There's Babies in Them There Trees!

It's been awhile, and I've got some stuff to talk about.  We're having another baby, I seem to be doing pretty well at golf, I saved an injured street dog named Banjara, I'm learning a bit of Hindi, and the locals are beginning to love us for all of our American candy, thanks to Grandpa Harvest.

Of course the biggest and most exciting news of all is that we're having another baby.  Legs and I are totally stoked, and Thumper seems pretty happy about it too.  Bambi knows all too well what happens when we bring another member into the pack, so I think he's a little worried about moving down another notch on the totem pole, but he's being his naturally weird self and sleeping on Legs' belly every chance he gets.  We might as well quit using pregnancy tests, and just ask Bambi, or Thumper for that matter.  Before we found out about the pregnancy, Legs was putting Thumper to bed one night and he lifted up her shirt, put his hand on her stomach, and said, "Baby."  Who knows how he figured that one out!?  I'll just leave it at, he's a genius.

My weekly golf game has become one of my favorite pastimes.  I, and two other 'trailing spouses', go golfing once per week, and we have a blast.  It's pretty crazy golfing in the insanely hot weather here, but, nonetheless, we still manage to enjoy ourselves.  Today it was 109 degrees when I got home.  We can't really make it past nine holes now, but maybe in the rainy season we'll get through the entire course.  Last week we were playing the last hole, and I was about to tee off before my caddy said, "Sir, play left.  Baby."  I didn't exactly understand what he was saying until we realized that he was pointing at a baby hanging from a tree roughly 150 yards away, sleeping in a sort-of hammock.  I couldn't help but take a picture to share with everyone, all that is India...

Can you see it yet?

Yup, that's a baby in the tree.

A few days ago I was walking Bambi around the block in the morning, and as we were strolling past some burning trash I saw a dog laying on the side of the street, not even flinching as cars and people passed.  I could see the dog's chest rising and falling as it breathed, so I knew it was alive.  I tried to check it out as best I could with Bambi going crazy on the leash, and saw that it suffered a pretty bad head wound, most likely from a car.  I took Bambi home, and decided to just go with my inner animal-lover and took Bambi's crate down to the dog so I could take it to a vet.

At first the dog didn't really react as I tried to pick it up, but then, to my amazement, it got up and ran about 15 feet around a corner to get away from me.  I think that was the last little bit of strength she had because when I followed her and tried again, she didn't even budge.  I tried to get a man walking past to help me, but he looked at the dog, shook his hand, and said, "Bah!"

I carried the crate and dog, who I started calling Banjara, home as fast as I could because Legs needed to leave for work.  She just smiled and tried to look supportive, but I know deep down she was scared shitless that I was going to want to keep Banjara.  I can't wait until Thumper tries that one!

I took the dog to our local vet and when I explained what happened they all looked at me like I was crazy, but they started treating her anyway.  She had a pretty severe wound on her head and eye, so bad that you could actually see part of her skull.  They gave her some pain medicine, lots of fluids, and cleaned her up, and that night I was able to take her home.  I found an animal shelter that also provides free veterinary care, so I arranged to take Banjara there the next day.  She stayed the night with us, sleeping in the crate the whole time before I dropped her off.  Even though everyone looked at me like I had lost my mind, I thought it was completely worth it to see the dog start to recover, and also to see Thumper learn about caring for all living things.  The whole time Banjara was here, Thumper would say, "See dog!  Dog sad.  Dog happy!  Dog hurt.  Dog happy!"  In case you're wondering, Banjara means nomad in Hindi.

Here's Banjara recovering with her IV fluids and muzzle.

Hindi class is going quite well.  I have a long ways to go before I can actually have a conversation with someone in Hindi, but I'm able to use more and more words when communicating around town, and people usually get a kick out it if I say anything at all in Hindi.  The caddies at the golf course love it when I say the colors of the flags.  I think I made my Hindi teacher's day when I was able to write and pronounce the whole Hindi alphabet on my own.  Small steps to big gains  :-)

We received some care packages recently, and Legs actually had to arrange a different ride home because there were too many boxes to fit in the car she was sharing.  It sure was nice to get so many goodies, but we now have enough candy to stop hunger in India.  We've been "improving India-US relations" by giving lots of it out to the guards, kids, and Legs' co-workers.  It's tough work being a diplomat, but someone's got to do it.  Maybe we should have just sent a bunch of gummy bears and salt water taffy to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria.  Who can do anything but smile with a mouthful of gummy bears?

Happy Travels!

Pancho

Summertime in India

It's been far too long since our last post, and we're sorry for our brief hiatus.  We are still adjusting to India and our new lives here.  Thumper is thoroughly enjoying his new school, and I'm having a blast attending it with him.  Legs is extremely busy at work, but is taking great pleasure in her job.  Her occupation doesn't require much work outside of business hours, so the evenings and weekends tend to be our time as a family. Bambi is, well, Bambi.

We feel like we really lucked out with Thumper's school here.  It's somewhat structured, in that they have different rooms dedicated to different activities, like drama, music, art, and dance.  He loves to play with the other kids in his class, and he's become very comfortable leaving me in the lobby while he builds his reputation.  His teachers are absolutely phenomenal with all of the kids; they are extremely patient, joyful, and caring.

Thumper's vocabulary is growing like crazy, and he's started to string together 2, 3, and 4 word sentences.  Along with his expanding vocabulary, he's becoming quite independent and stubborn in his ways, and he's mastered the art of the limp, screaming tantrum.  I feel like watching him change as he grows is an absolute joy, and I can't help but smile when his eyes well up with tears, his lips begin to quiver, and there's a slight stillness before his body goes limp and he screams with all his might because he wanted another treat, or he wanted to put the brush on the floor instead of on the table, or he wanted Mama to sit in this chair instead of that chair.  I'm sure the complexity of the problems will change with time, but he'll always be this special and perfect little person to me.

Leg's is working like crazy with the busy season for students traveling to the U.S. and also parents traveling to visit their children who are graduating from universities all across America.  She is constantly moved by some of the happy stories she hears, and also saddened by some of the more unfortunate tales.  Our laws for  traveling to the United States are what they are, and it's Leg's job to uphold those laws regardless of her personal feelings toward the situation.  Overall, I think this is a deeply fulfilling career for Legs, and I'm proud of the work that she has put into her profession to give us the opportunity to travel the world and experience different cultures in a way that we never really thought possible.

Bambi seems to be adjusting quite nicely to India.  He lounges around on the couches and tile floors enjoying a sliver of sunshine through the window if he's cold, or the cool breeze from one of the AC's if he's hot.  We try to stay away from all of the trash-dogs, because I don't think Bambi would fare to well in a fight.  During the day, it's all he can do to make it around the block in the heat, but I think he's happy just relaxing in our house most of the time.

I've managed to fill my time with some fun activities.  I'm still taking Hindi classes at the consulate; however, it's only for 2 hours per week and everyone else has dropped out.  Basically I get to meet with the teacher for one-on-one sessions to practice the lessons from the textbook.  Slowly, but surely, I'm learning more each week.  I've also been golfing once per week with another stay-at-home dad at the consulate.  We're both pretty much equally horrible at golf, so it makes for some fun outings.  It's really nice to get outdoors away from all of the traffic and noise in the city.

Overall, we're beginning to find routines that work for us here, and that's a tremendous help in adjusting to our new lives.  We are still very homesick though, and can't wait until we get the opportunity to come home for a visit.  It's just been too long since we've seen all of our family, and I can't even believe that the last time most people saw Thumper he wasn't even crawling!

Happy Travels!

Pancho

India: In-dee-uh; verb-move, change, or occur in the dramatically changeable manner of a roller coaster

It's been awhile, so I'll take you back a few weeks.  I was sitting on the toilet flicking ants off my feet in the middle of the night doing what you do in India.  Try your hardest to fight off all of the bacteria, viruses, dirt, grime, filth, and rot that seem to seep their way into anything and everything here.  After several trips back and forth from the bathroom to the bed, I finally felt like I was 'done'.  Unfortunately, I was wrong.  Whatever I had simply shifted its focus and I started vomiting harder than I'd ever vomited before.  After four years in the Marine Corps, and even getting my name on a plaque at a bar (Big Helyn's), that's a pretty profound statement for me to make.  I remember having this weird moment of clarity between heaves, likely a result of being mildly dehydrated, sleep-deprived, and having a fever, and I was staring into the toilet thinking, "How could there be so much food in my stomach?  That's what's making me sick.  I'm eating too much food."  After the fact, I thought my prognosis was pretty funny.  I'm glad I didn't decide to become a doctor, because I'm clearly not ballooning up over here.  In fact, I'm down to around 180 lbs, and wearing the same size jeans I wore in high school.  Fortunately, I recovered quickly and was back to my usual self in a couple days.

After recovering from my first bout with 'Delhi Belly', I was feeling healthy, but watching what I ate a little more carefully.  I was also getting very excited for our upcoming trip to New Delhi and Agra.  We were planning to stay at a really nice hotel, and I was eager to seek out some adventures with Thumper in a new city.  The morning of our departure I woke up freezing and feeling a little off.  At first I thought maybe I was just feeling off because it was 3 am, and we were getting ready to travel for the first time in India.  Once again Dr. Pancho was horribly wrong.  My immune system was fighting with everything it had at another stupid, stupid, stupid, STUPID case of 'Dehli Belly'.  You can imagine how much fun it is to wake up a two-year-old at 3 am and take them on an hour-long drive, followed by a two-hour flight, followed by another hour-long drive, all the while it's between 90 and 105 degrees.  Now do it while you're running a fever and have explosive diarrhea.  Welcome to India!

I just needed to get all of that out of my system...no pun intended.  I spent an entire day and a half hunkered down with Thumper in the hotel room, and thoroughly missed out on seeing any of New Delhi, but I recovered quickly again, and was feeling better by the time we got in the car for the four-hour drive to Agra. It was absolutely amazing to drive through farmland and open fields.  Legs and I spent the entire time daydreaming about Eastern Washington and the Pacific Northwest.

In Agra, we stayed in a phenomenal hotel that actually had a view of the Taj Mahal. We hired a tour guide to take us through the Taj Mahal in the evening, and we got to see one of the most spectacular monuments in the world at sunset.  The river running behind the Taj Mahal, the wild monkeys climbing walls and pillars everywhere, the mosque next to the palace, it all created a stunning environment that will never be replicated anywhere.  There was such a peacefulness walking through the palace gardens, and simply standing and looking out over the river was wonderful.

So, the roller-coaster continues in India.  It amazes me how I could go from feeling so crappy, and disgruntled to feeling such tranquility in a single trip.  Thumper, Legs, and I had a beautiful time at our hotel, and at the Taj Mahal.  Our stay in Agra and the time we got to spend together absolutely made up for all of the inconveniences along the way.  I'm sure that we'll continue to swing back and forth from thoroughly enjoying the adventure we're on, to missing home with all of our hearts.

Happy Travels!

Pancho

Jerky for Dinner

That's right.  Reeses, Teddy Grams, Elk Jerky, and more candy.  That is what we will have for dinner every night this week thanks to some AMAZING family who have turned these frowns upside down :-)  Well, the care package, the encouraging phone calls, and then supportive e-mails from friends and family are really what did the trick.  Today is an 'up' day on my roller coaster.  I won't bore you with the details but last week was a rough one (to include two death notifications within 24hrs after I got the after-hours phone for the first time) but we got massages at the end of the week, spent time with friends in the Old City over the weekend, and had some time to ourselves to just be.  Needless to say, all of your support has made such a difference and we can't thank you enough for your love as it follows us around the world.  

Missing Home

Pancho and I have been feeling particularly homesick today.  There are parts of this lifestyle that are incredible (getting paid to live and work in other countries) and there are parts of this lifestyle that are at times hard (living and working in other countries).  India has been wonderful so far but for us country kids from rural Pacific Northwest, the constant crowds, buildings for days, pollution, lack of freedom for women, and the isolation that comes from not being able to drive ourselves anywhere starts to take its toll.  We daydreamed today about owning our own home in the country, living within reasonable travel distance from family (ok, half way around the world might be just a little too far!), and enjoying a slower-paced life.  We got on the computer and looked through pictures from the last seven years and could almost feel the Yakima River.

That said, at the end of the day I sat outside with Thumper and watched kids clean themselves off from the Holi celebration while the call to prayer wafted through the hot evening air from the local mosque and I was overwhelmed with happiness.

Ups and downs....

We welcome any pictures of the Pacific Northwest you have lying around as we decorate our space and try to remind ourselves of home!

Allergies and the Crazy Girl

A few quick notes to make you smile.

#1:  Our driver says they just burn leaves here but the piles of burning trash I see everywhere indicate otherwise.  I realized today that I'm not getting sick, I don't have a cold, I am just sensitive to the extreme car pollution on the roads and all the smoke in the air from the burning piles of garbage.  I thought I was just allergic to pollens!  On a similar note, they fumigated the courtyard of our building and I looked out the window to see nothing but fog and thought the apartment was on fire.  Don't worry, just spraying for mosquitoes.  Our air conditioner caught on fire last weekend and that wasn't nearly as smokey. 

Burning Trash

#2: On the way to work this morning I saw a girl I'd seen before sitting on the median of the road next to a burning tire.  I asked our driver why she's always sitting there and if she asks for money.  He laughed and said, "No, no, no, she is not asking for money, she is crazy!"  I asked if she stays somewhere nearby and he said, "No, she is not staying anywhere, even she does not know what she is doing!"

#3: There is a new cafeteria at work operated by a nearby restaurant and I can get a huge plate of rice, noodles, chicken, or Chinese vegetable ball things for $1.  Street food cooked in a totally sanitary kitchen at the Consulate.  A.mazing.

#4:  Thumper is really trying hard to say "fork," "Foster," "fan," "sit," "shirt," and "sure," but it just isn't working for him yet... he can, however, say "I like juuuuice," and he runs through the house screaming it over and over :-)

It's late and I can't pull together a coherent blog post so I leave you with those pearls from our Hyderabad experience.  Next time Pancho or I will write about Thumper's Kangaroo debut, our trip to Golkonda Fort during which Pancho experienced a pickpocket attempt, and our first Holi festival which will happen next week.  Missing you all!

Legs

Oh, India.

This morning I left for a short 5 km run to a local park.  It was early, so traffic wasn't too bad; however, I did have a car, driving the wrong direction on the road, cut me off, then stop right in front of me so they could load up some supplies from a store.  As they got out of the car, they looked at me like I was the crazy one because I was running for no apparent reason.  A few minutes later I had a Tuk Tuk cut me off in the same manner so that he could give me a ride.  He yelled, "Sir! Sir!" as me motioned to the seat with his hand.  I shook my head and kept running, and I think I literally blew his mind.  He's probably still sitting there trying to figure out what had happened, and perhaps thinking he should find a new job since he couldn't even talk a Westerner into his taxi, who, clearly, was in desperate need of a ride.

Like we've said before, India is full of extremes in every direction.  Poverty meets luxury.  Chaos meets tranquility.  Beauty meets trash.  On the way to the park this morning I ran by all sorts of people sleeping on the side of the street, just waking up to start their work day.  Having grown up in the United Sates, it seems so foreign to see people who work a full day cleaning, or in construction, or perhaps trash removal, and they have no place to go but to the small grassy median in a round-a-bout.  They get water from a large tanker truck that stops and opens a faucet for them to fill their water bottles, and they likely work all day so they can afford a meal that evening.  

As I pass all of the homeless workers outside and step through the gates to the park, it's as if I cross some threshold into a different reality.  Inside the park, well-dressed Indians are everywhere practicing yoga, or doing odd exercises as they walk along the well-manicured gravel path.  I could hear people in the distance laughing and yelling as they played some game, probably cricket.  The park was like a sanctuary from the injustice outside.  It was almost depressing as I neared the gate on my way home, and I knew that I had to leave this safe, blind, oblivious place and, once again, run through the smoke from burning trash, run past the people lining up for water, run through the wafting urine.

I'd be lying if I said that I didn't dislike the portion of my run from our house to the park.  It's as if I'm a little kid getting ready to sprint from one 'safe base' to another.  It's hard to face the reality that we live in such luxurious conditions while people struggle to get through each day.  The worst part of it all is that no one here seems to strive for anything better for themselves.  Just as the wealthy people blindly go about their day in the pockets of solitude, the poor people go about their day everywhere else.  It seems as though no one here has any desire to 'learn to fish', they just want 'fish'.

Happy Travels!

Pancho