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My Family Moves to India

An American family moves to Chennai

Panic, PANIC, P.A.N.I.C.!

Tuesday, 3. November 2009, 05:23:24

Apparently, I am cursed.

So, um, we moved to this new house, which was supposed to be BETTER than the old house, and it is is, sort of, at least it doesn't leak (THANK YOU GOD!), and the shocks in the shower have quit for a while, but then......

The landlord sold the house next door.

Which was bad enough, because our good friends from Illinois lived there and they had to move. sniff. sniff. :cry:

But we rolled with the punches, they didn't move that far away, we still love them, yeah....it was OK.

Only, now, because the two houses share a well, the landlord says he is going to put a new well in our backyard.

:yikes:

See, here in India, most wells are large (think 8'-10') open wells, dug by hand.

Can you say MESS? Can you say DANGEROUS? (Not only to the workers, but to my wild child - what boy can resist a huge hole in the ground?) Can you imagine YARD CRAWLING WITH HALF NAKED WORKMEN? Can you wonder HOW LONG WILL WE BE WITHOUT WATER?

Can I run away?

K. I'm done with my pity party now. Chin up, stiff upper lip, back straight.....whoops, don't fall into the well! :smile:

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Comments

Anonymous 5. November 2009, 02:06

Paula writes:

Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink....
Defiantely has the potential to be grim.

ECopley 5. November 2009, 14:11

You have gotten used to so much. WOW! Does this mean they would cut off your water from the current well until after the new one works? Or would they continue your water from the current well while creating the new one, then just inconvenience you for a minimal amount of time while they connect the new well to your house?

Anonymous 10. November 2009, 21:13

Auntie mandy writes:

Heavens! Just tell L that if he's near the well, he will have to help dig it. That should wear him out. The trick will be explaining to the workers that L is apprenticed to them, if only while in proximity to the well...mmmnnn...good luck. At least you have ample childhood memories sans clean water to draw upon. sponge bath, anyone?

Anonymous 11. November 2009, 21:32

Shaan writes:

Don't worry, most probably the 'well' would be a bore well. Not a large well like the one that you share with your neighbor now. It will be done with machine in half day. Big wells are things of the past, nobody does that now because bore wells are economical and dug fast.

myfamilyinIndia 13. November 2009, 17:52

Ellen - who knows what they will do. What they say and what they do are two entirely different animals.

Shaan - I already asked. They said it would be an open well. Hopefully, referring to what I just typed above, they are wrong.

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Chennai blogs I read regularly:

Friend's blogs:

  • A Whole New World blog

    A very, very insightful look into special needs parenting.

  • On Krista's Mind

    A very special woman who has brain cancer takes the time to uplift us all.

  • Chinese Starfish

    This outstanding woman gave up a good career to start her own orphanage in Xian, China, for special needs orphans. My heroine!!

  • Pam in Henan, China

    You have to read the story of how she saved her Chinese daughter's life....and has spent 4 years living in China trying to adopt her.

  • Cherilyn's blog

    Neat family who adopted from Kazakhstan, and unbelievably, lived around the corner from us in IL.

  • Barbara & Wayne's blog

    Read all about their travels! Barbara is one of my oldest and dearest friends.

  • Danie's blog

    Lots of moving around here!

  • Lynn and family

    Moving back to the US - we will miss you!

  • Marsha

    Sadly, tragedy struck and they too have moved back to the US.

  • Jennifer's blog

    Yes, they too are moving back! So sad.

  • Donna's site

    Moving, moving, everyone is moving....sniff.

Favorite Furniture Stores

  • Collections Unique, 110 ECR (below "Mermaid Swimming Pools")

    antique and repro furniture, pricey but nice

  • The Treasure, #170/2 ALM Complex, opp. Prarthana Theatre, Injambakkam, ECR

    same quality as Collections but better prices

  • Timber, Old No. 6 Rutland Gate, 4th St, Nungambakkam; also a showroom in Kilpauk

    beautiful imported teak furniture from Indonesia

  • Centuar Furniture, 18, 3rd Cross Road, Raja Annamalai Puram
  • Grand Teak, 19 (Old no. 10) II Main Rd, R.A. Puram

    solid wood imports from Indonesia

  • Tulsi Arterior, Nungambakkam

    made-to-order furniture and lots of nice ready-made peices. Custom upholstering.

  • Teak Heirlooms, New 19, 1st Cross St, Sterling Rd, Nungambakkam

    outdoor teak furniture as well as coconut wood furniture

  • Rani Arts and Teak, No. 8, Harrington Rd, Chetpet

    widest variety of all-Indian furniture and artifacts - but very pricey!

  • Mani's - New #31, Old #17 Royapettah High Road, 044 28133078

    GREAT PRICES on used furniture. He will polish it up and it will look like new.

  • Aurorachana Export Antiques and Furniture, Hope, Auroville, Tamil Nadu 9443220174

    I've saved the very best for last. This place is run by two Germans who've lived here 30 years. They do an outstanding job restoring and refinishing old furniture, as well as custom-make just about anything you'd want to buy.

Weather in Chennai