Good story about Chennai and Ford

Of course you know I don't work at the plant in Chennai. But here is a good news story about Ford in India, and about the people who've come to Chennai to support their companies.

http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/indias-detroit-city-2010-07-08/EDF916AB-3058-4D70-97EC-99ABC573B96F

The store you see at the end is across from the hotel I used to stay at. It's expensive.

Walking around our house

Mr. R and I took a walk down the streets around our house. We live in sort of a sub off the main road leading south out of Chennai. So a main street comes in and there are a few more streets that branch off. There's an amazing amount of open space, some empty lots that are walled off with small quarters for caretakers (apparently to protect the lots until the owners build in them), and some very posh and less posh homes. Here are photos of the area.

Is the worst behind us?

Since our dismal Tuesday things have started looking up:

Whirlpool finally showed up to replace and install our washer. So now we have a washer, dryer, and clean clothes. Here is a photo of the set; notice the cute little dryer. It was the only model in the store that dries clothes 100%. Apparently most people here hang their clothes out so dryers are not in demand.

The little things

Here's a short list of little things that remind us we're in a new place.

We drink, cook, and brush our teeth with water from a dispenser.

One Month

It's been one month since I arrived. In some ways it's flown, in others it feels like I've been here forever.

I took last Friday off work so we could have a three day weekend. On Friday we went shopping; first time Mr R had left the house since he arrived. We went appliance shopping: it took us three stores but we found a washer and dryer that seemed suitable and affordable. Went and picked out curtain fabric and made an appointment for the tailor to come to our house to measure windows. Had a nice lunch out. Did some futile housewares and grocery shopping.

Wednesday Update

We are starting to settle in. Mr R has been on his own at the house for 2.5 days now, while I've been at work. He's learning how to work with the caretaker and maid. We're still trying to get internet access and the TV service to work. But we have food in the fridge, the cats are becoming a little more comfortable, and we are developing a bit of a routine:

Our family has been reunited

The cats arrived safe and sound very early Friday morning. I was up all night waiting for them, like Christmas 10 times over.

The three of us spent Friday and Saturday at the house, them sleeping and starting to explore and me cleaning then relaxing. Friday was my big cleaning day- attacked the kitchen with Comet, scrub brush, and plastic gloves. Saturday was a little more relaxing- unpacked some more boxes, got my new work computer running, then took a dip in the pool. I could hear the sound of waves hitting the beach while I was laying around the pool- that was nice.

Starting to move in

The boys will be here late tonight and need a home to come to. So I've moved out of the hotel and will spend my first night in the new house tonight. I've been digging in bit by bit: received our air shipment, cleaned the bedrooms and bathrooms, bought a toaster and teapot, got internet access to the house.

Shipment Delivered

I sent many of you an email last night, but for the rest of you: our air shipment was delivered to our house yesterday evening. For the record that was 12 days late but at least it got here before Clay and the cats did. So now we have cat supplies, one box of cereal, ramen noodles, and towels and sheets.

I'm dithering on which room will be our bedroom and which will be the office. The bigger room has less closet space and a smaller bathroom. I tried the smaller bathroom today for a shower and it's pretty small. But the other bathroom, while bigger, just feels a bit more worn out. Ah well.

We always watched the chipmunks playing in the pine trees in our Michigan backyard. I was thrilled this morning to look out my second floor window and see a chipmunk playing in the palm trees. Hopefully he sticks around to keep us entertained.

Called a friend who called a friend and somehow we got broadband activated to the house today. Everyone told me that was going to be a weeks-long process so I'm happy with the quick turnaround.

Next is to scrub the kitchen down with a scrubby. Last night the bedrooms and bathrooms seemed pretty clean. But this morning I checked out the kitchen and it seems a little less clean. So I plan to use the elbow-high gloves.

Almost closer to being there?

It's Sunday night in India. They swear our boxes arrived in Chennai yesterday but were in a long line to clear customs. They should clear Monday morning and be delivered to our home once clear. So I'm waiting for a call tomorrow to go and inspect the boxes and start cleaning and unpacking.

A co-worker from the US came in last night to work this week. He and I both had the day free so I went over and picked him up. We bought a local cell phone, visited the house to drop off one of my suitcases and ask to get some of the utilities going, went to a nice resort for lunch on the beach (Fisherman's Cove. You will hear about this from me in the future. All the Ford people go there because it is so nice.), went to a small art gallery (of all things!), did some shopping, went to a cafe to kill an hour (very pleasant with lots of plants, sitting on a porch with an overhead fan), got massages, then had dinner. Now I'm back in the hotel preparing for the week.

Got to get the house ready for the boys and Mr R to show up early Friday morning and early Sunday morning. Yay, less than a week left!

Almost there?

It's been a few days, our shipment isn't in Chennai yet, but Palmer seems to think it will be here tomorrow and the guy in Chennai thinks he can dleiver it to our house on Sunday (which might mean Monday). To catch you up, here is the email chain which has been going in since my last installment:
________________________________________
From: palmermoving.com>
Sent: Thu Jul 01 11:16:44 2010

Your shipment was first located in Riyadh. The shipment was placed on a flight on 6/30/10 to Jeddah. It has been confirmed in Jeddah. The last leg of the flight is from Jeddah to Chennai. Your shipment will be on flight 900 7/2 from Jeddah with arrival in Chennai on Saturday 7/3/10 at 8:00AM