We have been in India eight months! Time has flown by this month! I guess time does really fly when you are having fun! December has been full of all sorts of adventures and a move to Bombay (Mumbai). You might want to buckle in for this blog.. it is an adventure and a long one!
December was the first time since arriving in India that I have been cold (Kaysi is cold often) which was a welcome relief from this past summer’s heat! As we spent the first twenty days of December in Delhi the temperatures continued to get cooler with each passing day! The last week in Delhi I had to break down and actually wear my jacket for most of the day if I was going out somewhere, Kaysi wore her jacket most of the day even while she was inside! The morning we left to come to Bombay it was in the low 40’s in Delhi so we had our jackets on. When we stepped out of the plane in Bombay the jacket was no longer needed as it was right around 90! The weather here in Bombay during the winter months is absolutely fantastic! It is in the mid 60s to low 70s at night and up around 90 in the afternoon! In fact I have wore shorts on several occasions since arriving!
So back to the beginning of the month. We were surprised early on in December with an awesome care package from our church family in Artesia! It was complete with chocolate and hot chocolate and even a gift for Kaysi and I and snow, well it was fake snow but snow none the less! We are so thankful for the thoughtfulness of FUMC Artesia! We were also treated to two different Christmas programs at our church in Delhi. The first was from an organization that the church helps to sponsor with some amazingly cute kids and then also by the kids of the church in Delhi! Both were so awesome and brought huge smiles to both of our faces!
We were also amazed at the way in which the malls around Delhi celebrate by decorating for Christmas! The Select City Walk mall that we frequent has a huge tree that rises to the 3 level of the mall as well as a huge light Christmas ornament that is outside! There was also a huge tree at the Palladium mall here in Bombay which was also beautiful! Check out the pictures!
Kaysi and I are always amazed at the different events that we get invited to and the very interesting people that we get to meet! December proved to be no different! The Huffington Post was launching their site here in India in partnership with the Times of India so we were invited to a High Tea to celebrate this! At the celebration were able to meet and visit with Ariana Huffington for a short while! It was a great time!
Life in India can be an adventure and you have to stay flexible. I have heard it said before that blessed are the flexible because they never get bent out of shape! I feel we have to learn that lesson often in just every day events! The weekend before we moved to Mumbai we decided that we would have a movie night with some of our friends before we left. We had it all planned out and ready to go! I spent a good portion of the afternoon getting the apartment nice and clean and ready for company and then decided to go to the market to get a few things! On a side note since we have been in Delhi that have been working on repairing the drainage on our road. They have made semi slow progress down our road… and you guessed it.. as I was leaving to the market they were beginning to dig up the drainage that is directly in front of our gate. I was able to get out and head to the market but upon returning there was a small or rather big issue, a 6 foot deep and 6 foot wide trench in front of our gate.. luckily the guy who manages our flat was there and was able to let me in the back entrance to our apartment. This was at about 4:30pm. I was told that they would have it all completed by 6:30 in time Kaysi arriving home and our friends coming a little bit later for a movie. Well, when Kaysi arrived home there was still a massive trench in front of our gate and there was no getting in the back gate either. Needless to say we had to change plans for the night. Luckily our friends Steve and Meghan were gracious to host us over at their apartment, but before arriving there I had to channel my inner monkey skills to scale a wall to be able to leave our apartment. Some of the guys at the business next to us were a little concerned that I had just scaled a wall into their property but I was able to explain that there was no other way for me to get out of my apartment! It was an interesting night to say the least!
As I mentioned earlier in this blog as well as last month we moved to Mumbai (Bombay) December 20th! The weather is absolutely amazing here! Its about 70 each morning and anywhere from 85-90 in the afternoon! We were in the guest house for the first week where they took amazing care of us, then the following Saturday we shifted to our awesome apartment that over looks the Back Bay! Here are a few pictures from the apartment! Our favorite room is the sun room that overlooks the Back Bay! We have a dining table next to the kitchen but we choose to eat all of our meals in the sun room with the great view! Looking out our wind one side looks towards the end of bay and the other back towards Chopatty Beach. We have been so incredibly blessed by the amazing hospitality and welcome here in Mumbai!
Our first Sunday here we were able to attend a church, Eden Springs, that our friends Pete and Katie attended while they were here last year. It was so great to get to meet all of the people there and they welcomed us in like family which made for an awesome day! We also attended the Christmas Eve service where we were incredibly blessed by the musical talent as well as the message delivered! We were able to take along a friend we met while staying at the guest house so it was a great time!
Christmas didn’t quite feel the same with the weather being so nice and warm but we definitely did enjoy our day! We were able to sleep in a little bit then went and caught the new Hobbit movie at an IMAX theatre with Jatin who is one of Kaysi’s coworkers they have also shifted here to Mumbai. It was definitely not a traditional Christmas for us but we did enjoy getting to spend the day with each other as well as some friends!
We had a fairly low key New Years Eve. There were many events going on that night but we opted for dinner at a nearby cafe and then went to the Kulfi Centre that serves kulfi which is similar to ice cream but not really ice cream! (The Roasted Almond is definitely a good choice as well as the Mango!) Kaysi and I then returned to our apartment watched a movie and then were able to watch all of the different people shooting off fireworks around the bay! It was a great day!
The amazing weather has made it possible for Kaysi and I to be able to get some good runs in with Jatin before she heads to work. It has been fun to have someone to work out with! Our normal run is around the bay on a jogging track that they have but Jatin and I have also run up to the hanging gardens a few times as well! It is quite a good work out with a nice steep hill to climb!
Overall December was an awesome month cram packed full of activities but it was a good month! I think the shift to Mumbai helped both Kaysi and I to not feel as home sick as we anticipated! We also received a few packages from my sister and her family as well as our family Christmas card from my parents! January is shaping up to be a busy month for Kaysi and I as well, so we should have lots to write about next month! I hope everyone had a happy holiday season, a merry Christmas, and a happy new year! Kaysi and I are looking forward to the adventures we will have in 2015!
To check out more pictures from December here's the link to the photo album of December! December in India!
December was the first time since arriving in India that I have been cold (Kaysi is cold often) which was a welcome relief from this past summer’s heat! As we spent the first twenty days of December in Delhi the temperatures continued to get cooler with each passing day! The last week in Delhi I had to break down and actually wear my jacket for most of the day if I was going out somewhere, Kaysi wore her jacket most of the day even while she was inside! The morning we left to come to Bombay it was in the low 40’s in Delhi so we had our jackets on. When we stepped out of the plane in Bombay the jacket was no longer needed as it was right around 90! The weather here in Bombay during the winter months is absolutely fantastic! It is in the mid 60s to low 70s at night and up around 90 in the afternoon! In fact I have wore shorts on several occasions since arriving!
So back to the beginning of the month. We were surprised early on in December with an awesome care package from our church family in Artesia! It was complete with chocolate and hot chocolate and even a gift for Kaysi and I and snow, well it was fake snow but snow none the less! We are so thankful for the thoughtfulness of FUMC Artesia! We were also treated to two different Christmas programs at our church in Delhi. The first was from an organization that the church helps to sponsor with some amazingly cute kids and then also by the kids of the church in Delhi! Both were so awesome and brought huge smiles to both of our faces! We were also amazed at the way in which the malls around Delhi celebrate by decorating for Christmas! The Select City Walk mall that we frequent has a huge tree that rises to the 3 level of the mall as well as a huge light Christmas ornament that is outside! There was also a huge tree at the Palladium mall here in Bombay which was also beautiful! Check out the pictures!
Life in India can be an adventure and you have to stay flexible. I have heard it said before that blessed are the flexible because they never get bent out of shape! I feel we have to learn that lesson often in just every day events! The weekend before we moved to Mumbai we decided that we would have a movie night with some of our friends before we left. We had it all planned out and ready to go! I spent a good portion of the afternoon getting the apartment nice and clean and ready for company and then decided to go to the market to get a few things! On a side note since we have been in Delhi that have been working on repairing the drainage on our road. They have made semi slow progress down our road… and you guessed it.. as I was leaving to the market they were beginning to dig up the drainage that is directly in front of our gate. I was able to get out and head to the market but upon returning there was a small or rather big issue, a 6 foot deep and 6 foot wide trench in front of our gate.. luckily the guy who manages our flat was there and was able to let me in the back entrance to our apartment. This was at about 4:30pm. I was told that they would have it all completed by 6:30 in time Kaysi arriving home and our friends coming a little bit later for a movie. Well, when Kaysi arrived home there was still a massive trench in front of our gate and there was no getting in the back gate either. Needless to say we had to change plans for the night. Luckily our friends Steve and Meghan were gracious to host us over at their apartment, but before arriving there I had to channel my inner monkey skills to scale a wall to be able to leave our apartment. Some of the guys at the business next to us were a little concerned that I had just scaled a wall into their property but I was able to explain that there was no other way for me to get out of my apartment! It was an interesting night to say the least!
As I mentioned earlier in this blog as well as last month we moved to Mumbai (Bombay) December 20th! The weather is absolutely amazing here! Its about 70 each morning and anywhere from 85-90 in the afternoon! We were in the guest house for the first week where they took amazing care of us, then the following Saturday we shifted to our awesome apartment that over looks the Back Bay! Here are a few pictures from the apartment! Our favorite room is the sun room that overlooks the Back Bay! We have a dining table next to the kitchen but we choose to eat all of our meals in the sun room with the great view! Looking out our wind one side looks towards the end of bay and the other back towards Chopatty Beach. We have been so incredibly blessed by the amazing hospitality and welcome here in Mumbai!
Our first Sunday here we were able to attend a church, Eden Springs, that our friends Pete and Katie attended while they were here last year. It was so great to get to meet all of the people there and they welcomed us in like family which made for an awesome day! We also attended the Christmas Eve service where we were incredibly blessed by the musical talent as well as the message delivered! We were able to take along a friend we met while staying at the guest house so it was a great time!
We had a fairly low key New Years Eve. There were many events going on that night but we opted for dinner at a nearby cafe and then went to the Kulfi Centre that serves kulfi which is similar to ice cream but not really ice cream! (The Roasted Almond is definitely a good choice as well as the Mango!) Kaysi and I then returned to our apartment watched a movie and then were able to watch all of the different people shooting off fireworks around the bay! It was a great day!
Overall December was an awesome month cram packed full of activities but it was a good month! I think the shift to Mumbai helped both Kaysi and I to not feel as home sick as we anticipated! We also received a few packages from my sister and her family as well as our family Christmas card from my parents! January is shaping up to be a busy month for Kaysi and I as well, so we should have lots to write about next month! I hope everyone had a happy holiday season, a merry Christmas, and a happy new year! Kaysi and I are looking forward to the adventures we will have in 2015!
To check out more pictures from December here's the link to the photo album of December! December in India!
