Hammer Time!

For the past 8+ weeks there's been construction in my apartment building. They've completely torn up the apartment on the 7th floor (2 floors above mine).

The construction, really I should say deconstruction, lasts about 8 hours each day. It begins (on the weekends) around 9:30 am and lasts until about noon. Then the work picks up again around 4 and ends at 8 pm.

I'm lucky that I'm not here most days. Just here on the weekends if I just stay in to relax. On those days I've gotten used to it. It hadn't bothered me much lately. Even during my yoga lesson last night I was able to concentrate and not even notice it. Guess my meditation's paying off!

But today the builders raised the ante. When I got home from school around 5 pm, today there was a noise that was just a little bit louder. A jackhammer! Truly. They've been jack-hammering on the 7th floor. The jackhammer stopped just before I started to write this post.

WAIT! Ironically as I write this post, my doorbell just rang. The guard came to my door with a letter's been written by someone in the apartment society complaining. It complained of the noise and especially the recent loud hammering between 2-5 p.m. which must happen during the week while I'm gone. This hammering has disturbed the senior citizens in my building. Finally somebody else noticed! The letter also noted worries about possible leaking during monsoon season. Leaks are a huge problem already in the building. Of course, I signed the complaint.

With all of the construction, there's not just the noise pollution. There's been dust and dirt.  Spit and grime.  Some of that's a product of just work happening. Construction = dust.  But the floors of the building haven't been washed since the construction started. The walls are filthy.

Construction workers usually carry large bags of cement and things up barefoot

Recently I asked school for support in making a complaint to the landlord who's completing the remodel. I wanted help, not about stopping the noise, but about cleaning the dirt and dust that coat our stairs and hallways.  They made the mess, so they should clean it up. School replied and said that unfortunately communication with my building was difficult and suggested I consider moving to one of the available apartments. 

The hammering may continue but the dust and dirt won't bother me any longer after this summer. I decided to take school up on the offer to move. I'll be a block away and down four floors from my current spot.

Here's to hoping the blessing across the hall (and the society letter too) helps to end all of the pollution happening inside my apartment building.

Garland across on the door across the hall

My First Indian Birthday, I Mean Week

Every country celebrates birthdays differently but what's the same regardless is that the people who love you, share that.

It's not easy for me being away from home on my birthday because in my family birthdays are YOUR special day. They're a big deal. So I wondered what my birthday would be like here.

Well, it's been a birthday week. Truly a week. I always teased my sister, probably due to being jealous, about how her birthday by chance of where it falls on the calendar, about her birth-week.

My special week's included:

• Enjoying special Sofitel lunches with great friends.
• Serenading phone calls from my parents who definitely sing with feeling. I may need to tape this next year.
• Reading birthday cards written with invented Portuguese spelling by a Kindergartener who used to live in Brazil.
• Smiling after being surprised by my library family who shared cake, tea and snacks with my friends at work.
• Reading Emails and receiving hugs from colleagues in the hall.
• Opening lovely gifts from your new home including presents from India, Tibet, Indonesia and the U.S.
• Reading special cards and notes and messages.
• Enjoying beautiful gerber daisies.
• Sharing a chocolate cake delivered to school from a friend far away who knows how much I like chocolate cake. 
• Listening to phone messages.
• Reading Emails and cards from friends far away.
• Sipping caipiroskas while swapping clothes.
• Licking fingers during birthday dinners with friends.
• Deciding which yummy cupcake to try.
• And smiling at photos of how you celebrated your birthday with your "family" who live in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

It's been a good week. It's been a wonder filled week. Thanks for making my first Indian birthday so special.

Forget the Porridge, this Goldilocks Found Her Just Right Hair Colorist

This blondie is finally the blondie she wants to be.

This year I've feel like Goldilocks at times, but instead of trying out beds or porridge, my evaluation was hair color.

The first stylist I tried made my hair too white.

The second stylist colored my hair a strawberry blonde which this week turned a brassy orange.

And now, after a busy week at work and less than 3 hours (an overseas record blonde record), it's...

JUST RIGHT!


It's the little things when you live overseas that give you that little bit of extra happiness sometimes.

Lovin' me some India

So just about 40 minutes ago, we arrived to our hotel. Check-in was a breeze and our room is great.

Since we've arrived I:
1. ate my yummy cheese sandwich from our fabulous hotel in Delhi (Colaba House).
2. swallowed my first dose of antibiotic prescribed by the dr on-call at the hotel. Sadly I know sinus infection symptoms by heart and that mine usually 36 hours later lead to a respiratory infection. I correct diagnosed myself.
3. connected to the internet without any delay.
4. got confirmation from our guide for our afternoon and morning tours.

Loving India and especially that I get to explore it with my parents. Time to rest. Don't wanna upset Mom and Dad. More exploration soon.