First Week - July 27 - August 7

Highlights of our first 10 days in Chennai, India courtesy of Chris:

Very late Wednesday night - Arrival with much sleep deprivation, but Matthew still wired after multiple espressos and cappuccinos at the Frankfurt airport. 

Thursday, Matthew was sick (too much espresso??).  We picked up keys, shopped in the local emporium to buy cooking pots, cutlery and other stuff that didn't fit in our luggage (the incense guys followed us around, wafting thick smoke wherever we walked - maybe they wanted to purify us?), and ordered room service because we were exhausted. 

Friday, the internet hookup was promised, but it seems the junction box is on a neighbor's property and the neighbor would not allow access.  We were promised a USB broadband stick as a short-term alternative.  TV was installed - very cheap - about $8/month for satellite with 200 channels - the boys are happy. 

Saturday, we reluctantly left the hotel and prepared for our first night sleeping in the apartment.  The water company delivered 5 5-gal jugs of bottled water. The USB broadband stick was delivered, but the internet connection was slow and intermittent.  Susan started dinner, but the oven only warmed the chicken and the potatoes were rocks - dinner was finished in the microwave.  About 11pm, there were loud sounds of banging and shoveling outside.  I put in ear plugs and awoke Sunday to find that a trench was dug and cable laid from the internet junction box down the street to our building.  

First night in the new apartment

Sunday, we promised the boys no shopping, so we visited the Madras Crocodile Bank - lots of crocs and some snakes - very cool! (more on this in another post.)

Monday to Thursday, I went to work and internet was promised by the end of each day ... but it did not appear. Susan tried to work from home using the USB broadband stick. Cooking gas was delivered for the cook top on Monday.  Hurray - something besides microwaved dinners!  We got our residence permits - quick and easy - hurray for the immigration lawyers! 

Friday, I waited for five hours at customs to get our air shipment cleared.  After all the waiting, I watched as the agent opened each of our crates and looked in one box in each.  He never even talked to me!  The oven guy showed up and fixed the oven, but could not explain all the controls.  We had appointments with a banker at 5:15 and the internet guys at 6pm.  Everyone showed up at 6:15pm.  After much confusion, the internet was set up and working and we had filled out the banking application.  Vonage, Face Time, and Skype work now!

Saturday, our crates were delivered.  We unpacked and I set up our home PC.  I plugged it in and it went "BANG!!"  It seems I did not notice the little slide switch for changing from 110 volts to 220 volts.  Oops. 

Will unpacked his electronic keyboard (the piano would not have travelled well), plugged it in and it went "BANG!!"  It seems he did not use the voltage converter.

Susan unpacked the hand mixer, plugged it in (into the voltage converter), and it went.... well, yes "BANG!!"  We think it was just upset at leaving home.

Sunday, a lazy morning, then some shopping, lunch and a few hours exploring the public library.  We stopped at an electronics store to buy a new power supply for the computer.  To plagiarize from the Visa commercial ... 

Air freight shipment to India ... $ ??? Thousands

Cost of new power supply ... Rs 525 (about $12)

Value of experience blowing up the old one ... priceless! 

And that's where we are now.  They boys go to school tomorrow and I travel to Bangalore for an HR meeting. 

Much is different, but all is OK.  We are blessed to have many people helping us with the transition. 

We miss you!