mademoiselle ming

My first two weeks in India have come and gone and, as expected, it has felt like no time at all and an entire eternity at the same time. I have sat down a couple of times at my laptop already trying to figure out what I wanted to write about, hoping that the words would just flow out of me, but they didn't. But not because there's any lack of topics to talk about here.

First my mind drifted to focusing on the workplace here in India (including such topics as "Why Are My Male Coworkers Holding Hands in the Office?" and "Oh....I Guess the Cups on Top of the Water Cooler are Just...Communal Cups"), then to the different expat lifestyles, then to the fact that I had only seen three non-Indian people in my first 10 days here, then to the delicious food here, then to the traffic and how I have yet to cross the street alone, and then also to the experience of being a western woman in India. So basically, I had arrived at so many topics and so many things I wanted to talk about that I hit the point of choice paralysis.

Then it dawned on me.

All of these things made me realize that India is a land of superlatives. Before I arrived here, someone warned me that India is a very stimulating place that can be overwhelming if you're not prepared, which I have found to be true. Wherever you go, even in the rural areas, there are so many people, accompanied of course by so much movement and color and noise and smells. Whether good or bad (or the two right next to eachother ie walking through a street being engulfed by the smells of delicious curries and spices and feeling the heat and humidity beat down on your skin, then suddenly getting a sharp whiff of rotting garbage and moldy water...) it's always at one extreme end of the spectrum and rarely a gentle experience. Even when doing things alone, which I have been doing recently, the constant and unending stream of all these sensory stimulations is enough to exhaust anyone even for a short trip to the grocery store.

I'm sure it is a majority because of my Western perspective (Wild Western perspective, even, with the kinfolk in Colorado having more open space and accessible nature compared to other parts of the western world), but it feels to me that so much is going on that it really takes some focus to absorb it all.

Anywho, a quick and dirty rundown of what's been happening the last two weeks with photos is below. Before you read any further, know that I sit here on a Sunday evening writing this in good health and en route to being fully acclimated here.

I took a flight here and it was long and uneventful. Our apartments are pretty nice and really big, and have balconies from each bedroom(!) looking over water, included below.

View from the TOP Y'ALL (JK view from the second story because that's where my apartment is)

View from the actual top of our apartment building

Kochi's "skyline"

Best part about this place? $$$ MUHFUGGIN' ROOFTOP POOL THAT APPARENTLY NO ONE USES BUT ME $$$

Despite what paradise this looks like, this was a huge misrepresentation of monsoon season

Our boat!

The following week was followed by many introductions during my first couple of days in the office and technology issues as I tried to figure out how to access everything I needed from my fancy 1998 laptop that they force upon us which eventually proved useless. My team is really friendly and knowledgable, and it seems that I have a lot of choice in the trainings and what I want to accomplish during my next couple of months here, which is a little terrifying but overall pretty liberating. There are tons of people in the office, and my worst fear came into fruition as I tried to learn people's names. More than a few times, me trying to be pleasant exclaiming "Nice to meet you!!" has been met only with ".....We've already met before." Overall though, people seem to be pretty understanding, especially when I request they spell or show me their name on their nametag after introducing themselves to make sure I get it correct.

The following weekend, I came down with my first (and hopefully last) case of Delhi Belly. Fortunately for you all, I didn't take any photos to commemorate the weekend, but it ended Sunday night with a quick trip to the ER to re-hydrate myself. The amenities weren't ideal and every moment there was spent in fear of contracting a worse disease/infection from what appeared to be a less than sterile environment. Luckily, though, I left feeling much better with a slew of antibiotics for the next week, with everything (the medications and visit) in total costing less than US$12. All in all, not the worst of experiences, but not something I hope to do again. 

As the pharmacist was packing up my little goody bag of drugs following my appointment, I noticed that he started putting things in second goody bag, including items such as a syringe and vials of liquid. UMMM. Although I have been one to give a diabetic cat an insulin shot or two (not kidding), there was no way in HELL that I was about to be able to inject some mysterious Indian vaccination into my butt cheek as the doctor had done earlier, even in the comfort of my own home. Totally taken aback, I asked the guy behind the counter if I could have pills instead of injections to take home, because I didn't know how to give myself a shot. After some back and forth including every synonym I could think of for "shot" once I realized he didn't know what I was talking about, he finally realized what I was trying to articulate and thankfully set me straight. Apparently, the second goody bag is to be brought back to the emergency room to replace the items they used on you during your visit. Why they trust the patient with that task is beyond me, but I was just happy to not have to prick myself.

This past weekend, I decided to make use of my free time with a trip to Fort Kochi, an area of Kochi that at one point was under the possession of the Portugese, Dutch, and British, which is evident by the architecture. Although the area is a bit more touristy, it was much more calm and clean, which I enjoyed. 

I also have ridden in several rickshaws and make sure to keep my mouth closed and not breathe too deeply while in motion.




ming.

It's funny that almost exactly three years ago, one of the driving forces behind my decision to move to France was "you'll never have this chance again....you'll never be this uncommitted, have this much freedom to just pick up your life and go somewhere else than you have right now" since I had just graduated college, and didn't have a boyfriend/house/car/pet.

Welp. Flash forward three years, and I'm doing pretty much exactly the same thing again. What does that say about my life?

It means that I can choose to live my life selfishly and wonderfully, knowing that every decision I make is made solely dependent upon what I want for the betterment of myself and my goals in life, without having to weigh what I want against what someone else wants. And that is so incredibly freeing and beautiful, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

One of the biggest life lessons I've learned since moving to Denver is that of independence. I guess that goes for most people entering into adulthood, but I really think that I've gained an understanding and appreciation for being alone through my experiences with friends, acquaintances, and the mountains that I had no real understanding of before my time here.

I keep a note in my iPhone, the name of which is simply that blushing smiley emoji that, to me, portrays a sense of humble and simple contentedness. I started this note right before going to France to teach english and have filled it with drunken (literal and metaphorical) anecdotes about why I love my life, whenever I suddenly become overwhelmed with a warm realization of how wonderful the life I live is, and how fortunate that I am to be living it. It's safe to say that a majority of these moments occur when I am going through a big change (or else, expecting a big change) because that is what truly makes me realize how fortunate I am.

How fortunate that I have friends and family who totally and wholeheartedly support me doing what I want to be doing, and believe in me enough to be openly excited about it.

How fortunate I am to be constantly surrounded, whether in Chicago, Ohio, France, Denver, or by the ever present spirits wherever they are in the world, by more people than I can count who I can only describe as "unlike anyone I've ever met before".

How fortunate I am that my employer has enough faith and direction that they see in me in order to support this trip and the risks and expenses that come along with it.

How fortunate I am to have been raised by wonderful parents who only want the best for me; parents who have supported my higher education and my flighty life plans, and have lead me towards the people who have connected me to more and more people which have eventually lead me to right where I am supposed to be.

There are so many things in my life that I have been unsure of. I cannot think of a single big decision I have had to make in my life that I was absolutely and undoubtedly sure about....ever. From choosing my major in college in Ohio, to taking the teaching opportunity in France, to moving to Denver thereafter and going back and forth about job offers and my choice in career, there has always been a hesitancy because of the unknown risk factor and opportunity cost that I have never been able to kick.

Until now.

This opportunity has been one of the very few things I have ever jumped at without hesitation. Although there was some back and forth about timing and logistics of this rotation, there was never a doubt in my mind about wanting to seize this opportunity. I have never been more sure about anything than I am about my love of travelling and constantly changing environments and my desire to go and see everything, and this trip will allow me exactly that.

That being said, there are still just so many unknowns. I had a sudden moment of clarity about my thoughts of what the expat experience is and how my perception of that won't match at all what I will be experiencing in India over the next 3-4 months. Working with so many international travellers at my job, I feel comfortable saying that I know everything (and I do mean everything) that goes into the logistical, financial, numerical, and assignment policy/benefit area, but knowing about the emotional and personal aspect is something that is still a bit foreign to me.

What I mean is that this will not be France. I don't know much about the country's history, or language, or work environment, or politics, or religion, as I haven't been studying it for the majority of my life, as I had with French and France. I will not have an incredibly caring, patient, wonderful cultural ambassador/boyfriend to help with the ups and downs of expat life. If I meet someone who does not speak English, it will be nearly impossible to communicate with them. I will not be able to read signs in stores, the transit will be unlike anything I've ever seen before, and if I'm lost, or have a simple question, there's a very real possibility that I will not be able to find help.

These will be things that I will learn to cope with, and I could not be more excited about finding out how.



After that very long introduction, I have compiled a little FAQ for the questions I get often regarding these upcoming months.

1. Where are you going?
 I will be spending the next 3 months in Kochi on the southwest coast of India, and then another 3 weeks travelling southeast Asia (and looking for recommendations of places to visit!)

2. What will you be doing?
In Denver I work at a large accounting firm, which has two processing centers in India, so I will be doing some instructing/training over there with the Indian team. My firm supports short term international rotations for three months, which is exactly what I'll be doing.

3. Are you nervous about anything?
Honestly, one of my main concerns is about the safety, but I know that my company would not send me (or any of their expats) somewhere where they did not feel comfortable about the safety risk factor. Other things: making friends at work, learning names I'm not familiar with, legitimately pooping my pants at an inopportune moment, and coming back home and realizing everything has changed.

4. I want to see photos!
Not a question, but I will try and update this (what shall now be deemed) travel blog as frequently as possible.

5. What happens afterwards?
Back to Denver to resume life as usual, with a very different perspective.

ming.

       I was super stoked to go camping, thinking it would be like reliving all the camping trips with my family when we were young. I pumped myself up the whole week imagining campfires, s'mores, hiking, and the works, until I told Geoff about the itinerary I had in mind, and he explained that what we were doing was not "camping sauvage". Like EXCUSE ME, FRANCE. I don't know what your cultural norm is, but I'm pretty sure that sleeping in a tent in the middle of the woods is pretty "sauvage" if you ask me, regardless of whether or not there is a fire pit directly on the camping lot. Anywho, Wednesday morning rolled around and I was literally SHOCKED by the amount of items ("Les superficielles" as I referred to them) in the car, of which only a small shoulder bag, a brown paper grocery bag, and an otter were mine. Among "les superficielles" included two tables, two folding chairs, a desk lamp, a 30 foot extension chord, and a hair dryer. 

       So off we went on our 5 hour car trip in direction to Bordeaux. In order to pass the time, we played many nostalgic car games, including 20 questions featuring only animals, the alphabet game (which proved more difficult than normal given the absence of billboards in France), and a game in which the only rule was that you couldn't say "oui" or "non".