We are in our house!

Hello again!

Sorry to keep you waiting so long for the next Indian update! It has taken several days to get all the important things needed in the house! But we are here, living in Palm Meadows! Our rental furniture (that we chose for a month until we can do some other looking) arrived shortly after we did, so now we have a place to sit, eat, and sleep! For all of $80 for the month, it's not bad! Not much for comfort, but the dining set is quite decent. When we got here, however, there was no cooking gas, and that took a few days and many phone calls to get. Our red Toyota Innova that we picked out last month arrived, complete with a ribbon down the center, and a box of chocolates! The 'villa' had a television already, but cable took a few days to hook up as well. There really wasn't much we could do, without more of the kids' toys, a working tv, a club membership, a cook (especially since there wasn't gas to cook with!), and the all-important INTERNET!

Our shipment did arrive, and Brian was home to help unpack AND make sure DSL was installed that day. It took many many days of calling, calling, calling to get it all hooked up. It was great to have the kids' toys, and our KING-size American pillow-top mattress to sleep on! The mattresses here are not much of anything. But, ahhh, what comfort to sleep on our own bed, and our own sheets and down comforter! Also very strange to make that bed here, and to put all our clothes in the closets here, and the kids toys... It's quite a realization that we aren't here for just a short time. It's slowly sinking in. I've been having dreams of home, thinking of places and people that are surely missed. I think we really miss knowing how things work and what is going on, and of course, people speaking GOOD English!!! How great it would be to see any of you tomorrow!!!

The second day in our house, I got a great box delivered by a small UPS truck. I had ordered some shorts from Eddie Bauer, clearance of course, after figuring out that they COULD ship to India, and they arrived MUCH faster than I had imagined! (hmm, now I seem to have learned that Gymboree will do the same!--- and Ella DOES need shorts! they don't have much here for that). The last time I had checked, the estimated delivery date said Dec 13!! So I was pleasantly surprised, and very glad that we had indeed moved into the house, or I wouldn't have gotten it!

The girls are beginning to really enjoy school, and not dread it tearfully. The first 2 days riding the bus were very difficult, (for Ella especially) but things are looking brighter. Ella learned on Friday, after coming home to Palm Meadows, that an Australian girl in her class lives just across the street from us! So Jana (Yana) and Ella have played together quite a bit, and often walk to the bus together. Zach enjoys waving good-bye, but more so delightfully waving "HELLO" to his sisters when the bus drives up to the clubhouse to drop off the kids after a long day. He misses them so! At bedtime when we say prayers, Zach enthusiastically names "ELLA" and "Daddy" and "ELLA" and "Mommy" and "ELLA" and sometimes other people get added to, when we say, "God Bless..."

We've met so many wonderful people and families here. It really comes alive after 4:30 when all the kids start arriving home from school. The streets are busy with kids riding bike and playing, until the mosquitoes force everyone in an hour later, and everyone shuts up all the windows before they do the fogging for mosquitos. Walking the girls to and from the bus has been a very nice time to meet the other parents in the neighborhood, and to learn everything that's going on. We have neighbors from India, from Australia, from Germany, from Boston, from all over! It's really amazing.

Tomorrow there is a 'morning coffee' for IBM expats at someone's home maybe 1 hour away. Several people from here are going, including 2 neighbors. There definitely are a lot of IBMer's here, along with Target!

**there goes the electricity again!! crazy**********

We're anxiously waiting to get to use the clubhouse. All the pools have been very tempting lately, as it's been humid and very warm. We can go as guests with others here, (but would like to go when we please.) Our membership is 'in-progress' in HR. We've used the pool once (Ella twice!) with a friend, and enjoyed it very much.

More another time! I'll tell you about our maid, cook, and driver, and by then I may have my much-needed nanny (just for the time between school and bedtime so I can help Ella with homework and feed and put all 3 kids to bed before Brian comes home nice and late)....

I need some sleep! Missing you all! Send updates from there PLEASE! It's amazing how just reading about directions to somewhere in Rochester, or seeing pictures from home can make my day!

Love to you all,

Heather