is posted somewhere you are interested in visiting or accessible to visit.

I just returned from a short holiday to Greece to catch up with two friends.  Sandy (hostess with the mostess) and I served together in Bishkek and following Bishkek she was assigned to Athens.  An additional bonus was my friend and classmate from the 125th Specialist Class, Jackie Pietela.  Jackie just transferred to Vienna, Austria (what a hard posting-Being Very Sarcastic) and was able to join us for a couple days of R&R.  Four days of lots of laughs, great food (beef was definitely consumed since I can't get it in India) and wonderful beaches.

Fun in the sun!  Loved my holiday catching up with the girls!

Fabulous farewell dinner!  

 Three day escape to Bangkok to meet up with Erin & Carol was so much fun!  Following the big (successful) US Consulate National Day Event on July 3rd, I jumped on a plane for Bangkok to catch up with friends and former Peace Corps colleagues for three days.  It was the perfect combination of relaxing, shopping, gossiping, eating (fabulous Thai food) and laughing.

Shopping at the market for ingredients for the cooking class.

Water Taxi - Fast & Easy

Thai Cooking Class with Erin & Carol = Fun!

Shopping & Massages 

Moving on....

A lot of time has passed since my last entry.  Nika and I left Bishkek in November 2014 and headed home to Oklahoma/Arkansas for home leave for one month and then moved to DC area for six months of training at the Foreign Service Institute before ending here in our new home - Mumbai.

Saying goodbye doesn't get any easier.  Until next time Kyrgyzstan!  I will definitely be back!

Spent 6 months staying at Oakwood in Arlington while taking courses in Facilities and Hindi language at FSI.

Received visa on time, packed out again and moved to Mumbai!

This doesn't capture all the ups and downs, highs and lows, countries traveled to and much more so I will try to sum it all up in the next few posts.  More soon!