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
