It has been very slow getting things in order over here. Purchasing needed items for my survival has taken much longer than I anticipated. I am being taught patience. For instance, we bought an internet connection one day and it took four days to activate it. I never knew how dependent I was on the internet until I didn't have it. Granted it is my only way of communication back home. My clothes are still packed in their luggage. I can't wait to receive the dresser that we ordered or as they call it an almirah. I will finally be able to put my clothes away. All the items we have purchased my coworkers have helped in bargaining down the prices.
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| Bargaining at the hotel |
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| Bargaining for the Almirah |
The installation that gave me the biggest headache was the washing machine. They delivered it while I wasn't at the house. Then they are required to give a demo on how to use it. It took a couple of days to do that. When he showed up he said that we needed to change the faucet or tap as they call it so the pipe can connect correctly. He also told us that we would need extra pipe because the washing machine is too far away for the provided pipe. It took several more days to have a plumber come and change out the tap. Then it took a couple more days for the "demo guy" to come back. We informed the company that we needed extra piping before the "demo guy" came but he said they never told him. He showed me how to use the machine and said he would be back the next day. He came back two days later with the extra piping. I am just thankful that I can wash my clothes and the installation is complete. For reference, bathrooms over here have drains in the tiled floor for the drainage of water from washing machines and if someone takes a "bucket shower." When the machine drains there is a lot of water on the tile so I have to make sure the drain doesn't get clogged. That would be a mess.
We purchased my scooter last week and I have been practicing within the gated community. I have gone out once on the actual roads and it was fine. It will definitely take some getting used to. It is hard enough driving on the opposite side of the road but then you add people that don't follow any sort of order or rules and it gets interesting! Here is a picture of my scooter. We have named it Hebseba. The reasoning behind the name is the scooter is a Honda and we wanted an "h" Indian name. My coworker's car is nicknamed Shereesha which is the name of a girl at one of our homes so we named mine after another girl at that same home.
Cooking for myself hasn't been the easiest task, not because I don't know how to but because it is difficult to find the foods I would normally cook. Also there is the challenge of electricity. Often times the electricity will go out so I have to make sure I prepare my meal while I have the power or I could lose out. The longest the power has been out is a couple hours. Still, some foods are universal, which is good because I would get tired of rice if I ate it all the time haha.
That is all for now. Once I am familiar with the roads to each children's home, which we are working on now, then I can have a set routine of when I visit the children!
