Goodbye India, Hello Germany

wow.... just less than a month ago this was our life:

Sweating 24 hours a day....

Riding around on the motorbike....

Hand washing our clothes, soaking food in vinegar.... getting filtered water from a faucet in the hallway, adventures on the roof, cafes, eating delicious Indian food for dirt cheap....

FINDING things to do all day (here we found an old gutted out bus, Anjuns DREAM)....

...playing here and there.

If it wasn't already clear, we've decided not to move to India right now. Too many 'ifs' as to whether it was the right time, place, etc... We will always go back to Auroville...but now we tried it. And we can't say we didn't try. And don't have to always wonder if we passed up a dream opportunity. Now we know. So, bye bye India... thatched roof homes, dirty streets, delicious food and all...

Preparing the kids... packing... saying good bye.

Cutest luggage ever!

Bye dirty airport.

Once again the kids amazed me with the travels. We all did so well, despite lack of sleep.

Hello meticulously clean airport. Although we couldn't enjoy it... too tired and spaced out.

Unpack? No problem. Just unzip and let kids go crazy! oh, then... try to find everything, figure out where it goes, if it's clean, separate the gifts, organize the clothes, and whaa laa! A week later you'll be ALMOST finished.

Welcome home. It cold, and rainy... sky full of clouds. And it's as if it was a dream. A dream where we went to India for three months... had fun, sweated our butts off, learned it's not the place for us right now, and woke up.

Home, back to real life. 

In a way it's nice, comforting.

In a way it's sad.

It is what it is and we're home. And busy!



Baby niece born, birthdays, new rhythm, job search, re-adjusting, sleeping schedules, family get-togethers, quite afternoons together....

and in less than a week my baby turns one.  
ONE.          
1?!



 Breathing through lots of emotions to say the least.



With love
The Weddings.

Marlo crawling, Anjun busy as always....

Check out Marlo's new crawl... he takes just about anything (toy, bucket, plate etc) and puts it under one hand. Then scoots it around the floor while crawling.

 

And Anjun is testing out his strenghts.  He's giving the security guard here a run for his money - opening and closing the big front gate.  He would hang out here all day if we let him.  It doesn't even work anymore if you say 'OK Anjun, we're going upstairs, you want to come with?'  then he just shakes his head no and continues hanging out with the security guard.   

A bit different here...

Let me tell you.....

Oh, there's so many... MANY differences.  Where to begin?

Well, one of the first ones I think of is how much I hold Marlo.  He's at a very mama attached phase in his life - which I'm ok with - despite the heat and holding a baby so much just increases your warmness... but also, really more so... I hold him because, well, it's India.  Everything is dirty.  I know, I know, things are dirty everywhere, not just India.  But without health codes, sanitation regulations, food handling guidelines and a HUGE lack of public/private toilets... well, you get the picture.  I don't get to set him down on the floor somewhere unless I know it's clean.  And that's not very often.



Um, we also have ants.  We had them in the summer back home too, but quickly and naturally got rid of 'em.  Not in India, we've tried everything.  Here's a pic of a chalk line with a message for them.  I hope they get it.







We've made playing with ice a daily necessity.  Literally.  Probably twice a day, at least, we get a bowl of ice out of the freezer and let the kids play with it. Keeps us cool and gives mom and dad a break.   

 One thing I won't miss is the bug bites.  Look at those cute little legs, now look closer.  They're covered.  Mosquito's, ants... makes me so mad.  We respect all creatures and don't kill little bugs we find in our house.  This has changed, mozzys and ants are happily killed in this house while they're doing so much harm to us and our kids!

 It's a well known fact that Anjun likes bread.  Good news is he LOVES Indian breads as well.  Here he is with a dosa (indian pancake, kind of) but he also loves chapati... even samosas he'll try.


He even says 'dosa', whenever we go by a place where we've bought one before.  Cute, yes.  Annoying.... sometimes.

 Above, Sebas changed the thermometer on the shelf to Fahrenheit... when someone who hasn't been raised with Cecilius sees the temperatures in the 30's it's all too easy to just think 'yeah, it's warm'... then you see it.  95 DEGREES?!  NINETY FIVE DEGREES!!??  omg. 

Below, the boys at their happiest... playing with something that is sometimes now allowed.  And better than that, one for each of them.  wow.

 A local dog who hung out by our door for a day.  Anjun loves him, calls him 'weisser wow-wow'  = white dog. 

 Indian traffic jam.  They were laying a pipeline of somekind and there was quite a back up.  But then they covered the meter deep trench with about a 7 inch bridge, JUST enough to get a motorbike over.

Only in India.

 Above, our washing machine: two buckets and our hands.  Oh joy.  And below, drinking water.  Did I mention that you can't drink from the tap here?  That took some adjusting.  We have a tap out in the hallway that we use to fill up our drinking water bottle and bring inside.  It's difficult to be safe with water here sometimes, just imagine cooking... and try telling a baby/two year old to not get any water in their mouth during your daily shower!   

 This is my toaster.  yeah.  That's right. 

 And this is the security guard for where we live.  There's one here 24 hours (not the same one)... I'm sure you all are aware of the recent stories of India in the news, and even in a place like Auroville there are frequent thefts, harassment's etc.  But the guards here are great.  Anjun likes to hang out with him sometimes and he plays music for him on his phone.

 Check out Marlo , he's covered in sun screen... with a hat (I made it, don't make fun, please) and that crazy Indian sun just beating down on the poor guy.  In the picture it looks nice and sunny, but it's really almost impossible to stand in the sun for more than, say, 5 seconds.  Really. 

And I just have to mention, there are spiky plants everywhere!  So add it up, spiky plants, sand/dirt everywhere, when there is grass it's probably watered with treated waste water/been peed on by street animals/infested with bugs that like to bite, hot sun.... can't just let the kids run wild outside like at home.


If the kids were older many of these things wouldn't be quite such a big deal.  But did you see that first word there:  if.  There's been a lot of those... if's I mean.  Too many.


Specifically I mean we're being quite critical when it comes to considering moving here.  And honestly, at the moment, it doesn't look good.

Sadly, chasing dreams don't always materialize how you'd hoped.

Wrote this kind of fast, will upload a video soon and get back into a good rhythm with posting these regularly again.


LOVE

The Weddings

What are we doing here?

Marlo's look says it all....

 what are we doing here!?

 Sometimes I have these moments.  Then I try to remember, we're doing what some people never have the chance to do: to chase a dream, to try out a new and perhaps better life for our family, and to have some valuable time together - all four of us - all day every day.  We really need to take advantage of that last one.... it sadly won't last forever.

So, what are we up to?  Well, let me start by saying that keeping the rhythm of the day, household somewhat clean, two young children fed/clean/happy/diapered, meals, naps, etc - keeps us busy enough.  No, really.  It's crazy when we look back at when we were here without kids, and the differences there are.

There's lots of playing at home (above pic, sadly Marlo has this face quite a bit with Anjun in a terrible two/hitting phase) and playing out and about.  Below, checking out a childrens movie & dinner evening.  Anjun didn't like the movie (he's basically never watched tv/movies, let alone on a big screen) and the dinner was too late for us to hang around.  So we basically just hung out with friends for an hour, then left.

Anjun isn't too sure about this cow statue.  I don't blame him.  India, the land of contrasts.... trash/filth/dirt on one street and then a beautifully clean temple with fresh flowers on a big stone cow......  hhhmmmmm.


Jolly old Marlo, not much can keep him down.  Besides the occasional grumpy mood (teeth maybe?  that's what everyone says when they don't know what's up with a baby) and his brother causing trouble, he's a really happy guy.

They got 'em.  

Recently it was a Hindu Holiday....  Holi it's called I believe.  'Happy Holi'  You know, where you see Indian people throwing/rubbing bright colors on each other.  At the end of the day everyone is covered.  Thankfully we didn't hang around too long and get completely covered.

The kids got just a little bit of color.  And snacks.

Their fav spots.... Anjun on the motorbike.  Marlo standing.  The both do these activities as much as possible. 

Look, they're playing!!  Somewhat close to each other - dare I say together - and no one is crying, hitting, rolling on or taking anything from the other.  Take a picture fast!!


We tried the beach again.  Thankfully a friend took us to a much less crowded beach, and Anjun and Papa could check out the waves at their own pace, not surrounded by a sea of Indian people.  And Anjun LOVED it.  Didn't take long for the diaper to come off, and then he didn't want to leave.  

And lastly, a peacock update.  (See earlier blog to hear my rant on these birds)  Must be mating season.  Check out this poor male, spreading his feathers and fluffing his wings with all his might - and the FOUR (yes, count them, four) females around him couldn't care less. 

And they're still loud.  All. Night. Long.


That's all for now.



LOVE

The Weddings

India Adventures....

 

Anjun, with his favorite thing....the motorbike.  And yes, he had to park his tricycle next to the motorbike.   

Playing in the sand with a friend...

He HAD to ride his new tricycle, even on the one day it rained ALL DAY LONG.

Family photo/break time in a resturant in Pondycherry.  How cute are my boys?  Adorable.

On the BUS!  One of Anjuns favorite things, besides -of course- the motorbike.... note how Anjun is holding on tight... we sat in the back that time, it was bumpy!

Waiting for said bus..... patiently.... Teddy in backpack and all.  When he puts his mind to something he lets us know it... usually we have to hear motorat ( = motorbike) auf ( = elevator) bus ( = bus) HUNDREDS of times.

Even teddy had to take a shower....TRUST ME... dusty/dirt + sweaty boy = shower for teddy.

Just crawling around and chewin' on stuff...

Relaxing at a lovely cafe that has a corner just for kids... they LOVE IT.  And we do too.

Internet has been funky for a couple days now... basically won't load any un-google page.  

ANNOYING. 

 I hope that ends soon and I'll upload a video.  

For now

LOVE

The Weddings.

Laughing boys video

I love these moments.  I wish it was like this all the time.


Makin' my boys laugh.... until someone cries....hopefully tears of joy but not always. 


I hope this brought a smile to your day.




LOVE

The Weddings

A brief introduction....

For those of you that don't know. We're in India.


We're here for three and a half months to explore the possibility of moving here. This is the place where Sebastian and I met, just a mear 3 1/2 years ago... so for us it holds a special place in our hearts. But not only that, we wish for a place to live where we can offer the best for our children (alternative education, organic foods, surrounded by nature, loving people and many opportunities) - and we long for an environment that is forward thinking, based on integral philosophies and post modern ideologies. (I know, I just learned about that last one recently too, look it up or read a book by Ken Wilber)

We're thinking Auroville could be that place. So we're trying it on for size, and we'll let you all know what we think in the coming months. For now, the basics:

This is what you see when you enter our gated complex (was going to say community but it doesn't quite have a community feel here...). The building low to the ground that you see in the foreground is the main office of the place. It's part factories/production houses/gold smith (all the lower/ground level rooms) and part residential apartments (upper levels).


 I hesitate to say community because it's really not centered around the guests or apartment tenets like the guest house where we met. It feels more like the place is a workshop and we just live above it. If you look at the shiny metallic (blue-ish) tower in the middle/left of the pic above, our apartment windows are just down and to the right of it. That means we're on the 3rd floor. Actually 4th. Depending if you count the ground floor as one or the first story as one... I donno... anyway, what it means is A LOT OF STEPS [pic below]. Oh, there's an elevator. But I got stuck in it with Anjun for an hour and therefore I don't use it much anymore.

But there's dogs.... and peacocks.



 'AAAwwww, peacocks' you say in shock and admiration....



Well, let me tell you, these things are LOUD. A mix between a crows squawking and a cats meow. Really really loud. All day. And all night. Especially when they sit right outside your window.

But in general the kids are doing great with the abundance of noises in the night (and day)... it's India, and those of you who've been here know already: it's loud. Cars honking their horns, annoyingly loud motorbikes, dogs fighting, birds, frogs, people, alarm clocks at all hours, someone practicing piano at what you consider to be the middle of the night.... and it's hot so everyone has all windows open all the time. So you hear EVERYTHING. But like I said, the kids are doing great with it, despite the peacocks.

Sebas and I are too, for the most part. Here we are enjoying pizza on the roof of our apartment. You see, there's also not just windows open all the time, but we have no doors or complete walls between where the kids sleep and our 'living room' [pic below, Anjun in chair] so if we want to have a conversation not entirely in whispers then we have to go to the roof. So far it's been beautiful up there, so I'm not complaining.

And, finally, Anjuns fav spot. Right next to/on/riding/watching/sticking the key into the motorbike. Most of the time he says 'auto' (car in German) but he means 'I would like to go on the motorbike again, now, please' even if we literally JUST got off of it, for like a second. He even finally started saying 'moto' for motorbike. Goody, now there's NO confusion, he wants to go on the motorbike. All. the. time.

Marlo is all out crawling, and here he is looking as adorable as ever watching Papa come up to the door. Next to the front door is a screen window that has a piece of glass missing, right at Marlo's height. He pulls right up to nigh knees and checks out what's going on outside... but he doesn't just pull up to knees... he now pulls up to standing! WHAT!? Where's my teeny tiny little baby gone!? It's going way too fast....

We've enjoyed seeing old friends, checking out new places and cafes, exhibits, schools, a pottery sale, even laughter yoga. And the beach. It looks quite different than the last time we were here, after we left (in 2009) they got hit pretty bad by a cyclone and the beach community is totally different. In general the beach is disappearing due to coastal erosion, the Indian sand mafia (not joking, it's a huge problem in some areas of India) and other environmental problems. But Anjun liked the ocean I think.... complete with dogs, cows and hoards of Indian people that wanted to take a picture with him.

Meanwhile Marlo still likes to be with Mama, preferably in my arms... or in the baby wrap... by me it's fine, I don't have to worry about germs and it's harder for people to just take him.

For reals.

 I know last time I mentioned Indian women picking their cheeks and kissing their hands and what not - But if they can they just take the baby. At first it really bothered me (and Marlo), and it still bothers him greatly - but now I realize that that's just what they do here, they just want to help and enjoy the cute cuddly baby.... too bad Marlo has full on entered the stranger danger phase - Anjun had it too at roughly this age.... so for now I don't let him out of my arms while we're out. At home he's find crawling around...



wow, if you made it this far, thank you. I'm happy to share our experiences and I'm honored that you check in on us every now and then. I plan on keeping this up ever week or so and it makes it feel worth the time and energy when people take the time to peak into our adventure.


Thank you!

LOVE
The Weddings