Do you have a map of Bangalore?

In the two and a half months Lori and I have been in Bangalore, we have had a chance to visit various parts of the city as well as take a very enjoyable vacation in the Philippines.  Throughout this time, there have been many situations that remind us how small of a world we live in. Yes, you may hear the saying often and I'm sure you have examples that you can also share (please do in the comments!) but I have been surprised that while living in a city of over 8 million people, we continue finding examples of how true this saying is.

Lori and I enjoy a sense of community and getting to know others, therefore we have taken up many people on invites, offers and setting something up with friends of friends that happen to be in Bangalore.  In one example, before leaving Minneapolis we were given a business card of our parents friends co-worker working here in Bangalore. Before we had a chance to email or call, we met him while walking in a botanical garden.  Lori struck up a conversation with a group of guys (imagine Lori talking to strangers?), one of them wearing a MN Twins Cap. It was to our surprise in a crowded park of people, when one of the guys is the guy we were supposed to meet up with. Adam introduced himself and then showed him guy's business card from his wallet.

The very next weekend Lori and I were walking in a market and a man (speaking very clear English) was asking a street vendor if he had a map of Bangalore. Lori, the kind and outgoing soul that she is, offered for this stranger to use the one we had in our bag.  We started chatting and soon discovered he lives in Burnsville, MN and owns a business helping people relocate and navigate India. He actually had helped a previous Target Expat (who I had just met with before leaving) before her assignment a few years back. I will remind one more time, over 8 million people, over 8000 miles away from home and we run into this guy in the middle of the busiest commercial streets in Bangalore.

We recently went to the  Philippines for a week long vacation. On day one on a small island called Panglao, our transport showed upwearing a MN Vikings hat. Granted American sports are very popular in the Philippines, especially the NBA. Whenever anyone would ask where we were from and then the state, a common response was - Timberwoves...nice. Not so nice, but this year isn't too bad - thanks Ricky Rubio.

Part of the reason for the phillipines trip was to spend time with one of Lori's best friends. We couldn't pass up the opportunity to see friends that feel like family.  All of the photos below will share a snapshot of a few of the beaches we were fortunate enough to spend some time on.  And of course we could not pass up the Obama Grill, located on the beachfront of Boracay.  Their slogan was 'You want good food, yes we can!'  Jack was welcomed with open arms with his American Flag shorts.

I seem to find these small world examples somewhat rare, fun and often how our universe operates. Especially when you are open to meeting new people and new experiences. What I find even more interesting is how it is becoming easier and easier to stay connected. This morning I talked with my sister and brother in law over Skype to put some final plans for their trip in a few weeks, seeing and hearing them as clear as if they were next door.  After the call I was able to read about what is happening in the Standish Erickson neighborhood, of where Lori and I live back home - all while listening to an 89.3 the Currrent in studio performance by Dr. Dog, a band that played at First Ave the other night (of which was a great show based on the updates my friends sent on Twitter and Facebook).   Over 8000 miles away, hanging out with over 8 million people and a little taste of Minneapolis isn't too difficlut to have close by when that world is actually a lot smaller than I once thought it was.

                                                Lazy sunset.

                                                       

                                                          Proud to be an American

                                                                   Go Vikes!

Saree Skills

An apology to those fashion sari divas that I may have insulted in my first saree attempt. I did the best I could after waiting till right down to the last minute for my first sari purchase and donning of my attire... saree- I mean, sorry.

Adam and I were invited to attend a wedding reception of an Indian friend Adam works with at Target. Both of us were excited to go, but with moving and then a vacation to the Phillipines- we did not realize how quickly the day approached us. All of a sudden Monday appeared and the reception was this night. I looked in my closet that morning and saw the one dressy outfit I had brought with me to Bangalore- a cute, simple black cocktail dress. Perfect- I thought to myself.

Perfect... perfect if I want to wish bad luck to the bride and groom by wearing black as if I were attending a funeral. Black is seen as an inauspicious color of mourning. And white- forget about it- it lacks colour and festivity. Indians rock all colors and brilliant shades and patterns. Thank you to one of Adams co-workers for this insight. It was time to buy a sari.

Anything else would have been easier. Especially, when you have a deadline in India of one day and when India's favorite saying is, "tomorrow."

OK, I thought to myself:  I can do this. "It's no big I  deal- sarees are all over the place. I just need a big piece of cloth and wrap it around a little...how hard can it be? I'll be set by the afternoon with hours to kills before the reception..hmmm. maybe I will make some bread in between in my new oven. That'll be nice. Right? Right? right? "

ummm..yeah, so wrong.

I do wish I had looked up the appropriate sari or saree etiquette before embarking on my first sari endeavor. And that I had a week or ten days or a month to do it. Here is some advice to save you a lot of trouble if you are ever invited to a traditional Indian wedding or reception.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sari

To begin. What?  I have to show my belly? Umm, yeah. no thanks. I couldn't quite understand why I can't wear bare sleeves, expose my shoulders or knees in India without gentlemans stares, but my midriff can be completely exposed without a glance in my direction? I get it now.

In ancient Indian tradition and the Natya Shastra (an ancient Indian treatise describing ancient dance and costumes), the navel of the Supreme Being is considered to be the source of life and creativity, hence the midriff is to be left bare by the sari (an insert from wikipedia above).

The timeline:
1p.m. (6.5 hrs before reception begins). Ok, I thought, it could be fun to enhance my own feeling of being the life of a party :) I was lucky to meet a woman from the U.S. who lived in India and helped me select the right color sari to "best suit my skin tone" as well as finding one colorful enough. This was the easy part.

A bit of a nervous rush flowed through however when I found out I needed a blouse which they didn't have in my size, a blouse here is essentially a sleeved top that bares the "yearning for a six pack" tummy. (too late now for crunches miss Buddha belly) shoot.


2:00 p.m. (5.5 hrs before reception and counting):  The gentleman who drives us so kindly then drove to not 1 but 2 other locations (amongst many confusing phone calls to determine the right color/size) to redeem the blouse in the right size.

3:00p.m. I treat myself to a mani/pedicure during which I am told I need to purchase a petticoat to wear underneath my sari. A what??? This sounds like Elizabethan times to me... Where do I get this  Pantaloon I mean petticoat thing??

3:01: Another frantic call to my saint, our driver. "Imran, I need you to go to Commercial Street (the street that literally sells it all) and find a petticoat?" Little did I know this was like asking a guy to go and pick out a bra for you! Later he will tell me, "M'am, I the only man in the shop, all women looking at me when I ask for small petticoat. I am very shy..." Saree!!!! (sorry I love the play on these words. I know I am a dork.)

3:05: I am told by the gal painting my nails that I need to match my nail color to my saree as this is common. nope!  I like my plain jane browns. not gonna happen. I am also told I need lots of bling- well gold jewelry that is. Also, not going to happen. I will be lucky if I can pull this crazy scheme off by tonight.

5:00p.m. Check my jewelry stock- hmm one pair of pearl earrings in my possession. ok. check. no bangles, but I look in the mirror. Thank God for the impulsive nose ring piercing that I did in Canada a few years back. Maybe this white girl will fit in?

6:00p.m. OMG- how am I going to wrap this thing around me. Indian women have been practicing this art for oh, um forever? Not with 1.5 hrs. to departure. Oh, and hubby- you are late getting home! As the lady who helps me in our house (and is teaching me to cook Indian food) says all the time, "What to do?"

7:05: This saint, Mary, came to my rescue, much like Cinderella's fairy godmother. She helped me dress- quickly gathering, pleating and folding, tucking the fabric in out, around, up, down, making do with the lack of pins that most ladies use for support-With a grin on her face she spun me around towards the mirror- and viola! I felt like one of those ladies at the end of the TLC's show "What not to Wear"- sporting a complete transformation.

Now, It was left up to me to not unwind myself, to remain with good posture and to walk in heels- (this is asking a lot!) as we made our way to the reception and awkwardly exited the car.

7:35: Success. Saree mission accomplished. (Where is Nordstroms when a gal needs it?)

I have to admit- I did feel like Cinderella going to the Ball. Especially with my handsome prince!

Thanks for sharing in my Saree journey!


As a side note- In my humble opinion, sarees definitely reign over the "little black dress" option.

                                                             Oh la la!

A photo with my handsome (and stylishly coordinated) prince!