Hello

The last couple weeks have been pretty low key.   Well sort of.  Maybe it’s the opposite.  They’ve been super busy and I haven’t had a chance to take a lot of pics, videos and reflect about what I wanted to write.  Some weeks in India are just regular 9-5 type weeks.  Still, the blog has become a nice ritual for me and something I don’t want to give up.

Since we last spoke I have done a bunch of  traveling for work to Hyderabad and Bangalore.

Have started looking at new places to move within Bombay (will explain), hanging out with some pseudo-friends and most importantly hanging out and giggling with Smritika.  and well, that’s about it.

I’m Moving!

Not out of India.  Not even out of Bombay.  But our apartment has started to develop some serious water damage and mold. All the damage from the pics below are only from the last month or so.  While this is unpleasant, it is not uncommon for Bombay.

 

What used to be my very blue jeans have damp mold stuff all over them.  They were simply hanging in the closet.  Time to move!

Bombay housing is like New York.  High demand, low supply.  Shitty housing stock.

Brokers are not that into you. 

I currently have 5 housing brokers I am speaking with.  Smritika has 8.  They are super flakey.  And in Bombay you have these kind of conversations.  Apparently in Bombay being a certified Catholic would have some advantages.  I wonder if my circumcision certificate is worth anything.  Notice my flip-flopping on being a Catholic to see what advantages I could get. I do like the pope though.

Low Income Private Schools

The last couple of weeks I’ve been traveling for work to Hyderabad and Bangalore.  Going from school to school observing and evaluating our work. Middle of Hyderabad, no idea where I am at.  Google maps gives me the wrong location.  There are 7 schools that have sprouted up in the same area.  Everyone points to a different direction.  Go to one school.  I find a guy who speaks English.  Point to a sign advertising the school.  He says school doesn’t exist.  I point again to the sign.  Call the school he speaks to them.  School is a block away around the corner next to the bike shop.

In India “Low Income Private Schools” are growing like crazy.  People are not happy with the free government schools. Local businessman, some with good intentions and many others who see this as a money-making opportunity.  Open up small, non-regulated, private schools all over under-resourced areas.  Charge a small fee of 400-1000 rupees per month which is like $5-$12 per month.  Even with that the school directors complain parents can’t all pay.  Every school is putting up different kinds of advertisements  (will show pics later down the line) claiming to be “THE” English Medium school or the school that will connect their child to the world.  Using names like international school  or Oxford or Cambridge.  There was a period where Catholic names for schools were all the rage, even if they have no connection to the church.  Schools I frequently visit Our Lady of Good Health, Holy Mother, etc.   Often times you walk into cramped rooms, 40-50 kids in a classroom,  50 year old desks, crumbling infrastructure, low resources, teachers paid as low as 5000 rupees per month ($90 a month) leading to under-qualified teachers and chronic absenteeism from the teachers.  Same issues with student low performance.

I joined a Jew Group!

They are the “Bernie Sanders type Jews.”   When we go out for drinks, even though only been a couple times, I feel like I can be 100% myself, great feeling.  Interesting people in the social sector, journalism, education, etc.  While I won’t be going to Shul anytime soon, they are a funny, quirky, nice group.

Monkeys are Still Cool

On Sunday we went to the National Park about 30 minutes from my house.  Seeing Monkeys are still exciting.