Palm Meadows

We are back where it all began...  Palm Meadows...  We are going full circle!!!

The house is all packed!!  The trucks left with all of our things, and we handed over the keys...

Goodbye Prestige Ozone #32!!

Now, a few days at the hotel hanging out, and doing some last minute stuff.... 

Tuesday night is the big flight!!

Hard to beleive!  2 Years have flown by!!

Good-Bye Ozone!!

We stayed in the hotel last night....  Sunday night was our last night in Ozone!!

The house is full of boxes, and we are living out of suitcases!!

We have to get used to this 'living-in-limbo' life...  It will be a LONG time before we get all of our things in our sea container!!  And actually move into house!  : )

Emotions

Yesterday a friend of ours had a party at her house, and this was the last time that we would see some of our 'ozone friends'. 

The big question was 'how do you feel about going back'....

I had to think about it for a minute...  over all we are ready, and happy.  But the bigger question was really how to we 'feel'...  for this I had to reflect for a minute, and then I realized that I am really numb to the emotions at this point.

Things are happening so fast.  I really don't have time to feel anything.  Another family that is leaving at the same time said the same thing.  I am sure that it will hit all at once when we are gone!!

Well...  we are just moments away from the packers coming, and Milan is excited.  He keeps walking around asking 'when are they coming!'....  and saying 'I am so excited that the packers are coming!'.....

24

In just 24 hours, it will all begin!!  The packers come tomorrow morning!!

It is all happening very, very fast!

The next 24 hours will be critical, all the things need to be put in one of 3 categories...  suitcase, air or sea....  The key will be getting the things in the right bucket....  I am aiming for 85% accuracy...  I figure the 15% that slips thru the cracks - we can either buy, borrow, or do without!!

Once we make it thru the packing portion... the bigger hurdle will be the unpacking on the other end!!

The Trendy Beggar....

Post By Vim;

My journey to work today took a twist.  We are used to beggars of all ages approach you requesting money for food/water – some mostly kids perform body bending acts while traffic is at a halt, that is, kids as young as Milan.  Note that beggars will only accept money – if you offer them food/water most of them generally walk away!  Yes this is India – there are true under tones to ‘Slumdog Millionaire’.     

But today, I had to be dropped off from walking distance to the entrance of Cisco – due to road work.  Walking towards the gate I was approached by a few kids begging for money, once they were brushed off, I was literally stopped by a women.  Now this had happened to Mira and I before when we walked to the mall – the exact same thing, it was truly freakish – Déjà-vu! 

A few posts back I uploaded a YouTube Video titled “Home: USA or India…Attraction of Soft Power”.  One point out of that post was India’s advancement in the Telecoms industry.  Today, India’s vast underclass is almost as well connected as the rich in what is hailed as a telecoms revolution that has delivered G3/G4 mobile telephony to nearly 800 million people in just a little over a decade.  Worthy note – the underclass to upper class seem to want the latest technology on Cell Phones these days.  

Now, back to the truly freakish Déjà-vu, I was approached by a young female street beggar, holding, a half dressed dirt covered small child.  The Beggar extended her hand out asking for money and then pointing to the child repeatedly.  I actually noticed the other hand in which she propped up the child, she was holding a fancy touch screen cell phone – an expensive item.  I looked at her and automatically noticed a blue tooth ear piece blinking away, being hidden by her Sari Vail over her head – stunned and shaking my head, I proceeded to walk into work.  It makes you wonder where the money really goes they collect and how does this class of people in India afford a cell phone like that.   This is India for you.

More of things that I won't be missing....

• The non-stop beeping of the horns on the road....
• The fact that people in India don't know how to wait in line...  I can't tell you how many time I have had people cut in front of me!!
• The famous line 'yes, madam, 5 minutes'.....  and 30 mins later you are still waiting!!
• The lack of personal hygiene...  deodorant is not in the vocabulary of many...  and washing hands after using the bath room... optional...  EWWW is right!
• The guys peeing on the side of the road...  on my 15 minute journey to or fro work....  I can spot about 6-7...  and this not even paying attention.
• The traffic....

Things we will miss (and things we won't miss)....

OK...  here is a start to the list of things that we will miss....

• Mango season...  actually all the fresh fruit and veggies that you can get here...  Mangos, lychees, mangosteens, chicoo, sitafal...  oh the list can go on....
• The weather....  sunny and around 80's practically all year round
• The driver and the maid....  both have been true blessings.  Part of our extended family....
• Ozone club house and swimming pool
 

AND....  a start to the list of things that we won't miss

• The traffic and the crazy driving...  even as a passenger, it is frustrating
• The lack of safety measures all around...  from gaping holes in sidewalks, to family of 4 on scooters without helmets....  safety is not a priority here...
• The smells...  from the 'BO' in the elevator to the sewage smells and garbage littered streets..... 
• Wild dogs roaming everywhere and not forget those that just lye in the middle of street regardless of traffic chaos they cause.