INDIA: A Different Perspective

Ok, so for this go-around, we have a 'guest blogger'. Jordan wanted to give his perspective on my 2-week trip to India and I thought it would be an interesting insight as well......
 

First off, let me say that this blog is by no means to get sympathy, because trust me, I know there are plenty of people whose spouses travel.  I am a "passionate  man" (as coined by Mica Anderson and Jen), but I will try to keep this as "manly" as I can.  

Jen and I first met in December of 2001, she was crazy about me and I indifferent to her.  Once she made me realize that she was the girl for me it was January 2002 (yeah I know it didn't take long)!:)  Anyhow, we really haven't spent an extended amount of time away from each other.  Honestly, the first trip I can remember being gone more than a few days was when me and my Cuz, took a trip to the Nascar race at Talladega and I called her very inebriated one night to tell her that I have never missed anyone that much since I went to church camp and missed my parents (needless to say my Cuz still gives me shit about this to this day, as does Jen).  

Jen and I both had a lot of unneeded anxiety leading up to her leaving (meaning her stressing out about work and leaving the boys and me wanting her not to leave for that long).  I wear my heart on my sleeve, so of course I got emotional a few times leading up to her departure which didn't make it any easier for her as she got emotional right back......in her own special way! :)  She didn't want to leave the boys for that long, i didn't want her to be gone that long, and I damn sure didn't know if I could play both roles for 15 days.

Well the day finally came for her to leave.  It was fun because we got to hang out with family, cook out, drink a little and pretend that the day would end with us all together.  Jen and I knew that wasn't it so we headed out that evening after an emotional goodbye for her with the boys (which honestly there is no words to explain her Love for our boys).  We headed off for DFW, laughing, joking, then it was time to say goodbye.  I held her close, we shed tears, tears of love that we needed each other, and understanding that everything would be ok 15 days from then.  I bid her goodbye and didn't turn around because I knew that my duty was to get in my Chevy, be strong, and take care of our boys, for her, for me, for them!

So enough of the mushy shit!  Jen being gone was the perfect opportunity for me to instill all of my wisdom into my boys and just do man stuff!  I mean what better opportunity do we have to pee outside whenever we want, walk around all day with no shirts, fart and laugh about the smell, and just be father and sons!  So, we did that plenty, we played outside and didn't take baths, we stayed up too late, we didn't eat right, we were just men (and little men) and I loved every minute of it! 

I attempted some normalcy and took the boys out to Chili's one night, then to Sweet Frog.  We survived, maybe only because the new little automated waiters at Chili's that include games, but hell I will take it!  They always asked about Mommy and we always looked at the calendar to see when she was coming home.  Those boys love their Momma, not sure why ;) j/k.  The 4th of July is when we really missed her, watching the fireworks, first time without Jen.  Luckily enough, I have great friends that came and celebrated the holiday with us (thanks Jed and Dixie).  We played music late into the night and Dixie led the boys in a few dances in the front yard as we celebrated, it was such as awesome time!  

I had every intention of making Jen's return something out of a movie when she walked through the terminal door and we tried, but as little boys do they got sidetracked.  :)  We went potty numerous times, I threatened to bust their butts in the middle of the airport, they laid down in the middle of the terminal waiting on their mommy.  You can't plan perfection, and the moment I saw Jen walk through the doors and the boys fell into their place of holding their "Mommy" sign and the roses..........hell it couldn't  have been a more perfect reunion!  It was in that moment that renewed me again.  This incredible woman is so successful, so determined to be the best in everything she does, loves her job, loves her boys, loves me unconditionally.  I love this woman with everything I have.  Be jealous, everyone be jealous, and I am humbled, this is our life!!

INDIA: It's a Wrap!

I'm finally getting around to wrapping up my India trip on the blog. The second week was exhausting. Teaching all day, then going back to my hotel room and catching up on my regular job during 'U.S. hours' when everyone else was awake was alot. But I was basically a lazy bum that Sunday. I left my room for breakfast only and then spent hours watching Netflix. A productive day for sure. :) But just what I needed.

 

I continued to chat with the family back home daily through FaceTime. The boys kept asking me if I was still on vacation!! I guess because I was in a hotel room when they chatted me, they thought Mommy was chilling in some tropical location! Wrong. The second week there was definitely harder than the first. Homesickness set in full force. I got a little cranky. On my last day in the office, my class brought in a cake for me, and got me two small gifts. It was sweet of them to do that. They're all coming to Dallas for additional training once they come to the U.S. in a few weeks, and seem excited to reconnect with me then.

On my last night there, it was July 4th. Obviously, I wasn't home to celebrate and watch fireworks with the family, so I had to make the best of it. Afterall, I only had a few hours left! One of our senior managers from the New Orleans office is currently living over there with his wife, and he hosted a small cookout for the U.S. peeps. I'm really glad I went and had a great time with some bocce ball, grilling out, and drinking some good ol' Budweiser. After getting a little tipsy and sleeping just a few hours, I checked out of the hotel at 4am and headed off to the airport to begin my long journey home. Thankfully, my return trip back to the U.S. was uneventful and on-time. I couldn't wait to get back and be reunited. And let me tell you. When I finally walked out of the international terminal at DFW and was greeted by my family, it was pure bliss. I was that crazy lady crying who just dropped her bags, dropped to her knees and welcomed two sweet little boys into my arms. Chase was holding a 'Mommy' sign and Austin was clutching some roses for me. It was nearly straight out of a movie, just surreal.

 

After that, it was just days of trying to recover again from the jetlag. All I seemed to want to do is sleep. All the damn time. And I nearly did! I took a few days off from work to relax and spend with the family, but now I'm back at it! A big thanks to the hubby for holding down the fort while I was gone. I'm sure my absence for 15 days was no vacation for him, and he hung in there like a trooper!

 

Overall, it was an experience traveling that far, for that long, all by myself. Granted, I was pretty sheltered with my personal driver, posh hotel, business class airfare, etc., but still, give me some credit! I have a feeling I'll be back to India again for my job, and will try to be more adventurous. And I WILL be bringing a co-worker along next time!

INDIA: What I've Learned So Far

I will go ahead and preface this post that the below list was as a result of my own personal experience in India and may differ from others. I've learned alot in my first week here, so in no particular order.....

1. Handsoap in the bathrooms is a hot commodity. It was 4 days into my first week before the dispenser was refilled. (I went through ALOT of hand sanitizer!)
2. A construction hat can double as a motorcycle helmet and be acceptable.
3. It's common for a woman to ride 'side saddle' on the back of the motorcycle/scooter (and not fall off!).
4. Stripes on the roads and dividers are a waste of money here. What's the point?
5. Only drivers of the motorcycle have to wear a helmet. A wife or small child riding as passengers ride at their own risk and just hold on for dear life. 
6. A spa day costs significantly less in India, even at a classy hotel like the JW Marriott.
7. It's easy to get caught up in Orange is the New Black. You may sit up in bed 10 episodes later on a Sunday, wondering where the day went.
8. A Chi hair straightener requires more voltage than allowed by an Indian hotel outlet. No bueno!!
9. Car seats are practically unheard of here. Holy crap!
10. All of my 'students' were super-friendly. Although, they can get quite argumentative on whether their test answers were correct.
11. The GDC is basically on lockdown, with a badge required to get through nearly every door and classroom.
12. I still can't remember the conversion of Rupees to the Dollar. Gets me every time.
13. Unlike America, not all food establishments accept credit cards.
14. It's not unusual to have cows just standing in the road in the city streets.
15. Diet Dr. Pepper cannot be found. Anywhere. And Diet Coke is a luxury I found only on occasion.
16. I am  not meant to be a teacher. I have very little patience.
17. FaceTime is your best friend when you're halfway across the world away from your family.
18. The time zone difference sucks. You're basically sleeping when everyone else is awake/working and vice versa.
19. When ordering water, you MUST specify bottled and chilled.

I can't wait to see what other great knowledge I will gain in my last week here! :)

INDIA: One Week Down, One to Go!

Wow! I've really finished up my first week here in India. I'll be honest; I was pretty homesick as soon as I got here. Just the reality setting in, of being away from home for two whole weeks.

Even though the hotel I'm staying at is amazing and beautiful, I barely got any sleep Sunday night. This jet lag is no joke! I lost 10 hours somewhere that my body is still trying to find.  Needless to say, I was still pretty exhausted Monday morning. Before heading out on my first day, I ventured downstairs for some breakfast at the hotel. Incredible and delicious!!! Pretty much anything you want, and everyone is so eager to help you. (Some of the waiters/chefs got my name on Monday and remember me everyday!) I got a delicious omelet mixed up for me, as well as some fresh waffles made. My driver, Viru, was waiting out front for me, just as expected. After an interesting drive through the city of Bangalore, I finally got to see KPMG's Global Delivery Center in person. Wow, this place is no joke. There are people everywhere! The office takes some getting used to. And let's just say that the bathroom facilities are not up to my standards. Therefore, I usually try to limit my water intake during the day, to reduce my trips.

 

The office in India

 

My driver chauferring me around the city!

 

I'm usually not the first one to volunteer to instruct classes or workshops. I'm just not a fan of public speaking. But that's also one of the primary reasons why I agreed to this adventure in the first place, to push me outside of my comfort zone. After checking in, I was welcomed by a class full of professionals eager to learn about our audit methodology, as well as the U.S. culture. For many, this will be the first time they'll be coming to the U.S. (either for a 6 month stay or 3 years!) But I did see a few familiar faces, of those that had attended some meetings in the U.S. a few months back, so that was nice. Showtime! I'll admit, Day 1 was a little rough. It took some time for me to 'get back to the basics' and determine the best way to convey the information to this group. And for them to get used to my Texas twang. ;)

 

Each day got better and better, with me being more comfortable with the class, and likewise. But each night, I still struggled to get my body adjusted to India time. I couldn't seem to sleep (a.k.a. nap) longer than 2-3 hours at a time. It was exhausting!! Not even Advil PM was helping me. Everyday I started off with a rather large breakfast at the hotel, and usually just worked through lunch while my class was gone. Trying to play catch-up on emails with the time difference in the U.S. has been interesting. Although, two days I did venture out with some of the U.S. rotationals that are currently living over here. One day (after recommendations from a co-worker who has frequent trips over here), I went to this hole-in-the-wall (yet cute) little pizza place that makes the best handmade pizzas in a little brick oven. It was soooo good! And another day we went to nice hotel for a large buffet lunch. I know, I know; not very adventurous or Indian. But hey, I'm not a fan of Indian food in general, and I don't want to eat at random places where I can get sick! And I've been living off of room service in the evenings, which is pretty delish.

 

The week actually went by really quick. But I'm so tired of hearing myself talk, it's not even funny. By Friday afternoon, I was ready to kick back and relax at the hotel. First stop, the pool! Although, it got a bit creepy down there, with a couple guys getting chatty with me. One asked me if I wanted to go to the bar on the roof of the building next to us. When I politely declined, he proceeded to give me his room # and asked for mine. WTF?! I was just like 'Uh, I don't really feel like giving out that kind of information.' He finally got the hint and left, and then I waited awhile before I made my exit and quickly locked myself in my room for the evening. Seriously, you'd think this was the first time they'd seen a girl at a pool! I finished off the night by watching The Notebook in my room, while snacking on some Sour Patch Kids. :)

 

After an amazing 8 hours of sleep, I got up this morning to go get pampered at the hotel spa. Wowsers! I started off with a full body scrub, 90 min. massage, and then a 60 min. facial. Ahhhhhhhhh, heavenly!!!! Just what I needed. After that, I headed back down to the pool for a few hours to relax. This time I came prepared, with headphones to listen to music and my iPad to read. Surely that would give off the vibe that I didn't want to be disturbed. Success! It was indeed a relaxing day here in India.

 

Relaxing at the pool!

I can't believe that this time next week, I'll be on a plane headed back home to Dallas! I miss everything about home, my family, my friends, my co-workers, etc. desperately. Each day, I FaceTime with the boys before they get up and then again at night before they go to bed. Definitely thankful for amazing technology that allows me to 'see' them on video. They love to show me the countdown on the fridge where they're marking the days off before I come home. Jordan seems to be surviving without me, along with the help of some family and friends to help watch the boys a bit. It definitely takes a village to raise kids!

Austin showing me the calendar where they colored in every day for my countdown

Getting to 'wakeup' Chase in the  morning from all the way over in India!

Overall, once I finally got here, the week has gone by pretty quick. Each day is an adventure getting to/from the office. And it's definitely humbling to see the surroundings and think about the way of life around here. Definitely makes me more thankful for everything I have back home. Interacting with the class has been fun and interesting, getting to learn more about their culture. Traveling to India has never been on my 'to-do list', but this is definitely going to be an experience of a lifetime.

 

There are literally hundreds of motorcycles/scooters on the roads, and it only adds to the chaos!

Just an average day on the streets of Bangalore

One more week to go! I can totally do this! :)

As a bonus, here is a video Jordan sent me this week of Austin dancing to his new favorite song 'Turn Down for What!' Crazy kiddo! And Chase could care less about what's going on, as long as he has his snacks. :)

 

INDIA: I'm FINALLY Here, Now What?!

Wow, I'm actually in India! After a getting an Indian Visa and a round of shots to protect me from anything I could contract while here, I was given the all clear to head out of the U.S. Who would have ever thought that a little white girl from a small country TX town would be going to freakin' India for two weeks?! Definitely not me. And all week long I had a 'bucket list' of all my favorite foods I had to eat before leaving: Lots of Chik-fil-a, chicken fried steak and mashed potatoes, hibachi, chicken fettuccine alfredo, big ol' greasy cheeseburger, etc. I feel like I gained 5lbs. this past week! (And I may have visited Sonic everyday for a cherry vanilla Diet Dr. Pepper!)

Getting my shots!

It was definitely a tough goodbye before I left. I admit, I cried like a baby saying goodbye to my boys. I'm missing 3 weekends and countless hugs, bathtimes, bedtime stories, and nerf gun fights. FaceTime just won't be the same. I don't think they really grasp how long Mommy is going to be gone. I made them their own little countdown calendar so that they can mark off the days til I come back. All week long I was an anxious mess, dreading having to say goodbye.

Since I was traveling for work, I was able to fly business class. Let me tell you, that's the way to go! Especially for two 10-hr flights. My first leg to London was supposed to leave Dallas at 9pm on Friday night. I checked in, relaxed in the Admirals Lounge with a couple cocktails, boarded the plane, and had two glasses of champagne before we even took off. We finally start taxiing from the gate, only to turn back a few minutes later. Uh oh. Apparently there was a leak somewhere. Not something I want to hear about before a flight across a damn ocean! After maintenance assessed it, it was determined we would have to get off the plane and wait for a replacement plane. UGH! This also meant that I was going to miss my connecting flight in London to India due to the delays. Once I finally got back on the replacement plane, it was after midnight and my head was pounding from all the pre-flight drinks I indulged in and not eating a thing. I quickly downed some Advil PMs and laid out my seat with pillow and blanky and passed out. Next thing I know (after sleeping through dinner), I was being shaken awake to eat my breakfast because we were less than 2 hours out from London. Wowsers! And with the long flight and time change, my birthday was already half over!

 

Hanging out in the London Airport on my Birthday!

After navigating my way through the London airport (holy crap), I headed to the gate to figure out how I was going to get to India now. Long story short, adding an extra connection and another 12 hours to my travel time before I finally reach my destination. However, after finally dealing with that headache, I get a phone call from Jordan telling me he was just in a wreck. A bad one, where some lady pulled out and t-boned him in the truck (Logan's), did alot of damage, and he was sitting in the back of the ambulance getting assessed. WHAT.THE. HELL. I knew I shouldn't have left the country!!! Thankfully, he's ok for the most part (just pretty sore) and the boys weren't in the truck with him.  I really needed a drink now; afterall, it was officially my birthday!  While waiting for my flight, I relaxed in the British Airways lounge, with some snacks and endless amounts of alcohol. I got to FaceTime with the boys a bit, so that was good. I love hearing Austin say 'Happy Birthday My Love!"

Gotta love technology!

Hello London!

 

I once again loaded up onto another British Airways flight from London to Delhi. I can't imagine taking a flight like this back in Coach. Definitely spoiled now! Then after a quick flight from Delhi to Bangalore, I had FINALLY reached my destination (12 hours past my original time). I was in desperate need of a shower and a bed.

All comfy up in business class!

My biggest fear this whole time was arriving in India and walking out and nobody standing there with my name written on a card waiting for me. Wouldn't you know, there was a very nice Indian man waiting in the crowd to take exhausted Jen and my bags to the JW Marriott. Yay!  After an interesting (a.k.a. scary) ride to the hotel, I got checked in and unpacked my bags for my 2-week stay. This place is pretty sweet! First order of business, get a shower and some room service. First meal in India? A pizza. :) I'm not an adventurous eater, and am definitely playing it safe while over here.

 

I got a call from the concierge a few minutes ago, asking if they could bring a birthday surprise up to my room from my co-workers back home. Three people brought in a chocolate birthday cake, a dozen red roses, and sang Happy Birthday to me. (And they insisted on taking pictures with me......awkward.) But I seriously work with THE BEST TEAM at KPMG and am feeling the love from back home in the States! Thank you!

So I'm all settled in now, ready to get some sleep before my first big day instructing tomorrow. This time zone thing is messing with me, so I may be taking some more Advil PM to ensure I get a good night's rest. Hopefully it goes well, even though I hate public speaking/presenting. But I brought chocolates from America to 'buy' their attention. ;)

 

P.S. Funny enough, tonight I was laying in bed watching the Sex and the City movie, where the girls are in Mexico and Charlotte accidentally got shower water in her mouth and crapped her pants. Definitely keeping my mouth closed in the showers here! :)

Early Birthday Festivities!

With my upcoming trip to India, we had to celebrate my birthday a bit earlier. When I told the boys that Mommy's birthday was coming up, they asked what kind of party I was having. I gave them control of picking the theme, which ended up being Tinkerbell. Ok, a Tinkerbell party for my 32nd sounds awesome! ;)

 

As with most years, we combine mine and Mom's birthday celebrations, since hers is the day before mine. Since I was leaving the country for while, we took the day off and celebrated with a pool/splashpark party and cooked out with the family. It was such a relaxing fun day, complete with a Tinkerbell cake, pinata, and party blowers. I love those kids!!

 

Jordan got me concert tickets to someone I really wanted to see in August, so I was super-excited!

 

Happy Father's Day!

Today, we celebrate Jordan and what an incredible father he is to our boys. Austin and Chase look up to him and always want to make Daddy proud. I don't know what I would do without him. Recently, he has had to take on more of the caretaker role than before, with all of my travel and work stuff. He's done great, and I had no doubt that he would. He loves those boys to pieces! We're lucky to have him.

The day he became a father for the first time

Becoming Daddy, round 2!

Growing up too fast!