Sundays

The Job

I am writing from the city of Hyderabad.  I will be here for 3 weeks for my job at a retreat.  Everyone treats each other with such kindness and respect.  Weirded me out a little at first.  “Did someone spike the water with prozac?”  No, turns out the place is run with these things in mind.  They have a very low turnover rate, which is unheard of at an NGO and the staff is young, brilliant, hungry and agile.  They are relentless, always researching, reflecting and improving the work.  In India, dealing with schools you have to expect the unexpected.  Pretty common for a school to call you the day before and ask for a training, or small things like you are giving a training and all the power goes out.  Just about everything, even well planned, with best intentions can shift.  That’s just how it is.  We have an incredibly detailed manual and there is a plan A, B and C for everything.

Here is a pic of most of the people.  We will be growing by double tomorrow.

SUNDAYS

The next section is dedicated to the bliss of the best parts of a relationship.

Eating

She makes Sunday cocktails and delicious ramen, we go out to dive bars and eat tandoori lamb that falls off the bone, crab soup at the oldest Chinese restaurant in Bombay, go to a seafood “lunch house” and consume incredible prawn curry with spongey bread.

Hosting and Couple Friends

We are so fancy, and have started hosting brunches and lil get togethers.  Make friends with other couples. A new experience, almost like dating.    “They were fun to hang out with.  Let’s do that again.”

Exploring

On the weekend we go swimming, eat at classy restaurants, and enjoy doing mundane things together.  We laugh a lot.   On some Sundays I am in charge of making a plan for the day.  I try to surprise her and find places in Bombay she has never been.  We get to explore together.  Below are some pics of Banganga Tank built in 1127 A.D.  Amidst the chaos of Bombay you can discover these ancient and serene spots.

 

At the Tank the “retirement home” ducks.

 

Flora, Bombays’ oldest Chinese restaurant; Gateway of India; and Posing in front of mirror before going to a a fancy restaurant.

 

 

Who misses 25?  That was such a confusing age.  At 36, living in the sweaty and sometimes overwhelming city of Bombay, I am loving the calmness of companionship.