This was shown at our all staff orientation- a good commentary on how chaotic this place can be, but also how the seemingly impossible, is possible through the people.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Sending Mail
Hello,
Just a quick note for all you care-package types. Please send any packages directly to our school address in India. However, there are no guarantees that it will arrive in one piece or on time. Our school address is:
Reid and Rachel Wixson
c/o American School of Bombay
SF2, G Block - Bandra Kurla Complex
Bandra East, Mumbai 400 098
INDIA
If you have letters or postcards, you can mail them to the White Bear Lake address (listed in an earlier blog posting).
Take care!
Just a quick note for all you care-package types. Please send any packages directly to our school address in India. However, there are no guarantees that it will arrive in one piece or on time. Our school address is:
Reid and Rachel Wixson
c/o American School of Bombay
SF2, G Block - Bandra Kurla Complex
Bandra East, Mumbai 400 098
INDIA
If you have letters or postcards, you can mail them to the White Bear Lake address (listed in an earlier blog posting).
Take care!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
First Impressions
As I write this on our balcony, it is 9pm on Tuesday evening here in Mumbai, or more specifically, our suburb Bandra West. Although the sun has set nearly two hours ago, the clouds in the sky reflect the incredible amount of light pollution given off of this amazingly enormous city that never sleeps. From our balcony we have a great view of the neighborhood (see attached picassa album). To the east and west we have large apartment buildings and to the south we have a glimpse of the Mumbai skyline -- probably only 2% as the skyline continues on for miles to the south. Coconut trees wave in the wind, birds fly over head -- mostly crows, but sometimes herons and today I even saw a parakeet -- and we are virtually isolated from the city.
The one exception to our isolation is the street noise. Unlike American drivers, Mumbaikers (pronounced Mum-bikers) use their horn to alert the driver in front of them to their presence. A few short taps on the horn means "just to remind you, my car is right behind you." A few longer horn notes means "keep me in mind as you turn left in front of me." The vast majority of horn uses are happy exchanges between people. Every once in awhile someone gets mad and lays on the horn, but this is really rare. Since the city never seems to take a break, ear plugs are definitely a must for light Western sleepers such as ourselves!
One piece of conversation that always comes up with us is the amazing contrasts you see all over. For example, on the commute to school we drive along a creek that flows into the ocean. On the other side of the creek sits one of the major slums in the city (not Dharavi for those of you who watched the documentary "Slumming In") and alongside our side of the creek sits some of the most expensive real estate in the entire world. Across the street from our school Bharat diamonds is building a trading hub that will employ 60,000 people, next door to that is the American Consulate under construction, and up the street is the Asian Heart Institute, highly regarded as one of the world's top cardiac hospitals. And all of this literally right next to a slum. It's quite overwhelming as you think about it and really puts you in your place. Interactions like these happen all the time here.
It has been great to really get to know the other new staff and the administrators, who have done everything possible to make our transition run smoothly. Workshops and discussions about culture shock, medical adjustments, the unique school culture, "third-culture students," technology integration in the classroom, and educational philosophy have been both inspiring and interesting. While Rachel's room is still going through some last minute cleaning and updating, I have spent some time in the band room and tried to do some organizing, make it more space-efficient, and tidy up the music library. The familiar routine of getting ready for the school is an odd parallel to our unfamiliar new lives in Mumbai and while it is comfortable to get down to work, I feel like exploring the city more. We'll have a lot of time this weekend for that.
With that I will sign off and post. We have enjoyed reading comments and so please keep them coming. If you have questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Take care and root for the Twins!
~ Reid
The one exception to our isolation is the street noise. Unlike American drivers, Mumbaikers (pronounced Mum-bikers) use their horn to alert the driver in front of them to their presence. A few short taps on the horn means "just to remind you, my car is right behind you." A few longer horn notes means "keep me in mind as you turn left in front of me." The vast majority of horn uses are happy exchanges between people. Every once in awhile someone gets mad and lays on the horn, but this is really rare. Since the city never seems to take a break, ear plugs are definitely a must for light Western sleepers such as ourselves!
One piece of conversation that always comes up with us is the amazing contrasts you see all over. For example, on the commute to school we drive along a creek that flows into the ocean. On the other side of the creek sits one of the major slums in the city (not Dharavi for those of you who watched the documentary "Slumming In") and alongside our side of the creek sits some of the most expensive real estate in the entire world. Across the street from our school Bharat diamonds is building a trading hub that will employ 60,000 people, next door to that is the American Consulate under construction, and up the street is the Asian Heart Institute, highly regarded as one of the world's top cardiac hospitals. And all of this literally right next to a slum. It's quite overwhelming as you think about it and really puts you in your place. Interactions like these happen all the time here.
It has been great to really get to know the other new staff and the administrators, who have done everything possible to make our transition run smoothly. Workshops and discussions about culture shock, medical adjustments, the unique school culture, "third-culture students," technology integration in the classroom, and educational philosophy have been both inspiring and interesting. While Rachel's room is still going through some last minute cleaning and updating, I have spent some time in the band room and tried to do some organizing, make it more space-efficient, and tidy up the music library. The familiar routine of getting ready for the school is an odd parallel to our unfamiliar new lives in Mumbai and while it is comfortable to get down to work, I feel like exploring the city more. We'll have a lot of time this weekend for that.
With that I will sign off and post. We have enjoyed reading comments and so please keep them coming. If you have questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Take care and root for the Twins!
~ Reid
Friday, July 30, 2010
Everything You've Ever Heard About India.... Is True
That was the statement at an orientation today from our superintendent that really seems to sum this crazy chaotic and amazing place up. There is a new truth every time you turn around. I've seen videos and heard about things like the traffic, weather, etc... but it is definitely something else to experience it! One minute we're flying high on something and the next it's overwhelming and confusing. The one constant though is the support from the school and the feeling of having a "safety net" if we need it!
The flight over was actually pretty painless. For sure it was long and we only got about 2 hours of rest (I do not say sleep here) out of the total 28 hours or so of travel, but, it went by faster than expected. We met most of the new ASB crew in Newark, the rest in Brussels where we had a connecting flight. The administrators and other staff were at the airport to meet us, take us to our apartments.
PS- our apartment is quite spectacular. We didn't know what to expect, but, we definitely did not expect being on the 6th floor and having a HUGE terrace, already stocked with plants. Two bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, nice kitchen, dining room, office, living room.... so, plenty of space for those of you thinking of coming to visit!!
And it's been nonstop going ever since we landed (as I write that I realize that it's actually only been two days.... it feels like weeks!). Thursday morning we had an introductory orientation with the whole staff. We all needed to get registered with the Indian government and Reid and I were in the first group to go. As they warned us, it was a chance to experience the bureaucratic side of India... it was kind of like going to the DMV, only more lines, more back and forth waiting, and not really sure what was happening. But, we are officially registered residents of Mumbai.
We were immediately put into all sorts of tech training. We have tablet PC's and everything is paperless here, even student work. So much info has been thrown at us that we have to keep checking in with each other to make sure we're where we need to be when and how to do the things we were "trained" on.
The other time has been filled with either group meals all hosted by the school and a couple shopping trips (the apartments have some things, but still need lots of odds and ends as well as day to day things. We now have Indian cell phones! Reid is really excited about his Bollywood ringtone.
I feel like there is so much to say. It's like a whole new life has been created for us today- new bank accounts, cell phones, computers, hiring household help, meeting with the school doctor, talking with customs about shipments... oh, and getting over jetlag!
But, we can already tell that this is going to be an amazing school. Well, and our superintendant today informed us that ASB is now the most expensive American international school in the WORLD, so, we are expected to be "AMAZING" teachers (no pressure!!) So, keep tuned on all of our supposed amazingness that is to come, whether at school or on our personal adventures. Love to you all. We miss you and we will keep in touch!
Rachel
The flight over was actually pretty painless. For sure it was long and we only got about 2 hours of rest (I do not say sleep here) out of the total 28 hours or so of travel, but, it went by faster than expected. We met most of the new ASB crew in Newark, the rest in Brussels where we had a connecting flight. The administrators and other staff were at the airport to meet us, take us to our apartments.
PS- our apartment is quite spectacular. We didn't know what to expect, but, we definitely did not expect being on the 6th floor and having a HUGE terrace, already stocked with plants. Two bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, nice kitchen, dining room, office, living room.... so, plenty of space for those of you thinking of coming to visit!!
And it's been nonstop going ever since we landed (as I write that I realize that it's actually only been two days.... it feels like weeks!). Thursday morning we had an introductory orientation with the whole staff. We all needed to get registered with the Indian government and Reid and I were in the first group to go. As they warned us, it was a chance to experience the bureaucratic side of India... it was kind of like going to the DMV, only more lines, more back and forth waiting, and not really sure what was happening. But, we are officially registered residents of Mumbai.
We were immediately put into all sorts of tech training. We have tablet PC's and everything is paperless here, even student work. So much info has been thrown at us that we have to keep checking in with each other to make sure we're where we need to be when and how to do the things we were "trained" on.
The other time has been filled with either group meals all hosted by the school and a couple shopping trips (the apartments have some things, but still need lots of odds and ends as well as day to day things. We now have Indian cell phones! Reid is really excited about his Bollywood ringtone.
I feel like there is so much to say. It's like a whole new life has been created for us today- new bank accounts, cell phones, computers, hiring household help, meeting with the school doctor, talking with customs about shipments... oh, and getting over jetlag!
But, we can already tell that this is going to be an amazing school. Well, and our superintendant today informed us that ASB is now the most expensive American international school in the WORLD, so, we are expected to be "AMAZING" teachers (no pressure!!) So, keep tuned on all of our supposed amazingness that is to come, whether at school or on our personal adventures. Love to you all. We miss you and we will keep in touch!
Rachel
Friday, July 23, 2010
Neighborhood View
According to Google Maps, our apartment is somewhere in the middle left of this picture. We're excited that there are lots of trees and that the Arabian Sea is close by. We'll have our own pictures up next week when we arrive. Take care, RW
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Final Preparations!
Greetings!
A pieces of information on our upcoming move.
First -- we are flying out on Tuesday July 27th and arriving in Mumbai the next day around midnight. We have layovers in Newark and Brussels to break up the trip a bit. Belgium waffles for breakfast?
Second -- change of address. If you send us mail (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) you don't have to address it to India and pay for international postage rates. Instead, our school has a PO Box here in the Twin Cities that collects mail for employees. Our new address is:
Reid and Rachel Wixson
4707 Hwy. 61
ASB-Suite 261
White Bear Lake, MN 55110
Third -- we will be living on the sixth floor in the Silver Springs Apartments located in Bandra West, a northern suburb of Mumbai. Those of you who are google-savy can look that up on the web to see the building and the neighborhood.
Take care,
Reid
A pieces of information on our upcoming move.
First -- we are flying out on Tuesday July 27th and arriving in Mumbai the next day around midnight. We have layovers in Newark and Brussels to break up the trip a bit. Belgium waffles for breakfast?
Second -- change of address. If you send us mail (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) you don't have to address it to India and pay for international postage rates. Instead, our school has a PO Box here in the Twin Cities that collects mail for employees. Our new address is:
Reid and Rachel Wixson
4707 Hwy. 61
ASB-Suite 261
White Bear Lake, MN 55110
Third -- we will be living on the sixth floor in the Silver Springs Apartments located in Bandra West, a northern suburb of Mumbai. Those of you who are google-savy can look that up on the web to see the building and the neighborhood.
Take care,
Reid
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