How to settle in to your adopted country?

- So, how did you settle really? she asks me via email, the woman who is now physically still in Europe, but mentally exactly where I was 2 years ago. She is preparing to leave her comfort zone behind - and move with her family across the world - to Mumbai, India..

And she is doing exactly what I was doing: searching, digging, scrolling, scanning and absorbing every bit of information she can find, in order to be as prepared as possible when they will move in a couple of months. 

I did that too. But even arriving like a bursting India - encyclopedia could not have prepared me for that first meeting with our new adopted country, India. 

Now, we have lived in Mumbai for almost 2 years, and I am the one being happy to share advice to prospective Mumbai expats. Recently I was asked by HiFX to contribute to their making transitions for expats easier - campaign and also add my experience to their Advice from Expat Experts - site. I did. 

So, how to settle in your new adopted country? Well, I can only talk for myself, and these are a few things that made the adjustments easier for me: 

1. Go with the flow: accept the fact that things are not the same as back home. Sometimes you have to let it go, and make the best of it. Try to focus on what you do like, and not to get stuck on what you don't like. 

2. Nurture your curious side and be open to get to know your new country; religion, language, culture, history, food... Think of it as a new and exciting world - just waiting to be explored by you!

3. Be open to new friendships, and do not fear putting yourself out there. Most expats are like you - far away from family and friends. For me, the network of new friends - both locals and expats - has meant the world!

 
4. Ask for help and advice from locals and other expats. Most are happy to share their experience, and a lot of useful knowledge is spread by word. The best way to get the best tips - is to ask around, I think.  

5. Accept that you will have some blue Mondays.. It's ok to curl up and just treasure the memories of your old life once in a while...just don't get stuck back there.. Enjoy your moment, live here and now - and make the most of your adventure. 

 Related posts you may also like and find useful: 

- How to spot a Mumbai expat - 7 signs to look for. - A friendly warning to people back home

- Our first 6 months in Mumbai - The different expat transition phases you might find yourself in
- Our first year in Mumbai - From complete chaos to weddings and summer parties..

So, dear reader: Have you done it? Settled in a new country? How was it for you? Please share your own experiences from moving, adapting and settling....

And PS: Yay! My "followers" - gadget finally seems to work!

Have a great evening:-) 

Ta ta from Mumbai!

A Perfect Day

A day stretched out on a sunny beach or a day hiking in crisp mountain air? A day at work, doing what you love the most, or maybe a day of doing absolutely nothing? A day which includes traveling, dancing, reading, helping someone out or playing with your kids? Or all of that? What would be a perfect day for you? And is there really such a thing as A Perfect Day?

All I know, is that I woke up this morning with a smile on my face thinking: Wow, that was a perfect day yesterday! And unbelievably enough, our day started with a visit to the FRRO office, an adventure I have described before. With two reluctant teenagers in the backseat ("do we really have to use (read: waste) a school-holiday on this?") we set out on The Mission to renew our visas.

Every time we have been to FRRO, there are some new rules. This time we were told by a brisk guard that we were not allowed to enter the building until 9.30. Oh well, I spent the time taking some pictures from the area, and at 9.20 we stormed the stairs armed with visitor badges (also a new rule), for the first line to get a number. Another new thing: in the waiting room we were welcomed by a smiling male employee: " Good morning and welcome!" What?! A pleasant contrast to the screaming No-person at the main gate. And we were in for another surprise. Learning from experience: we had prepared for the worse and brought with us supplies. Well, didn't need any! After only 2 hours we found ourselves at the main gate, all 4 of us with our bright and shiny renewed visas - so: one more year in India! Yey! PS: My theory is that The Greek's very insisting and helpful hand to our officer when he ran into some PC- trouble speed-ed up the process!

The FFRO office building...

...and a neighboring house.. (waiting for the FRRO gate to open:-)) 

By then, everyone's mood had improved considerably, including the teens', and encouraged by our success we decided to celebrate with a better lunch. We ended up at Britannia, an institution in Mumbai, known for delicious Parsi food, but one we had still yet to visit. We quickly overlooked the paint coming off the walls, when we were so warmly welcomed by the owner, the 92 year old Boman (only 1 of his 9 names though, one of the others being Batman:-) What a character! Almost worth the visit alone! He was patting my kid on the head instructing him: -  I am planning to be 114 years old, so you have to be at least 120, ok?! Well, the 14 year old didn't have much choice but to nod obediently - 120 years old huh? Ok, ok, no problem:-) 

So with the stories of Mr Boman, we sipped our Fresh lime soda and enjoyed their famous dish Chicken Berry Pulav - rice, chicken in sauce and topped of with barberries. D.E.L.I.C.I.O.U.S.

My favorite drink: fresh lime soda: and here with sweet on the side served in a water bottle:-) 

William and Kate overlooking us and waiters waiting to serve:-)
Note the sign " Please do not argue with management!" 

92 year old owner Boman - a well of interesting stories:-)  

Yummy Chicken Berry Pulav :-) Huge portions! 

What a fun day it turned out to be! We had planned for something else and there we were: talking, laughing, spending time together, then going for coffee, meeting interesting people and sharing good moments. And then in the evening, a bit spontaneously, we decided to head up to Breeze - for what became a wonderful evening - catching up with old friends and getting to know some new ones. 

You know, it was just one of those days, when life plays you a small trick! When the day turns out so different than what you had anticipated. Good talks with family and friends, lots of good-laughs and some moments that makes you smile when you think about them. And you just feel so well and so grateful. To me that is a good day, maybe even a perfect one? 

So, what would be a perfect day for you? And is there really such a thing as A Perfect Day?

Well, I hope you will have a perfect weekend dear reader! Enjoy the moments and take care:-)

    

COD Heaven II - my online favorites

If you are in India...and you have unexpected guests...and your fridge is rather empty - noooo worries! You see: - a full meal, wine and some dessert - it is all just a phone - call away. Within a small hour (+-) it will all be delivered right at your doorstep. Oh yes. You can pick up your phone and order food, drinks, dessert, medicine (!) - almost anything, and pay COD - Cash On Delivery when they show up with your goodies. I early on blogged about COD heaven, being a very impressed newly-arrived expat in India!

If you do not have to feed some hungry unexpected guests right away, and have a bit more time, the online-order shops are really great. You book online, and they deliver to your doorstep. I have gathered a short list of some of my own favorite online-shops. As mentioned in my Christmas shopping tale: what I write about are just my personal choices - not a complete guide. I like:

• Danzbread - for fresh dark bread delivered every morning 
• Foodesto - for gourmet food, cold cuts, cheese etc 
• Localbanya - for all kinds of groceries 
• Organic Garden - for organic fruit, vegetables, rice etc

• Flipkart - for books, games etc
• Healthkart - for sports-stuff, vitamins, personal care etc
• Indiacircus - for home decor, art, gifts etc
• Book My Show - for tickets to movies, theaters, concerts etc
  

In addition to these, there are a lot of online shops for ... - well, anything you can think of. In fact, you may not need to leave your house at all! But a bit boring, eh? A stroll in the markets or to the local shops has it's charm - and you don't wanna miss out on having a cup of chai with some new friends, do you? Well, you know that I don't! So, let me round this up by sharing some colorful moments from - just walking around:

So, as you may have guessed, dear reader: I say yes, please - to both. Yes to the amazing online-shops of India and yes to the fun of exploring the local markets. Do you have any favorites?

I hope you have had a good start of the week, and wish you a nice evening from Mumbai!

Shopping for Christmas - Mumbai style

I think I might have a love-hate relationship with shopping in India. Either I am in and out so fast that the trailing staff only gets a quick glimpse of my fluttering dupatta as I head for the exit OR I start to chat with the staff and I kind of just stay on, at least until I have had a chai, heard their life story, and I can wander happily off knowing that I am now part of their extended family:-)

Yes, December is here and some Christmas shopping is inevitable. I have decorations, remember?- now we are talking purely presents! I find it a bit tricky to recommend the best places for Christmas gift shopping in Mumbai- because we all have our taste, right - and I humbly admit that my knowledge of shopping here will always be limited, as I discover new places all the time! I think you can live here a life time - and still be exploring new shopping options! But, let me share some of my favorite spots and tips for good buys - as they are right now! And remember- it is personal, and my view may have been influenced by a good chat over a spicy chai:-)

Where to shop? 

You may probably either love or hate shopping at the open door markets in Mumbai. Perfect - if you love hoards of people, lots of noise and endless rounds of bargaining (look here for some basic tips)  - and an opportunity to get unique presents and get a feeling of the bustling crazy Mumbai life. Here are markets I like, and also some gift-tips:

• Bhuleswhar market - for clothes and fabrics, garlands, decorations and last but not least: my favorite spice shop: Motilal Masalawala. (Turmeric (haldi), Garam masala and chicken masala are my favorites, and I got some for presents too.)  
• Crawford market - for lamps, ornaments, decor and trees head to Lohar Chawl. Really cheap (also brand) all kinds of beauty stuff at Beauty Centre. Delicious sweets, dried fruits and nuts at Ramanlal's. Something special for the passionate baker - at Arife's.   
• Chor's bazaar - for old Bollywood posters (I love those), artifacts, coins, souvenirs and antiques
• Gol Deval markets - My favorite! bangles, copper cups & mugs (to keep the cold drinks cold, and the warm warm:-), - just a that-something-special-place! Lots of handicraft-items. 
• In other parts of the city you will also find some good markets, like the IIT market in Powai and the Santacruz market. In Bandra, I always end up at the bazaar-like ELCO market as my most beloved tailor is there - and I found some amazing embroidered kids' blouses in one of the shops:-)  

If you start to sweat just by the idea of open markets, there are lots of other options. Of course: the Holiday melas- often where the NGO's sell their products, and this year I was lucky enough to find a lot of presents there (and to chat - great combo:-) 

You can check out the Oberoi arcade at Nariman point - chatting with Kavita at Le Printemps (a pure paradise for leather-lovers:  you can get or have made just about anything there) or with Navin at Rishi Gems (artifacts, small statues, boxes etc) is always fun. 

Many Mumbai expats know Harry at Bhaghem Bombay, Fort (souvenirs, art craft, and last but not least: jewelry). Now, that is a shop where you can easily spend some hours. I did quite good, until I discovered that Harry spoke Greek and he started to tell about back then when he helped Greek seamen in Mumbai to phone home. I was lost, and so was my time schedule. I could just picture the mustached Kostas (in tears of homesickness) talking to his mama in Athens on the phone from India - with a compassionate Harry next to him, patting his shoulder, handing him napkins..

Oh, well. If you are down at Fort, you may as well also drop by Chimanlals - remember? The place for gift-wrapping stuff. My tip is that you will easily spend quite some time in that paper-heaven. At least I did.

For a not-so-personalized-but-more-efficient-shopping round, you may want to hit one of the many huge Mumbai malls - Phoenix High Street in Parel, Phoenix Market Centre in Kurla, R-city in Ghatkopar or Infiniti or Inorbit in Malad, which are the ones I know the best.

What to shop? 

1. Books. Since I love receiving books, I also believe it is a perfect present:-) If you are an expat, make your folks a favor and introduce them to some of the many excellent Indian authors - whether it is fiction, non-fiction, novella, poetry, travel-books or cooking books! Or a 2014 calender- with decor and quotes and an overview of all the Indian festivals (so they can plan when to visit you next year!). You find bookstores like Crossroads and Oxfords in most malls.  
2. DVD / CD. Why not spread some exotic feel-good Bollywood stories and music? Most films come with English subtitles. I like English Vinglish and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. Dvd's and Cd's are also sold in most bookstores. 
3. Clothes. You can bling someone up with new Indian outfits. But don't go completely crazy - a silver glitter sari is maybe not what your aunt in a snowy village in the Alps has on top of her list. Or who knows? Maybe it is! Anyway- lots of choices, or you can settle for some shawls or dupattas - thin or thick - they are usually a hit:-) 
4. Jewelry. Good expat gifts (take up no space in the suitcase, right?). I like the colored stones, and the watches are beautiful. And if you can not find anything, you can have jewelry made for you (read: for your gift-receivers) - just as you want them. One piece only, how about that? 
5. For kids. From my own experience these items has caused standing ovations among the recipients: A) Indian Barbie dressed in sari, preferable wedding sari. B) Plastic rickshaws. C) Art craft sets to make bangles, magnets, cards etc. All with fantastic Indian colors and motives. D) Soft toys- elephants and camels:-) I like the toy shop at the Infiniti mall.   
6. For teenagers. Phone and PC covers and bags are popular gifts. You can find them ready made or have one made in the pattern and color you like. Also bags, jewelry and sports stuff may be a hit, but again: know your recipient - teenagers are... well teenagers:-)      
7. General gifts. At Good Earth, Bombay Store and FabIndia you can find souvenirs, gifts, tablecloths, clothes etc. Also knock yourself out in the malls. No lack of shopping opportunities!
   
   My hottest tip (!): get a gorgeous gift bag or box, and fill it up with Indian tea, Indian spices, some sweets, nuts or dried fruit and maybe a product or 2 from the Biotique Botanicals Ayurvedic series- facial cream or bodylotion - or a Jasmine perfume. The magic scent of India - perfect for Christmas:-) 

Well, I hope you enjoyed my little tour-the-shops-of-Mumbai-tale? As you see, the greatest shopping experience for me is the one which comes with a friendly smile and a really good story! The best presents can be just that, remember? A smile, a chat, a tea or a meal shared with friends...

So, the shopping is done! Yey! Now, I sit at my balcony - in 30' degrees and sunshine, with my cup of tea and Driving home for Christmas. I light a candle (!), send some warm thoughts to people I love, sharpen my pen, and I start to write my Christmas greetings.

Warm thoughts to you, dear reader!  Have a wonderful week!

Taj Mahal - the Agra tale

I could feel my heart ponder as we walked up towards the enormous red sandstone gate. My legs felt a bit shaky, and I stretched my neck to see it before it was even possible. And then the first glimpse, through an opening in the huge gate rising above us - which made us feel like small ants- : the white marble glittering towards the blue sky and towards the shimmering water in the front....  Taj Mahal.

I think all thinkable superlatives have been used to describe the Taj Mahal, one of the world's 7 wonders, and still visiting for the first time made me speechless (doesn't really happen that often..). I know - every visitor will have their own experience - but for me it was a true pinch-my-arm-moment (yep, yet another one!). So it may not come as a surprise for you, dear reader, that the Taj Mahal was the highlight of our visit to Agra.

And you know - I had kind of expected a very chaotic place with howling crowds and pushy tourists. But, it was actually peaceful, green and spacey. We strolled around in the garden and admired the Taj from all possible angles. Our idyll was only disrupted by a very impatient tourist couple who tried to skip the lines and literally push people off the Diana bench to have their picture taken! Peace & love, my ..xxx!

The tall beautiful red sandstone gate, and the first glimpse of Taj Mahal.

The only-a-bit-crowded moment we had: everybody stopped at this point to take pics! And go with the flow: so did we!

So beautiful:-)  

And a bit closer.....

At Taj (well, actually all over Uttar Pradesh), we were NOT, as in Jaipur, considered to be Indians:-)  - so we payed the Foreign Visitors' Fee - but then- yeeey-: also received a water bottle, shoe covers and a shortcut..! Meaning: Indian tourists had to leave their shoes and walk barefoot all around the Taj go get to the entrance while we covered our shoes with white cotton covers and walked straight up the stairs to the front gate...

Shoes & sandals covered up: ready to enter!

And up the stairs we met the line of Indian tourists- who had to make an extra round..

At the front gate- before we went inside..

... and just after exiting.
Tourists sitting in the shade on the marble floor- digesting the visit, I guess..:-)

On our way to Agra, we also visited the Ghost Town of the Mughal Emperor Akbar: Fatehpur Sikri (from the 1500'), which was the capital of the Mughal empire for a decade. Here we found ourselves in company with hundreds of smiling and curious school kids in very neat uniforms:-) :

Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri and Agra fort are all on UNESCO's World heritage list, and an interesting dimension was getting to know better the civilization - which gave us the word mogul (a rich and powerful person, often today used in media/film industry). The media mogul, right?

The emperor's palace, and around the palaces of his 3 wifes: a Christian, a Muslim, and a Hindu. 

Agra Fort was also impressive with a huge and well kept area, but a bit hard to concentrate on what our very knowledgeable guide was trying to explain - almost stepping on people gathering around to take pics of us... Sometimes amusing, here just annoying.. ...

Agra fort from the front side - looking like a real life fairy-tale castle..:-)

Inside - wonderful park/garden areas...

So, emperor Akbar's grandson, Shah Jahan, the one who built the Taj Mahal for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, preferred the white marble to the red sandstone when he had buildings erected. They used 22 years to build the Taj Mahal. The story says that after his wife died, Shah Jahan lived in Agra fort. He was deposed by his son Aurangzeb, and died at the fort, in a tower with a marble balcony  - with view of Taj Mahal.

So, to nurture your romantic soul - you can visit Agra fort, go to the spot and just imagine the old Shah Jahan - sitting there looking over to where the love of his life was buried (and where he later was buried with her, by the way) ... *kleenex anyone?*

View from Agra fort to Taj Mahal

So, I finished this Agra tale where I started it - with Taj Mahal.
And as a tiny epilogue.. some poetic words to all fellow travel - lovers out there - have a wonderful day!

Traveling is not just seeing the new, it is also leaving behind. Not just opening doors, also closing them behind you, never to return. But the place you have left forever is always there for you to see whenever you shut your eyes. 
Jan Myrdal.

And then the Greek Gods arrived

Bombay Times 15.9

- and with them - Mariketty, and we welcome her with open arms! Because Mariketty is Mariketty, and also because she brings along her Greek chef, a fabulous menu ( Greek food - what else?! ) - and her aura: warm welcoming Greek atmosphere. It is like coming home! The teens are thrilled, The Greek is beyond ecstatic, and I myself can barely control my enthusiasm!  Whoopa!

Because, remember our Great Dining-With-Greek-Gods-in-Goa feasts? The amazing taverna Thalassa has now come to Mumbai (with chef - owner Mariketty). They will have a Pop-Up restaurant in the localities of Olive for the next months. I think they want to test us out - Mumbai-people...:-)

As for me, you had me at the first olive, Mariketty!

I can only warmly recommend Thalassa to anyone who cares to listen to me. The only thing missing is the fabulous view to The Thalassa (=the sea), but, hey- I am not going to be picky:-) Check it out for yourself. Hope you will enjoy it as much as we do.

Kalamata olives

Yoummy yoummy...

The nice localities of Olive

teenage yoummy

And ladies- be sure to check out the small shop - put preferable before the meal....

Want to check it out? You find Thalassa at Olive Bar&Kitchen. Amateur Riders Club, Mahalaxmi Race Course. And the Olive in Bandra offers a Thalassa-dish or two, in addition to their regular menu.

Kali oreksi! 

Veg, non-veg or Norwegian salmon?

Life as an expat in India brings along some - let me call it - kind of unfamiliar questions. I have already told you about the tan or de-tan and the ready-made-or-tailor-made. And not to mention my confusing search for eating outside (or was it inside) in Mumbai.

When I (as a fresh-off-the-plane-expat) made a phone call for our first homedelivery pizza - I just didn't get it. I found my self staring at the phone, desperately pressing my ear closer - to hear what the person in the other end was asking. What? Excuse me? I didn't get what you were asking... Ahhh: VEG OR NON-VEG??!! Meaning: Would you like a vegetarian pizza or a non-vegetarian pizza? Veg is biiig in India and you can easily be kind of dragged into it -because the vegetarian choices are many and everywhere! Just you see- you will be doing the veg wave too:-) Which is a good thing, because the Indian vegetarian dishes are delicious and healthy. The restaurants usually offer a large vegetarian menu, and some restaurants serve only (strictly) vegetarian food. In the menus, each dish is often marked with a small green sticker for vegetarian and a small red sticker for non-vegetarian. In other words: red sticker if the dish contains meat! Yesterday, when we had dinner at this great restaurant which we love, I also discovered that the one side of the sushi buffet was for vegetarian sushi. Yes, sweet corn sushi, olive sushi and mushroom sushi - so in other words:  veg/veggie sushi = sushi without fish.  

Non-veg sushi with fish or veg sushi without fish? Pick and choose! 

I like fish, so I went for non-veg sushi, but I had to try some of the veg sushi too. So either you like veg or non-veg food: the choices are there!

I faced yet another choice the other day when my local fish/meat supplier with exitement informed me: -Today we have salmon from Norway! All the way from my home country to be sold at a small shop in Mumbai, it was like it was calling my name! So, should I still go for the basa-fish or the chicken as I had planned - or...?

. 

And then this image popped up: grilled salmon fillet with cucumber salad in a vinegar dressing served with mashed potatoes.... I just had to go for the salmon, dear reader, just had to...

And it tasted just as good as I had seen in my mind. Norway-in-a-nutshell on a plate.

A rare but welcomed guest in our Mumbai expat home:
grilled salmon with cucumber salad:-) 

Have a wonderful week dear reader, and stay tuned! Good night from Mumbai! 

Dining indoor inside in Mumbai

Oh, dear reader - India has taken my relatively limited home-delivery experience to a whole new level! Well, it happened in Norway too: especially on rainy/snowy/icy/windy/- days - when staying inside was too tempting, and the fridge was too empty, and-what-will-we-have-for-dinner? So- we would call- usually for a pizza - delivered through rain and snow to our doorstep within an hour.

Please do not let me sound like a spoiled brat now, but here in India  I have called homedelivery a few times lately - because it was just tooooo hot outside! There! I've said it. Yes, yes, I do remember my frantic search for outdoor outside restaurants in Mumbai, but hey-  that was like 15 degrees ago! And I haven't seen a raindrop in 8-eight months. Honestly! Eight months, guys! And it is really hot.

No, no, I am not complaining, and we haven't stopped going to restaurants, but some days - oh how wonderful it is - just to call home delivery! It is really one of the amazing things in India- you can have anything delivered at your doorstep- anytime! And my point is: that includes also the most delicious dinner dishes - signed, sealed & delivered at your very doorstep. But what to choose? Pizza ( half an hour delivery time in India! ) or other Italian? Butter chicken & Nan or other Indian dishes from Zitar or maybe from Great Punjab? Or Chinese, Asian, Mexican or multi-cuisine?  You can find an overview of home delivery restaurants on zomato

Doesn't it sound great? It is! Talking to expats who are leaving Mumbai for good - they say that the home delivery service and the tailors are something they will miss when they leave India. So, yes, the summer parties and sad farewells are still on, the heat is on, and the monsoon time is almost here..   Not a drop of rain in 8 months... Wonder what it looks like...:-) :-)

Have a wonderful start of the week, dear reader! Ta ta from Mumbai!

Not any Greek-home-deliveries in sight - this is from Goa:-) 

Still think I prefer dining outside - and with the sea&sunset:-)
Doesn't get better than that!? 

Ready-made-or-tailor-made?

-Is it ready-made or tailor-made? She gently touches my blouse, trying to figure it out. She is looking at the fabric, looking at me- a random meeting with a woman I have never seen before, but still she is there: admiring my blouse: needs to know ... - Ah, hm - it is ready made, I confess.. - Nice, eh? She nods her head a bit in the way they do here in India, smiles a bit and walks off - can't really say if she liked my blouse in the end or not.

Oh, dear reader, these questions that pop up here in India.. - about things that were never an issue in my pre-expat-Indian-life..To tan or detan?- for example. And then if your clothes are ready made or not? I giggle by the idea of asking my friends and family in Europe if their clothes are ready-made or tailor made? Ha ha - they will send me the weirdest looks, I guarantee you!

I have already shared with you my fascination for the tailors. They do really good work, and I have to admit: that more and more of our clothes are tailor-made.. We have this amazing tailor who really does wonders - he can make any kind of jeans, trousers, shorts, blouses, shirts, dresses, skirts and suits. He can copy my favorite piece of clothing or work on an idea I have - and make something real out of it.

In addition to him, I have also discovered a wonderful tailor, living quite close to our home: she has a few sewing machines in a rather shabby looking hut, but she creates the most wonderful outfits, and can also transform a kind of creative idea I have -into a wonderful piece of clothing. Blouses, kurtas, salwaar kameez, dresses, skirts, sarees and trousers- you name it and she will make them. And how fun it is, to something in your favorite color, pick the fabric, decorate it as you like, and have it in your size only! And you just know that you will wear that outfit again and again and again- because it is just perfect! Noooope, dear reader, I don't think I will wear to much ready-made after this....

We also brought most of our visitors to our tailor(s), and some of them ended up with way more clothes than they originally had planned to order. But hey- what's not to love about it? Having cheap quality clothes made (and designed by yourself if you like)  - in your size only? One of a kind, dear reader, one of a kind!

The stylish backpacker freshening up his collection:-)

Pick and choose any fabric you like! 

You can have anything made- also Indian outfits-
bring out your inner Diva in a blinking Saree or Salwaar Kameez! 

Good evening from Mumbai!

My fear of drowning my little grey ones- in expat cocktails

Dear reader,
When I decided to replace my busy full-time-work-life in Norway with expatwife-and-mum in India,  it meant moving faaaaaar out of my comfort sone. Geographically yes,  - and mentally. In addition to worry about the rest of the family and how the move and all practical issues would be, I was having a series of discussions with myself: What was I going to do there? Was I going to be bored? Was I going to loose all (oh, you have no idea:-) my little grey brain cells along the way? Was I only going to stroll around from lunches to cocktail parties all day long? And then, what? What if this and what if that?  

Well, I concluded my own discussions: I am going to make the most of it! Arriving Mumbai,  I signed up for all activities available plus making some of my own. 10 months down the Indian expat road,  I look back and see that many of the activities has kind of flaked off... And regarding the little grey ones -I discovered the perfect tool! You see- in between lunches, cocktail parties (of course!), NGO work, writing, book club, explorer's group and yoga - I found the time to do some online courses - and they were great! My concern for the future fate of the little grey ones faded away like clouds before the sun when I started to bury my head into articles, books and homework. I am sure my little grey were ecstatic!  

For example, in addition to actually perform yoga physically, (felt kind of an obligation to join - after all we are in the Motherland of yoga itself..) I followed an online course about yoga. What a revelation! For me it was like completing the puzzle Yoga as I was diving into yoga and meditation philosophy and history. As yoga means union (of mind, body and spirit), the combination of physical strength asana and breathing pranayams is the very essence. So, I was reading about how Gandhi lived with ahimsa - non-violence, I learned about santosha: to be content with what you have and not be frustrated about what you don't have. I focused on not to do the pose but to be in it - " just sit in it" and about intent - why am I doing this and how to go for what I need most! I learned 16 poses and about how they are connected to 10 yoga commitments. You can also skype with your teacher -  I admit: it can be a bit weird at first - you are in your home and there she appears - in the computer. So, you try to be the mountain- doing your pose, balancing, focusing - she is watching and you hear yourself chanting like mad: "be- the- mountain!-be-the-mountain!-be-the-mountain!"

River of Information - is another course I took. It was about organizing websites you access often and learning how to include them in a personal dashboard. We built up our own dashboard - which I use daily now - very useful. Probably the course which had an immediate effect on my expatlife  -.was the course I took about blogging! When? Well, if you have noticed when I started blogging - that was when! Tatarata! : the direct result is this blog!

So, to other expats out there - are you concerned your little grey ones might be in danger? Either the answer is yes or no, have a look at all the amazing courses you can take. In addition to new knowlegde, you get a nice looking diploma after completing each course:-):-)

 I am sure there are lots of course providers out there. I was inspired by The American School of Bombay and found my courses at ASB Online Academy. You can check out their courses here.

Have a lovely weekend dear reader! Cheers:-)

Cinemaing in India - first class!

Oh, how I love to go to the movies in India! The atmosphere, the people, the engagement, the cheering, and then there is the Cinema Business Class. Yes, Gold class; the place where the seats turn into beds, where the glasses are made of - well - glass and an army of waiters (oh yes) is waiting to take your pop-corn order, if you still feel like going with the pop corn( and not Champagne&oysters)  - but hey guys - after all: it is cinema, even though a posh one.

Don't get me wrong! In general, cinemaing in India is a joyful thing - first class or not. And whether you choose to go for a Bollywood film or a "foreign" film, and in Hindi or English it is a really fun experience. I wrote about Bollywood memories before, and considering Bollywood makes 3 times as many films as Hollywood, there are a lot of films to choose from. And just for the atmosphere, a Hindi film is fun!

If you have kids/teens, a tip is- if  you buy your tickets online-  to be sure to check the age limit - it might be different than how they rate the film elsewhere...! With the tickets in your hand you can now enter, but there are some checkpoints. Security check, and ticket- check a couple of times. At the first one, I had to remove the battery for my camera as it was not allowed to bring inside. (They kept in at the security check and I could pick it up again after the film.) (= blurry pics from Inside...)

The waiting room (or should we say lounge) at the cinema (the Gold one) :-) 

If you got safely through the security check and have your age-correct tickets with you, you are now in the waiting area - looking more like a posh salon really. After the waiting room you proceed to usually another check point where - whether you like it or not (if you are a huge fan of finding your own seat) - someone will check you ticket and show you to your seat. At the Cinema Business Class where your seat is made of leather, and a panel on the side can switch your chair to a bed in no time, there are waiters who will take your order, you will have a drink (we got pineapple juice) and a bottle of water, and you are now ready to kick off your shoes and curl up in the chair/bed under a soft blanket.

Complimentary water bottle waiting for you

Wait! Do not get too comfy under the blanket too soon! You see, it all starts with the Indian National Hymn, so up you go, find your shoes you kicked off somewhere,  and stand for the Hymn. Then there will probably be some commercial, most probably anti-smoking ones, and the film starts. Know also that there will be a break in the middle of the film, enough time to visit the washroom, giggle with your mates and curl up again in the bed.

Here I have stretched out under the blanket, enjoying my complimentary drink and the movie:-) 

Oh, how am I ever going to go back to a "normal" cinema after this?

After the film, wake up your fellow mates- if needed,  it is tempting to just wanna hang on to this place, and remember to get your camera-battery/lighter or other confiscated items back from security.

Enjoy the movie everyone!